The departure of the two caused a stir at the banquet.People whispered among themselves, but the minor episode didn't seem to dampen the festive atmosphere. Laughter and chatter resumed as if nothing had happened.Alexander squinted slightly, his icy gaze fixed on the backs of the departing figures. His handsome face was frosted with cold fury.Damn that woman. She would rather expose herself than look back at him even once. She must be waiting for Gavin.So, this was why she was so desperate to leave him—she wanted to throw herself into Gavin's arms.Damn it. She's already in Gavin's arms so quickly.How long has she been with him? Was it mere moments after he let her go that she ran straight to Gavin?Alexander's fists clenched tightly, his steps heavy as he stormed out, a chilling aura surrounding him."Alex, where are you going?"Samantha called after him anxiously when she saw him leave. They had barely been at
Gavin's face was filled with worry as he gently pressed on her ankle. There didn't seem to be anything abnormal—it looked like a dislocation. "I'll take you to the hospital."The car sped off into the night and soon arrived at the hospital.When the doctor realigned Phoebe's ankle, the excruciating pain overwhelmed her, and she burst into tears. Gavin wrapped her in his arms and, to prevent her from biting herself, put his arm into her mouth.Her scream pierced the air before she collapsed weakly against Gavin's chest. Beads of sweat covered her forehead, and her face turned alarmingly pale.Though her ankle was still swollen, Phoebe could now feel it fully. She forced a bitter smile, realizing just how agonizing bone pain could be.It felt as if she had died and come back to life.After prescribing medication for her injury, the doctor gave them a few instructions and left.Gavin went to fetch the medicine and returned shortly
LauraSince that night, an entire week had passed, and Laura had locked herself in her small room like a little snail, refusing to take a single step outside.The servants, worried about her prolonged isolation, began to grow uneasy. She hadn't left her room for days, skipping school and shutting everyone out. Afraid something might happen to her, one servant hesitated before deciding to report the situation to Gavin.Bringing food into her room, the servant glanced at Laura lying motionless on her bed. After much deliberation, she concluded it was best to inform Gavin. If anything were to happen to Laura, she couldn't bear the consequences of his wrath.Although Laura wasn't a true mistress of the house—her presence was almost insignificant—Gavin rarely paid her any attention. He never mentioned her, nor seemed to care about her at all.The thought filled the servant with a pang of sympathy. Laura was still so young; experiencing something like this was undoubtedly hard for her to pr
The restaurant was bathed in soft, warm lighting, casting a gentle glow over each meticulously arranged table and creating an elegant, relaxing atmosphere.Laura sat across from Wright, her hands clasped nervously, her fingers slightly curled.She seemed uneasy, out of her element. This was her first time stepping into such an upscale restaurant.Everything around her felt foreign and fascinating, yet tinged with an inexplicable fear, as if she were an intruder in a world that didn't belong to her—a stranger amidst the refined luxury.Other patrons, dressed in elegant attire, occupied the surrounding tables. Some engaged in hushed conversations, while others laughed heartily. The cheerful sounds interwove, creating an infectious liveliness that floated and echoed through the air.Laura's gaze wandered across the room, quietly observing the people around her. Her eyes betrayed a deep longing.Their faces radiated happiness and contentment—emotions she had never truly experienced. A que
Elsewhere, as evening descended, two figures emerged from the campus."Phoebe, there's a movie later. Come with me, okay?" Alva suggested."Huh?" Phoebe's eyes widened, clearly lost in thought moments before."I said, there's a movie tonight. Come with me." Alva rolled her eyes and raised her voice slightly."I…"Before Phoebe could finish, Alva cut her off with a warning. "You've bailed on me so many times already. This time, you're coming.""Alva, my foot…""I'm here, aren't I? Don't worry. Come on, let's go." Alva supported Phoebe as they walked forward slowly.Though Phoebe's injury had mostly healed, her dislocated bone still required more time to fully recover.By 8 PM, the two had arrived at the cinema. Because of Phoebe's foot, they couldn't move quickly and entered after most of the crowd had already gone in. To their surprise, many of the good seats were still vacant.They exchanged a glance and laughed, picking a comfortable spot to settle into.As the lights dimmed, the mo
At this moment, Alexander, the man at the center of the recent scandal, sat inside his car. Although a beautiful woman leaned against him, seemingly basking in his affection, his heart was filled with nothing but disgust."Alex, darling, please… I really want it," the woman cooed, her lips painted a bright, tempting red. She pouted slightly, her sugary-sweet voice dripping with a coy and cloying charm that could make anyone's heart flutter.Her fingers, like serpents, slithered boldly across Alexander's chest, inching downward with shameless audacity."Get out!" Alexander snarled, his fury erupting. The veins on his forehead bulged as his eyes blazed with anger and disdain.Without hesitation, he kicked the woman away, his action as swift as it was ruthless.To him, these women were increasingly revolting, their fake affection akin to a foul, putrid swamp that sickened him to his core. He felt his stomach churn, a wave of nausea rising."Did I… do something wrong? Are you angry with m
For the past month, if not for being swamped with endless affairs and busy cleaning up a series of troublesome messes, he might have already lost control and rushed off to find her.At this moment, however, a thought unbiddenly surfaced in his mind: Is she with Gavin right now?As soon as the idea emerged, it spread like wildfire through his heart, igniting an uncontrollable jealousy.Anger surged like a violent tide, breaking through the dam of his rationality. He abruptly raised his foot and kicked the chair beside him with all his strength.The chair toppled over with a loud crash, the sharp sound echoing through the silent room.Gone was his usual composure and cold demeanor; now, he resembled nothing more than a jealous husband, consumed by suspicion and rage.The memory of that night replayed in his mind—her dressed in an elegant gown, dazzling and radiant. But the man standing beside her was Gavin, accompanying her to the banque
Meanwhile, at the square, Phoebe's legs felt weak and powerless, making it nearly impossible to stand no matter how hard she tried.Frantically, she looked around for a taxi, but not a single empty one was in sight. Helpless, she dialed Gavin's number.Before long, Gavin arrived at lightning speed. He quickly got out of the car and carefully helped Phoebe and Alva into the vehicle, then drove them straight to the hospital.At the hospital, after a thorough examination, the doctor concluded it was just a cramp and nothing serious. With some rest and a bit of massage, she would recover fully. Relieved by the news, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Gavin then promptly drove both women back to their doorstep.The car came to a gentle stop by the roadside. Alva, being considerate, got out first, leaving Phoebe and Gavin some privacy.Phoebe lowered her gaze slightly and said softly, "Thank you for helping today and for bringing us back. I really apprec
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
It was already late. Laura was probably asleep.But Phoebe couldn't wait any longer. Even if she disturbed Laura, she had to see her with her own eyes. Something about Laura felt off, like a thick fog lingering in her mind, making her uneasy.She still remembered the way Wright had looked at her last time—his face grim, his expression heavy, as if he were hiding countless secrets.Standing before Laura's door, Phoebe hesitated only for a moment before raising her hand and knocking.Knock. Knock.The sound echoed through the silent corridor, clear and distinct. But inside the room, there was nothing—no response, no movement. It was eerily quiet.Phoebe frowned. She knocked again, harder this time, repeating the motion several times. Still, silence.Her unease deepened.Taking a slow breath, she reached for the doorknob. With a slight twist, the door creaked open. A wave of cold air rushed out, brushing against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.The room was pitch black. Careful
Phoebe collided with Gavin's blazing gaze. At that moment, he gracefully lifted his slender fingers and slowly unbuttoned his suit jacket.A flush crept up Phoebe's cheeks. Her eyes involuntarily followed his movements, watching as he unfastened each button with deliberate ease. Then, the impeccably tailored suit jacket was carelessly tossed onto the plush bed.Her heartbeat stuttered, then rapidly accelerated, pounding as if it might burst from her chest.Nervousness gripped her, and the air was filled with his unique scent, surrounding her completely.He gave her no chance to retreat. His long fingers gently lifted her delicate chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Embarrassment overwhelmed Phoebe, and the moment her eyes landed on his striking features, a fleeting image of another man surfaced in her mind.Her face stiffened instantly, and a flicker of panic flashed in her eyes.Why? Why would she think of him at a time like this?A surge of complex emotions churned within her, and s
Tonight, Phoebe had no intention of going back to her own home. Sitting in the car, she hesitated for a moment before dialing her mother's number. As soon as the call connected, her cheeks flushed, and with a hint of shyness in her voice, she murmured into the receiver, "Mom, I'm not coming home tonight. I'll be staying at Gavin's place." The moment the words left her lips, she felt as if her face had caught fire. Her naturally reserved nature made her incredibly self-conscious, and hearing her mother chuckle on the other end only deepened her embarrassment. A wave of regret surged through her—she wished she could take back what she had just said. But it was too late now. She had already agreed to go with Gavin, and she couldn't bear the thought of disappointing him. Hanging up the call, Phoebe realized her palms were damp with sweat. She took a deep breath to steady herself.I made this decision willingly. There's no reason to be nervous.After all, they were already engaged. Liv
After hanging up the phone, Gavin rushed over, his heart pounding with urgency.From a distance, he spotted Phoebe sitting alone on a bench by the street. Under the shroud of night, her silhouette looked particularly lonely.As if sensing his presence, Phoebe's eyes welled up the moment she saw him.In the very next second, she sprang from the bench like an arrow released from its bow, dashing toward Gavin without hesitation. She threw herself into his arms, as though she had finally found the safe harbor she had been searching for after drifting for so long."Why didn't you answer my calls today? I was so worried about you." Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a trace of suppressed sobs. She had spent the entire day in distress, her heart suspended in midair, unable to settle.Perhaps she had grown too used to his daily calls—so when his voice suddenly vanished from her world, an inexplicable fear crept into her heart.She was afrai
Weekend.Gavin hadn't called in a long time, leaving Phoebe restless with worry.Now, she dialed his number again. Once, twice… several times in a row, but all she got was the monotonous beeping sound—no answer.He used to call her every day without fail, sharing bits and pieces of his daily life. But today's unusual silence filled Phoebe with an unsettling feeling.Overwhelmed by anxiety, she quickly got dressed, determined to go to Gavin's place and find out what was going on.Please, let nothing bad have happened.On the way, Phoebe sat in the back of a taxi, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Her fingers tapped restlessly on her knee, each tap echoing the urgency in her heart.As if fate was against her, the evening rush hour had turned the city streets into a gridlocked mess. Traffic crawled at a snail's pace, each meter forward feeling like an eternity.Phoebe stared at the endless line of cars in front of her
Leroy watched in shock as the crimson blood spread, feeling as if a sledgehammer had slammed into his chest. A sharp pain shot through him, as if the knife had pierced not Laura's hand but his very heart. She had blocked the knife for him—without hesitation! A flash of ruthlessness flickered in his eyes. Without a second thought, his hand clamped down on the assailant's wrist like an iron vice. With all his strength, he squeezed. A sickeningcrackechoed through the night—the unmistakable sound of bone shattering. The sheer force of it was proof of Leroy's fury reaching its boiling point. The man let out a bloodcurdling scream, his wrist exploding in pain. His grip on the knife instantly loosened, and with a sharpclang, the weapon clattered to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Leroy, still seething, delivered a vicious kick. Every ounce of his rage powered that single s