Phoebe's heart clenched suddenly. After a brief moment of panic, she quickly regained her composure, bit her lower lip, and said firmly, "I don't want to see you."With that, she hurriedly hung up the phone. Her hands trembled slightly, and her mind descended into chaos.Slowly, Phoebe unzipped the back of her wedding dress, her movements sluggish and heavy. The dress slipped to the floor like a withering flower. Mechanically, she took a nightgown from the wardrobe, changed into it, and collapsed onto the bed, trying to erase the waves of turmoil that phone call had stirred in her heart.She kept telling herself: Sleep. Tomorrow, I need to be the most beautiful bride.But her thoughts refused to obey.What does he want?After all this time, he had vanished without a trace, not a single word from him. And now, of all times, the night before her wedding, he suddenly calls. An unsettling feeling spread through her chest. Instinctively, she knew—it wouldn't be that simple.To prevent him
At that moment, she felt her nightgown being gently slipped off, a chill instantly washing over her. Then, her undergarments were undone, and she instinctively shivered.Soon after, she felt a cold, hard body press down on her, causing her heart to race uncontrollably.Her mind was in disarray, unable to comprehend why she felt the urge to respond. This unfamiliar sensation should have repulsed her, yet she found herself unable to control her own body."Phoebe, I want you," a magnetic voice whispered in her ear. It was so familiar, only that man could be so blunt."Phoebe, feel it, isn't it hard?" As he spoke, her hand was guided by a warm, large hand, slowly moving downward.When she touched that hard object, Phoebe's body trembled uncontrollably."Do you know how much I need you?" The familiar voice continued to murmur in her ear, laced with temptation.Simultaneously, a pair of hands began to roam over her snow-white body, each tou
Tonight, Alexander was unusually patient. Unlike his usual urgency, he took his time, gently touching Phoebe's body, each touch seemingly imbued with a bewitching magic.At first, Phoebe was filled with tension, rejection, anger, and resistance. Her body was taut, every nerve stretched like a bowstring, ready to snap at any further move from Alexander.However, as time passed, an indescribable pleasure began to creep in, wave after wave, gradually overwhelming her. Under this onslaught, her mind went blank, and the defenses of her rationality crumbled under the erosion of pleasure.In this matter, Phoebe deeply understood that she was never a match for Alexander.He was like a master manipulator of emotions and desires, able to control her at will, while she had no power to resist, only to struggle in this vortex."Darling, do you want it?" Alexander's voice was like a beast's roar from hell, rough yet filled with temptation."No," Phoebe wh
Phoebe and Gavin’s wedding was meant to be a grand and luxurious affair. However, Phoebe insisted on keeping it low-key. Gavin, who had always indulged her every wish, agreed without hesitation. As a result, the ceremony was far more understated than originally planned.Phoebe stood quietly at the entrance of the church, her delicate veil gently draping over her face. Clad in a magnificent wedding gown, she looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tale—pure, beautiful, and ethereal.Yet, beneath this seemingly perfect façade, her heart churned with turmoil, waves of emotion crashing uncontrollably within her.A distinct, masculine scent drifted through the air, pulling her from her trance. She instinctively forced a stiff smile.The wedding proceeded smoothly, without any unexpected interruptions—just as Phoebe had anticipated. In her mind, Alexander was no longer a threat; after all, she had personally ended his life not lo
Phoebe collapsed without warning, instantly throwing the once-joyous wedding into chaos.Gavin, Ryan, and Anila were frantic with worry as they rushed her to the hospital.Outside the emergency room, the three of them stood anxiously, their emotions heavy like a gathering storm.Gavin paced back and forth like a volcano on the verge of eruption, struggling to contain his unease. Every so often, he glanced up at the tightly shut emergency room doors, then down at his watch, muttering under his breath, praying for time to pass more quickly.At last, the emergency room light switched off, and the doors slowly opened. The doctor wheeled Phoebe out.Ryan and Anila immediately rushed forward."Doctor, how is she?" Ryan’s voice trembled with urgency.Anila, her hands unconsciously clenched, stared at the doctor with desperate eyes.The doctor furrowed his brows slightly before responding, "We still can’t determine the exac
A few days later, at Gavin's residenceLet go! Let go!Laura screamed in her heart, struggling desperately. She pounded at Gavin's iron grip on her shoulders, each hit filled with panic and despair. But no matter how hard she fought, his hand didn't budge.Her resistance ignited a raging fire within him. Gavin's eyes burned red with fury, his entire being radiating danger like a wild beast pushed to the brink.With a forceful yank, he lifted Laura off the ground effortlessly, gripping her slender arms with terrifying strength.The next second, she felt herself being thrown onto the bed. A dizzying sensation overtook her as she landed hard, stars exploding in her vision.The room was thick with the pungent scent of alcohol—Gavin had clearly been drinking. Yet, despite the liquor clouding the air, his mind remained disturbingly clear. Every move he made, every word he spoke, was deliberate."Why won't you say anything?! Why?!" His roar was filled with frustration, suppressed emotions su
In the early morning, Gavin was the first to wake up. The moment he opened his eyes, a sharp pain hammered through his head, making him frown instinctively. As he tried to sit up, he suddenly felt something soft and furry against his chest. Lowering his gaze, he reached out and realized that it was Laura lying on top of him. His initial reaction was to push her off immediately, but as his eyes landed on her serene, sleeping face, his raised hand froze in midair. His gaze was drawn to her lips. As if under a spell, he slowly lowered his head, and before he could even register his own actions, he gently kissed her. This subconscious act came from the depths of his instincts. It wasn't until the moment their lips touched that he snapped back to reality, his heart surging with panic and guilt, as if he had committed an unforgivable sin. His expression darkened. He pulled back abruptly, lifted the blanket, and got out of bed. Without a second glance, he strode toward the bathroom
"Boss, Miss Laura is missing." Inside the nightclub, a subordinate rushed to Gavin in a panic, his voice trembling as he reported. Gavin's dark, night-like eyes instantly flashed with a chilling coldness. "When did she disappear?" "It seems like it's been a while… We weren't paying close attention, and by the time we noticed, she was already gone," the subordinate replied, keeping his head down, afraid to meet Gavin's gaze. His voice grew weaker with each word. The wine glass in Gavin's hand suddenly shattered with a sharp *crack*, shards scattering, and wine spilling onto the floor. "Find her!" he roared, his voice reverberating throughout the nightclub. In an instant, his well-trained subordinates sprang into action, sealing off every exit and scouring every inch of the club. They combed through every corner multiple times, turning the atmosphere tense and chaotic. Minutes passed like hours. Then, another subordinate ran up to Gavin, his face pale with fear, his steps
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
The entire evening was filled with laughter and joy in the living room. Dinner was lively, and it wasn't until ten o'clock that everyone finally started clearing the table.Initially, Gavin had planned to leave after dinner, but as soon as Amy heard that, she clung tightly to his shirt, pleading for him to stay.Jeremy, though not as outspoken as Amy, also showed his reluctance through his gaze.Phoebe, worried that the children were bothering Gavin, tried to put on a stern face and ordered them to go upstairs to bed. However, when she met their pleading eyes, her heart softened. She simply couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh. Instead, she looked at Gavin apologetically, her eyes full of helplessness and gratitude.After a long night of excitement, the children finally succumbed to exhaustion. Gavin patiently soothed Amy, humming a lullaby softly. Before long, her eyelids drooped, and she tilted her head, falling into a deep sleep in his warm embrace.Meanwhile, Jeremy, sitti
Inside the car, Phoebe glanced at her two children and gently asked, "Kids, do you like it here?""Yes!" Jeremy and Amy answered in unison. Their eyes were wide with curiosity as they gazed out the window, taking in the unfamiliar yet exciting sights around them."Mom, is this where you grew up?" Amy tilted her head and looked at Phoebe."Yes," Phoebe nodded with a smile."When can we see Gavin?" Amy suddenly asked."He said he'll come over tonight.""Yay!" Amy clapped her hands excitedly, her face lighting up with joy.Watching her daughter's excitement, Phoebe let out a soft sigh and turned her gaze to the scenery outside.The familiar yet distant landscape passed by, blending memories with reality. Laughter, tears—every emotion had left its mark on this land.As the car slowly pulled up in front of the house, Phoebe took a deep breath, steadied herself, and stepped out with the children.Standing at the door, she lifted her hand and pressed the doorbell.Moments later, the door ope