Love Turned to Dust, a Final Farewell

My mother texted, urging me to come home for a blind date, just as Chase Quinn finished on top of me.

His warm breath ghosted behind my ear, and a dense, tingling itch seemed to seize my heart.

He gently wiped the traces from my body, but his words, when they came, were unnervingly cold:

"Since Mrs. Hollis is rushing you, you should head back early."

I thought he was jealous, and a sweet feeling bloomed in my chest. I quickly grabbed his hand, eager to pledge my devotion:

"Chase, I just want to stay by your side. I'm not going anywhere!"

He froze for a moment, then a disdainful smile spread across his face as he pried my fingers away one by one:

"You don't actually think I'm jealous, do you?"

He tucked my damp, stray hairs behind my ear. His touch was as gentle as ever, but his words were almost cruel:

"Raina is innocent and pure. I couldn't bear to touch her before we're married, so I had to use you to vent my desires."

"Now that our marriage is arranged, she'll soon be my rightful wife. You've outlived your usefulness."

...

The heating in the room was on full blast, but a chill ran through me.

This man in front of me... one moment he was being incredibly gentle and intimate with me, the next he was saying something so cruel it left my head spinning.

I was stunned for a moment, then forced a weak smile.

"Chase, you're joking with me, right?"

Chase Quinn stared at me, finally letting out a scornful laugh after a long moment. "Jasmine Hollis, we're all adults here. It was just a game, playing a part. You didn't actually take it seriously, did you?"

I said nothing, lowering my gaze to hide the emotion in my eyes.

'He saw these last three absurd years as a game, but I didn't. I've been in love with him for a full ten years.'

We grew up in the same military compound. Childhood sweethearts.

From a young age, Chase Quinn was always a standout among his peers—taciturn and aloof.

But this was the same Chase Quinn who, blushing, had bought me my first pack of pads.

The same one who, when other kids called me a fatherless brat, was always the first to rush forward and shield me.

When it was time to apply for college after my entrance exams, he, already a university student, made a special trip home. His gaze was burning as he looked at me and said:

"Jasmine, apply to Capital University. I'll be waiting for you there."

So, I filled all dozens of my application slots with Capital University, rushing headlong toward the city where Chase Quinn was, without a second thought.

'I thought he liked me too.'

Three years ago, his drink was drugged. In his hazy state, he grabbed my hand, and the deep affection in his eyes made me lose myself completely.

After that wild night, his expression cleared, but the moment he saw me, he shot up in anger.

His gaze was as cold as winter frost, stabbing right at me.

"Jasmine Hollis, what are you doing here?"

I was about to explain, but he gave me no chance, unleashing a torrent of accusations:

"Jasmine Hollis, do you have any idea how despicable this is?"

"Drugging my drink and then using the opportunity to climb into my bed... just how desperate are you? Are you that hard up for a man?"

At that moment, it was as if a basin of cold water had been dumped over my head. I froze completely.

The explanation was stuck in my throat, but I couldn't get the words out.

'So this was the kind of contemptible person I was in Chase Quinn's eyes.'

He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Afterward, I sent him countless messages explaining what happened that night, but he never replied to a single one.

Then, three days later, he sent a location pin and an apartment number.

I went as requested. The moment I stepped inside, I was pinned against the door. His kisses fell on me like a torrential downpour, his eyes filled with lust. His movements held no gentleness; he was like an untamed beast.

When it was over, Chase Quinn lay beside me, smoking. Through the swirling smoke, he said coldly:

"Jasmine Hollis, since you're so into me, I'll do you a favor and mess around with you."

No flowers, no confession of love. Only a body covered in marks and his promise to "mess around."

From then on, I became Chase Quinn's secret lover.

Whenever he sent a message, I would drop everything and go to him.

Over time, he started spending more and more time with me, and his attitude toward me grew better and better—so good that I almost forgot all the ugliness between us.

I immersed myself in this false tenderness and fell for him all over again, naively believing that he had truly fallen in love with me.

Only to find out today that these three years were nothing more than a game to him.

A three-year dream of folly, shattered to ashes in an instant.

The man before me was still waiting for my reply. I lifted my head and met his gaze.

"Of course not. Since you're already engaged, we should just end things."

"Chase Quinn, I wish you happiness."

Hearing the answer he wanted, Chase Quinn inexplicably felt a pang of disappointment. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

I didn't linger. I got dressed and was about to leave when I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock from outside.

My heart clenched, and a bad feeling washed over me.

Before I could react, the door opened with a *CLICK*.

Standing outside the door was the very same fiancée Chase Quinn had just mentioned—Raina Rhodes.