The Heart I Gave You

We once lived happily here for a long time.

Maybe he still hasn't been able to forget.

That's why he wants to demolish this building. Demolish every memory tied to me.

But none of that matters anymore.

The service life of an artificial heart is only seven years. Whether Alex forgives me or not, however the world sees me—my life entered its countdown the moment I made my choice seven years ago.

Life is too short. Too short for sighing.

Before death arrives, I only have one way forward—give it everything.

I tidied up the room and waited for the evening's clients.

But that night, it wasn't my regulars who showed up.

It was a pack of vicious thugs.

The rickety door flew open with one kick. They shoved me around, smashing everything in sight.

The lackey in front bowed and scraped to the woman standing off to the side.

I recognized her—Lola Pruitt. Alex's fiancée. The one he'd pursued by throwing around obscene amounts of money.

Lola looked gentle, but her temper was vicious.

The moment our eyes met, she slapped me across the face.

Her sharp nails raked my cheek. She pinched my chin and sneered. "So this is Alex's first love? Doesn't look like much."

"How could she make him unable to forget her for so many years?"

The lackey gave an awkward laugh, still bowing. "How could she compare to you, Lola? She's just a shameless slut. Not even qualified to carry your shoes. If she hadn't used tricks to show up in front of Alex today, I'd never have let her dirty your eyes!"

Lola's gaze grew even more contemptuous.

She covered her mouth in disgust and handed over a camcorder. "Since she's Alex's first love, of course we have to take extra good care of her. Seeing your business is so dead, I found some people to liven things up."

She smiled. "Serve my brothers properly, and I'll find you even more customers."

Under her direction, a group of hulking men with brutal faces moved toward me.

I shook my head in panic. "No, you misunderstood, I'm not—"

Before I could finish, a hand yanked my hair and hurled me sideways.

My body slammed into the wardrobe.

A loud crash—and that long-sealed photo was exposed.

I instinctively reached out to shield it.

The next second, a foot in custom-made leather shoes came down without hesitation.

Glass shards stabbed into my palm. Blood seeped out, staining the photo beneath.

Through the bone-deep pain, I lifted my head.

Alex's face was ice-cold.

He frowned, his gaze passing over me like I was nothing, landing on Lola. "What are you doing?"

Lola wasn't afraid at all. She smiled and hooked her arm through his. "Nothing. Just helping you vent your anger. This woman did that to you back then—I'm not going to let her have it easy."

A trace of a smile finally appeared on that cold face.

Alex reached out and rubbed Lola's head, letting out a soft laugh. "Leave these things to the people under you. Why dirty your eyes because of her?"

That careful, gentle tenderness—it was like looking through time at what I used to be.

Back then, I leaned into Alex's arms the same way. Face full of happiness.

Dreaming of our sweet future together.