Phoebe bolted out of the resort—a place meant to be a paradise of joy—like a wounded animal in a panic, her entire being battered and broken.She wandered aimlessly through the streets, her disheveled hair flying wildly, her clothes in disarray. She looked like a lost and lonely spirit, drifting without purpose. One thought consumed her mind: she had to find him.Her thoughts were muddled, her steps unsteady, but sheer determination drove her forward. She hitched rides from countless strangers, traversing a maze of winding roads.After what felt like an eternity of struggle, she finally arrived at the villa.Phoebe paid no mind to her disheveled appearance.Her heart and mind focused solely on one question: Is he here? If not, she resolved to head straight to his company. Even if it meant expending her last ounce of strength, she had to see him.As she stood there, anxious and on edge, a car she knew all too well came into view.Instinctively, Phoebe opened her mouth to call his name,
Phoebe wandered aimlessly through the streets all night, her eyes dazed as if searching for a path she couldn't find. She held back her tears, repeating to herself over and over:She wouldn't love him anymore. She would forget him completely.Suddenly, the sky opened up with a torrential downpour. Thunder and lightning crashed above, shaking the heavens with terrifying force.Phoebe ran wildly through the rain, the icy water soaking her to the bone. Her shoes squished with every step, filled with water, making her feel cold and sticky. Ignoring her miserable state, she pushed herself faster.Before long, she found herself outside Gavin's villa, drenched from head to toe. She curled up on the cold, wet pavement, her soaked hair dripping continuously as her petite frame trembled from the chill. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to knock.She had been sitting there for a while. She had tried multiple times to gather the courage, but her hands refused to obey.A sudden beam of light pierced
The sound of splashing water filled the room as Phoebe's body trembled uncontrollably.In the next second, her bare skin pressed intimately against his.Her body instinctively curled up. She didn't push him away but clenched her fists tightly. His firm chest crushed against her soft form with intense pressure.Her delicate lashes quivered as fear coursed through her, but she refused to run. To flee now would mean she would never be able to forget Alexander.She couldn't allow that.He didn't love her—why should she guard her heart and body for him?"I'll give you one last chance to say no." His voice, hoarse and hurried, betrayed his struggle to maintain control. His breathing grew ragged, matching the tension in the air.She shook her head, suddenly wrapping her arms around his waist. "I won't regret it."Her action made him exhale in relief.Gavin scooped her up, his powerful legs stepping out of the tub with ease. His dark gaze roamed her pale skin, growing heavy with desire. He to
Gavin emerged from the room and sank onto the sofa in the living room, a glass of red wine in his hand.The alcohol did little to calm the fire surging through him—in fact, it only made it burn stronger.There was no way he could sleep in his own room tonight. Not if he wanted to keep his control intact.The potent effects of the wine coursed through his veins, filling him with a restless heat that made his skin prickle with discomfort. He silently cursed his own restraint. Why had he let his prey escape when it had willingly walked into his trap?He should have claimed that woman. It would have driven Alexander mad with jealousy and regret—that was the kind of torment Gavin craved.But even with hatred running so deep, some invisible force always stopped him from dragging that poor, unfortunate woman down with him.His long fingers gripped the glass as he sipped more of the dark liquid.In the middle of the night, Laura woke up parched, her throat dry. Groggy with sleep, she fumbled
The next morning.Phoebe woke up with puffy, swollen eyes, glancing around groggily until her surroundings came into focus. She recognized the room—Gavin's room—and the events of the previous night flooded her mind. Her face flushed with heat as she remembered her reckless actions.She had been impulsive. Fortunately, nothing had truly happened.If something had, she would have hated herself forever.In that moment, a wave of gratitude toward Gavin washed over her. Otherwise...But now, she wasn't sure how to face him."Awake?"A deep, magnetic voice broke the silence, startling her. Phoebe looked up to see Gavin walking in, impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, and his expression held its signature blend of arrogance and charm.Embarrassed, Phoebe's heart raced as she remembered her rashness the night before. All she wanted now was to avoid him.She had hoped to slip away unnoticed, but here she was, caught in the act."Why didn
Despite her overwhelming sadness, Phoebe still attended her classes each day.During the day, she appeared perfectly fine. But at night, when she was alone, she cried until her heart broke, until the pain consumed her."Phoebe, let's apply for an internship at Mac Group," Alva suggested suddenly.She already knew about Alexander and Phoebe's breakup. That jerk. Alva had been furious and wanted to confront him, but Phoebe had stopped her. Seeing her friend remain calm reassured her somewhat."But we haven't graduated yet. Isn't it too soon for an internship?" Phoebe asked, confused. They were still far from graduation."I saw a notice about them hiring interns. It's a part-time schedule — afternoons and evenings only — and we get to manage our own mornings. Right now, we only have morning classes, so it fits perfectly," Alva explained. "And listen, this company is a big deal. They hire interns to train for full-time roles after graduation.""But it's not even related to our field.""Wh
Under the night sky, Alexander stood frozen. He watched her cold, retreating figure, her tiny shoulders trembling, and his heart ached. A complex and conflicting light flickered in his eyes. For a moment, he wanted to rush to her, hold her in his arms.But he resisted the intense urge inside him, reminding himself that he didn't deserve to do that. This was the best outcome. Hermosa was back, and the substitute should exit the stage now. There was no need for further entanglement.He never truly loved her. Whether she was hurt or not didn't matter to him.The step he had just taken halted, and he turned back, coldly getting into the car. He started the engine and disappeared quickly into the dark night.The short journey felt like a lifetime for Phoebe.She didn't know how much strength it took to get home, but the moment she leaned against the door, Phoebe collapsed, sliding weakly down the cold door to the ground.Crying, she hugged her kn
Gavin's car was already parked there. Phoebe got in, "Why did you come over at noon?""Not much going on today, so I thought I'd take you to the office.""Gavin, you don't have to pick me up, I can go by myself.""I'm just passing time. Have you eaten?" Gavin smiled faintly."I've eaten." Actually, she hadn't. She just didn't want to be too clingy with him. It seemed like every time she was hurt, he was the one by her side.He glanced at her, a faint smile curving on his lips, "I haven't eaten. Come have lunch with me."She followed him to an upscale French restaurant. Gavin ordered a lot of food, but he never touched any of it, just watching her eat.He always looked at her like this, and she felt embarrassed to eat. She was supposed to be eating with him, but since he didn't touch his food, she ended up eating most of it.Phoebe couldn't help it anymore and looked up, "Why aren't you eating? Didn't you say you hadn't eaten?"
Phoebe panicked and quickly tugged at her collar, trying to cover the incriminating marks. At the same time, she lowered her head, not daring to meet Gavin's gaze.Her mind was completely blank—she had no idea what to say.Should she explain? She couldn't bring herself to, knowing she had wronged Gavin. But if she remained silent, he might start suspecting something. Caught in this agonizing dilemma, she chose silence. She knew that at this moment, any explanation would only make her seem more guilty."Go rest," Gavin finally said. He seemed to sense her unease and embarrassment. His voice was still gentle, but there was an undercurrent of complexity that was hard to decipher.With that, he turned and walked away, his departing figure exuding a quiet sense of loss and helplessness. Phoebe stood motionless, staring after him as tears blurred her vision once again. A crushing wave of guilt consumed her, drowning her completely."Gavin, I miss the kids," Phoebe murmured, lifting her gaze
"Phoebe." Gavin called out urgently, his voice filled with concern.The sight before him made his heart jolt. Phoebe stood there in a thick white bathrobe, her long, damp hair clinging to her pale face and shoulders. Droplets of water trailed down her strands, soaking into the fabric of her robe, leaving dark, damp patches. Even her usually rosy lips had lost all color.Without thinking, Gavin stepped forward and gently pulled her into his arms. His voice carried an unmistakable tension as he asked, "What happened? I called you so many times last night, but you never answered."Hearing his familiar, caring voice, Phoebe felt a sharp pang in her chest. She had thought she had run out of tears on the way home, but now, her eyes welled up once again, completely beyond her control."I… I wasn't feeling well last night, so I went to bed early," she lied, forcing herself to suppress the agony within. Her voice was hoarse, roughened by exhaustion and the tears she had shed.She lowered her g
After she left, the maid tiptoed to the study door, raised her hand, and gently knocked before respectfully announcing, "Sir, the lady has left. The arranged taxi is waiting outside."Inside the study, Alexander reclined in his large chair, eyes closed, seemingly lost in deep thought.Hearing the maid's report, his eyes snapped open, a flicker of complex emotions flashing within his deep gaze. He pushed the wheels of his chair forward and slowly made his way to the floor-to-ceiling window.His tall, muscular frame was bare, his sculpted physique exuding an almost suffocating allure.He had told himself not to look at Phoebe again, not to let her every move dictate the rhythm of his heart.Yet, the moment that door opened and he saw her panicked yet resolute figure, his chest tightened involuntarily, and he found himself unable to tear his gaze away.He loathed the idea of her leaving. Even just watching her retreating silhouette felt like a precious moment slipping through his fingers
After rushing into the bathroom, Phoebe collapsed onto the cold floor, feeling as though all the strength had been drained from her body.She hugged herself tightly, burying her head between her knees as if doing so could shield her from the nightmare that had become her reality.From deep within her throat, suppressed sobs finally broke free, carrying with them an unbearable weight of grievance, anger, and pain. The sorrowful cries echoed in the small bathroom, filling the space with her despair.She cried for what felt like an eternity. Tears streamed down her cheeks like a flood breaking through a dam, pooling onto the floor beneath her.By the time her sobs subsided, her eyes were swollen and red, the skin around them bruised with exhaustion and anguish.Throughout it all, only one name dominated her thoughts—Alexander.Bastard! Monster! Scum!She cursed him over and over again in her mind, hurling every vile insult she could think of at him, as if that were the only way to ease t
In the early morning, Phoebe slowly regained consciousness. Her mind cleared, but she couldn't immediately tell how much time had passed.The dim wall lamp still emitted a faint glow, and the heavy curtains remained tightly drawn, blocking out every trace of light.She instinctively shifted, only to freeze at the firm pressure wrapped around her waist.A strong arm was holding her tightly. She was curled up in a warm yet unfamiliar embrace. A violent shudder ran through her, every muscle in her body tensing in an instant.Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. Fear and despair consumed her. What had happened?"You bastard! Let me go! Let me go!" Phoebe's voice trembled with anguish as she screamed, her words choked with sobs. She thrashed desperately, her hands clawing at the arm encircling her waist, trying to break free from the stranger's hold.But the moment she turned her head and saw the man's face, all movement ceased. Her breath hitched. Her expression went from pan
Phoebe's mind felt as if it were wrapped in a thick, impenetrable fog. Her usual clarity had vanished without a trace, leaving her in a dazed and sluggish state.She struggled to lift her heavy eyelids, desperate to see who was in front of her. But the man's head was buried against her chest, completely obscuring her vision.What was happening? Who was this man pressing against her? What was he doing to her?A whirlwind of questions surged through her muddled mind, fueling her growing sense of unease. Everything around her became a blur, her consciousness flickering like a candle in the wind. Darkness crept in, swallowing her whole, leaving her with nothing but emptiness."Oh, Phoebe...you are mine. Mine."Alexander's voice was thick with longing as he pressed soft kisses against her through the sheer fabric of her dress. In his world, perhaps only in this dreamlike state could he truly possess her without restraint.His long fingers trembled slightly as he painstakingly undid the but
Phoebe's pale fingers unconsciously scratched at her own skin, as if doing so could ease the burning fire raging within her body."Oh god, what's happening to me?" The heat inside her felt like it was consuming her whole.She desperately needed cold water to extinguish the flames coursing through her veins. Fighting through the discomfort, she fumbled her way toward the bathroom door.Her vision blurred, her steps unsteady, as if she were lost in a dark labyrinth. She didn't know how long it took, but at last, she found the door—the one thing that could save her.Without hesitation, she turned on the cold water and submerged herself in the bathtub.The icy water enveloped her burning body.She had no idea how long she stayed there, but gradually, the searing heat began to fade, and the sensation of being consumed by fire slowly dissipated.When she finally rose from the bathtub, her mind was still clouded, as though she had been drugged. Her consciousness wavered—one moment clear, the
For the past few days, Phoebe had felt as if she were trapped under a heavy cloud of gloom, unable to shake off the oppressive weight pressing down on her heart. Ever since she had heard those words, it felt as though a massive stone had settled in her chest, leaving her burdened with unrelenting thoughts.Longing for someone to confide in, she eagerly arranged to meet Alva at a dessert shop, hoping that a heartfelt conversation with her friend might provide some comfort.Phoebe arrived early, choosing a seat by the window, her eyes frequently drifting toward the entrance. Minutes ticked by, and customers came and went, yet Alva never appeared.With no other choice, Phoebe ordered a drink and idly sat there, her fingers tapping lightly on the table as she waited.Before long, her phone rang. Seeing Alva's name on the screen, she quickly picked up."Phoebe, something came up. I can't make it today. Let's meet another time, okay?" Alva's voice sounded hurried.Phoebe's heart tightened w
Phoebe's thoughts were like wild horses, and those long-buried memories surged back like a tidal wave. Why hadn't they gotten married? Wasn't that what he wanted the most?He had ruthlessly made her abort the child in her womb just to marry Hermosa."He doesn't care whether he marries Phoebe or not,"Dana said coldly. No matter how Dana intended to explain, in her heart, Alexander had already been nailed to the unforgivable pillar of shame.Her eyes were downcast, her gaze filled with coldness, as if Alexander had been completely erased from her world, leaving not a trace behind.Dana leaned forward slightly, her expression sincere yet tinged with urgency. "Phoebe, there must be some misunderstanding between you two. After you left, the boss rushed to the hospital in a panic, desperate to get you back, but..."But he was in a car accident...Yet, she didn't finish that sentence.Phoebe keenly caught the fleeting, strange expressi