Farewell, My Love

Chapter 1

[1]

In the year Bryan loved me the most, I started a relationship with a wealthy man and left him.

He swore I would regret it.

When we met again, he had already become a business tycoon with immense influence.

Everyone knew about the ex-girlfriend he despised.

He said, "She deserves to suffer. A woman like her doesn't deserve happiness!"

He didn't know I had a terminal illness.

I only had a few days left to live.

----

[2]

I never expected to run into Bryan in a place like this.

With my eyes downcast, I clutched the skimpy dress I was wearing tightly.

Rhonda gave me a push. "Joanna, what are you standing there for? Get in there!"

I tried to comfort myself. The room was dimly lit, and there were so many people. Bryan wouldn't notice me.

Taking a deep breath, I followed my colleagues into the private room.

But with just one glance, I saw Bryan lounging on the sofa.

He had changed. The boyish innocence was gone from his face, replaced by a powerful and intimidating presence.

Dressed in a tailored suit, every line exuded elegance and sophistication.

My heart ached, and I quickly lowered my gaze, not daring to look at him again.

"Mr. Keller, these are our club's finest girls. See if there's anyone you like."

He glanced at us coldly and uttered a single word. "Leave."

The club owner's face changed, and he quickly waved us out. "Out, all of you. Don't bother Mr. Keller."

I breathed a sigh of relief, my heart settling down. Thankfully, Bryan hadn't seen or recognized me.

Just as I was about to step out the door, a cold voice came from behind.

"Wait, turn around."

Accompanied by footsteps, a pair of high-end black leather shoes appeared before me.

Bryan stood in front of me. "Look up."

I didn't move.

He sneered, gripping my chin forcefully and making me meet his gaze. His eyes were full of mockery.

"So it's Miss Duffy. Didn't you hook up with a rich guy? Why are you out here working?"

"Did that rich guy dump you? Hmm?"

I bit my lip, turning my head to the side without saying a word, feeling a lump in my throat.

He turned to the club owner and chuckled. "Her, and the one next to her, stay."

The club owner rubbed his hands together, his face beaming with joy.

Leyla followed Bryan to the sofa.

Bryan lit a cigarette and looked at me. "Legs broken? Can't walk over?"

"With that attitude, you think you can serve clients? This place must not be very good."

The club owner laughed apologetically. "Mr. Keller, I'm sorry. She's new here. I heard her family is in desperate need of money. If she wasn't a bit pretty, I wouldn't have taken her in."

He then glared at me fiercely. "What are you standing there for? If you don't want to serve clients, you can leave now!"

For a moment, I felt an impulse to turn and leave immediately. But I couldn't. Not now. I needed the money desperately. I needed this high-paying part-time job.

I whispered an apology and walked towards Bryan.

"Short on money? What happened? Did your rich guy dump you?"

"Serves you right."

Bryan played with his lighter, a playful look in his eyes.

He pulled Leyla close and casually tossed her a card. "Here's a hundred thousand. It's yours."

Then he took out another card, looking at me with a sneer. "This one also has a hundred thousand, but it depends on whether you have the skills to earn it."

The people around him seemed to notice Bryan's disdain for me and started to egg him on.

"Let's make it fun. Take off your clothes! I'll bet a hundred thousand for each piece you take off!"

Laughter erupted, and several people pulled out their cards.

"Come on, sweetheart, strip down, and all the money on the table is yours."

Chapter 2

I glanced at the cards on the table. There were five of them.

That meant five hundred thousand dollars.

But I was already wearing a dress, and aside from my undergarments, there was nothing else to take off.

This was clearly a deliberate attempt to humiliate me.

I clenched my fists tightly, my knuckles turning white.

Bryan sneered, his eyes cold.

"Aren't you short on money? Then strip. Seems like you aren't that desperate after all."

"Yeah, Mr. Keller, if she won't strip, just kick her out."

Seeing Bryan's mocking gaze and distant tone felt like a weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I lowered my head, my body trembling.

Bryan, do you really have to humiliate me like this?

I thought of my mother.

I inwardly mocked myself.

Joanna, what won't you do for money?

Yes, for money, I can do anything.

As long as I get paid.

I closed my eyes and reached for the hem of my dress.

Suddenly, Leyla's startled cry came from beside me.

She stammered, "Mr. Keller, you're hurting me."

I opened my eyes and saw a fleeting pallor on Bryan's face.

His hand, which was holding Leyla, was gripping too tightly.

He shoved Leyla away and forcefully pinned me against the sofa.

His eyes were filled with fury.

The familiar warmth of his palm made my heart tremble, but his words were as cold as ice.

"Joanna, are you really this cheap? Willing to throw away your dignity for money?"

My throat felt dry, and I looked away, trying to soothe the sting of my emotions.

"Yes, Mr. Keller, I need money."

Bryan irritably tugged at his collar and spoke without turning back.

"Everyone, get out!"

The room fell silent instantly; no one dared to speak when Bryan was angry.

There was a rustling sound as everyone left.

Now, only the two of us were left in the room.

He calmed down and lit a cigarette.

"Beg me. Show me your skills in serving people. Make me happy, and I'll give you the money."

I took a deep breath, walked towards Bryan, and straddled him.

I reached out to unbutton his shirt.

I could feel Bryan's body tense up.

His breathing became rapid and uneven.

For some reason, memories of the years we were in love surfaced in my mind.

It was the same back then. Just a touch from me would make him stiffen.

His face would flush.

If I kissed him, he would immediately lose all control, becoming wild and irrational.

As I was about to kiss Bryan, he pushed me away forcefully.

I fell to the ground, my waist hitting the edge of the table. It hurt, a lot.

He stood up, looking down at me with disdain.

"Joanna, you're too filthy. You're not worthy."

With that, he turned and left.

I clutched my chest, feeling a heavy weight in my heart.

Tears streamed down my face.

Chapter 3

Every single moment spent with Bryan brought back memories from a few years ago.

Those were the years when Bryan loved me the most, and our relationship was at its best.

One year, on my birthday, he made a cake with his own hands.

He squeezed into a crowded, stuffy train for over ten hours to get to my school.

All to give me a surprise.

He stood for hours waiting for my experiment to end.

I still remember his hair covered in snow, his eyes shining under the starry sky.

His nose was red from the cold.

And that crooked, slightly damaged, yet incredibly sweet cake.

And my heart, both fluttering and tender.

I was once utterly convinced that Bryan and I would have a beautiful future together.

But fate was unwilling to give me that chance.

The following year, our city experienced a once-in-a-century torrential rain.

Bryan volunteered to go to the disaster area for rescue efforts.

Before he left, he gave me all the money and savings he had.

In the night breeze filled with the scent of flowers, he proposed to me.

"Joanna, wait for me. When I come back, we'll get married."

My eyes were red as I hugged his strong back tightly.

"Okay, Bryan, you must come back safely."

As he was about to leave, Bryan nestled against my shoulder, his voice choked with emotion.

"Joanna, you must wait for me. Don't run off with another man! Otherwise, I'll go crazy."

"Don't worry, I, Joanna, will marry no one but Bryan in this lifetime."

It was raining that day, but the drops felt warm on my skin.

Three months later, Bryan came back.

But he came back lying down, having been hit by falling rocks while rescuing people.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and avoided the big rocks, but he couldn't dodge the smaller ones that fell with them.

I heard that the church on the neighboring hill was known for its miracles.

So I climbed thousands of steps, praying with each one, to get him a cross.

I prayed day and night, hoping Bryan would wake up.

Later, Bryan did wake up.

But I was no longer there; I had left him for a rich man.