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 covered her lips, tears streaming down her face as she ran toward the restroom. She kept her head low, afraid of letting anyone see her in such a disheveled state. Once inside, she hurried into a stall, locked the door tightly, and slowly crouched down, wrapping her arms around her knees as she broke into uncontrollable sobs.Her cries echoed within the small cubicle, filled with sorrow and despair, as if trying to release all the grievances she had suppressed over the years. She cried for what felt like an eternity until her eyes were so swollen she could barely keep them open.Standing up shakily, Phoebe walked to the mirror and stared at her reflection—her puffy, distorted eyes a stark reminder of her breakdown. She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands under the icy water, and splashed it onto her face repeatedly. The coldness stung her skin, but it also helped her regain a bit of clarity. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and made a firm decision in her heart.Ba
Upon reaching it, he freed one hand and, with a swift motion, swept everything off the surface.A loud crash echoed through the office as papers, stationery, and files scattered across the floor.The next second, Alexander carefully laid Phoebe down on the now-empty desk. She instinctively tried to sit up and escape, but before she could make a move, his towering frame loomed over her, pinning her beneath him.Phoebe's hands immediately pushed against him, her voice trembling with near desperation. "No, don't."But Alexander was far too strong. In an instant, he seized her wrists and forced them above her head, rendering her completely immobile."Isn't this the reason you came back?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.Phoebe's eyes welled up with tears. "I didn't… The public records never indicated you were the owner of this company. If I had known, I—"Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander abruptly leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce, stormy kiss that swallowed her wor
Phoebe's fingers hovered over the cold doorknob for a second, her knuckles whitening. She drew a sharp breath and pushed open the heavy black door.The CEO's office was more expansive than she had imagined. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering cityscape beyond, while at the center of the room, a large black executive chair sat with its high back turned toward her—tall enough to nearly obscure the figure seated in it."Sir, I'm the new secretary, Phoebe Garcia." Her voice cut through the silence, so clear she could hear the faint tremor in her own words.No response.The chair rotated slowly, and Phoebe's gaze traveled upward—over polished leather shoes, long legs, an immaculately tailored suit—until it landed on that face.Alexander Knight.Her breath hitched. Her pupils constricted. It was as if every drop of blood in her veins had frozen solid.Thud. The cardboard box in her arms crashed to the floor, the small potted succulent inside shattering, soil streaking her skirt.
Monday, Alexander's office.The sharp scent of nicotine hung heavily in the air, making it hard to breathe. The thick curtains were drawn tightly shut, blocking out even the faintest trace of sunlight. On the desk, countless files were scattered—each one filled with information about a certain woman.Alexander sat there, eyes tightly shut, brows deeply furrowed. He had locked himself in the office for two whole days, isolating himself from the outside world entirely.For the past two days, it felt like he was wandering through a maze of agony, memories flashing through his mind like fragmented images. The stories Dana had told him surfaced again and again, chaotically piecing together inside his head.Maybe it was because those memories were too familiar. Maybe it was the scent that lingered around him lately, or the figure that haunted his dreams. He had lost his memory for five years, but within these two days—it all came flooding back.All the love, all the hatred, played like a mo
In the car ride home, Jeremy sat sulking in his seat, puffing out his cheeks, eyes fixed straight ahead, completely ignoring Amy. Amy gazed at him pitifully. She had apologized several times, but Jeremy remained unmoved.Amy felt both aggrieved and anxious. Is Jeremy really that angry with me? Is he just going to ignore me like this? No, she couldn't stand it. She didn't want her brother to keep giving her the cold shoulder."Jeremy, I'm sorry. Please talk to me. Forgive me, will you?" Amy sobbed as she stole glances at Jeremy, desperately hoping he would at least spare her a glance — even just a fleeting one.Jeremy folded his arms tightly across his chest and turned his head toward the window, deliberately avoiding Amy's gaze. He secretly made a vow to himself: From now on, I'm never taking her out again.Seeing that Jeremy still refused to pay her any attention, Amy had no choice but to seek help from their mother. She threw herself into Phoebe's
OfficePhoebe was fully engrossed in her work, her eyes scanning the design proposal on her screen with meticulous focus. The office was silent except for the rhythmic tapping of her keyboard and her soft breathing. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the stillness. She instinctively looked up and saw a police officer walking toward her."Excuse me, are you Miss Phoebe Garcia?"Phoebe frowned slightly, puzzled. "Yes, I am. May I ask what this is about?""It's about your child. She's downstairs waiting for you," the officer explained briefly.Phoebe's face turned pale in an instant. Without hesitation, she rushed toward the front desk.Jeremy recounted everything that had happened, his voice filled with urgency. Phoebe, though shaken, took a deep breath to calm herself and turned to the officer. "Officer, can we check the security footage?""Of course. I'll request authorization now." The officer made a quick phone call,
For the past month, Phoebe's work had been progressing smoothly. She quickly adapted to the team and earned the recognition of both her colleagues and superiors. However, as her workload increased, the time she spent with the children grew less and less."Jeremy, are you sure this will help us find Mommy?" Amy stood at the kindergarten gate, her face full of worry as she looked up at Jeremy."Of course!" Jeremy grinned with confidence. "Just follow me closely."With that, he tightly grasped Amy's small hand, leading her toward the bus stop like a little adult.After a long bus ride, they finally arrived near the city center. Jeremy carefully helped Amy off the bus, holding her hand firmly. As they approached the entrance of LD Corporation, just as they were about to step inside, Amy suddenly frowned and tugged at Jeremy's hand anxiously."Jeremy, I need to go potty.""You're so troublesome." Jeremy scrunched his little brows in frustration a
NighttimeInside X Villa, Alexander stepped out of the bathroom. He walked over to the liquor cabinet, took out a bottle of strong alcohol, and leaned elegantly against the plush sofa.For years, he had been haunted by a strange dream—an indistinct figure appearing and disappearing in the shadows. It seemed to be a woman. Every time, he tried desperately to see her face, but the closer he got, the blurrier she became until she eventually faded into the darkness.He had no idea how much time had passed when the sudden ringing of the phone in the living room pulled him back to reality. Reaching out, he picked up the receiver. A voice from the other end said, "Sir, we've found something. Your sister is alive."Alexander's body tensed instantly. His grip on the receiver tightened involuntarily...***Early the Next MorningPhoebe arrived at LD Corporation bright and early.The HR staff led her to the design department. Throug
At the kindergarten.Amy sat quietly on the swing, gently swaying back and forth. Tilting her head slightly, she gazed at Jeremy in the distance and murmured, "Jeremy, I'm not happy."Jeremy didn't even lift his head. He simply responded coldly, "Talk."Amy's eyes flickered with confusion and curiosity as she said, "Everyone else has a dad." She pointed toward a group of children playing not far away. Among them, a little boy was being lifted high into the air by his father, laughter ringing out."Mhm, I know. We have one too," Jeremy replied, still focused on his work."You mean Daddy Gavin?" Amy tilted her head."Mhm." Jeremy was beginning to lose patience. To him, Amy's questions were far too childish."Then why doesn't Daddy Gavin live with us?""Because Daddy Gavin isn't really our dad." Jeremy finally stopped what he was doing, his tone serious."Why not?""There's no reason. He just isn't.""Then who is our real dad?"Jeremy's body stiffened slightly. He slowly put down the blu