No Second Chance For Us

e P

ply stared back, a silent surrender. The defiance I' d felt earlier evaporated, replaced by the familiar, suffocating

tion of ownership. When he finally pulled away, he touched my bruised lip, his thumb tracing the slight cut

edience, for allowing him to take out his frustrations on me. A part of me, the foolish, hopeful part, had once deluded itself into believing these lavish

p, the ache in my chest a dull throb.

the complex world of medical research. My phone buzzed. It was my

of relief. "Your father' s coming home! The d

bloomed on my face. "That' s wonderful, Mom! I'

of it." Her voice dropped conspiratorially. "He' s such a good boy. When

ful, loving boyfriend, a man who adored me. I' d even sent them a photoshopped picture of us, digitally editing Alden' s aloof ex

dismissive eyes. "Don' t forget your place, Hope. You' re my companion, not my wife. Your parents are not

en has a packed schedule. It' s not a good time," I

brought him his favorite custard from that fancy bakery!" My mother w

d press me further. The guilt was a heavy weight, but so was the bitterness. He' d helped my par

yself in research for my graduation thesis. My phone buzzed

e, another opportunity for him to display his wealth, and me,

t my watch, it was already past six. Panic flared. He hated to be kept waiting. I rushed back to my apartment, franti

er, holding the car door open. "Mr. Maxwell asked me to confirm th

nt, sparked within me. Graduation was my exit. Seeing him there, acknowledging my achievement, it would be almost... a proper goodbye. A final,

deep breath, composed myself, and stepped out. "You can go, Mark.

an empty seat towards the back, observing the mingling crowd, a sea of de

rowing louder. Alden Maxwell had arrived. I rose, as I always did, p

nto a triumphant smile. Alden' s gaze, when it rested on her, was soft, doting, utterly captivated. He

the whispers around me, cruel and cutting. "Look, she' s back. Hope never stood a cha

with a fleeting, almost imperceptible glance, as if I were a stranger, another anonymous face in the cr

un, the rhythmic chant of the auctioneer a distant hum. The room was a kale

e piece from the Jiangcheng region, a jade bangle, e

r the spotlight. My mother' s bangle. The one she had sold years ago when my father' s medical bills had firs

ack. This was my chance. I would buy it for her, a symbol of my unwavering love, a testament to

y heart pounding. "F

t raising my paddle, my eyes fixed on the bangle, my resolve

called out, my voic

m the front of the room cut th

ooking at Alden, a sly, possessive smile playing on her lip

th adoration, nodded. "Indee

e to lift. My heart clenched, a vise-like grip squeezing the air from my lungs. I was outmatc

ce... Goin

red. I was los

gift, my dear. Consider it a token of my undying affection." A token of his undying affection. For her. He was lighting a match, pouring gasoline on my