Chapter 13
Floyd’s attempts at making funny faces. weren’t great, but Lumina always laughed heartily, encouraging him.
On New Year’s Eve that year, he had arranged a grand display of fireworks across the city.
As the fireworks burst in the sky, Lumina’s eyes sparkled as she asked him,
“Are all those bright fireworks up there really my mommy and daddy watching over me?”
“Of course,” he replied, “your Mom and Dad will always be with you, just like I am now.”
It was also that night when Floyd kissed Lumina’s cheek for the first time. The feeling was hard to describe. It was as if, in that moment, Floyd had the whole world.
He still remembered the day they announced their engagement, Lumina‘ st
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vibrant face as she jumped into his arms and asked, “Do you really want to marry
me?”
He knew that, since losing her parents, Lumina had struggled with feelings of inferiority. She felt like an orphan with nothing but a sincere heart, unable to fight for the Shields Family fortune against greedy relatives.
In the world of high society, sometimes sincerity meant nothing. She often doubted. whether she deserved love, whether shet was worthy of it.
When she asked, her voice was tentative, tinged with a quiet sorrow, as though one wrong answer would make her burst into
tears.
At that moment, Floyd‘ s heart ached for her. He cupped her face and gently kissed. away the tears on her cheek, saying, “Of course, I will marry you. You‘ re the only one I’ll ever marry.”
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In that instant, he felt like Lumina truly came alive.
She shed her cautious exterior and became vibrant and lively, full of energy and love every day. Especially when she saw other women getting close to him, she turned into a possessive little lioness, ready to defend her territory.
At first, Floyd found it amusing.
After all, what man doesn‘ t enjoy the feeling of being firmly claimed by the one he loves?
As time went on, Floyd began to grow impatient. He started longing for more. space and freedom and they often argued. over trivial things.
Each time, it was Lumina who would come to him, her eyes red, apologizing like a frightened little rabbit. She would
nervously pinch the side of her thumb and
index finger, a habit she had whenever she felt anxious or scared.
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“Floyd, I promise I won’t do that again. Please don’t be mad, okay? Don’t leave me. I have nothing left but you.”
In the end, Lumina had always been at a disadvantage in their relationship from the very beginning.
She was the one always afraid, always apologizing, always uncertain about what she had to lose.
From start to finish, Floyd passively embraced the emotional dynamics of their relationship, holding Lumina firmly in his grip.
However, when it came to calming her insecurities or fostering an equal, balanced love, he never took the initiative.
Perhaps deep down, he believed that the sensitive, fragile and helpless Lumina was the one he could control, the one who would make him feel a sense of achievement that he could never lose. Thus, what seemed like a stable
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relationship began to crumble once Tracie reappeared.
Floyd remembered that Lumina had made it clear many times that she didn’t want him to get too close to Tracie.
Tracie wasn’t someone Lumina could rely on. Why should he follow her wishes?
Gradually, Tracie’s gentle attentiveness. and Lumina’s reckless, childish behavior stood in stark contrast to each other.
