Phoebe tried to shift her attention elsewhere, but her gaze was frozen in place."Phoebe, why are you crying?" Laura asked, noticing something wrong."It's nothing," she said, quickly turning her head to the window and wiping away her tears."Wow, that man is really handsome."Alexander certainly was; he was the most attractive man she'd ever seen—and also the worst."My brother is handsome too.""Phoebe, is that the man you like?""Of course not." The truth was, she didn't just like him. She loved him."You're lying," Laura teased.Forgetting someone, it turned out, wasn't easy.Phoebe thought she would be able to move on in a month, but he had only become more ingrained in her heart, occupying every corner.She hated herself for it—why couldn't she let go, and why did she still yearn for him?How long would it take to forget him?As the car began moving again, he disappeared from her view.Yet, she couldn't help but keep glancing back at his fading silhouette. There really was no fut
Back in the bedroom, Phoebe lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Gavin's words echoed in her mind, leaving her confused, yet her heart remained unmoved.What did he mean by saying she was his? How could that be? Didn't it matter to him that she'd been with another man? That she was carrying another man's child? Don't men usually care about these things? A man as dazzling as him certainly wouldn't be lacking in women around him. How sincere was he? She couldn't tell. She turned on her side, her mind in turmoil, but quickly shook her head. What was the point of thinking about it? Her heart already belonged to Alexander, whether he was genuine or not. She could never accept Gavin, even if he didn't care about her past—she did.Besides, once she left tomorrow, she'd fade from his sight, and he'd likely forget her soon enough. Chances were, she and Gavin would never cross paths again.Right now, her focus was on safely bringing her baby into the world...***In t
This afternoon, Alexander left the hospital and, on his way back to the villa, unexpectedly took a detour.The road he chose happened to pass by Phoebe's school.His car stopped outside the campus gates, parked in a discreet spot where he could clearly see the coming and going crowd.Alexander's gaze was fixed outside the window, waiting in silence.He sat there for four or five hours, from afternoon until evening, as the streetlights illuminated the surroundings. He hadn't seen the person he was hoping to catch a glimpse of, and he didn't quite know why he'd come here in the first place.He didn't want to confront the reason, nor the answer. After smoking a cigarette and scanning the crowd one last time, he finally stepped on the gas and left."Phoebe, what are you looking at?" Alva asked, noticing Phoebe's dazed expression."It's nothing," Phoebe replied, shaking her head, but her gaze lingered on the black sports car that had just disappeared down the road.The car looked familiar.
During this time, Phoebe kept getting harassed by Gavin, and today was no exception; he showed up at school in his flashy sports car to block her way again.Phoebe avoided the crowd and quickly slipped into his car. She barely caught her breath before asking, "Gavin, why are you here again?"Her real meaning was that he should stop coming."If I didn't come, how would I make you mine?" Gavin smirked, raising an eyebrow, holding out a bouquet of roses."... " Phoebe looked at the large bouquet of red roses in his hands, blushing as she hurriedly tried to decline. She hadn't expected Gavin to be serious."I can't accept this." It was her first time receiving roses, and though she felt a little excited, she didn't feel moved; she simply couldn't accept them.Suddenly, Gavin took her soft hand. Phoebe froze, trying to pull it back, but he placed the large bouquet in her hand, closing her fingers around it. He smiled, his eyes filled with mystery. "Today's Valentine's Day."Phoebe looked s
In the evening, Gavin took Phoebe to Valleybrook's most renowned restaurant. Since it was Valentine's Day, Phoebe expected the place to be packed, but as they walked in, she noticed with surprise that it was completely empty, eerily quiet.Suspiciously, she thought, Isn't this the most popular restaurant? Why is it so empty? Especially on Valentine's Day.As she was mulling over this, Gavin took her hand, making her pause and grip his fingers a bit tighter, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink.She wanted to pull her hand away, but with the restaurant staff watching, she felt too embarrassed to do so. She glanced up at him, his face illuminated by the crystal chandelier above. She thought, If I pull my hand away now, he might feel embarrassed."Sir, everything is ready. This way, please," a waiter approached respectfully."Mmh," Gavin nodded, leading Phoebe towards a private room.He pulled out a chair for her in a gentlemanly manner before seating himself across from her."Wha
A waiter soon entered, pushing a cart and elegantly setting their dishes on the table.The meal looked simple but was artfully presented, each dish bursting with colors and enticing aromas. Although she hadn't been hungry, Phoebe couldn't help but feel her appetite sparked by the sight.They dined in silence to the gentle strains of the background music, Phoebe keeping her head down, feeling uneasy under Gavin's intense gaze."Do you like it?" he asked suddenly."Yes... it's delicious," Phoebe replied, nervously sipping her lemonade. She'd recently developed a craving for sour flavors, and the more acidic, the better.As she glanced at him, she noticed that Gavin was drinking red wine while she had been served lemonade. This small, thoughtful gesture filled her with warmth.Alexander would never have paid such attention.But today was Valentine's Day. Was Alexander spending it with Melissa?How were they celebrating? Her heart tightened, and her eyes grew misty with bitterness."Not t
Everything that had just happened played out before Alexander's eyes, and he was filled with rage, nearly storming out to kill that man on the spot.She had actually kissed another man! A bloodthirsty glint flickered in his gaze, enraging him further.If she hadn't slapped that guy, he would have marched over and kill them both himself.He was furious. He'd thought about her all night, and she had been off with some other man, whispering sweet nothings?Damn it, was she that desperate for a man?"So, you're already cozying up to someone else?" Alexander's eyes darkened, and he felt an overwhelming urge to rip Phoebe to pieces.He hadn't kept tabs on her for a little while, and here she was, living in another man's home, skipping class... What had they been doing together? Had they... slept together?His eyes took on a deadly glint. This better not be what he suspected, or else that man would disappear without a trace."Alex... Alexander...? Is that you?" Phoebe's voice trembled as she
"You're just that cheap." His rage was uncontrollable.Every word from him was like a stab to her heart, causing a sharp ache deep within."Let go of me!" She struggled to free herself, but his grip on her shoulders only tightened, his fingers digging into her skin.Tears spilled over, unable to be contained any longer. "You can't treat me like this. Let go of me! It doesn't matter what I do with other men; it's none of your business, and I don't want to explain myself to you."His eyes narrowed, his face dangerously menacing. "Do you even know what you're saying?"She let out a small, bitter laugh. Of course she knew—and she knew the consequences of provoking him. His punishment would only become more severe...She took a deep breath, suppressing the sourness welling up inside. "We have nothing to do with each other anymore. That's what you said. Or do you plan to go back on your word?""FUCK!" He looked like he could strangle her. Did she really want to cut ties with him that badly?
On the white hospital bed, Phoebe lay quietly, having just woken from a nightmare. In her dream, she had seen Gordon lying in a pool of blood. She was terrified, heartbroken.Slowly opening her eyes, she saw the pale ceiling above her, and the sharp scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils. Looking around, she realized she was in a hospital."You're awake?"A male voice above her caught her attention. She squinted, then opened her eyes wider.Gavin?For some reason, the name kept repeating in her mind.Her memory began to piece itself together, and she recalled the bloody scenes before she passed out.Her eyes turned red instantly, and with a trembling voice, she stared at him, "Where... Where's my brother?"The room was silent except for the sound of their breathing.For the first time, Gavin felt as though his voice had been caught in his throat. He didn't know how to answer. He was afraid of what would happen once she knew the truth, afraid of her reaction.The tightness in his ch
"Sir, Miss Laura is here!" The butler said respectfully, standing behind the timid Laura.She kept her head lowered, afraid to raise it because the butler had said she was being brought to see her brother. The memory of his cruelty the night before made her body tremble uncontrollably."Mm, you may leave."The butler bowed and left, leaving Laura alone. She was terrified, and for a moment, she almost ran after him.She truly didn't want to be alone with her brother. The cruel images from last night haunted her, and she could still feel the lingering pain in her wrist."Come here!" His cold voice commanded, filled with authority.Laura's heart skipped a beat, and her feet felt unusually heavy, but she gathered all her courage and slowly walked over."What is it?" she asked in a shaky voice, barely audible."Take good care of her over the next few days, understood?" He didn't even look at Laura, his voice commanding. He seemed to care about her, wanted her here, just so that when she wo
The next morning, at Phoebe's home."Hello! Is this the residence of Miss Phoebe Garcia?""Yes, it is. And you are?" Hermosa asked, confused by the unexpected visitor so early in the morning."Mr. Alexander Davis, our boss, assigned me to drive your daughter to school. I've been waiting outside for an hour, but she hasn't come out. Is she not attending school today?" the driver replied politely."Alex? You mean my daughter's boyfriend?" Hermosa paused for a moment before smiling, seemingly realizing something. He's very considerate of her."That's correct. Is she not ready yet?" the driver asked, his gaze briefly sweeping inside the house."Apologies, but Phoebe rushed out after receiving a phone call yesterday. She said a friend was looking for her and didn't even stay for dinner," Hermosa explained with a hint of concern.The driver froze for a moment. "She didn't come home last night?""That's right! We were worried all night. She didn't answer any of our calls either. We were just
"What... what did you say?" Her voice trembled, and her breathing grew uneven."Take it off!" he ordered, his eyes narrowing dangerously. His fingers gripped her pale wrist, his strength threatening to snap it.Laura followed his gaze to her own arm, her heart pounding in panic. "But... this..."Wasn't this a gift from him? Why would he ask her to take it off? And why did his expression look so terrifying? Had she done something wrong?"It hurts!" she whimpered softly as his grip tightened, pain shooting through her wrist. Instinctively, she tried to break free from his hold, but this side of her brother made her shiver uncontrollably.The pain was excruciating. Laura furrowed her brows tightly, tears brimming in the corners of her eyes.With a forceful shove, Gavin pushed her down, his movements rough and unrelenting. He yanked her pajama pants, leapt from the water, and pinned her beneath him."Ugh!" Laura gasped as her head slammed against the hard floor, a sharp crack echoing in t
"Did you know? He really likes Phoebe," she murmured softly.Titan, lying silently like a loyal listener, rested his head on his paws."I'm so jealous of Phoebe," she whispered to herself. "If only he could like me, even just a little."But deep down, she knew Gavin would never look at her the way he did Phoebe. She tried to console herself: As long as he doesn't hate me, that's enough.Is he back now?What does he do out there every day?She had only overheard bits and pieces from the butler—her brother seemed to be involved in something akin to the mafia. But what exactly was the mafia? She wasn't entirely sure.Brushing off the grass from her clothes, she stood up. "I should head back now, Titan. I'll come visit you again when I can!"She coaxed Titan back into his cage. He whimpered in protest, reluctantly stepping into the enclosure and laying down, his sorrowful gaze fixed on Laura. He wished she wouldn't leave."Goodbye," Laura said, waving reluctantly. She gave Titan one last
After Gavin left, Astor didn't follow him. Instead, he walked toward the group of arrogant men who had been causing trouble moments before, raising his gun without hesitation."We're sorry! We're sorry! We were wrong!" they knelt, pleading desperately for their lives."Yes! We were wrong! We didn't want to hurt her! Someone made us do it!"Hearing this, Astor's hand paused. His voice was cold as ice."Speak. Who was it?"The men, thinking they might have a chance to live, scrambled to respond."She's called Sheridan!""Yes! We just overheard it, but that's the name we caught!"Astor's eyes darkened.A moment later, piercing screams shattered the stillness of the night, one after another, painting the air with an eerie tension.***At the hospital."Save her!" A frantic male voice echoed through the hallway.Blood streamed down Phoebe's legs in an alarming volume, staining Gavin's clothes entirely red.Doctors rushed out, quickly placing her on a stretcher and pushing her into the oper
On the other side, a burly man grabbed Phoebe from the ground and barked an order to the others, "Take the body back.""Let me go!""Do you want to die too?!" the man snapped harshly. Ignoring Phoebe's struggles, he began dragging her away, but a man suddenly stepped in front of him."Get out of the way!" the burly man roared at the stranger.The dim lighting in the bar obscured the stranger's face, but not the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes."Let her go." The cold, commanding voice cut through the air like a knife.Gavin lowered his gaze to the disheveled Phoebe, his entire presence radiating lethal intent."Mind your own business!" the man growled impatiently."Boss, this guy doesn't look easy to deal with... Look, he's got a whole group of bodyguards with him," one of the lackeys murmured nervously, his eyes darting toward the stoic men standing behind Gavin."Useless fool! What's there to be scared of?!" the burly man bellowed, though his expression darkened.Years in the underwo
"Gordon, what's going on?""Don't ask questions now. I need to get you out of here!"Before Gordon could finish speaking, a group of burly men suddenly appeared, surrounding both him and Phoebe, leaving no escape."What do you want?" Gordon positioned himself protectively in front of Phoebe, his gaze fixed on the men with a wary intensity.He had to shield his sister. It was his fault she was in danger, and he wouldn't allow anything to happen to her."Escape? You think it's that easy? The five million we gave you wasn't charity!""Keep the money. Just let her go!" Gordon shouted desperately at the men."Hahaha," the leader of the group laughed mockingly, as if Gordon had just told the best joke. "Do you think this is a place you can walk in and out of as you please?""If any of you dare touch her, I'll fight you to the death!" Gordon roared, his voice like a feral animal's, his desperation evident."Save your breath. You can't even save yourself, let alone someone else."Fueled by ra
As soon as Phoebe stepped through the front door, she heard the phone ringing in the living room."Phoebe, answer the phone! I'm busy in the kitchen!" Hermosa called out, poking her head out briefly."Okay, Mom, I'll get it..." Phoebe replied, quickly swapping her shoes and hurrying to the phone. The moment she picked up, her brother's voice came through the line.Phoebe froze, thinking she must have heard wrong."Hello, Gordon?" she asked, puzzled. He was supposed to be in rehab. Why would he be calling her out of the blue?"Phoebe, you have to come help me!" Gordon's voice was strained, filled with pain."What's going on?" Phoebe asked, worry creeping into her tone."I'm trapped at a bar, surrounded by some..."Phoebe gripped the phone tightly, her heart racing. "How did this happen? Aren't you supposed to be in drug rehabilitation center? Why are you at a bar?""Phoebe, there's no time to explain! Just come and help me!"Gordon quickly rattled off the location—a seedy underground b