บททั้งหมดของ One Call Changed Everything: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

The smile on Leo's face froze. He stared at me, and the worry in his eyes turned to something more complicated."Quincy, what could I possibly be hiding from you? You know everything about me," he retorted, a trace of hurt in his voice.He grabbed my hand. His palm was warm, but I felt cold inside. "It must have been an exhausting day for you. Are you feeling unwell? Don't overthink it."He kissed the top of my head gently. "You've just been cooped up at home for too long."I was just about to show him the livestream account and throw every piece of evidence in his face when a flicker of annoyance crossed his expression. It disappeared quickly, replaced by gentle helplessness."Oh, didn't you want to see the art exhibition? I got two VIP passes from a friend. Why don't we go now?" He cupped my face, his eyes filled with anticipation.Then, he pulled two embossed gold tickets from his jacket and waved them proudly in front of me.My heart kept throbbing. I could not tell whethe

"Tainted? What is?" The smile on Leo's face froze. He wanted to hold me in his arms, but I moved away. His arms hung awkwardly in midair, and an uncomfortable silence settled between us.A second later, he cleared his throat, his voice softening, "Are you getting pre-wedding jitters? Silly girl, you should be happy. As for the dress, it's fine. Since it's ruined, I'll have the world's best designers make you one immediately. The wedding will still be perfect."He tapped the tip of my nose affectionately while his eyes brimmed with the same tender gaze that now made my skin crawl.…The next day, world-renowned wedding dress designers arrived one after another. They came with the latest fabrics and sketches, eager to make me a new wedding dress.Leo sat on the side, offering suggestions from time to time, every bit the devoted fiance.But the more devoted he pretended to be, the more disgusted I felt. He wanted a perfect engagement banquet. I would grant him that, but not the en

At three in the morning, I sat on the floor of the shabby apartment with two large suitcases beside me.Leo and I had lived in this basement apartment for two years. Even after we had moved out, neither of us had been able to bring ourselves to give it up.The bookshelf he had mounted for me was still in the corner. The little succulent he had given me still sat on the windowsill. And on the nightstand rested the only photograph we had ever taken together.It had been taken during our first winter in the basement. He saved up for three months and got me a winter jacket. I threw my arms around his neck in my joy and asked a neighbor to help us take a picture.Our smiles were so genuine then, but it was painful to look at now.Leo called me 47 times and sent me dozens of messages."Quincy, please pick up the call.""Let me explain. What happened with her is just a mistake.""I love you. I really do. Please come back.""I'll be waiting for you at home. I won't leave until you ret

I thought the confrontation would persuade Leo to give up, but he was more determined than I imagined.He began to follow me everywhere—outside my lecture hall, the fabric markets I frequent, and the cafe downstairs from my apartment.He never approached me. He only watched me from afar.My coursemates asked, "Olsen, do you know that guy?"I shook my head and claimed that I didn't know him. Alas, he didn't stop there.…A week later, I found an email in my inbox.He wrote, "Quincy, since you don't want to see me, I've decided to write you a letter. Over the past month, I've replayed the five years we've been together in my mind. "I recalled the winter we spent in the basement. You let me have the only hot water bottle we had while you curled up, suffering the cold yourself. I remembered how you'd waited for me when my family flogged me. You had long passed out when they released me. "And your prize money from the competition? You used it to buy a watch for me. I remembered e

The plane drifted smoothly above the clouds. I leaned against the window and watched as the sunlight gave the clouds a golden hue.10 hours ago, I was packing my luggage in my Fraydan apartment.Now, I was on a flight returning to my country to visit a dying man.I didn't know whether this was worth it, but I didn't really care.However, I had to admit that Gracie's words had given me a push. They were imprinted in my mind. It was impossible to erase them from my memory.…The plane landed at 3.00 p.m. local time.I turned on my phone. I silently argued with myself before eventually sending a message to my best friend, Katrina Frazier. "I'm back."Her reply came soon after. "Where are you? Are you still at the airport? Stay there! I'll pick you up!"Her car pulled up in front of me about 40 minutes later.She bounded out of the car and wrapped me in a bear hug. "What the hell are you thinking? You've just started a new life. Why did you come back?"When I didn't say a word