Her Wasted Love

The laughter in the living room grew louder with every passing moment, mingling with the clinking of glasses and the relatives' endless compliments.Tobias Bullock sat at the center of it all, his smile never leaving his face. He reached over and ruffled Allison Bullock's hair, his tone full of pride. "Our girl's worked hard. She earned this."Allison smiled sweetly, as docile as a kitten. "That's because you taught me so well, Dad."I stood quietly in the corner of the room, a dishcloth clenched in my hand. My fingertips were cold from soaking in water.Everyone in the room talked about Tobias's accomplishments and praised Allison for being such an outstanding student.Not a single person mentioned everything I'd done. It was as if I were the most unnecessary person in the house."Sofia, why are you still standing there?" My sister-in-law, Tessa Bullock, interrupted my thoughts. "The stew's getting cold. Go heat it up."She ordered me around as if it were the most natural thing

The next morning, Allison stood in the middle of the living room with a small rolling suitcase. The moment she saw me walk out of the bedroom, the corners of her mouth turned down in annoyance."I'm going out." She didn't even bother looking up, speaking as though she were informing a complete stranger.As her legal guardian, I asked anyway, "Where are you going?"She looked at me with undisguised impatience before letting out a scoff and lifting her chin. "You seriously think you're my mom?"You eat my dad's food, live in his house, and spend his money. Your job is to make sure I'm happy, not stick your nose where it doesn't belong!"To Allison, my entire existence in this family depended on Tobias, as if I were nothing more than a parasite living off the Bullocks.I looked at the hostility written all over her face. Oddly enough, I felt a flicker of relief. At least, she wasn't my biological daughter.Just then, the front door opened. Tobias was back. He reeked of alcohol, his

The coworkers inside the training room noticed Tobias, too. Whispers immediately spread through the room.I ignored them and calmly finished my presentation. Then, I walked outside.The moment Tobias saw me, he hurried toward me, his steps slightly unsteady."Sofia..." His voice was so hoarse it barely sounded like his own. "What are you doing here?"I looked at the state he was in and found it almost laughable. "I work here. I'm an experienced education consultant. My hourly rate is $500."Tobias froze. Staring into my eyes, he saw a confidence and determination that had never been there before. He probably never imagined I could radiate so much confidence.After a long silence, he finally came back to his senses."Sofia, let's go home, okay? I know I was wrong. Home isn't the same without you."I almost laughed. Meeting his gaze, I answered calmly, "Tobias, is it really the house that can't function without me, or is it you?"The color drained from his face."And one more t

Tobias had finally realized that the stone he'd spent years trampling into the dirt had been a pearl all along. Too bad he had been too blind to see it.After the awards ceremony ended, I stepped down from the stage.A tall, handsome man walked toward me. It was my coworker, Landon Pierce.Seeing the evening breeze pick up, Landon gently draped his suit jacket over my shoulders."It'll get chilly tonight. Don't catch a cold," he said with a warm smile.I smiled and expressed my gratitude. As I looked up, I caught sight of Tobias standing by the ballroom's side entrance.The moment he saw Landon's gesture, he visibly staggered. I saw the look on his face, but I looked away without giving him a second glance.When Landon handed me a glass of champagne, I clinked my glass lightly against his and finished it in one sip.As for when Tobias left, I had no idea, and I couldn't have cared less.The ballroom remained lively, filled with music, laughter, and conversation.Champagne in

A year later, I got married again.Landon was the groom.Our wedding was held at an ordinary hotel on a busy street. There were no extravagant decorations or elaborate ceremonies, just family and close friends gathered around tables, laughing, chatting, and filling the room with the warmth of everyday life.I wore a simple white wedding gown, my arm linked through Landon's. Whenever he looked at me, his eyes were filled with unmistakable tenderness.Over the past year, we'd gone from coworkers to lovers. He'd seen me exhausted after late nights revising client programs. He'd seen me standing confidently at the front of a classroom, doing what I loved.He never said, "I'll provide for you."He only ever said, "I'll stand by your side."He never questioned my worth. Whenever I succeeded, he celebrated me with genuine pride.For the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to be respected... and truly cherished.As we mingled with our guests, Landon never let go of my hand