Twisted Love's

Episode 23

Why should I be so hard on myself? I hate to know that any part of me can be so negative ...

"I can't say whether my father will be impressed or not, but ... If I bring in some such foolish woman, it will cause various problems for me later."

Oh yes, maybe the woman he was referring to was just like a broadcast girl from a previous television station who kept pushing her ...

Did it happen to her so often that she couldn't take it anymore?

"But with you, I know it won't be a problem for me." Nolan.

"I can't believe you're considering it all." Although I tried to smile, my lousy efforts had already revealed my bitter and sorrowful heart.

I refused to let him see me like that, so I pretended to fix my high heels.

I'm a real idiot ... Why am I so upset to hear that? Even though she only showed me off as her mock lover, didn't I still get this nice outfit from her ...

My mind raged to convince myself that it was no big deal.

"I think I made the right choice. You are the perfect choice for this opportunity." As Nolan said it, I raised my head and looked back at Nolan. He looked straight at me. Our eyes meet.

"You ... really beautiful tonight, Julia." The smile that Nolan gave me really made me flutter.

What did he say all that for? The only reason he brought me here wasn't to deceive his father ...

"I know this party is full of lies and arrogance, but this time, I'm telling the truth." She took the ornamental flowers from a nearby table and attached them to my hair.

"Why?" I asked, puzzled, and grabbed to touch the flower but Nolan's hand held it.

"Don't touch it. It's the last touch of your clothes tonight" The better he behaves with me, the more my heart hurts.

Don't smile like that. He treated me like I was just a little girl for him to fool... Just like when she asked me about the animal shelter, I would only be taken advantage of by her again.

I wanted to ask him many things, but I was too afraid to hear his answer.

"I'm really very sad ..." He mumbled sadly. Nolan's expression shattered into sadness as he looked at me.

"I can't even fool my own father. I need your help with that." His distant eyes reflected the moonlight, making him appear extremely lonely as he looked out to sea.

"And you can't forget that?" My toot.

"I don't know... Can I ask you something, Julia?"

"certain."

"Have you ever regretted your career path now, Julia?"

"I? ...Not once either. Ever since I was a kid, I saw what my dad did and kept working hard so I could follow in his footsteps. I can't imagine myself doing anything else. He was like a role model to me. I pushed myself harder so I could be more like him." My answer.

"My nerves are almost half the same as yours, Julia. My father was good at doing what he did, so I gave everything I had in order to surpass him. But the world he lived in was very cruel. It's not like your world, Julia. I knew it was poisonous when it started in the first place. I tried so hard to avoid my father and his group ... But their filthy world is slowly swallowing me whole."

"But you haven't been completely destroyed, Nolan."

"Well... Let me tell you the whole story before you think so." Nolan shook his head with a bitter smile.

"To be honest, I know very well that pharmaceutical companies do some pretty fraudulent things. Even though I said I haven't decided yet, I've already started preparations to represent them." Nolan.

"No way!" I called out in disbelief.

"What did I say? Their world swallowed me. If there's one thing I'm ashamed of, it's because I'm willing to be a part of this dirty work."

"If you're ashamed, don't agree to work for them!" My yelling.

"But I have to!" Nolan shouted back loudly to make me swallow bitter saliva.

"My father gave them assurance. That's what makes them the ideal client for me."

"What do you mean, guarantee them?" I don't understand the meaning of his statement.

“They say this about money, but the truth is, my father was just scared. If he fails to win his case, it will be a huge blow to his career. I can realize he may be involved in dishonest business practices as well. Therefore, he left his case like that.

"For all those reasons, you should stay away from that Nolan, otherwise you get in trouble..."

"But that's why I can't. If I step forward and win, it means I've surpassed my father."

Back then, I had a flashback.

"If he wants to surpass his father, winning the case left by his father is the only way to do it." Exactly as Timo predicted ...

"As I said before, it's all about defeating my father. For that, some sacrifices have to be made. No matter what it takes, I'll do what I have to do."

No matter what it takes, is it?

"Like using me?"

"Yes. That's also ..."

I don't want to hear this anymore!

I turned my back from her direction and ran as fast as I could.

"Julia!" His voice called from behind, but I kept running, too afraid to look back.

*That's the last thing I want to hear! What did I expect, asking such a stupid question?! In the end he still intends to use me also*.

I ran away from the party and hailed a taxi. I gave my address to the driver and dropped into the seat, to finally catch my breath. When I touched my hair, I realized that the flower Nolan had given me was gone.

Even though she said all that to me, why am I still sad to lose that flower ... What's wrong with me?

"Aww.." Climbing out of the taxi, the pain of running in new high heels was felt to make me limp.

I have no business wearing these high heels... And again, I have no business going to a party like that either. Why do I have to be in pain like this? The world where Nolan and I live is so different, it's also what makes my heart hurt.

I took off my high heels, without wearing any footwear at all, I stood up and walked towards the entrance of Lilac Court. Trying hard to let go of all the pain that filled my heart.