Nighttime
Inside X Villa, Alexander stepped out of the bathroom. He walked over to the liquor cabinet, took out a bottle of strong alcohol, and leaned elegantly against the plush sofa.
For years, he had been haunted by a strange dream—an indistinct figure appearing and disappearing in the shadows. It seemed to be a woman. Every time, he tried desperately to see her face, but the closer he got, the blurrier she became until she eventually faded into the darkness.
He had no idea how much time had passed when the sudden ringing of the phone in the living room pulled him back to reality. Reaching out, he picked up the receiver. A voice from the other end said, "Sir, we've found something. Your sister is alive."
Alexander's body tensed instantly. His grip on the receiver tightened involuntarily...
***
Early the Next Morning
Phoebe arrived at LD Corporation bright and early.
The HR staff led her to the design department. Throug
For the past month, Phoebe's work had been progressing smoothly. She quickly adapted to the team and earned the recognition of both her colleagues and superiors. However, as her workload increased, the time she spent with the children grew less and less."Jeremy, are you sure this will help us find Mommy?" Amy stood at the kindergarten gate, her face full of worry as she looked up at Jeremy."Of course!" Jeremy grinned with confidence. "Just follow me closely."With that, he tightly grasped Amy's small hand, leading her toward the bus stop like a little adult.After a long bus ride, they finally arrived near the city center. Jeremy carefully helped Amy off the bus, holding her hand firmly. As they approached the entrance of LD Corporation, just as they were about to step inside, Amy suddenly frowned and tugged at Jeremy's hand anxiously."Jeremy, I need to go potty.""You're so troublesome." Jeremy scrunched his little brows in frustration a
OfficePhoebe was fully engrossed in her work, her eyes scanning the design proposal on her screen with meticulous focus. The office was silent except for the rhythmic tapping of her keyboard and her soft breathing. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the stillness. She instinctively looked up and saw a police officer walking toward her."Excuse me, are you Miss Phoebe Garcia?"Phoebe frowned slightly, puzzled. "Yes, I am. May I ask what this is about?""It's about your child. She's downstairs waiting for you," the officer explained briefly.Phoebe's face turned pale in an instant. Without hesitation, she rushed toward the front desk.Jeremy recounted everything that had happened, his voice filled with urgency. Phoebe, though shaken, took a deep breath to calm herself and turned to the officer. "Officer, can we check the security footage?""Of course. I'll request authorization now." The officer made a quick phone call,
In the car ride home, Jeremy sat sulking in his seat, puffing out his cheeks, eyes fixed straight ahead, completely ignoring Amy. Amy gazed at him pitifully. She had apologized several times, but Jeremy remained unmoved.Amy felt both aggrieved and anxious. Is Jeremy really that angry with me? Is he just going to ignore me like this? No, she couldn't stand it. She didn't want her brother to keep giving her the cold shoulder."Jeremy, I'm sorry. Please talk to me. Forgive me, will you?" Amy sobbed as she stole glances at Jeremy, desperately hoping he would at least spare her a glance — even just a fleeting one.Jeremy folded his arms tightly across his chest and turned his head toward the window, deliberately avoiding Amy's gaze. He secretly made a vow to himself: From now on, I'm never taking her out again.Seeing that Jeremy still refused to pay her any attention, Amy had no choice but to seek help from their mother. She threw herself into Phoebe's
Monday, Alexander's office.The sharp scent of nicotine hung heavily in the air, making it hard to breathe. The thick curtains were drawn tightly shut, blocking out even the faintest trace of sunlight. On the desk, countless files were scattered—each one filled with information about a certain woman.Alexander sat there, eyes tightly shut, brows deeply furrowed. He had locked himself in the office for two whole days, isolating himself from the outside world entirely.For the past two days, it felt like he was wandering through a maze of agony, memories flashing through his mind like fragmented images. The stories Dana had told him surfaced again and again, chaotically piecing together inside his head.Maybe it was because those memories were too familiar. Maybe it was the scent that lingered around him lately, or the figure that haunted his dreams. He had lost his memory for five years, but within these two days—it all came flooding back.All the love, all the hatred, played like a mo
Phoebe's fingers hovered over the cold doorknob for a second, her knuckles whitening. She drew a sharp breath and pushed open the heavy black door.The CEO's office was more expansive than she had imagined. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering cityscape beyond, while at the center of the room, a large black executive chair sat with its high back turned toward her—tall enough to nearly obscure the figure seated in it."Sir, I'm the new secretary, Phoebe Garcia." Her voice cut through the silence, so clear she could hear the faint tremor in her own words.No response.The chair rotated slowly, and Phoebe's gaze traveled upward—over polished leather shoes, long legs, an immaculately tailored suit—until it landed on that face.Alexander Knight.Her breath hitched. Her pupils constricted. It was as if every drop of blood in her veins had frozen solid.Thud. The cardboard box in her arms crashed to the floor, the small potted succulent inside shattering, soil streaking her skirt.
Upon reaching it, he freed one hand and, with a swift motion, swept everything off the surface.A loud crash echoed through the office as papers, stationery, and files scattered across the floor.The next second, Alexander carefully laid Phoebe down on the now-empty desk. She instinctively tried to sit up and escape, but before she could make a move, his towering frame loomed over her, pinning her beneath him.Phoebe's hands immediately pushed against him, her voice trembling with near desperation. "No, don't."But Alexander was far too strong. In an instant, he seized her wrists and forced them above her head, rendering her completely immobile."Isn't this the reason you came back?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.Phoebe's eyes welled up with tears. "I didn't… The public records never indicated you were the owner of this company. If I had known, I—"Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander abruptly leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce, stormy kiss that swallowed her wor
Phoebe covered her lips, tears streaming down her face as she ran toward the restroom. She kept her head low, afraid of letting anyone see her in such a disheveled state. Once inside, she hurried into a stall, locked the door tightly, and slowly crouched down, wrapping her arms around her knees as she broke into uncontrollable sobs.Her cries echoed within the small cubicle, filled with sorrow and despair, as if trying to release all the grievances she had suppressed over the years. She cried for what felt like an eternity until her eyes were so swollen she could barely keep them open.Standing up shakily, Phoebe walked to the mirror and stared at her reflection—her puffy, distorted eyes a stark reminder of her breakdown. She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands under the icy water, and splashed it onto her face repeatedly. The coldness stung her skin, but it also helped her regain a bit of clarity. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and made a firm decision in her heart.Ba
"Phoebe, pack your things and report to the CEO's office now!" the HR manager, Alvis, commanded.Phoebe, who had been carefully organizing documents at her desk, immediately stopped what she was doing and responded, "Got it, sir!""I mean NOW! Don't keep boss waiting!" Alvis urged. Phoebe didn't dare hesitate any longer and hurriedly stood up to gather her belongings.Ten minutes later, she was on the top floor, her arms full of items.The company had been doing well, but for some reason, it was mysteriously acquired by an unknown corporation last week, and with that, a new boss had taken over.The news had shocked the entire staff, including Phoebe. But what puzzled her even more was how she had inexplicably become the new CEO's secretary.Was she lucky or unlucky?On one hand, her salary had doubled, but on the other, she had suddenly become the target of envy and hostility from the female employees.As she stepped out of the elevator and arrived at the CEO's office door, she knocke
Phoebe covered her lips, tears streaming down her face as she ran toward the restroom. She kept her head low, afraid of letting anyone see her in such a disheveled state. Once inside, she hurried into a stall, locked the door tightly, and slowly crouched down, wrapping her arms around her knees as she broke into uncontrollable sobs.Her cries echoed within the small cubicle, filled with sorrow and despair, as if trying to release all the grievances she had suppressed over the years. She cried for what felt like an eternity until her eyes were so swollen she could barely keep them open.Standing up shakily, Phoebe walked to the mirror and stared at her reflection—her puffy, distorted eyes a stark reminder of her breakdown. She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands under the icy water, and splashed it onto her face repeatedly. The coldness stung her skin, but it also helped her regain a bit of clarity. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and made a firm decision in her heart.Ba
Upon reaching it, he freed one hand and, with a swift motion, swept everything off the surface.A loud crash echoed through the office as papers, stationery, and files scattered across the floor.The next second, Alexander carefully laid Phoebe down on the now-empty desk. She instinctively tried to sit up and escape, but before she could make a move, his towering frame loomed over her, pinning her beneath him.Phoebe's hands immediately pushed against him, her voice trembling with near desperation. "No, don't."But Alexander was far too strong. In an instant, he seized her wrists and forced them above her head, rendering her completely immobile."Isn't this the reason you came back?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.Phoebe's eyes welled up with tears. "I didn't… The public records never indicated you were the owner of this company. If I had known, I—"Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander abruptly leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce, stormy kiss that swallowed her wor
Phoebe's fingers hovered over the cold doorknob for a second, her knuckles whitening. She drew a sharp breath and pushed open the heavy black door.The CEO's office was more expansive than she had imagined. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering cityscape beyond, while at the center of the room, a large black executive chair sat with its high back turned toward her—tall enough to nearly obscure the figure seated in it."Sir, I'm the new secretary, Phoebe Garcia." Her voice cut through the silence, so clear she could hear the faint tremor in her own words.No response.The chair rotated slowly, and Phoebe's gaze traveled upward—over polished leather shoes, long legs, an immaculately tailored suit—until it landed on that face.Alexander Knight.Her breath hitched. Her pupils constricted. It was as if every drop of blood in her veins had frozen solid.Thud. The cardboard box in her arms crashed to the floor, the small potted succulent inside shattering, soil streaking her skirt.
Monday, Alexander's office.The sharp scent of nicotine hung heavily in the air, making it hard to breathe. The thick curtains were drawn tightly shut, blocking out even the faintest trace of sunlight. On the desk, countless files were scattered—each one filled with information about a certain woman.Alexander sat there, eyes tightly shut, brows deeply furrowed. He had locked himself in the office for two whole days, isolating himself from the outside world entirely.For the past two days, it felt like he was wandering through a maze of agony, memories flashing through his mind like fragmented images. The stories Dana had told him surfaced again and again, chaotically piecing together inside his head.Maybe it was because those memories were too familiar. Maybe it was the scent that lingered around him lately, or the figure that haunted his dreams. He had lost his memory for five years, but within these two days—it all came flooding back.All the love, all the hatred, played like a mo
In the car ride home, Jeremy sat sulking in his seat, puffing out his cheeks, eyes fixed straight ahead, completely ignoring Amy. Amy gazed at him pitifully. She had apologized several times, but Jeremy remained unmoved.Amy felt both aggrieved and anxious. Is Jeremy really that angry with me? Is he just going to ignore me like this? No, she couldn't stand it. She didn't want her brother to keep giving her the cold shoulder."Jeremy, I'm sorry. Please talk to me. Forgive me, will you?" Amy sobbed as she stole glances at Jeremy, desperately hoping he would at least spare her a glance — even just a fleeting one.Jeremy folded his arms tightly across his chest and turned his head toward the window, deliberately avoiding Amy's gaze. He secretly made a vow to himself: From now on, I'm never taking her out again.Seeing that Jeremy still refused to pay her any attention, Amy had no choice but to seek help from their mother. She threw herself into Phoebe's
OfficePhoebe was fully engrossed in her work, her eyes scanning the design proposal on her screen with meticulous focus. The office was silent except for the rhythmic tapping of her keyboard and her soft breathing. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the stillness. She instinctively looked up and saw a police officer walking toward her."Excuse me, are you Miss Phoebe Garcia?"Phoebe frowned slightly, puzzled. "Yes, I am. May I ask what this is about?""It's about your child. She's downstairs waiting for you," the officer explained briefly.Phoebe's face turned pale in an instant. Without hesitation, she rushed toward the front desk.Jeremy recounted everything that had happened, his voice filled with urgency. Phoebe, though shaken, took a deep breath to calm herself and turned to the officer. "Officer, can we check the security footage?""Of course. I'll request authorization now." The officer made a quick phone call,
For the past month, Phoebe's work had been progressing smoothly. She quickly adapted to the team and earned the recognition of both her colleagues and superiors. However, as her workload increased, the time she spent with the children grew less and less."Jeremy, are you sure this will help us find Mommy?" Amy stood at the kindergarten gate, her face full of worry as she looked up at Jeremy."Of course!" Jeremy grinned with confidence. "Just follow me closely."With that, he tightly grasped Amy's small hand, leading her toward the bus stop like a little adult.After a long bus ride, they finally arrived near the city center. Jeremy carefully helped Amy off the bus, holding her hand firmly. As they approached the entrance of LD Corporation, just as they were about to step inside, Amy suddenly frowned and tugged at Jeremy's hand anxiously."Jeremy, I need to go potty.""You're so troublesome." Jeremy scrunched his little brows in frustration a
NighttimeInside X Villa, Alexander stepped out of the bathroom. He walked over to the liquor cabinet, took out a bottle of strong alcohol, and leaned elegantly against the plush sofa.For years, he had been haunted by a strange dream—an indistinct figure appearing and disappearing in the shadows. It seemed to be a woman. Every time, he tried desperately to see her face, but the closer he got, the blurrier she became until she eventually faded into the darkness.He had no idea how much time had passed when the sudden ringing of the phone in the living room pulled him back to reality. Reaching out, he picked up the receiver. A voice from the other end said, "Sir, we've found something. Your sister is alive."Alexander's body tensed instantly. His grip on the receiver tightened involuntarily...***Early the Next MorningPhoebe arrived at LD Corporation bright and early.The HR staff led her to the design department. Throug
At the kindergarten.Amy sat quietly on the swing, gently swaying back and forth. Tilting her head slightly, she gazed at Jeremy in the distance and murmured, "Jeremy, I'm not happy."Jeremy didn't even lift his head. He simply responded coldly, "Talk."Amy's eyes flickered with confusion and curiosity as she said, "Everyone else has a dad." She pointed toward a group of children playing not far away. Among them, a little boy was being lifted high into the air by his father, laughter ringing out."Mhm, I know. We have one too," Jeremy replied, still focused on his work."You mean Daddy Gavin?" Amy tilted her head."Mhm." Jeremy was beginning to lose patience. To him, Amy's questions were far too childish."Then why doesn't Daddy Gavin live with us?""Because Daddy Gavin isn't really our dad." Jeremy finally stopped what he was doing, his tone serious."Why not?""There's no reason. He just isn't.""Then who is our real dad?"Jeremy's body stiffened slightly. He slowly put down the blu