"Can I come in for a glass of water? I've been on a plane all day, and I came straight here to find you. I'm so thirsty.""Wait here. I'll have the staff bring one to you."His attitude made it clear—he had no intention of letting her inside.Melissa's suspicions solidified: that bitch must be in Alexander's room right now."Are you really not going to let me in?""Not now""..."His indifferent tone felt like a heavy blow to Melissa's heart. Her expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked it.She wasn't naive enough to show her displeasure. Melissa was determined to maintain her perfect image in front of Alexander, no matter what."Then I'll wait to have water later!" she said with a forced smile, but her lips were stiff. Deep inside, her hatred for Phoebe grew stronger. She wouldn't let her off so easily.A calculating glint flashed in Melissa's eyes as she raised her gaze and softly asked, "Alex, are you coming back with me tomorrow?""I still have work here. I'll retu
It would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned Hermosa, but as soon as she did, it played right into Alexander's hands.Her words earlier made his heart lurch.Could she really be planning something extreme?"Melissa." Alexander wanted to rush after her, but he found himself wrapped in just a bath towel, which made it incredibly inconvenient.He cursed under his breath, clenched his fists, and struck the hard wall with a heavy punch.Phoebe, still in a daze, was startled by the loud noise, and her mind became a blur.She looked up, seeing blood on the white wall. Her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat. In a hoarse voice, she whispered, "You... you're bleeding."Her trembling fingers reached out to touch his hand, but before she could, he quickly withdrew it.The sudden motion startled Phoebe. Seeing her freeze, he stepped forward and embraced her. "Did I scare you?""No." Phoebe shook her head, though her body was still trembling slightly."Stay here and wait for me. I'm goin
"Sir, have you found her?" Rod asked."Not yet.""Should we call the police?""I've already sent someone to look for her," Alexander replied, his voice heavy with tension.Had he made a mistake? Every time he thought of Melissa's words, his heart clenched. What if something happened to her? How would he explain this to Hermosa? What had he done?"I hope she's okay. She seemed so heartbroken," Rod said with concern."I'll keep looking. If you hear anything, let me know immediately.""Of course, sir. Be careful.""Mm."The night grew darker, with an oppressive atmosphere suggesting rain was imminent. Alexander walked tiredly to the door of his room, his hand reaching for the key card when the door suddenly swung open. Phoebe stood in the doorway, her face filled with worry, illuminated by the soft glow of the lights. "Have you found her?"Before she could finish, Alexander pulled her into his arms suddenly. He burie
After settling Phoebe in, Alexander and Phoebe returned to their room. Alexander went straight to the bathroom to take a shower, while Phoebe stood there, lost in thought, not even noticing when he had finished.When he came out of the bathroom, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder."What are you thinking about?""You're done already?" Phoebe snapped back to reality, feeling his arms tighten around her."Yes. What were you so lost in thought about?""..."She had been thinking about what Melissa had said earlier. It almost felt like a dream.Perhaps sensing what was on her mind, Alexander chuckled softly. "Heh, still thinking about what Melissa said?""Yes." Since he guessed it, Phoebe nodded honestly, though her voice was cautious, "Do you think she really accepts us?""What do you think?" He playfully tapped her nose."I'm scared," she whispered, looking up into
After Alexander left, Phoebe collapsed onto the bed, utterly drained.His long story replayed in her mind, leaving her in a deep, unsettling silence.Her heart was in turmoil, more confused than it had ever been before.So, it wasn't Melissa he loved—it was Melissa's sister.And that woman, the one he loved so deeply, was no longer alive.No wonder he'd been so furious when she accidentally broke the photo frame on his desk that day. It wasn't just a picture; it was a memory of the sister who looked exactly like Melissa.Knowing he didn't love Melissa gave her some relief. But hearing him admit, in his own words, that his heart belonged to Melissa's sister—that pierced her deeply.How she envied that woman for being the recipient of his immense love.Phoebe closed her eyes, exhaustion overtaking her. She hadn't slept all night, and Alexander's story had consumed what little strength she had left. Every moment of lis
In a cozy western-style restaurant, three figures sat together for dinner.Under the soft glow of golden lights, the elegant ambiance radiated warmth."Alex, it's been so long since we had dinner together,"Melissa said with a sweet smile."I'll make time for this more often from now on,"Alexander replied, his tone carrying a hint of indulgence."Really? That's wonderful! Thank you. Everything tastes better when I'm with you."Melissa's stunning face lit up with joy, her happiness evident."Then eat more,"Alexander said affectionately. Her sudden change in attitude had relieved him, lessening some of the stress he'd been carrying. Managing two women was far from easy."Okay."Melissa nodded, her pure and radiant expression brimming with delight.Watching their interaction, Phoebe suddenly felt a pang of discomfort. She lowered her head, staring at the food on her plate. It looked delicious, but she found it
"..."Phoebe averted her gaze, refusing to answer."Speak!""I don't want to talk!" she snapped back, her defiance surprising even herself. Why waste her breath explaining when he wouldn't believe her anyway?"What's with your attitude toward Melissa?" he pressed, his tone laced with anger. Her behavior toward Melissa had infuriated him.His question lit a fire in her. "I said I don't want to talk. Didn't you hear me?" It was the first time she had raised her voice like this in front of him.What had she done wrong? Faced with someone like Melissa, her attitude wasn't unjustified."Phoebe, don't push me. You'd better give me an explanation," he growled. His tone was dangerously low, his anger simmering. If she had softened her stance, perhaps he wouldn't be so mad, but her stubbornness only fueled his frustration.His imposing demeanor startled Phoebe. Clenching her lips, she summoned her courage and said, "If I tell you Melissa came to me earlier today and said some terrible things,
Outside the room, Melissa asked with a sweet smile, "Alex, is Phoebe awake?""She is.""I want to ask her to go shopping with me!"Alexander remained silent. Phoebe was now filled with hostility toward Melissa; there was no way she would agree to go shopping with her. "Melissa, why don't you ask Rod to accompany you?""Oh, okay. I was hoping to spend some time with Phoebe," Melissa said, a hint of disappointment flashing across her face. Then, with a worried expression, she asked, "Is she feeling unwell?""Yeah," he replied, using it as an excuse."Then she needs to rest well. Alex, make sure you take good care of her and help her recover," Melissa said with a look of sincere concern on her harmless-looking face. She appeared so considerate."I noticed she's been staying in her room all the time and seems unhappy. Is it because of me?" Her eyes shimmered with unease."Don't overthink it. It's not because of you.""But..." Melissa started but hesitated as if she didn't know what to say
Before long, they arrived at their destination, and Phoebe made a beeline for the nursery. The soft golden light draped over the two cribs like a delicate veil, casting a warm glow over the sleeping infants. Phoebe tiptoed closer, afraid to disturb them. Bending slightly, she placed gentle kisses on their rosy little cheeks. Then, with the utmost care, she reached out and lightly brushed their tiny hands with her fingertips. Her movements were slow and tender, each touch filled with boundless love and affection. She couldn't take her eyes off them for even a second. As if sensing her presence, Jeremy and Amy suddenly opened their bright, round eyes at the same time. Their clear, innocent gazes studied her curiously, making Phoebe chuckle softly, happiness brimming in her laughter. In her heart, she marveled at how incredibly lucky she was to have these two precious little angels. The babies sucked on
Time flew by, and Friday arrived in the blink of an eye. With their flight scheduled for 4 PM, Phoebe woke up early, brimming with excitement as she packed her luggage. The mere thought of finally reuniting with Jeremy and Amy filled her with uncontrollable joy, and the smile on her face never once faded. At precisely eleven o'clock, Gavin arrived to pick her up. They enjoyed a leisurely lunch at a nearby restaurant before heading back to Gavin's place. The plan was to rest for a bit before leaving for the airport at three in the afternoon. However, Phoebe was far from feeling tired. She was in the living room, deep in conversation with Laura, her eyes alight with enthusiasm. Seeing this, Gavin could only shake his head helplessly. Letting them be, he retreated to his study to take care of some unfinished business. Phoebe and Laura lounged comfortably on the sofa, chatting freely. Phoebe had kicked off her shoes a
"Damn it! What the hell are you grabbing me for?!" the man bellowed in pain, his features contorted as he struggled against the crushing grip on his arm. He thrashed desperately, trying to break free, but the strength of the man in the wheelchair was astonishing. His bones felt like they were on the verge of dislocating. "Apologize." Alexander's voice was cold, his presence radiating an intimidating chill. The undeniable authority in his tone made it clear—this was not a request. "What the hell are you talking about?!" the man shouted, his voice tinged with both anger and confusion. He had no idea who this person was and hadn't done anything to provoke him, so why should he apologize? Alexander's grip tightened. The man broke out in a cold sweat as fear crept up his spine. His bravado crumbled in an instant, and his tone softened to one of pleading desperation. "Wait—stop! Please! I don't even know what I did wrong. Could you at least tell me?" "Apologize to the person you j
For the past few days, everything had been calm—life was uneventful, until today, when Phoebe's phone rang. It was Gavin. He was calling to tell her that he would be taking her to France this Friday to visit the children. The news instantly ignited Phoebe's joy, and she spent the entire morning immersed in uncontrollable excitement. She carefully selected her outfit, grabbed her bag, and hurried out, heading straight to the shopping mall. From noon until the afternoon, she wandered through various stores, buying several adorable outfits for the children and picking out a few delicate little toys. She knew full well that Gavin had already filled an entire room with toys for them—so many that Jeremy and Amy probably couldn't even play with them all. But the moment she laid eyes on these toys, she was completely captivated and couldn't resist buying them. By the time she left the mall, Phoebe was carrying bags upon bags, her arms full. As she walked, images of Jeremy and Amy ap
Gavin seemed to sense Phoebe's confusion. He frowned slightly, his cold gaze sweeping briefly over Laura before softening as he turned to Phoebe. In a calm, measured tone, he said, "Phoebe, she was away during that time because she had some issues with her voice. I sent her abroad for treatment. I didn't tell you beforehand because I didn't want you to worry unnecessarily." Hearing his explanation, Phoebe suddenly understood. The doubt in her heart dissipated, but at the same time, a strong sense of guilt welled up inside her. Her eyes reddened slightly as she spoke with deep remorse, "I'm sorry, Gavin. I misunderstood you. How is Laura now? Has she recovered?" She looked at Laura with genuine concern in her eyes. "Not completely. Her condition is quite complicated and will take some time to heal," Gavin explained patiently. "Is it difficult to treat?" Phoebe frowned. "It can be cured, so don't worry too much. She just can't speak for now." Gavin reached out and patted Phoebe'
At four in the afternoon, Phoebe stepped out of her home, planning to make a quick trip to the supermarket to pick up ingredients for dinner.Her steps were light as she walked along the familiar street, but just as she lifted her gaze, her movements suddenly froze.Not far ahead, Gavin stood elegantly, leaning against his car door like a living masterpiece. The golden sunlight cast a soft glow on him, outlining his sharp features and adding to his naturally distinguished aura. His eyes were fixed solely on her, as if everything else around them had faded into insignificance.Phoebe's heart clenched, and for a few moments, her mind went completely blank. She quickly regained her composure and instinctively lowered her gaze.For the past few weeks, every time Gavin had tried to reach her, she had come up with excuses to avoid meeting him. When her phone rang, she ignored it. When text messages arrived, she never replied.Now, she ducked her head and pretended not to see him, turning sw
In the DA Corporation's conference room, the atmosphere was as tense as the moments before a storm.After months of being elusive, Alexander had finally made an appearance.At this moment, the company's top executives were all gathered. The directors and shareholders sat around the long conference table, their expressions varying. Among them was the representative of the mysterious company that had successfully acquired DA Corporation. He surveyed the room with a smug sense of satisfaction."Sir, the paperwork for the company's handover has been prepared. We kindly ask for your signature here." A staff member stepped forward respectfully, presenting the documents and a pen to Alexander.Alexander's gaze swept over the documents, and without a trace of hesitation, he swiftly signed his name. His expression remained calm.Letting go of DA Corporation was nothing more than a minor step in his grand scheme. To him, this was merely another move on the chessboard. More importantly, there we
Laura shuddered violently as the breath drawing near sent chills down her spine. She instantly lowered her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes. Panic surged through her, and she frantically shook her head, her body twisting desperately as she tried to retreat.But before she could escape, Gavin's hand clamped down on her flailing leg, capturing her like a hunter seizing his prey. Any chance of breaking free vanished in an instant.She turned her gaze away, her eyes darting elsewhere in terror. Even catching a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye made her heart pound with fear—she couldn't bear to look at him directly.Gavin's cold gaze bore down on Laura's pale lips, his eyes as frigid as ice, capable of freezing the entire world."Slut." His voice was hoarse with fury. "You've only been gone a few days, and you're already spreading your legs for another man?"Rage churned inside him. She had really left him. She had really gone to another man's bed. The thought gnawed at his pride
Early the next morning.Leroy slowly awakened, feeling a soft, warm weight pressing against his chest.He lowered his gaze and found Laura clinging to him like a cuddly koala, her arms wrapped tightly around him. One of her legs draped lazily over his, her posture exuding a sense of comfort and intimacy. Her small lips parted slightly with each gentle breath, accompanied by a faint, rhythmic snore—she was sound asleep.Leroy watched her in silence, his eyes brimming with tenderness and affection. As he gazed at her peaceful face, his lips curled into a subtle smile. He realized that with her by his side, life seemed to have taken on a whole new warmth, filling his world with an unexplainable sense of joy.She was never a burden—she was a priceless treasure granted to him by fate.Leroy carefully adjusted his position, trying to move without disturbing her. But the moment he shifted, Laura instinctively snuggled closer, tightening her hold on him as if, even in her sleep, she refused t