In order to be worthy of Ceasar, I, a college freshman at the time, enrolled in the same computer science program he was in and worked tirelessly to master programming. I pushed myself to become an outstanding developer, turning down high-paying job offers from top companies. With a thick face, I managed to secure a position at Ceasar’s company, all in the hope that he might glance my way.
Ceasar once told me, "Helen, once this game is officially launched, we’ll be together."
But he broke his promise.
Looking back now, my past infatuation seems so laughable.
He didn’t love me, which is why he always treated me with such indifference.
Even on the day I confessed my feelings to him, he first gave me a little bit of sweetness to reel me in, making sure I’d devote myself to developing the game for him.
After all, I was the core engineer of the development team at that time. I was useful and didn’t demand any money, so of course, he wanted me to work hard for him.
How did I not see that back then?
Tracy suddenly burst into laughter. But this time, unlike when she laughed in front of me alone, her laughter had a playful, almost flirtatious edge as she teased, "What's going on, Ceasar? This is Helena—don't you recognize her?"
Ceasar froze for a moment before quickly walking up to me, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.
"How did you end up like this?" he asked.
Once, I had eagerly hoped for Ceasar's gaze to fall on me. Whether it was kind or harsh, I would have been overjoyed for the whole day.
Yet, after five years of humiliation and suffering, my back was bent and I no longer harbored any feelings for Ceasar.
As he approached, inspecting me with such intensity, all I felt was fear and trembling, terrified that in the next moment, I would receive a slap or a harsh kick. My throat tightened and I couldn’t bring myself to answer him.
To Ceasar, however, my silence seemed like stubborn defiance, as if I still hadn't truly understood.
"Is this your attitude?" he pressed, his voice turning colder. "Do you think it was a mistake to send you back to think things over?"
My body tensed and I instinctively took a step back. The words burst out of me in sharp protest.
"No, no... that's not it..."
Just then, my parents appeared.
When I thought they would stand up for their biological daughter, their words immediately shattered that hope and made reality painfully clear.