The room echoed with the man's arrogant laughter.But in the next second..."Ahhh!"A blood-curdling scream filled the air, as though a pig was being slaughtered. The man clutched his groin in agony, writhing on the floor.Phoebe froze, her body trembling in fear. She had just kicked him with all her strength. Without giving it much thought, she jumped off the bed and ran to the door.The door was locked—it wouldn't budge."You bitch! How dare you!" the man cursed angrily, his face twisted in pain. He struggled to get up, but the injury incapacitated him. The pain was excruciating—he was certain he was ruined. Revenge could wait; right now, he needed a hospital."Bitch, come here!"Phoebe pressed her back against the door, looking at him with terrified eyes. She didn't move an inch, her hands fumbling desperately at the doorknob behind her."Stop trying. You won't get out without the key," the man sneered weakly. The arrogance he had shown earlier had completely vanished."G-Give me t
Alexander glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his gaze deep and unreadable. She had turned her body away from him, presenting only her back.The sight made him uncomfortable, as though she were deliberately distancing herself, avoiding him.His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and without warning, the car accelerated, speeding forward.The sudden burst of speed made Phoebe feel sick, dizziness washing over her. She gritted her teeth and endured it, staying silent. She wasn't sure when it happened, but the car abruptly screeched to a halt.The sudden stop sent her body lurching forward, slamming against the interior of the car. Pain radiated through her, and her stomach churned violently. If she hadn't gone the entire day without eating, she might have vomited right then and there.Her face was pale, and before she could catch her breath, a cold, commanding voice cut through the air."Get out." Alexander's tone was an unfeeling order, devoid of any warmth.She looked up at
Phoebe said nothing as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face."Why are you crying? Don't like me touching you?" Alexander's voice was deceptively calm, the harbinger of a brewing storm.She bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. It wasn't that she disliked his touch—it was his coldness and cruelty that she couldn't bear."Speak!" His eyes turned blood-red, emanating an icy chill.Still silent, Phoebe let her crystalline tears fall onto Alexander's palm, making his chest tighten inexplicably.His brows furrowed. Suddenly, he cupped her face and pulled her closer.His kiss was wild and desperate, more punishment than passion. It was biting, rough, and venting frustration. Phoebe couldn't withstand the pain. The sting and metallic taste of blood spread through her mouth."Stop crying. Do you hear me?" he growled, his breath heavy and rough as he pulled away slightly.The more he shouted, the more Phoebe's tears fell. Her sorrow and grievance were etched in every droplet."Damn
The next day, Phoebe didn't wake until the sun was high in the sky.Alexander, however, had been awake for hours but remained in bed, quietly gazing at the woman in his arms. He didn't disturb her, occasionally tucking stray strands of her hair behind her ear with a tender touch.When she finally opened her eyes, his deep, magnetic voice greeted her."Good morning.""Mm." Phoebe met his enlarged face up close, and the memories of last night surged into her mind. Her cheeks flushed red as she instinctively tried to burrow back under the blanket."Shy, are we?" Alexander raised a mischievous eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips."…!" How could he be so infuriating? He knew perfectly well why she was acting this way, yet he still teased her."Phoebe, do you realize you're being utterly irresistible like this?""I—I'm not! You're the one being indecent.""Me? Indecent? How so?" His voice dripped with amusement, laced with a hint of seduction."There's someone at the door! I'm not arguing
"Can I come in for a glass of water? I've been on a plane all day, and I came straight here to find you. I'm so thirsty.""Wait here. I'll have the staff bring one to you."His attitude made it clear—he had no intention of letting her inside.Melissa's suspicions solidified: that bitch must be in Alexander's room right now."Are you really not going to let me in?""Not now""..."His indifferent tone felt like a heavy blow to Melissa's heart. Her expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked it.She wasn't naive enough to show her displeasure. Melissa was determined to maintain her perfect image in front of Alexander, no matter what."Then I'll wait to have water later!" she said with a forced smile, but her lips were stiff. Deep inside, her hatred for Phoebe grew stronger. She wouldn't let her off so easily.A calculating glint flashed in Melissa's eyes as she raised her gaze and softly asked, "Alex, are you coming back with me tomorrow?""I still have work here. I'll retu
It would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned Hermosa, but as soon as she did, it played right into Alexander's hands.Her words earlier made his heart lurch.Could she really be planning something extreme?"Melissa." Alexander wanted to rush after her, but he found himself wrapped in just a bath towel, which made it incredibly inconvenient.He cursed under his breath, clenched his fists, and struck the hard wall with a heavy punch.Phoebe, still in a daze, was startled by the loud noise, and her mind became a blur.She looked up, seeing blood on the white wall. Her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat. In a hoarse voice, she whispered, "You... you're bleeding."Her trembling fingers reached out to touch his hand, but before she could, he quickly withdrew it.The sudden motion startled Phoebe. Seeing her freeze, he stepped forward and embraced her. "Did I scare you?""No." Phoebe shook her head, though her body was still trembling slightly."Stay here and wait for me. I'm goin
"Sir, have you found her?" Rod asked."Not yet.""Should we call the police?""I've already sent someone to look for her," Alexander replied, his voice heavy with tension.Had he made a mistake? Every time he thought of Melissa's words, his heart clenched. What if something happened to her? How would he explain this to Hermosa? What had he done?"I hope she's okay. She seemed so heartbroken," Rod said with concern."I'll keep looking. If you hear anything, let me know immediately.""Of course, sir. Be careful.""Mm."The night grew darker, with an oppressive atmosphere suggesting rain was imminent. Alexander walked tiredly to the door of his room, his hand reaching for the key card when the door suddenly swung open. Phoebe stood in the doorway, her face filled with worry, illuminated by the soft glow of the lights. "Have you found her?"Before she could finish, Alexander pulled her into his arms suddenly. He burie
After settling Phoebe in, Alexander and Phoebe returned to their room. Alexander went straight to the bathroom to take a shower, while Phoebe stood there, lost in thought, not even noticing when he had finished.When he came out of the bathroom, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder."What are you thinking about?""You're done already?" Phoebe snapped back to reality, feeling his arms tighten around her."Yes. What were you so lost in thought about?""..."She had been thinking about what Melissa had said earlier. It almost felt like a dream.Perhaps sensing what was on her mind, Alexander chuckled softly. "Heh, still thinking about what Melissa said?""Yes." Since he guessed it, Phoebe nodded honestly, though her voice was cautious, "Do you think she really accepts us?""What do you think?" He playfully tapped her nose."I'm scared," she whispered, looking up into
"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