These ten years, it's true, were not easy.

Neither Leo nor I came from money.

He was an orphan, and my parents divorced and remarried, and neither of them wanted me.

I was raised by my grandpa.

In high school, we were always competing for first and second place.

Everyone in our class thought we were mortal enemies.

But none of them knew that Leo secretly left a carton of milk in my desk every day, or that he'd follow me from a distance after our late-night study sessions to make sure I got home safe.

I remember one year, a punk from the local community college took a liking to me and started showing up at my school to bother me.

Without a second thought, Leo got into a fight with him.

He fought like a maniac, getting his head busted open.

After that, no one ever bothered me again.

They all knew Leo was a madman.

After high school graduation, we naturally got together.

After college, we were both stubborn and determined to make it in a city as expensive as New York.

We lived in a dark, damp basement apartment.

We shared single bowls of instant ramen.

The first year he started his business, he lost a huge amount of money.

To pay off the debt, he worked three jobs a day.

We scrimped and saved, living on a shoestring budget.

I remember there was a rich kid who was interested in me and wanted me to be with him.

Leo, with red-rimmed eyes, tried to break up with me.

"What's so good about being with me? It's just hardship and struggle. You should be with someone better."

Back then, I was completely devoted to him and refused to break up no matter what.

He cried until his whole body shook, holding me and telling me he was sorry, promising he would give me a better life one day.

Later, his company started to take off.

With the first real money he made, he took me to buy a one-carat diamond ring.

He held my hand, smiling, and promised that one day he'd buy me an even bigger one.

Thinking back on it now, it's all just so ironic.

I pushed him away with all my might, tears streaming down my face.

"You know we have ten years of history, Leo. How could you do this to me?"

My fists rained down on him, and he just took it, not making a sound.

Just then, the ringing of Maya's call broke the standoff.

I watched Leo pick up the phone, frown, and decline the call.

The phone immediately started ringing again.

His face turned grim as he moved to turn it off.

I watched coldly. "Answer it. What if it's something important?"

Mindful of my presence, Leo didn't hide to take the call like he usually would have.

He put it on speaker.

A hesitant, tearful voice came through the phone.

"Leo, I'm in the bathroom at The Velvet Room... some guy won't stop harassing me. Can you please come get me?"

Leo exploded, his words cold and merciless.

"What's that got to do with me? Don't you forget your place, Maya. As of tomorrow, you're fired. And you're not to ever come near me again, or you'll regret it."

Maya sounded incredulous, her voice choked with tears.

"What do you mean? Are you breaking things off with me? Why, Leo? Didn't you say you loved me? You even said you were going to marry—"

"Shut up!" Leo cut her off viciously.

"The only person I will ever marry is Sierra. I was lying to you. I never liked you. I was just playing with you."

Maya let out a piercing laugh.

After a moment, her voice turned sinister.

"Leo, I'm pregnant. I'm giving you thirty minutes. If you're not here, I'll get rid of your child."

The next second, the line went dead.

Leo stared blankly at his phone, unable to process what had just happened.

His hand tightened around the phone, his knuckles turning white from the force.

After a few seconds, as if he'd made a decision, he looked at me, his tone pleading.

"Sierra..."

I asked him, "Are you going to go? Are you going to leave me for her again?"

Leo hesitated, torn.

Finally, he spoke carefully.

"It's a life, isn't it?"

He was waiting for my decision.

He wanted my permission to leave, to absolve himself of the guilt.

But I refused to nod.

He watched the time tick by, and finally, he couldn't stand it anymore and stood up.

"Sierra, I'll just go check on her, and I'll be right back. Wait for me."

He was in such a hurry he didn't even wait for my answer, rushing towards the door.

Just as his hand touched the doorknob, I spoke, a smile on my face.

"Leo, I actually had a secret to tell you tonight, too. But it doesn't matter anymore."

But he didn't have time to reply.

He was already frantically dialing his phone as he opened the door and left.

Once the sound of his footsteps faded down the hall, I composed myself, pulling a handkerchief from my purse and slowly, deliberately, wiping away my tears.

I learned from a very young age that besides your fists, tears are the most powerful weapon.

Especially when you cry beautifully, in a way that makes people want to protect you.

Growing up with my grandpa, the kids in the neighborhood always called me an orphan, a bastard with no mom or dad.

I would always smile as I beat them black and blue, and then, when the teachers came, I would cry a river of tears, so pitiful that no one could bear to punish me.

Even Leo never knew that if he hadn't stepped in, I had my own ways of making that bully who harassed me pay a price.

I've always been the kind of person who repays every slight, who settles every score.

So, Leo... Maya... how could I possibly let either of you go?