Parting With No Regrets

Jared blatantly loved Naomi without me noticing.He carefully gathered the broken pieces from the floor, treating them like precious treasures before entering the study.Meanwhile, I shakily took out the first aid kit.The bleeding on my hand stopped, but the pain in my heart wouldn't.Jared stayed in the study all night.I stayed in the living room, thinking about everything for hours.I had hoped that remembering the good times we'd had together would convince me to stay with him. But the more I thought, the sadder I felt.I started to doubt his feelings for me.Was his love and kindness really directed at me, or was I just a shell he used to love Naomi?As that thought sank in, I realized it was time to end this. I couldn't accept being a stand-in for someone else.Just as I was about to be honest with Jared, the doorbell rang. Jared quickly came out of the study and opened the door.A group of men in black suits entered, looking like bodyguards.Was Jared in some kind o

Her eyes flickered with a brief flash of surprise.Suddenly, she pulled out her phone and answered a call on speakerphone."Jared, Winter says she did nothing wrong. But honestly, she's already in pretty bad shape. Maybe we should let this go. Naomi wouldn't want—"For a moment, hope sparked in me. After three years together, Jared must feel something for me, right?But I had underestimated the hold Naomi had on his heart. To him, she was sacred and untouchable.Jared cut Diana off coldly, saying, "If Naomi knew her keepsake had been destroyed, she would be upset for sure. Do you think she'd just let it slide?"Diana, if you feel bad for Winter, I'll find someone else to deal with her. I don't believe that she's that tough."Diana hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But don't blame me if she ends up seriously hurt. She's your wife, after all…""Wife? She doesn't deserve to be my wife. She's nothing more than Naomi's substitute. If she has upset Naomi, then it doesn't matter who she

That night, every person in charge of discipline at Hawthorn Academy was gone.I dragged my battered body into the blind spot of the surveillance cameras and ran with the last of my strength toward the iron fence that separated me from freedom.The wire scraped across my wounds. Blood poured out, but I couldn't afford to slow down.Finally, I managed to get over the fence and sprinted toward the road.But then I saw two figures I knew all too well.Diana and Jared were standing there with their eyes locked on me. Their faces twisted into mocking smiles.Jared stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. "Winter, all I want is for you to apologize to Naomi. Why do you have to be so stubborn?"His voice was soft, but the tone sent a chill down my spine.Diana immediately chimed in, "No wonder Naomi came to me in a dream, complaining that I'd been too nice to you. She said you don't even think you've done anything wrong. Your apology wouldn't be sincere. She got so angry with me."As sh

A while later, a sleazy man entered the room.As he looked at me, his face curled into a wicked grin. He slowly moved closer, and his hands shamelessly roamed over my body.The touch made me want to gag.But at that moment, my body instinctively responded to it, as though it welcomed the sensation.Little by little, I found myself yielding.Noticing my response, the man untied the ropes that bound me. He wanted something more.The physical and emotional tug-of-war felt like I was being torn apart. A wave of humiliation surged through me.I would rather die.I bit down on my lower lip hard enough to draw blood, desperate to force myself to stay calm. Just as I was about to get up, Diana walked in. She looked at me with disgust. "Winter, are you that desperate? Are—"While she spoke, I quickly grabbed the key from the man's waist and jabbed it straight into my leg.Blood sprayed out.Diana visibly panicked. She hurriedly dialed for help.This time, I was finally free.In t

With Jared's money, I made sure to bribe a nurse at the mental hospital. I wanted Diana to suffer for everything she had done to me.Jared seemed to have become obsessed with having a child. He constantly tried to get intimate with me, hoping I'd get pregnant again.But I had developed a visceral repulsion toward him. His touch made me want to vomit.Yet, I wasn't finished with my plan. I wasn't ready to give up.Jared noticed something was off about me. He started getting anxious. "What's going on, Winter? Are you feeling unwell?"He came closer and closer, and suddenly, I felt my heart stop. I collapsed in front of him.The doctor explained that I had suffered severe psychological trauma. That was why I reacted the way I did to him.Confused, Jared asked, "Winter, are you still holding a grudge against me because of Naomi? It's all in the past. I've forgiven you. I love you, Winter. Let's live a good life from now on."I leaned back and couldn't hold it in any longer. "Jared,