A Hopeless Love

I accidentally wear the gown Miles Graham prepared for his childhood sweetheart. To my horror, he forces me to take it off in public.

"I prepared this for Nora—do you think you're worthy of wearing it? Take it off! You're dirtying it!"

He knows I have serious PTSD after almost being violated, yet he insults me with those words. I look at him tearfully and beg him not to say anymore. That's when the gown's zip bursts open.

My PTSD acts up. I'm so overwhelmed that I collapse on the floor and have a seizure.

Miles dismisses everyone and takes Nora out on a date. He leaves me lying there in humiliation.

I call my mentor before being discharged from the hospital. "Ms. Gardner, I've decided to participate in the water conservation project in Affenheim."

On the day I was discharged from the hospital, no one came to pick me up.

I took a taxi alone and returned to the cozy little home that Miles Graham and I once shared. It was a place just for the two of us outside the Graham residence.

As I pushed the door open, I could hear the sounds of laughter echoing inside. I was stunned for a second but still walked in calmly.

Just then, Miles glanced up at me. His expression was cold as he snapped, "I only warned you not to touch Nora's things. It wasn't like I was asking you to strip on the spot.

"The zipper broke, but the dress didn't even fall off. Did you really need to fake an episode? You embarrassed me in front of my family."

Nora Spencer clung to Miles' arm, covering her nose as she said mockingly, "Leilani's convulsions were so convincing! If she joined the entertainment industry, she'd definitely be Oscar material."

Miles let out a derisive laugh. "Her? She wouldn't even dare to show skin."

Nora laughed so hard at Miles' statement that her whole body shook. She was wearing a silk slip dress, and her ample curves bounced with her laughter. Miles' discomfort was visible to the eye as she rubbed herself cheerfully against his arm.

As I watched their growing intimacy, my heart remained indifferent. It now felt as still as dead water.

I was easily embarrassed when I was younger, and that calamity nearly cost me my life.

I was almost violated back then. I barely escaped and ultimately stumbled into a crowd barely clothed. That was when I became the target of pointing fingers and stares, and it nearly drove me insane.

I remembered Miles pushing through the crowd to wrap me in his coat. He carried me to the car with care and held me silently yet tenderly all the way. During those days, he comforted me with soft words and cared for me tirelessly until I returned to normal.

Yet now, he casually turned my trauma into a joke to amuse Nora.

After glancing at the two of them, I lifted my head and looked around. All the photos of Miles and I had been taken down. Even the single photo on my desk was now replaced by Nora's glamor shots.

This house felt so unfamiliar. Perhaps, it was never truly mine from the very beginning. I then turned calmly and headed toward the room.

Nora stood up quickly and blocked my path. Her gaze was arrogant, but her tone was meek as she said, "Leilani, don't blame Miles. There was a leak at my place, so I'm just staying here temporarily until it's fixed. Once it's done, I'll move out."

The old me would have mocked her for her little act. I might have cried and asked Miles to choose between the two of us. But now, I just nodded silently, eager to disentangle myself from the two of them as soon as possible.

It seemed my reaction struck a nerve with Miles. He strode over and grabbed my wrist roughly. "Nora already lowered herself to ask you so nicely. Why are you still acting so high and mighty? Don't forget, Leilani Jabs. I'm the one who bought this house!"

His grip landed exactly where bruises from before remained, and the pain made me hiss. Hearing this, Miles' expression shifted slightly. He instinctively loosened his hold.

His gaze then fell on the purplish mark on my wrist. His brows furrowed deeply as he recalled his actions from a few days ago, and his expression softened.

I spoke quietly, "I'm going to rest now."

Miles' face darkened instantly, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand. "You're jealous again, aren't you? Since Nora returned to the country, I've explained repeatedly that we're just—"

"I'm simply exhausted," I interrupted. "You two can interact however you like or be as intimate as you want. From now on, it has nothing to do with me."

I then turned sideways to enter the room and shut the door firmly in Miles' face.