All Chapters of The Illusion I Loved Is Gone: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I stood there awkwardly, frozen in place. A few girls nearby gave me teasing looks. One of them even said with a laugh, "Lucius Pearson, I don't mind helping you out. You're handsome, so I wouldn't be losing anything."Ronald Coleman wrapped his arm around Colleen Decker's shoulder. "Lucius, don't be a sore loser. If you really can't do it, just drink and take the penalty." Colleen leaned into Ronald's embrace, her gaze sweeping over me coldly.No one in this world knew Colleen better than I did, and although it was just a glance, I knew what she meant. I picked up the glass of hard liquor from the table and downed it in one gulp. "Lucius, are you crazy? Did you forget that you're severely allergic to alcohol?" Everyone here was from the same social circle and knew about my condition. A burning pain shot from my throat down to my stomach. "Coco, can you drive me home to get my medication?"Since Colleen didn't want to kiss me in front of Ronald, yet didn't want me gett

Chapter 2

Yvonne Decker drove like a maniac, and I gripped the door handle nervously. "Yvonne, slow down. I'm not going to die in the next few seconds." Yvonne was Colleen's aunt, her father's younger sister."Don't worry. I'm not like that useless niece of mine, Colleen." For some reason, her voice carried contempt and anger. "You're having such a severe allergic reaction, yet what was she doing? Why didn't she take you to the hospital?"A wave of bitterness washed over me. "She doesn't have an obligation to take care of me all the time." "But you had an obligation to serve her when her legs were broken?"I hung my head in silence. Colleen and I had grown up together. But in high school, Dad's investments failed. Mom then divorced him and married his business rival. Unable to handle the blow, Dad entrusted me to his best friend and jumped off a building. That best friend was Colleen's father, Kendrick Decker. So, before high school, I was Colleen's childhood sweetheart. After high sc

Chapter 3

Colleen leaned in close and caressed my cheek. "Thank goodness you're okay. Don't throw tantrums like that again, alright?" But as I looked at the fresh hickey on her neck and listened to the scolding tone in her voice, I couldn't recognize her anymore.What exactly had I done wrong? Did my mistake lie in not enduring an allergic suffocation while watching them make out? "What am I to you?" I asked, my voice hoarse.Colleen seemed not to have heard me clearly. "What?" Her gaze darted away nervously. "Are you thirsty?"She turned away from me to get some water, her tall figure moving gracefully. Her legs had completely healed, but why did I find myself missing the days when she was in a wheelchair? Before Colleen could hand me the water, the hospital room door burst open. Then, Ronald walked in with obvious excitement,"Lucius, did you end up in the hospital because of that allergy? Let me see what alcohol poisoining looks like." He stared at my face and laughed wildly. "Our

Chapter 4

Colleen snapped, "Lucius, is this your way of reminding me just how much you've done for me?"So, she remembered everything I'd done for her. Back when everyone else gave up on her legs, I didn't. I had finally found an experienced practitioner in Southbay—an elderly man named Vincent McClain.Vincent started her on acupuncture the very next day, and within a month, she regained feeling in her legs. However, just as hope returned, Vincent's son came to take him overseas for retirement. No matter how much money we offered, his children didn't want their father to strain himself treating patients during his golden years.I knelt before Vincent and his son, begging desperately, until Vincent finally agreed to teach me his acupuncture techniques so I could continue treating Colleen myself. I practiced relentlessly on acupuncture training models. Since I still wasn't confident, I started practicing on my own body.When Colleen saw my legs covered in needle marks, her eyes turned

Chapter 5

"Aunt Yvonne." Colleen's expression immediately changed, and she let go of my arm. She wasn't particularly afraid of Kendrick, but she held deep respect and fear for Yvonne from the bottom of her heart.Yvonne was only three years older than Colleen, but since the start of school, she had been Colleen's worst nightmare. Although Colleen's grades were outstanding, Yvonne had always been on a completely different level—one Colleen could never reach. She didn't just have the grades. She also carried the presence of someone born to lead. Sometimes, all it took was a single look from her to crush Colleen's pride into dust. Yvonne nodded at Colleen and spoke again. "Lucius, come here." I didn't know what Yvonne meant, but I knew that following her was my best option right now. So, I followed her quickly toward the elevator, and I heard Colleen's somewhat angry voice behind us. "Lucius, don't move out yet. Wait for me at home." I didn't turn around or answer her. It wasn't until

Chapter 6

For a time, I thought I could do it. As it turned out, I was wrong. I couldn't do it."I'm not throwing a tantrum. I just don't love you anymore and don't want to be this close to you," I said. Colleen stared at me with a sinister look in her eyes. "Say that again.""I could say it ten times and it would still be the same. I don't love you anymore and want to keep my distance from you." That day, Colleen went completely crazy and lunged for my suitcase. "What gives you the right to just walk away? You've lived in my house for so many years, and you promised to spend the rest of your life repaying me. You're not going anywhere."During our struggle, the suitcase burst open and my clothes scattered all over the floor. "Lucius, every single thing you own was given by my family. Who do you think you are, walking out like this?"I couldn't argue with that. Just then, Yvonne returned to the Decker residence. "Colleen, even if Lucius owes the Decker family something, he doesn't owe

Chapter 7

Colleen's brow immediately furrowed. "A friend? What kind of friend? You don't have any friends. Is it a man or a woman?"Her words not only made me feel uncomfortable, but even Ronald couldn't stand it. "Coco, why do you care who Lucius is eating with?" Then, he glared at me with malicious eyes. "Once he left the Decker family, he lost his backing. The only people he can associate with now are from the lower class of society. What kind of decent person would eat with him?"Ronald's words made me feel sick to my stomach. "Watch your mouth with that upper and lower class nonsense. This isn't the Dark Ages. And even if you lived in that era, you'd still be nothing but some two-bit merchant. What are you so proud of?" Ronald was left speechless by my retort and wanted to come at me physically.However, Colleen stopped him. "I know you came back to the country for me. If you come back to the Decker family like a good boy, I'll make your wish come true very soon." I was stunned.

Chapter 8

Yvonne stopped walking and turned to face me. "Lucius, do you have a girlfriend?"I didn't know where this was going, so I shook my head.She glanced coldly at Colleen and said, "Good."Before I could make sense of it, Yvonne grabbed my hand and led me straight out of the restaurant. It wasn't until I was sitting in Yvonne's office that I finally understood what they had been talking about at the end. I didn't dare look at Yvonne and accidentally blurted out, "Aunt Yvonne." Sitting in her executive chair, Yvonne radiated a commanding, almost ruthless presence. "I was never your aunt."Her words caught me off guard, and I swallowed hard. "Then, what should I call you? Ms. Decker?"My voice came out hoarse, and my face was burning up. "How do you introduce me to your classmates?"There was a faint, teasing smile tugging at her lips. Noticing it, my face grew even hotter.Yvonne often picked me up at school in her luxury car. She was my classmates' ultimate dream girl. After

Chapter 9

When I told Yvonne that she was making a big deal out of nothing, she said that we should change it to an engagement party instead, since I found a graduation party too extravagant. The people in her family were truly cunning, one more than the other. Since I couldn't changed her mind, I’ll just go with what she wants.Colleen was the last person to find out that Yvonne and I were getting engaged.Before that, Yvonne had told me Colleen and Ronald were in the middle of a breakup. Every day, I silently prayed that their relationship would survive, not because I was kind, but because I really wanted to experience Ronald treating me with respect.During the engagement party rehearsal, Colleen burst into the banquet hall. In just over half a year since I'd last seen her, her leg had become crippled again.She limped over to me, eyes shining brightly. Her voice trembled as she said, "Lucius, Ronald and I broke up. Come back to me." She noticed I was staring at her leg and added, "I

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