"I want to be discharged!""I'm sorry, Miss, but without Mr. Davis's permission, we can't process your discharge." The doctor's apologetic tone revealed their predicament. This young woman had already tried to leave the hospital multiple times. Her body had recovered, and she was indeed ready to go. However, without Alexander's orders, they dared not comply."What if I insist on leaving?""Miss, please don't make things difficult for us. If we let you go, all of us could lose our jobs.""Lose your jobs?" She wanted so badly to tell them selfishly that it wasn't her concern. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to say it. With a bitter smile, she realized Alexander had indeed found her weakness. He knew she would never want to jeopardize others' livelihoods.Exhausted, she returned to her hospital room and collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Did she not even have the freedom to leave the hospital? All she wanted was to go home. Did he have to take even that small freedom
The night wind swept through, rustling the leaves outside the window. The cold air crept into the hospital room, making her shiver uncontrollably. Yet the chill that gripped her wasn't from the dropping temperature—it came from his icy voice.Alexander's heart ached as he watched her trembling. He knew he shouldn't have lashed out, but he couldn't help it—he was furious. He couldn't control his emotions. She had lost weight again over the past few days. Her already slender frame now looked so fragile that it pained him deeply.He took off his coat and stepped forward to wrap it around her. But she flinched away as if his kindness were a plague she had to escape. His arm froze mid-air, but then he moved closer again, determined to cover her with the coat whether she wanted it or not.This time, his familiar dominance returned. Even if she resisted, he wouldn't back down."I don't need your fake concern!" she snapped, her voice laced with frustration as she waved her arms, trying to bre
NightfallPhoebe's clothing had been entirely removed, her petite figure revealed in Alexander's deep, dark gaze.Her fair, smooth skin and shapely legs presented an irresistible temptation for him.Unable to suppress his desire any longer, he worshipped her, kissing every inch of her skin, every curve of her body.The next moment, his restraint snapped, and he could no longer hold back his longing to claim her.He breathed heavily, and as soon as his lips touched her softness, he was consumed by an almost magical spell.He kissed her deeply, tasting her as though he could absorb her essence entirely.How long had it been since he last had her?Her scent, her touch—they drove him mad, pulling him into a whirlpool of uncontrollable desire.He was truly bewitched, utterly addicted to her."Phoebe…" he murmured, unable to stop himself.It was the most heartfelt whisper of a lover.The soft, sweet feel of her beneath him made his proud self-control crumble completely.Like a man under a s
"Ugh..." Her small shoulders trembled as she sobbed softly, unable to escape no matter how much she tried."Come back with me!" Alexander's deep voice thundered as he leaned down toward her. There was still one day left before the week ended, and he had intended to wait. But seeing her wandering around, breaking down in tears, tore at his heart. He couldn't hold back any longer—he had to take her back early.She cast him a bitter glance, wiped her tears, and sniffled as she pushed his approaching figure away with all her strength."You really don't want to see me, do you?" Alexander's face darkened, his expression cold and menacing."Yes! I don't want to see you! Why can't you just leave me alone?""Damn it. You're coming with me!" He grabbed her wrist firmly, his eyes gleaming like a predator's, filled with a dangerous determination. She didn't want to look at him? Fine, then he'd make sure she could only see him!"Let me go! Let me go!" Phoebe struggled, but her resistance was futil
"Let me out! Let me out! Open the door!"Inside the small villa, Phoebe pounded on the door with all her strength.Her voice echoed throughout the house.Outside, two guards stood expressionlessly, unmoved by her cries.Phoebe had been shouting for hours. Her voice was hoarse, and her hands were red and swollen from hitting the door, but no one came to open it. Sniffling, she finally collapsed back onto the bed in frustration, staring blankly at the ceiling.There was nothing for her to do but stare.She was on the verge of going insane.This imprisoned life was unbearable.It had been days since Alexander had brought her back, yet she hadn't been allowed to take a single step outside the room. Her world was confined to this small space. The door was locked, and the windows wouldn't open.It was suffocating.Why did Alexander have to treat her like this? Would he only be satisfied if she came to hate him completel
After taking a cold shower and changing into fresh clothes, he headed out. Passing by her room, the silence was deafening.He reached out, his hand hovering over the doorknob, wanting to go in and check on her. But his hand froze mid-air, unable to move any further.He just couldn't muster the courage to enter.Damn it. Was there really something he was afraid of?Without lingering any longer, he turned and descended the stairs with heavy steps.Tonight, he needed a drink. Because of Phoebe, he couldn't focus on work at all.Inside the car, Alexander stomped irritably on the gas pedal, the vehicle speeding like a bullet. He ran countless red lights, frustration coursing through his veins.Police cars blared their sirens behind him, trailing closely.But Alexander had no intention of stopping. Instead, he pressed the gas harder, increasing the car's speed.The phone buzzed. With one hand on the wheel, he picked it up. His
Alexander's gaze was filled with disdain as he looked at her. Gone was the tenderness he once held for her; all that remained was disgust, contempt, and the bitter hatred of someone who had been deceived. After all these years, he couldn't believe he had cherished a woman like this."I only did it because I love you so much,"Melissa sobbed, tears streaming down her face."Love?"Alexander cut her off coldly. "Is this what you call love? Lying to me? Hurting the woman I care about?"His voice was sharp, laced with icy anger. "I never imagined you could be this vicious."The thought of Phoebe's suffering gripped his heart painfully. He was the one who had caused her so much pain, and all because of Melissa.Melissa desperately tried to explain, her voice shaking. But the Alexander before her was unrecognizable."Please, don't treat me this way. Please!"she begged, reaching out to him."Forgive you?"His words dripped
For two consecutive days, Phoebe continued her silent standoff with Alexander. She refused to eat anything, even though her body was weak, her head spinning with hunger. No matter how faint or dizzy she became, she wouldn't give in to him. Even if it meant starving to death, she would not yield.Once, she endured his treatment because she loved him. But after everything that had happened, she could no longer forgive him. The servants were at their wit's end, desperately trying to persuade her, but she refused to listen. With no other option, they went to Alexander for help.In the study, one of the servants hesitantly reported, "Sir, she still isn't eating.""Mm, I see. You can go.""Yes, sir.""Wait," Alexander called out, pausing for a moment before adding, "Prepare a fresh meal and bring it up."He believed she was just being stubborn and would eventually give in to hunger. But he hadn't anticipated her sheer determination to defy him, no
The gates of the villa slowly opened as the two children stepped inside, their eyes widening at the spacious living room. A crystal chandelier cast a warm glow from the ceiling, while the marble floor reflected their tiny silhouettes."Uncle, your house is huge!" Amy looked up, her eyes sparkling.Alexander bent down and lifted both children onto the sofa. Amy suddenly frowned. "Uncle, living in such a big house alone must be really lonely."His movements paused. That wave of loneliness from the five lost years of memory suddenly surged in."We'll come visit you often from now on!" Jeremy said earnestly, unconsciously reaching up to touch his still-swollen cheek.Alexander noticed and quickly went upstairs to get the first aid kit. He gently placed Jeremy on his lap and carefully applied the ointment."Does it hurt?"Jeremy shook his head, staring intently at the gentle man in front of him. Amy sat quietly by the side, then suddenly said, "Uncle, today is our fifth birthday.""Your bi
In the restroom, Phoebe stared blankly at her phone. His call still hadn't come. Her heart sank with disappointment.She tried to calm herself, but her mind kept spinning with anxious thoughts. So lost in her worries, she forgot about the two kids waiting outside.It wasn't until a woman bumped into her that Phoebe snapped back to reality.Oh no, the kids!She rushed out of the restroom—only to find their seats empty.Her heart dropped. Cold sweat soaked her back. She frantically stopped a passerby."Excuse me, did you see two kids? A boy and a girl, about this tall—"No. No. No.Just as she was on the verge of panic, her phone suddenly rang.With trembling hands, Phoebe pulled it out and answered without even checking the caller ID."Hi, Mom."The moment she heard Jeremy's voice, Phoebe burst into tears. Her voice choked with emotion. "Where are you?""Mom, Amy and I are fine. Don't worry," Jeremy said gently."Tell me where you are." Phoebe sniffled, trying to keep her voice steady.
At 3 a.m., the villa was wrapped in absolute silence. Alexander stumbled through the front door, the sharp scent of whiskey clinging to his suit.Upstairs, the bedroom door was ajar—like an open wound that refused to heal. He pushed it open. Moonlight slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating a bed so untouched it didn't even bear a wrinkle.A dry laugh escaped him.Sliding down the wall, he sat on the floor, the back of his head resting against the cold wallpaper. The alcohol burned in his veins, but it couldn't dull the dull ache spreading through his chest. His fingers absentmindedly traced the old scar on his left abdomen—he should've locked her up five years ago, even if the chains had to be forged from hatred.By the time the pale morning light seeped through the curtains at 5 a.m., Phoebe was already awake. Her hand reached instinctively toward the phone on the pillow beside her—the screen was as clean and silent as glass rinsed by rain."He still hasn't seen i
Phoebe stared at the dim screen of her phone, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold surface. The unfamiliar female voice on the other end still echoed in her ears, like a thorn lodged in her heart. All these years—even after losing his memory—Alexander had never had another woman by his side. Was it just like at that banquet again, where he'd hired someone to act just to provoke her?The thought made her lips curve involuntarily. Such childish tricks only exposed one thing: he still cared.Her fingers flew across the screen, tapping furiously. Thirty minutes later, she finally finished a long text message that laid bare the entire truth. She read through it again and again, checking every word and sentence, determined that this time, there would be no more misunderstandings. Just as she hit "send," she heard a soft creak at the door.Phoebe looked up to see a small head poking through the gap—Jeremy's. His large dark eyes sparkled in the darkness."Sweetheart?" She immediately
Phoebe stirred from a haze of sleep, the sunlight filtering through the window making her squint. She reached for her nightstand, fingertips brushing against the cold screen of her phone—3:00 PM.She froze, her mind sluggishly trying to piece things together. Fragments of last night resurfaced: the living room, Alexander's embrace, the warmth of his body, the sound of his breath… And then? How had she ended up back in bed?The answer was obvious. In this villa, no one else would dare touch her.She rubbed her temples in frustration. Everything was exposed now—she'd waited for him all night and fallen asleep in his arms. He must've figured it out.Suddenly, the door burst open.Phoebe looked up. Alexander stood in the doorway, his face thunderously dark."Aren't you going to explain?" His voice was like a blade scraping across glass—cold and sharp.Her heart jumped, panic rising in her chest. "Explain what?"He didn't answer. Instead, he tossed her phone in front of her.Phoebe looked
Nightfall.Phoebe had been waiting at the office for a long time. Her eyes would flick toward the entrance every few minutes, but Alexander never showed. He hadn't been to the office all day.And his phone? Still unanswered.Staring blankly at her phone screen, Phoebe's heart filled with unease.What happened to him? Why won't he even answer his phone?A creeping sense of anxiety spread through her chest like ink in water.When she finally returned home, Phoebe still held on to hope—maybe Alexander would already be there, waiting.But the house was silent. Empty.Still no sign of him.After a quick shower, she slipped into her pajamas and lay down in bed, but she couldn't settle. She picked up her phone again and dialed his number.Still off.No response.Panic began to bloom. Her mind spiraled with worst-case scenarios. She kept the screen in sight at all times, afraid she might miss a single notification.She even turned her phone's volume to max, hoping, praying it would ring.But
Alexander watched Phoebe's retreating figure with a faint sense of satisfaction. There was something strangely gratifying about having her follow his orders so obediently.Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen—an unfamiliar number. Frowning, he declined the call without hesitation. He wasn't about to let an irrelevant phone call ruin such a peaceful, cozy morning.But the phone rang again. And again. Persistent.His brows knit tighter with annoyance, but eventually he answered, intending to snap at the caller. Before he could speak, however, a familiar, anxious voice on the other end froze him in place."Alex? Is that you?"He recognized the voice instantly—Hermosa."…Yeah,"he replied flatly.Over the past five years, they'd been like parallel lines—never crossing, never speaking. She hadn't reached out, and he hadn't looked for her either.His memories from that time stopped before
The morning light had barely filtered through the curtains when Phoebe was stirred awake by a wave of warm, wet kisses.Still groggy, she became vaguely aware of a strange sensation. As her senses sharpened, a jolt of panic shot through her—her clothes were gone, completely stripped off at some point during the night. Worse still, her hand was wrapped firmly around a very specific part of Alexander. Her mind went blank, and she froze in place, unsure what to do."Morning,"Alexander's voice was low and husky, tinged with the lazy rasp of someone freshly awake.Phoebe stared at him, stunned. Morning? she thought. Seriously? Nothing about this is good!Was this man overdosing on testosterone or what? Did he ever think about anything else?Just as she was plotting how to kick him off her, Alexander grabbed her chin, his burning gaze locking onto hers. His tone was commanding, almost domineering."Help me."Phoebe instinctively
After work, Alexander dropped Phoebe off at home before rushing off to attend a social engagement.It wasn't until midnight that he finally stumbled back, reeking of alcohol. The only light in the living room came from a single dim wall lamp. He loosened his tie, a pounding headache throbbing at his temples. He should've gone straight to bed, but instead, his feet led him—almost involuntarily—to Phoebe's door.He grasped the doorknob and gave it a gentle twist, but it didn't budge.Locked.A flicker of irritation passed through Alexander. She actually locked the door? Was she hiding from him?A cold smile tugged at his lips. He had only wanted to hold her tonight, to ease the exhaustion clinging to his bones. But her resistance only ignited his need to conquer.Inside the room, Phoebe hid under her blanket, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.After a long while, when no sound came from the other side of the door, she f