The afternoon sun filtered through the trees as I tended to the garden, the scent of damp earth filling the air. Coleson’s voice broke the silence, drifting over from the other side of the fence.
“You look cheerful today. How did you do on your exams?” he asked, his tone casual, almost disinterested. He was still in his pajamas, yawning lazily, as if he hadn’t bothered to change since waking up. If he’d truly cared about my score, he wouldn’t have waited until the next afternoon to ask.
I lowered my voice, my grip tightening on the watering can. “732.”
“That’s impressive! You could get into Oxford with a score like that,” he exclaimed, his voice brightening with genuine enthusiasm. But there was something in his tone—something that made my chest tighten. It felt as though his excitement was less about me and more about the idea of Oxford being the place where *he* and Jazmin would be.
Before I could respond, Jazmin emerged from Coleson’s living room, stretching like a cat. She wore one of Coleson’s oversized T-shirts and a pair of shorts, looking like a child playing dress-up in adult clothing. Seeing me talking to Coleson, she hurried over, her smile eager but strained.
“Sorry, Amelia, yesterday was so wild that I didn’t get a chance to ask about your exam results.”
Of course, she was thrilled. Coleson had orchestrated a grand celebration in her honor, practically declaring her the rising star of the Blue Moon Pack. The buzz around her ascension to Beta would fade eventually, but the memory of that night would linger forever for her.
I glanced at her outfit, my disappointment growing. Their relationship seemed to be progressing faster than I’d anticipated, and the sight of her in his clothes only drove the point home.
Coleson, ever the peacemaker, tried to smooth over the tension. “Amelia scored 732. She could join us at Oxford.”
Jazmin forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s amazing! Eight points higher than mine.”
“Amelia, have you decided on a major?” she asked, but I was stuck on the phrase *join us*, unable to shake the sinking feeling in my chest.
I replied curtly, “I don’t know. I suppose I have plenty of options with this score.”
Coleson frowned, his Alpha aura flaring slightly, though he kept it in check. “Amelia Knight, don’t be so rude.”
Jazmin quickly interjected, her voice dripping with false humility. “Amelia’s family is well-off, so she can choose a major she loves. Unlike me, who has to consider future employment and career prospects. It’s really hard to choose.”
“No worries, I’ll help you pick,” Coleson said, his voice softening as he reached out to pat her head. The gesture was so tender, so intimate, that it felt like a physical blow to me.
They hadn’t walked more than half a mile away before Coleson turned back, his expression stern.
“Amelia Knight, you shouldn’t talk to Jazmin like that. Her family conditions are nowhere near ours, and she’s worked so hard to get where she is today.”
“Also, last night went too late, and Jazmin couldn’t make it back to her apartment, so she’s just staying in our guest room for a night. Don’t read too much into it.”
“And you did tell me to help her more, didn’t you?”
“Anyway, I’m really happy you can get into Oxford.”
I turned off the water hose, my lips curling into a mirthless smile. Coleson’s explanation felt like hollow consolation. Jazmin getting into Oxford wasn’t easy, but was my journey any less challenging? When I’d first introduced Jazmin to Coleson, I’d hoped he would help her more. Yet, I never imagined she would replace me in his heart. I certainly never imagined that one day my childhood friend would call me by my full name for another girl.
But now the die was cast. Our tangled emotions were always too crowded, requiring someone to thoughtfully step aside. So, I wasn’t going to Oxford.
In another month, I’d bid farewell to Coleson for good. Never seeing him again.
I called an agent to list my house for sale, telling him to set the price slightly below market value but insisting on a full cash settlement. The agent visited to take photos, politely suggesting, “In the current market, buyers willing to pay in full cash for a villa are quite rare.”
I simply smiled and told him not to worry. “You can list it and sell it slowly. I’ll leave the keys with you when the semester starts.”
As I saw the agent out, I happened to run into Coleson and Jazmin heading out. Jazmin’s enthusiasm was palpable as she approached me. “Coleson said he’s taking me to buy some essentials for freshmen. Do you want to join us?”
That day, Jazmin wore a pale yellow dress, clearly expensive and obviously purchased by Coleson. Clearly, she hadn’t left his house as she’d initially claimed. What was supposed to be a temporary stay had turned into a long-term visit. But with Alpha Wayne and Luna Camilla out of town for business, everything made sense again.
Coleson didn’t seem to have any intention of inviting me along, merely pointing at the agent’s retreating figure and asking, “Who was that?”
“Oh, just someone from the property maintenance service to fix a small issue with the water pipes,” I lied easily, my newfound ability to tell lies without batting an eye a product of my decision to leave Coleson.
It was unclear whether it was because of my acting skills or if Coleson simply didn’t care. He accepted my explanation without suspicion but reminded me to take care of myself while alone at home.
Then he walked away with Jazmin, chatting and laughing, their joy so blindingly bright. I instinctively turned away, for the third time feeling that this empty villa was deeply lonely.
The first time I’d felt the emptiness was at age seven, after my parents’ separation. My mother had left with just one suitcase, squeezing my shoulder to remind me before she left. “Your father is busy, so you need to take care of yourself. If there’s anything, go next door and find Camilla.”
“Say nice things and they’ll like you more.”
Alpha Wayne and Luna Camilla had truly treated me like their own daughter, and even Coleson had watched over me with care. Whenever there was a dish I liked at the dinner table, he would leave it for me. I disliked carrots, and he would sneak them out of my bowl and into his, despite not liking them either.
The second time I’d felt the emptiness was at age ten, when my father remarried. His secretary had become pregnant, and after confirming it was a boy, he was thrilled and settled down in Dublin, buying a house there.
Out of guilt, he transferred the villa to my name before the wedding, promising he would come back to see me from time to time. Although he seldom came home, the thought of being alone in the villa during holidays still left me feeling somewhat desolate.
During that time, Coleson had gone out of his way to cheer me up, dressing up in a cartoon character costume under the blazing summer sun and bringing me beautiful cakes. Even Luna Camilla had prepared delicious foods in various ways for me.
That warmth had filled the void left by my missing family bonds. Through our daily interactions, I’d developed different feelings for Coleson. In high school, we’d agreed to go to Oxford together. His sincere gaze had made me believe we were mutually enamored.
I’d planned to confess to Coleson the day I received my acceptance letter from Oxford. But looking back now, maybe it was just the scorching sun that day making me dizzy. After all, Coleson was good to me, but he was equally kind to everyone else.
Yet, only with Jazmin did he seem extraordinarily kind.
