Page 209 of My Ruthless Neighbor

Each day I have felt the longing in every cell of my body for him despite what he did.

Even thousands of miles couldn’t keep him away from invading my thoughts.

He didn’t break my heart. Not really. I did it myself. I loved him so much that’s why it hurt so much. I broke my own heart by holding on, thinking he would choose me over his past. The past he was so defensive about that he was ready to drop me in a heartbeat rather than opening up.

And still, this stupid heart beats for him and only him. That’s why I left. I needed space. I couldn’t stay near him. It hurt too much and I wanted to get away from him.

The opportunity presented itself when I received a call from Mrs. Kim that night when I reached home.

She and I have gotten close with time. I received a call from her the night when I discovered I was being followed by the people of Genesis Media.

That night, I was feeling awfully vulnerable and alone, so I didn’t think twice before answering her call. Archer had restricted to contact her but that became invalid the minute he called our relationship a mistake.

So I answered her call. I remember bursting into tears when she asked, “What’s wrong, dear?”

I didn’t really tell her what happened between Archer and me but she understood. The next day, we met. The entire week before the leak of the campaign, Mrs. Kim and I started meeting every other day.

She never pried about my relationship with her son during those lunches and dinners and for that I was utterly grateful.

Mrs. Kim Ha-Ri and I developed a bond that was strong and special. That’s why I called her that day. The day when I was humiliated and accused by the man I loved.

Again, I kept the details to myself. I didn’t tell her why I was sobbing over the phone. I just said that I was having a bad day and wanted to hear her voice. Which was partially true. I really wanted to hear her sweet voice. Because apart from mom, she was the only woman I came to care about. She wasn’t just Mrs. Kim. She was now a mother figure in my life who listened to my silence and understood what I was feeling.

That’s what happened. She somehow sensed that I needed her company, so I went to see her.

“I’m leaving,” I told her after I was done crying on her shoulder.

“Leaving?” She asks, a frown marring her forehead.

I nod, sniffling. “I can’t go back to my apartment. I ne-need to get away.” My voice cracks.

Her hand stokes my hair. “Where would you go, honey?”

I look at her with tears in my eyes. “I don’t know,” I whisper. When the tears fall, I swipe at them and say, “A hotel perhaps.”

“So you could spend all day and night crying in the hotel room?” She shakes her head. “No. I won’t let you go to a hotel.”

“But Ma,”

“No buts.” She holds up a hand. “You told me not to ask any questions and I respect your wishes even though it’s tearing me apart watching you in pain.” Her lip trembles.

When her eyes glisten, I release a pained sound and hug her. She strokes my back. “You can come to live with us.” I have met Mr. Kim as well. It felt like I knew him since forever. His warm welcome brought tears to my eyes because I never knew a father figure could be this loving. That was also the day they insisted I call them Ma and Pa.

And while the invitation meant everything, I needed to be alone. I draw back. “I can’t, Ma. I need to spend some time alone.”

She understood and suggested I come here, in Switzerland where they had a Chalet. “If you need to be alone, you might as well spend that time somewhere beautiful. We have a property there. A chalet. I’ll make it ready for your stay.”

“Ma—”

She cuts me off. “No. It’s either that or our place. I won’t let you isolate yourself in a hotel.”

She didn’t let me pay a penny and arranged everything. “You’re my daughter.” That’s all she said and I couldn’t argue to that.

And here I am. Though I have been here for about a week, this is only the second day of my sight-seeing.

I did exactly what Ma dreaded. Crying all day and night. Got out only to walk Goldie then I was back to my room.

Raleigh, Hannah, Ma, Brielle pretty much everyone forced me to get out of the bed by relentlessly calling my phone every minute.

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