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?
He released her wrist, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist, his sharp nose lowering to touch the tip of hers.With one hand free, he traced her lips with his fingers, caressing them softly. The color was beautiful, like a flower, but how many men had stained it? He had seen it twice with his own eyes.How many more times had it happened without his knowledge?His expression darkened like a grim reaper, every bloodthirsty instinct within him flaring to life. His fingers slowly began to wander."You've gained weight," he said, his tone shifting, light but laced with a strange, unsettling edge."Please... don't do this to me." Her eyes filled with tears, her voice fragile, full of vulnerability. His sudden change in demeanor felt like the calm before the storm."Are you scared of me?"She whimpered softly. His wicked voice echoed in her ears.She wasn't just scared of him."What should I do? Your body... I've missed it so much. Even in my dreams, I'm with you in bed." His voice wa
Alexander never imagined he could become so obsessed with this body.He, who prided himself on his self-control, found himself losing it time and again in her presence.He had once thought he could discard her whenever he wanted, but he had clearly overestimated himself.He had unknowingly fallen into her spell, like a drug slowly eating away at him, addicting him to her.But how could he tolerate other men tasting the sweetness of her body?The thought of that man kissing her in the car made his teeth grind with rage. The feeling of having something he cherished stolen from him stirred every bloodthirsty instinct within.He wanted to pull out a gun and shoot that man without hesitation if only he hadn't been so distracted by the scene.If just a kiss could provoke such fury, what would it feel like if another man touched her?Had he ever done those things to her too? Just the thought of her alluring body surrendering to another man filled his eyes with bloodshot rage, his face freezi
"Sir, the doctor has arrived," came the respectful voice of the subordinate outside the door."Mm, let him in," Alexander responded coldly. Clad in a black robe, his commanding presence was powerful and intimidating.Several doctors entered, carrying a collection of clinical instruments."Examine her," he ordered, his eyes dark and unreadable."Wait.""Sir, do you have any further instructions?" one doctor asked, hesitantly."Cover their eyes.""Uh..." the subordinate hesitated. Blocking their vision would make the examination impossible."Sir, if we can't see, we can't perform the examination properly," one of the doctors pointed out."Fine, proceed." After a long pause, Alexander replied in an icy tone.The doctors followed his orders without delay, quickly starting their examination. Alexander watched each instrument in use, his expression becoming increasingly complex. Emotions he rarely showed flashed in his eyes.After half an hour, his hard expression grew even darker. Looking
The next evening, after much hesitation, Phoebe finally turned on her phone. Instantly, dozens of messages from Hermosa flooded in, the notifications overwhelming her in an instant.A flicker of irritation crossed her face. Without even bothering to read them, her fingers instinctively swiped past the messages, as if ignoring them could erase the painful past they carried.By the third day, the screen remained filled with Hermosa's apologies—each word a reminder of the wounds Phoebe had suffered.She stared at the messages, biting her lip, her emotions a tangled mess. Yet, she still chose to ignore them.Days passed—fourth, fifth… until the sixth day. Hermosa remained relentless, sending apology messages daily without fail.Phoebe had intended to stay firm, but she was never one to harden her heart completely. Hermosa's persistence, like water wearing down stone, gradually eroded the defenses she had so carefully built.Finally, she couldn't resist any longer. With trembling fingers,
Inside the hospital ward.Hermosa's face carried a hint of urgency as she gazed at Alexander, her voice soft but firm. "Alex, I'm really fine now. I want to be discharged." Her eyes were filled with anticipation, eager to leave this sterile, disinfectant-laden place.Alexander frowned slightly, his eyes brimming with concern and determination. Without hesitation, he replied, "No. You need to stay under observation a little longer—that way, I can rest easy." His tone left no room for negotiation; it was clear that this decision was final.Hermosa pouted slightly, her voice carrying a trace of playful protest. "But I really am fine." She tried to persuade him once more, a flicker of stubbornness flashing in her eyes.Taking a step forward, Alexander grasped her hand tightly, as if afraid she might vanish at any moment. "I said no, and that's final. This isn't up for discussion." His voice was gentle yet resolute, and the warmth of his grip conveyed his deep concern.Looking at the unwav
Alexander watched as Phoebe stood frozen, her face void of any reaction. A smirk of ridicule and triumph played on his lips, as if he had known the truth all along and was merely watching her make a fool of herself. "What's wrong? Did I hit the mark?" His voice was cold, sharp like a blade slicing through the oppressive silence around them. No. This wasn't right. Phoebe's mind raced as she struggled to piece everything together. It was Hermosa who had messaged her that day, pleading desperately for help, claiming her wedding dress had been ruined and needed urgent repairs. Yet now, Hermosa was twisting the truth, framing her deliberately. But why? Hadn't she sworn she would never interfere in Hermosa and Alexander's life? Why was Hermosa doing this to her now? Phoebe took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn't panic. She had done nothing wrong—why should she fall apart over false accusations? "Right! I have the message!" Phoebe's eyes lit up as if gras
The next afternoon, the sky was weighed down by thick, oppressive clouds, casting a suffocating gloom over the city. The sunlight, weak and powerless, barely pierced through the heavy atmosphere. Alexander's fury burned like a volcano on the verge of eruption—uncontainable, scorching, and all-consuming. Without a second thought, he stormed toward the entrance of Phoebe's company. His presence stood out sharply, his entire being radiating a seething rage that seemed to set the very air ablaze. The moment he caught sight of Phoebe, he charged forward like a beast gone mad. Without a word, he grabbed her forcefully and dragged her into his car, speeding off toward the outskirts of the city. Phoebe struggled against his grip, demanding answers, but Alexander remained silent, his jaw clenched with barely restrained wrath. Upon reaching a desolate area in the suburbs, he yanked her out of the car with equal force. Completely caught off guard, Phoebe gasped sharply. She lifted her
The night was deep and silent, with nothing but darkness blanketing the world. In the villa’s bedroom, Hermosa, lost in slumber, suddenly furrowed her brows.A sharp, unbearable pain surged through her body like a raging tide, instantly dragging her out of her dreams.At first, she thought she could endure it, that it would pass with time. However, the pain only intensified, growing more unbearable with each passing second.Her head spun in dizziness, nausea churned violently in her stomach, and an overwhelming weakness spread through her limbs, as though all strength had been drained from her body.Unable to bear it any longer, she weakly called out to Alexander beside her, her voice trembling with pain and helplessness. “Alex, I don’t feel well…”Alexander had been fast asleep, but the moment he heard Hermosa’s feeble call, his drowsiness vanished.He jolted upright, his gaze immediately locking onto the deep crease between her brows, his eyes brimming with concern. “Where does it h
Phoebe's gaze fell on the damaged part of the wedding dress, her brows furrowing slightly. Without hesitation, she skillfully opened the sewing kit, delicately picking up the needle and thread with practiced ease. The issue wasn’t difficult to fix—her proficiency in needlework made it a simple task.With unwavering focus, she threaded the needle and carefully embroidered a petal over the torn area. Each stitch, precise and meticulous, concealed the flaw seamlessly.Before long, the damage had vanished as if it had never existed. "It's done. You can try it on now and see if there are any other issues," Phoebe said with a faint smile, carefully handing the dress to Hermosa before swiftly tidying up the sewing kit with fluid movements.She silently hoped this would be the last problem to fix—so she would never have to see her again."It's beautiful. Thank you," Hermosa said sincerely, taking the dress with a radiant smile before quickly heading into the fitting room.Moments later, she e
Hermosa gently pushed open the bedroom door and immediately saw Lisa standing there, acting suspiciously as she fiddled with something.A sudden jolt of unease shot through Hermosa's chest, and her brow furrowed instinctively. She had never liked this new maid, not from the moment Lisa first set foot in the house. An inexplicable sense of discomfort had lingered ever since.Raising her voice, with an authoritative tone, she demanded, "What are you doing standing there?"Her voice echoed in the otherwise quiet room, breaking the silence.Lisa froze at the sound, her body jerking as if startled, before quickly spinning around. She instinctively hid her hands behind her back, gripping something tightly as though she feared someone might steal it."I-I'm just cleaning the room,"Lisa stammered, her gaze darting nervously. The panic in her eyes was as obvious as a beacon, clearly visible to Hermosa.Hermosa's suspicions only grew. "Cleaning? D
On the other side, the courtyard was tranquil and peaceful in the afternoon. Soft sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.Hermosa sat contentedly on a lounge chair, her eyes gently closed, savoring the quiet moment as a light breeze brushed against her hair.Suddenly, a strange beam of light appeared out of nowhere, enveloping her head as if controlled by an invisible hand. Hermosa snapped her eyes open, her pupils dilating in shock and fear.The sudden change made her heart race, nearly jumping out of her chest. Her face turned pale, and her breathing quickened.After a long moment, Hermosa finally composed herself. She pressed her hand tightly against her chest, trying to steady her chaotic heartbeat.Her voice trembled with fear as she raised it and sharply called out to the maid nearby, "What are you doing here?"This maid had an unsettling habit of appearing out of nowhere, scaring her ea
The next day, the sunlight poured into the villa without reservation. After finishing breakfast, Hermosa set down her utensils, gently wiped the corner of her mouth, and stood up, intending to return to her room for a rest.She walked slowly down the corridor, the wooden floor creaking softly under her feet, adding a peaceful touch to the otherwise quiet space.Just as she was about to turn into her bedroom, a figure flashed at the end of the corridor.Hermosa immediately stopped, her gaze fixed on the retreating figure. She squinted slightly, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity, involuntarily focusing on the shape fading away.Driven by curiosity, Hermosa decided to investigate. She turned and walked toward the butler's room, her steps quickening, her mind racing with thoughts of the mysterious figure.She pushed open the door, finding the butler, Rod, organizing some papers. Upon seeing Hermosa, he immediately put down the work, stood up