Outside the room, Melissa asked with a sweet smile, "Alex, is Phoebe awake?""She is.""I want to ask her to go shopping with me!"Alexander remained silent. Phoebe was now filled with hostility toward Melissa; there was no way she would agree to go shopping with her. "Melissa, why don't you ask Rod to accompany you?""Oh, okay. I was hoping to spend some time with Phoebe," Melissa said, a hint of disappointment flashing across her face. Then, with a worried expression, she asked, "Is she feeling unwell?""Yeah," he replied, using it as an excuse."Then she needs to rest well. Alex, make sure you take good care of her and help her recover," Melissa said with a look of sincere concern on her harmless-looking face. She appeared so considerate."I noticed she's been staying in her room all the time and seems unhappy. Is it because of me?" Her eyes shimmered with unease."Don't overthink it. It's not because of you.""But..." Melissa started but hesitated as if she didn't know what to say
In the towering skyscraper, an imposing international conference hall was hosting a global video conference.Alexander, dressed in a sleek black suit, exuded understated luxury and elegance, every inch a symbol of wealth and power."Sir, the project here is progressing smoothly, but there's been a bit of a complication.""Complication?" His cold voice cut through the room, interrupting the speaker. With a sharp motion, he tossed the documents in his hand onto the conference table, his hawk-like eyes narrowing on the subordinate delivering the report."Well, it's like this…" The subordinate cleared his throat nervously.Suddenly, a phone rang, its discordant sound breaking the tense atmosphere in the conference room.The subordinate hesitated, unsure whether to continue. To everyone's surprise, Alexander stood up and walked out of the room. His tall, commanding figure leaving the room left his subordinates exchanging bewildered glances.He took a call during a meeting?The company had
Standing at the door to the room, Alexander suddenly felt a heavy weight pressing on his chest, as if something inside was stirring uneasily. His thoughts were chaotic.Who should he believe?He hadn't noticed anything amiss in Melissa's demeanor, but Phoebe's recent behavior had been particularly strange. Melissa hadn't really said much—it was all his conjecture.Reflecting on Phoebe's odd actions and heightened emotions, he wondered: Was she simply desperate to return home? Or was it the trauma of her brother's sudden death weighing on her?Or maybe, just maybe, there was indeed something off about Melissa.He couldn't be certain yet. He needed to observe for a few days.The investigation into the incident where Phoebe was harmed was still unresolved.Who was obstructing it?All the leads had been cut off—and cleanly at that. Things were growing increasingly complex.Was he up against a formidable adversary?What was their objective? Were they targeting him? Or was Phoebe the real t
The next day, Alexander left early, leaving Phoebe to sleep in. When she finally woke up, she found herself bored out of her mind.After being cooped up in the room for several days, she decided to go out for a walk. She didn't plan to go far—just a casual stroll nearby.However, the moment she stepped out of the hotel, she bumped into Melissa.Phoebe immediately lowered her head, trying to avoid her, but Melissa's sharp eyes caught her."Phoebe, you're looking good today," Melissa remarked with a sly smile.Phoebe glanced at her but didn't respond. To her, Melissa still had that same fake demeanor. Nothing had changed.Alexander had assured her that Melissa wouldn't harm her, and she trusted him. Yet, being near Melissa made her instinctively uncomfortable."Don't be in such a rush to leave," Melissa continued, her tone overly cheerful. "I was just about to go for a walk too. You know, pregnant women should take more strolls—it's good for the baby's health!""I'd rather walk alone,"
"Wahhh… You murderer! You killed my child! You killed my child!" Melissa cried and wailed on the ground, her voice piercing through the air."I… I didn't mean to," she stammered, trying to explain."You did it on purpose! You didn't want me to have this child!" Melissa accused, her voice filled with venom."I'm not as malicious as you think!" she retorted.A crowd quickly gathered around them, murmuring amongst themselves.She couldn't understand some of the languages they spoke, but the condemning gazes of those around her were crystal clear. She adjusted her thoughts, piecing together the situation while staring at the writhing Melissa on the ground. It suddenly dawned on her—Melissa had done this on purpose!Melissa was framing her!All she had done was grab Melissa's clothes without using much force, yet Melissa had deliberately thrown herself to the ground, causing herself to miscarry.Oh heavens, how terrifying.She was horrifyingly calculating. Melissa had always been cunning,
7 PM, Airport.The waiting lounge was eerily quiet. Phoebe sat on the spacious sofa, waiting for her flight."Miss, it's time to board," her subordinate gently reminded her, snapping her out of her daze."Alright," she replied with a faint, stiff smile.Instinctively, she turned to glance at the empty waiting lounge. A bitter smile crept onto her face. Why would he come? At this moment, he was probably by Melissa's side.On the plane, Phoebe closed her eyes, trying to rest. She hadn't slept well the night before, dozing uncomfortably at her desk. She felt exhausted now.When she woke up, she'd be home, she thought. All the unhappiness would fade away.Golden sunlight pierced through the clouds and spilled into the cabin, softly warming her. Yet, it didn't reach her heart.Phoebe had planned to take a cab home by herself. But as she stepped out of the airport, a car arranged by Alexander was already waiting for her.Once inside, she rolled down the window, letting the cool air in as sh
Alexander returned to the hospital room, only to find the bed empty—Phoebe was gone.Panic seized him, and his eyes burned red as he stormed out of the room, yelling at a group of nurses."Where did she go?" he roared."W-what?" The nurses froze, startled by his thunderous voice, their words tumbling out in fragments."I said, where is the woman from this room?" he repeated, his face dark with anger."S-sir, we didn't notice..." one nurse stammered, trembling at his fury."Damn it! Are you all useless? How could you not notice her leaving?"***The air was heavy with tension, mingled with the pungent smell of disinfectant that permeated the hospital corridors.Phoebe wandered aimlessly through the hallways, her mind a fog of confusion. She didn't know where she was going, nor did she care.A sudden, bitter laugh escaped her lips. She was pathetic.The taste of her tears lingered on her lips—salty, bitter, and sour. She had no idea how far she'd walked, only that she kept circling the
"Oh, you're not completely clueless, are you? I didn't even say it, and you already guessed?" Melissa smirked, her expression brimming with pride. "But let's be honest, if I didn't tell you, you'd probably live your whole life as a fool! Hahaha."Her twisted and triumphant laughter pierced Phoebe's nerves like needles."Why would you do this?" Phoebe's voice trembled, her body swaying unsteadily. Her lips had turned pale, drained of all color.She could barely believe the words coming from Melissa's mouth.Her brother's death… was Melissa's doing?What a horrifying truth.Did Melissa not have family? Did she not understand the pain of losing a loved one?How could someone be so cruel?"The only mistake was that he was your brother! If you want to blame someone, blame yourself! Alex's obsession with you forced my hand. Do you know how much it costs every time I frame you? Luckily, it's all Alex's money, so I don't feel the pinch!" Melissa spoke casually, as if narrating a trivial story
"No… no… please…" Melissa shook her head frantically, her body jerking in fear and despair. Her hands flailed in the air, grasping at the fleeting chance for survival that had already vanished.But Alexander didn't give her any more chances for mercy. He suddenly reached out, grabbing her by the hair with irresistible force, lifting her up by the roots.Melissa let out a pained groan, the sharp pain in her scalp making her feel as though she might pass out. Then, the cold blade pressed against her cheek, as if an icy line was drawn, freezing her blood in an instant."Ah!" A sharp, blood-curdling scream followed, and a gash appeared on Melissa's face, dark red blood slowly seeping from the wound and trailing down her pale face, like a terrifying red snake.Tears of pain flowed from her eyes, mixing with the blood, and it was impossible to tell which was which.But this was just the beginning. Alexander's gaze held no mercy, only endless fury and hatred. His hand tightened on the knife
The air was heavy with an unbearable cold, as if even breathing could freeze into frost. Melissa's desperate cries for mercy echoed throughout the dead silence of the room. Alexander's expression remained dark as he slowly turned around.Seated in a wheelchair, a thin blanket draped over his legs, the dim, yellow light cast a sickly glow, highlighting his profile in a haunting manner.His face was unreadable, but a terrifying aura radiated from him, like a messenger from hell, emitting an unmistakable scent of death.His gaze, sharp as a dagger, pierced through Melissa. His voice was as cold as the ice of eternity. "What makes you think you have the right to beg for mercy?"His words were laced with boundless anger and disgust, each one landing like a hammer blow to Melissa's heart.Her body shook violently, her voice cracking from fear, her face streaked with the tangled tracks of her tears, a mixture of regret and the desperate desire to live."I know I shouldn't have done those thi
The dungeon was cloaked in near total darkness, with only a few faint rays of light struggling to seep through the cracks, casting mottled shadows on the ground.The damp air was thick with a nauseating stench, the foul smell a blend of age and sin.Rats scurried in the corners, their incessant squeaks adding to the eerie, terrifying atmosphere.Dana strode into the terrifying dungeon with several men in tow. His eyes searched the dark corners, quickly settling on Melissa, curled up in one of them."Drag her out!" Dana commanded coldly, his voice echoing through the empty dungeon.The men immediately stepped forward, roughly pulling Melissa from her corner.Upon seeing her, Dana exaggeratedly slapped his chest and feigned a look of terror. "My God, that's terrifying," he mocked, his face twisted in disdain and loathing despite his words."What do you want?" Melissa screamed in terror, her eyes wide with fear. Her face, twisted in horror from the extreme fear, looked almost monstrous.
The quiet morning at X Villa was abruptly interrupted by hurried footsteps. Dana, along with a few friends, rushed in, their expressions anxious.They had just received the news—Gavin had returned to the country, accompanied by a woman.A few months ago, Gavin had vanished without a trace. They had used all their connections, searched every possible corner, but found not a single clue. Now, however, he had returned in such a high-profile manner, it was utterly baffling.Logically, Gavin knew they had been searching for Phoebe, so he should have hidden her well, leaving no trace behind. But now, he was back, strutting around with a woman. What was his intention?Impatient and anxious, they desperately wanted to discuss a strategy with Alexander. They rushed to where he was, but Rod stopped them at the door."Rod, just open the door. Alexander won't blame you," Dana urged, visibly anxious."But…" Rod hesitated, his feet seemingly rooted to the spot, showing no sign of intending to open
France, CastleThe quiet hallway echoed softly with the sound of footsteps. A maid, dressed in a neat uniform, carefully held a delicate box in one hand and a pair of beautiful crystal slippers in the other. She arrived at a door, gently knocked, and waited for a response."Come in,"a soft voice called from inside.The maid opened the door, slightly bowing with a warm smile. "Miss, these clothes are from the young master."She carefully placed the items on a table nearby and added softly, "The young master is waiting for you downstairs."She then withdrew quietly, closing the door behind her.Phoebe sat dazedly at the edge of the bed, her hollow gaze fixed on the elegant gift box and the shimmering shoes on the table. Her fingers subconsciously tugged at the bedspread, her knuckles turning pale from the pressure.Are we really going back?The question swirled in her mind, tightening her heart like an invisible hand, causing a
The car moved slowly along the road, the scenery outside flashing by like a slideshow, but the atmosphere inside the car was suffocating, as if the air itself had thickened, making it hard to breathe.Laura sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her back straight, her hands tightly clutching the corners of her clothes, her knuckles white from the tension. Her lips were pressed together, as if glued shut by some invisible force, leaving her unable to utter a single word.Leroy's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. After several attempts to speak, he sighed in resignation, his voice thick with frustration and helplessness.But it wasn't just the silence that weighed on him—it was the faint scent of blood coming from the girl beside him. His gaze instinctively shifted to Laura. Her face had turned pale, her head slightly lowered, as if he had somehow hurt her.Laura, too, noticed the change. Her face flushed red instantly. She knew she had made
In the early morning, soft light filtered through the thin curtains and quietly bathed the room.A handsome man stood silently by the window, surrounded by the warm glow of the sunlight, as if an ethereal golden halo had been drawn around him.Suddenly, a faint sound came from the hospital bed, and he slowly turned around.He saw the girl on the bed beginning to open her eyes, still tinged with the remnants of sleep.His lips parted slightly, his voice low and magnetic. "You're awake?"Thinking back to last night, he remembered getting up to get some water. As he passed through the living room, he caught sight of a small figure curled up on the sofa, clearly in pain.As he approached, he realized it was her, suffering from menstrual cramps. The noticeable stain on the sofa immediately made his frown deepen.He was well-known for his obsessive cleanliness, holding impossibly high standards for his living environment. How could he toler
Phoebe slowly closed her eyes, and before long, soft and even breathing filled the room.Gavin quietly watched her, her peaceful and serene sleeping face making his lips curve into an involuntary smile. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, moving slowly as if afraid to disturb her. Afterward, he straightened up, turned off the light, and silently left the room.As the door softly clicked shut, Phoebe's eyes slowly opened.She gently turned over, instinctively pulling the blanket tighter around her, as if doing so could keep all her fears at bay. Gavin had always been like a guardian angel, constantly by her side, unwavering in his support.Whenever she found herself in a hopeless situation, surrounded by darkness, Gavin was always the first to break through the gloom, shining light into her world, bringing warmth and hope.How could such a thoughtful, gentle, and caring man not make her heart flutter? The happiness she longed fo
The next day, Hermosa packed her things and left. The villa suddenly felt even more silent.Alexander didn't go to see her off. Leaning against the large sofa, he silently drank his alcohol, his eyes slightly narrowed, as the frustration within him lingered, refusing to fade.He didn't know how much he had drunk. Bottles were scattered all over the floor. As he drank, his mind slowly started to unravel, but sadly, his consciousness remained sharp. Why couldn't this alcohol make him forget the pain?He had no interest in dealing with work—the company was already in complete disarray. He spent his days in the darkness, wallowing in despair.One disappointment after another. One discouragement after another.In his dreams, the same scene repeated over and over.His Phoebe had come back. He held her tightly in his arms, kissed her, and kept whispering apologies."Please, please, don't hurt my child… Don't..." In her sleep, Phoebe furrowed her brow, her face pale, her body uncontrollably t