A Love Beyond Repair, Until We Meet Again

My club was having financial troubles, and when I went to review the accounts, I unexpectedly found my boyfriend, Gabriel Zephyr, there.

Pointing a finger at my nose, Gabriel said coldly, “Sophia Yeats, I told you—my circle isn’t for you. How did you get in?”

His childhood sweetheart, Heather Sinclair, smirked and chimed in, “Alright, Gabriel, let Sophia stay. Consider it a lesson for her. After all, someone like her will never get into The Onyx Society on her own.”

His friends exchanged half-smiles, their eyes full of contempt.

With a look of disdain, Gabriel added, “Fine, you can stay—but don’t say a word. Don’t embarrass me.”

——

“Fine, you can stay—but don’t say a word. Don’t embarrass me.”

This time, his voice dripped with impatience.

Truthfully, I no longer wanted to stay. I was only here because of a financial issue—I hadn’t filed my tax return, which was serious, so I came immediately to handle it.

What I hadn’t expected was to run into Gabriel and his entertainment circle friends here.

I’d pursued Gabriel since college. He had many admirers, but eventually became my boyfriend.

Back then, Gabriel often said, “Sophia, look at all the people chasing me—they’re rich and attractive. Yet I didn’t choose wealth, I chose love. Doesn’t that deserve your lifelong devotion?”

I had to admit, in terms of looks alone, Gabriel could rank top three at Princeton University.

He had a radiant personality—cheerful, sunny, gentle, and considerate.

Even in high school, he was already a well-known columnist.

To me, Gabriel choosing me felt like a gift I didn’t deserve.

At first, I battled low self-esteem.

But Gabriel encouraged me. “Sophia, you’re the woman I, Gabriel, have chosen. You’ll definitely succeed.”

Later, I did succeed—earning my first fortune from an app I developed in college, then investing in multiple projects.

Those years, I was endlessly busy, sometimes not seeing him for a week.

By the time I had free time to share my achievements, his childhood sweetheart, Heather, had returned from abroad.

What followed was three years of Gabriel’s indifference.

Even when I tried telling him about my net worth, he wouldn’t listen.

He’d shrug and say, “Sophia, we’re just dating. You don’t need to disclose your assets to me.”

Then he’d drive off. When I asked where, he’d reply he was meeting friends.

Whenever I asked if he was meeting Heather again, Gabriel would look at me with disgust and sneer, “Heather and I grew up together. Even if something did happen, what’s it to you?”

It’s not that men and women can’t have pure friendship, but pure friendship requires boundaries. And no woman likes “female bros” or “childhood sweethearts” hanging around her boyfriend.

If I asked him to go out with me, he’d say something like today: “Sophia, I told you—my circle isn’t for you. Why did you come?”

So I chose not to intrude, trusting him and giving him freedom.

Just as today, I was here only to check the accounts.

[What are you standing there for?]

[Come in!]

Seeing me standing silently in the hallway, Gabriel pulled me aside, his voice thick with contempt. “Things at the Onyx Diamond Lounge are expensive. Don’t mess around. Don’t break anything—you’re so stingy! I can’t stand it.”

Heather, pretending I wasn’t his legitimate girlfriend, draped an arm over Gabriel’s shoulders. “Relax, Gabriel, none of us here is short on money. Even if Sophia wrecks the private room, we can afford it.” She glanced at me, then at her own hands, and added with feigned innocence, “Oh, Sophia, don’t take this the wrong way. We grew up like family—shoulder shakes mean nothing. But if you mind, I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Heather, ignore her. She’s stingy in life and jealous in love,” Gabriel said, slipping an arm around her waist and throwing me a provocative look. “Do you have any objections?”

I shook my head, and my voice calmed. “No problem. If you’re going to keep putting on a show, I’d rather it be more entertaining.”