Phoebe woke up after three hours of sleep.Habitually, she reached out to feel the space beside her—cold and empty.Opening her eyes, she turned to the side, and his voice echoed in her mind. Her face instantly paled, and she fought back tears, telling herself not to cry.Beneath the sheets, she lay bare, curling into a small ball, staring blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings. Her memories only went as far as the office—had he carried her here?She didn't know where she was, but she felt safe. The décor was distinctly Alexander's, and the sheets still carried his scent.Taking a deep breath, she inhaled his familiar fragrance, then closed her eyes again, a single crystal tear escaping from the corner of her eye.His cold tone replayed in her mind, stirring a wave of pain in her heart. And Melissa—if it were her, he certainly wouldn't act this way.Did he truly not care for her at all?But what could she do? She liked him so much—his good side, his bad side, his domineering nature, a
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Phoebe curled up tightly in her blanket.She knew Alexander was back, but she didn't want to see him at all.Why did he have to return? He should be with Melissa."Are you hungry?" Alexander's magnetic voice came close to her ear.Worried she might be starving, Alexander had dropped Melissa off at the villa and rushed back to her.Phoebe pretended not to hear him, acting as if nothing had happened, though her fidgeting gave her away.He chuckled lightly, in a particularly good mood, and decided to coax her. After leaving her alone, he could tolerate a little of her sulking."Get up and eat something." He had teased her for so long in the afternoon, and now leaving her here alone at night—it was only natural for her to throw a little tantrum.Seeing her feign sleep, Alexander smirked and reached under the blanket, pulling her out. Only she would dare to be petulant with him, and he actually enjoyed it.He held her in his arms, expecting her to be
Love? Should he call her foolish or naive? The only value a woman had was to satisfy his desires. No woman was worth his affection anymore, and there never would be.He looked at her with disdain. "You'd better know your place. Don't forget, you're just a prostitute I bought—nothing more than a tool for my pleasure."Her heart twisted painfully. His words always left her feeling hurt and humiliated."You already have Melissa. You like her, so why don't you go to her instead of controlling me?" she cried."Do you really think that if I sleep with you a few more times, you'll become special?" His gaze was laced with mockery."Then why do you keep me around?""Your body tastes great." That was the only reason he kept her close.His degrading words sent a chill down her spine. "But I don't want this! I don't want to be your plastic doll! Go find someone else! Don't come to me!"Her resistance ignited a raging fire within him. He already craved her body, but her defiance only made him want
A tearing pain throbbed beneath her, where streaks of dark blood stained her pale thighs.Phoebe stumbled into the rain, her heart sinking slowly into an abyss.She stood alone in the downpour, the heavy rain soaking her frail body. Covering her face, she gradually sank to the ground, tears streaming down in desperate despair.Her body ached, her heart ached, and she cried helplessly, a wretched mess. This was the saddest she had ever felt, fighting back tears that threatened to spill.How had she allowed herself to become so broken? She was a strong woman—when had she begun to feel so pitiful?Phoebe, don't cry!It wasn't such a big deal; why was she crying? Were her tears really so worthless?She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to hide the pain within. He had finally let her go, and she should be happy. This phase of her life was over—she was finally free and wouldn't have to endure his brutality any longer.She needed to forget him, as if he had never existed in her world.She
Alexander drove aimlessly through the streets, unsure of what he was doing.Ever since Phoebe had run out, his heart had been in turmoil, as if some invisible force was compelling him to search the streets for something.He circled around the road several times, his gaze fixed on the window.Damn it, it was late, and still raining—where could she possibly be?He should have been indifferent to her fate, but just the thought of her wearing that revealing outfit, the one he had torn, made him feel inexplicably uneasy. He didn't want any man to see her like that.After searching for what felt like an eternity, he abruptly stopped the car at a corner.In the rain, he couldn't see clearly, but he caught a glimpse of a couple not far away. He drove closer, took a quick glance, and then moved on.However, in that moment of departure, he glanced back through the rearview mirror.After a long search, he slammed his fist down on the steering wheel in frustration.Damn it! Where could she have g
Phoebe slept for two full days and nights. She was in a deep, heavy slumber. Perhaps she was simply too exhausted to wake up, lying in bed without the slightest desire to stir.Her whole body felt weak; even opening her eyes seemed like too much effort. She wanted nothing more than to surrender to sleep.When she finally awoke, she found herself no longer in the hospital, but in a completely unfamiliar environment. Her hands clutched the blanket tightly as she anxiously scanned the room.Pushing the covers aside to get out of bed, she discovered that her clothes had been changed. A shiver ran through her body.Just then, the door swung open, and when Gavin walked in, he barely dodged the object she had thrown at him."What did you do to me?" she demanded, picking up whatever she could find and hurling it at him.He truly was not a good person!Gavin shot her a cold glance, paused for several seconds, and then seemed to come back to himself.Phoebe's emotions surged; she was on the bri
"Pheebs, what are you thinking about?" Laura teased, waving her hand in front of Phoebe's face as she stared off into space."Nothing," Phoebe replied with a smile.She really liked Laura; she was thoughtful, mature, and great at taking care of people."Here, eat this! I just made it, and it's really good for pregnant women," Laura said, her eyes wide with excitement as she presented the food to Phoebe.Phoebe took a bite and replied, "It's delicious."Lately, she had developed a particular craving for sour foods, and Laura often made them for her.Laura's cooking was genuinely good, much better than Phoebe's own efforts, which felt inferior in comparison."I'll make this for you every day if you like," Laura said cheerfully, her voice soft and sweet."Thank you, but I'd feel bad if you did that every day.""It's no trouble at all! I love cooking for you. My brother never eats what I make," she said, her expression suddenly downcast."Why not?" Phoebe was surprised; Laura's cooking wa
On the other side, after waiting all day, Phoebe finally saw Gavin return."Sir," Phoebe approached awkwardly."Is there a reason you're waiting for me?" He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Clearly, her waiting had pleased him."Um." Phoebe nodded, biting her lip as she met his gaze. "I have something I want to discuss with you.""Go on," he replied tersely, pausing his actions and waiting for her to continue."I want to talk about Laura." She mustered her courage to say it.Gavin's eyes darkened for a moment but quickly masked his feelings. "What about her?""Why don't you let her go to school and get an education?" She rushed out the words, her heart racing.She couldn't understand how a brother could be so irresponsible.He was clearly intelligent, and with their parents gone, he should be acting as a guardian, taking care of his sister rather than ignoring her completely."..." Gavin didn't respond right away. He just gave her a meaningful look before speaking.
After bidding Alva goodbye, Phoebe nearly sprinted out of the school. Instead of taking the bus, she hailed a taxi. Taking a bus would be too slow, and a taxi would get her there much faster. Normally, she would never spend the extra money, but today, all she wanted was to see him as quickly as possible.However, once inside the taxi, her courage began to waver. A sense of fear crept over her, though she couldn't quite pinpoint what she was afraid of. She kept telling herself she couldn't back down, refusing to allow herself to retreat.When the taxi pulled up in front of the apartment complex, she realized she didn't have an access card. The security guard stopped her at the gate, and no matter how much she pleaded, he refused to let her in. Fortunately, a shift change brought a new set of guards, and one of them recognized her from a previous visit, allowing her to enter.As the villa came into view, Phoebe's steps grew heavier, as if her legs had turned to lead. It was incredibly d
"Miss, you come here every day to buy a newspaper, but you barely look through it. Are you searching for some important news?" the newspaper vendor asked with a friendly smile. Every day, this young lady would buy a paper, flip through a few pages, and leave with a disappointed expression. This had become her routine."I..." Lost in thought, she hesitated. What could she say? She was searching for news about Alexander. Any mention of him, no matter how small, would suffice."Do you have any fashion magazines?""Of course! What kind are you looking for?" The vendor gestured toward the stack of magazines on the table."I'd like an entertainment magazine," she said, clinging to a sliver of hope. She had often seen him mentioned in such magazines before. Perhaps he would appear in one of them again. She just hadn't looked hard enough."Here, try this one. It's full of gossip—rich people, celebrities, their private lives, and whatnot.""I'll take it," she said, handing over the money.On h
One Month Later."Phoebe, stop pushing yourself so hard. Come eat something first; you can continue drawing afterward."Alva snatched the pencil from Phoebe's hand and pulled her up, ready to take her out of the studio. "Who studies like you? It's like your life depends on it. You even forget to eat!""Alva, I'm not hungry. Let me finish this drawing first."Phoebe smiled and reached for her pencil, but Alva quickly hid it behind her back, refusing to give it back. She insisted Phoebe eat with her instead. For a month now, her friend had been working too hard. Study required balance, not self-torture. Sitting in one spot all day without moving wasn't learning—it was punishing oneself. If Phoebe didn't get up soon, she'd rust."No way. Finish your meal first, and then you can draw again,"Alva said firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation."But Alva, I'm almost done!"Phoebe glanced longingly at her unfinished drawing.
The door suddenly swung open from the outside. Phoebe lifted her gaze, her eyes brimming with fleeting hope before it quickly dimmed. How much she wished it was Alexander walking in. How much she longed for him to stand before her, whole and unscathed. But the person who entered was a middle-aged man, unfamiliar to her, though it was clear from his demeanor that he was one of Alexander's subordinates.Her disappointment was momentary, replaced almost instantly by desperate anticipation. Barefoot, she dashed toward him with urgency.“Him... How is he? Please, tell me. I'm begging you. I just need to know if he's okay.”“Miss, you're free to leave now. Gather your belongings, and I'll have a car take you home,” the man said, ignoring her questions and instead delivering his instructions calmly.Leave?“What do you mean?” Phoebe asked, her eyes widening in shock.“You are free now,” he replied.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Phoebe's tears began to fall uncontrollably.It wasn't true—not what she had said. She didn't want him to die. Even if she couldn't forgive him, she would never wish for his death.“Fine. As you wish,” Alexander said coldly, letting go of her.He stood up and walked toward the door. But after just a few steps, his tall, solid frame collapsed to the floor.Curled up on the ground, Phoebe instinctively raised her head at the sound. A flash of white light surged through her mind, and in the next second, she was scrambling toward him in a panic, sobbing.Kneeling by his side, she shook his body desperately. Her tear-streaked face was unrecognizable.“Alexander, wake up! Please, wake up! Don't scare me, okay?” she cried.No matter how much she called his name or shook him, he didn't respond. The blood from his head only flowed more freely. Her trembling fingers pressed agai
Alexander kissed her deeply, completely lost in the moment, while Phoebe stared blankly at the ceiling. What else could he possibly do to her besides this?She wanted to push him away, but her overly full stomach left her feeling sluggish. All she wanted was to lie down comfortably for a while.When Alexander finally seemed satisfied, he pecked her lips a couple more times before letting her go.The moment he released her, Phoebe wiped her mouth in disgust.Her reaction displeased Alexander. Did she find his kiss so revolting? Fine. The more she resisted, the more he wanted to kiss her—until every inch of her body bore his scent."Don't touch me," Phoebe warned, glaring at him."I'll do whatever I want," he shot back.With that, Alexander grabbed her head forcefully, pressing his lips back to hers. His tongue invaded her mouth, relentless and domineering, capturing her own with a fierce hold.It hurt.The despicabl
It felt strange that he would do something like this, but she had to admit that stepping out to get some air, even if it was just moving from the bedroom to the living room, was refreshing."Bring a bowl of oatmeal." Alexander commanded."Yes, sir." The servant immediately obeyed, heading to the kitchen to fetch the oatmeal that had been simmering over low heat."Leave it here and go.""Yes, sir."After the servants left, the living room fell silent, leaving only the two of them. Alexander sat down with Phoebe still in his arms, cradling her like a child. His tall frame completely enveloped her petite form."Put me down," Phoebe demanded firmly. She felt uncomfortable in his embrace. In the past, such closeness would have left her flustered, her heart racing uncontrollably. But now, there was none of that. She didn't want to be near him at all. In fact, she wished she'd never have to see him again.Ignoring her words, Alexander picked
Under the harsh glow of the fluorescent lights, Phoebe's face appeared deathly pale, drained of all color.She lay quietly on the bed, her eyes closed, devoid of any vitality.After conducting a series of examinations, the doctor inserted a needle into the back of her hand and hung an IV bottle."Sir, she's simply too weak. She hasn't eaten for a long time, which caused her to faint suddenly. After administering a nutrient solution, she'll be fine. When she wakes up, don't rush to feed her solid food. Start with some liquids, and after two hours, she can eat something light."The doctor gave instructions and prescribed some medication, adding, "She needs to take these three times a day, before meals.""Understood,"Alexander replied, his expression grave. "Will these medications have any side effects?""Don't worry, there are no side effects. They're just to help stimulate her stomach's movement,"the doctor explained with a smile, s
For two consecutive days, Phoebe continued her silent standoff with Alexander. She refused to eat anything, even though her body was weak, her head spinning with hunger. No matter how faint or dizzy she became, she wouldn't give in to him. Even if it meant starving to death, she would not yield.Once, she endured his treatment because she loved him. But after everything that had happened, she could no longer forgive him. The servants were at their wit's end, desperately trying to persuade her, but she refused to listen. With no other option, they went to Alexander for help.In the study, one of the servants hesitantly reported, "Sir, she still isn't eating.""Mm, I see. You can go.""Yes, sir.""Wait," Alexander called out, pausing for a moment before adding, "Prepare a fresh meal and bring it up."He believed she was just being stubborn and would eventually give in to hunger. But he hadn't anticipated her sheer determination to defy him, no