Clover entered. As soon as the warm familiar ambiance enveloped her, tears welled up in her eyes. She pursed her trembling lips and glanced around the minimalist house that kept her in when she had nowhere else to go. She ran her fingers over the cushion and let out a soft chuckle, recalling how Brandon stuffed his mouth with chips while trying to chase her away. "You know..." Brandon whispered, lingering behind her on purpose. He was trying to block her view from Danise, who was unknotting his shoelaces in the back. "Maybe—" "Don't..." She sucked in a deep breath. "Don't say anything..." Right then, Stella stormed out of the kitchen, her azure satchel bag dragging along the floor. Clover quickly composed herself and noticed that the red gift box was still inside Stella's bag—neatly wrapped. Upon catching a glimpse of the wet tracks on her face and the redness at the tip of her pointed nose, Clover frowned. However, before she could open her mouth to say anything, Stella returned

After what felt like an eternity, Clover woke up to the incessant buzz of insects in the air. With a groan, she sat up, her eyes struggling to open. She cast a wary glance around.Brandon and Danise reclined on the opposite couch, soundly asleep with their legs intertwined. Fan cards littered the floor, one caught between Kyle's fingers.Clover gazed out of the casement as the soft, early light enveloped the tranquil street in its gentle embrace.She heaved a bitter sigh. As much as how she slow she wanted it to be, tomorrow had officially arrived. She knew now was the best time for her to leave— when no one else was awake, when Kyle was still asleep. However, the moment she stood up, something pulled her back onto the couch once again. Upon turning around, what came into her view stunned her on the spot. Her hand. His hand. She gasped, almost forgetting about the game yesterday. The colorful paper chain binding their wrists surprisingly remained intact after a night. She looked

Sitting at the long bar table facing the sunlit sky, she stared blankly ahead, lost in thought. Scenes from ten years ago began to flicker in the depths of her mind. Brown netted leaves swaying from the tree outside blurred into her memories. The nutty smell of her caramel macchiato slowly dissipated, replaced by the overwhelming stench of her shameful past. Before long, she found herself transported back to the days when she sold her pride and dignity... He was in his usual apparel—black suit, black pants, black striped tie, and a pair of black Crocodile shoes. It wasn't the first time for her to be here. In fact, she had lost the number of times she stepped into this office. "Make use of that girl to steal the information," he ordered, drawing deeply on his Cuban cigar before exhaling a plume of smoke. "B-But she's just a kid..." "It's exactly because she is still a kid." He slammed his foot onto the edge of the desk and cast her a piercing gaze. "Only by making use of her can t

In the heart of the bustling Sengrilla city located a luxurious mansion, adorned with pristine glass windows and an expansive second-floor swimming pool that stretched outward. A path of polished black granite meandered through a lush floral garden, leading to a contemporary patio. Bathed in the soothing radiance of the setting sun, the outdoor oasis resembled a perfect spot for a quick escape from reality. Evelyn took a deep breath and patted her cheeks to summon up the usual smile. Upon pressing the numbers on the smart lock, the door swung open effortlessly like she was the owner of the mansion. One more step to go, and she could bid a forever goodbye to this facade she had been putting on over the years.She could do this... right? "Aunt Evelyn!"Evelyn's heart trembled, and at that instant, her legs couldn't seem to move any forward. Something was holding her back. Was it her last shred of conscience? Again, that voice was making her waver again. "Aunt Evelyn?" Evelyn reco

Stella took off her black cardigan and hurriedly left the performance hall. Her fan meeting had ended. She pushed her hair back and doffed her pink feathery earrings, dumping them into her bag like they were nothing but a piece of worthless belonging.Kenny walked beside her, shielding her from the enthusiastic crowd. A long line of fans eagerly extended their hands, yearning for a touch of hers. She grabbed a couple of hands at once and shook them several times before letting go. She had no time to attend to all. "Are we going to Kyle?" Kenny asked as he started the engine. She nodded.Kenny fastened his seatbelt and released the handbrake, smoothly reversing out of the parking space. As Stella rolled down the tinted window to bid farewell, her fans showered her with exuberant screams and beaming smiles. All of a sudden, a pang of bitterness surged up in her heart. She had the adoration of the public—everyone loved her, everyone but Kyle. While she might appear to revel in the fa