Evening.Phoebe awoke from a light sleep upon hearing car sounds outside. Her first reaction was to quickly get out of bed. When she saw Alexander carrying Melissa in his arms, she paused, summoning her courage but not daring to approach.Watching Melissa nuzzle against him with a blissful smile, she turned to leave quietly. They probably didn't want anyone to interrupt at that moment. They looked so perfect together, and she felt out of place standing there.Conflicted emotions swirled inside her. Not wanting to witness their sweetness, she turned to sneak away. Just as she did, Alexander's deep gaze fell upon her.Seeing her frail silhouette was heartbreaking—she had lost so much weight."Alex, what are you looking at? I'm so sleepy," Melissa squinted, following his gaze toward the stairs, but she didn't see anything; she assumed it was that woman."Already sleepy?" Alexander replied, his voice tender as he lowered his head toward her."Shall we go to the room and sleep? I'm so tire
The next morning, the commotion outside disturbed Phoebe's peaceful sleep.Now wide awake, she got up.After getting ready, she headed downstairs, only to find that there were suddenly a dozen or so servants in the villa.The villa was usually quiet. Except for Rod, who stayed there 24/7, the cleaning staff would leave immediately after finishing their tasks—they were not allowed to linger.Why were there so many servants all of a sudden?"Good morning, madam," several of the servants greeted Phoebe respectfully from the foot of the stairs. It was their first day working here, and they wanted to make a good impression."Breakfast is ready, and the master is already at the table. Please head over quickly."Phoebe froze, momentarily unable to process what was happening.At that moment, Alexander and Melissa, who were already sitting at the dining table, looked over simultaneously.The atmosphere instantly turned tense."Madam, the breakfast is getting cold. Please, hurry and eat," one o
Phoebe walked towards the bus stop as soon as she left the villa. She had barely covered 500 meters when Alexander's car approached from the opposite direction. Her heart began to race wildly."Get in," he commanded, his tone as authoritative as ever. Phoebe didn't dare hesitate. She quickly opened the door and climbed into the car.They drove for about twenty minutes before the car came to a stop. The location was remote, with almost no cars passing by. She turned to look at him, but before she could react, he kissed her fiercely.His intensity overwhelmed her—he was like a beast, draining all her strength with his kiss.His lips moved urgently, aggressively, as they captured her soft lips. Phoebe's eyes widened, her breath catching, almost suffocating.She hadn't expected Alexander to stop the car just to kiss her. His ravenous behavior made her want to laugh.She tried to push him away—if he kissed her any longer, she might pass out. His strength was astonishing, and he quickly pin
Alexander glanced at his expensive diamond watch and said, "It's only 8:30. Your class starts at 9, so even if you're late by half an hour, it's no big deal. It only takes twenty minutes to get to your school, which means we still have forty minutes."It had been too long since he last had her, and his body was yearning for hers. He was a normal man, and going without a woman for so long had built up a desire within him that was impossible to ignore. If he didn't release it soon, he'd only be torturing himself.He was never one to suppress his needs. The last time he'd been drugged, he had somehow managed to resist taking her, which even he found hard to believe.It was the first time he had ever considered a woman's feelings over his own, resorting to using his hand to satisfy himself.Phoebe stared at him in shock. He calculated things pretty accurately, didn't he? She understood what he meant, but she knew that she could never agree to it."I don't want to," she said.What touched h
On the other side, just as Phoebe managed to steady her breathing, Alva walked in.Phoebe suddenly remembered that Noah had been trying to get in touch with her, asking for her help to talk to Alva.Phoebe hadn't wanted to get involved, but as a friend, she could sense that Noah meant something special to Alva. Phoebe knew Alva loved him.She didn't want her friend to lose her happiness over a misunderstanding, so she decided to give it a try."Alva, are you really not going to forgive Noah? Actually, he...""Phoebe, don't you dare mention that jerk to me! I never want to see him again!""Alva, he really regrets it. He..."Seeing that Alva wasn't interested in talking about Noah, Phoebe decided to drop the subject. Recently, Alva seemed determined to ignore Noah. Every time he showed up, Alva would angrily tell him to leave without even looking at him."Phoebe, let's stop talking about him. Tonight, we're going shopping. It's been ages since I've been out shopping since I got out of th
Phoebe's pace quickened unconsciously, her heart racing, and even the capillaries in her body seemed to contract."Sid, I think she's onto us.""You two go that way. You and I will take this side. Remember, cover her mouth. Don't let her make a sound.""Got it!"Fear overtook Phoebe, and she broke into a light jog. The path to the bus stop was slightly off course, adding to her anxiety.Suddenly, two figures appeared ahead of her, and Phoebe panicked. She really was in trouble! Alert, she turned to run back, but an arm reached out toward her from behind."Mmm—" Phoebe struggled, trying to shake off the hand covering her mouth. She was too weak to fight off a man, so she bit down hard on his arm."Ah!" The man screamed, loosening his grip in pain.Given a moment to breathe, her survival instincts kicked in. Phoebe gathered all her strength and viciously kicked the other man between his legs."Ugh!" The second man groaned, clutching himself in agony.Phoebe broke free and sprinted towar
"I'm at the bus stop." Alexander's tone was always harsh, never speaking kindly to her. "Damn it, didn't you say you were at the International Mall?" Was she daring to mess with him?! "You came?" She was surprised he showed up, but he was too late... "I waited for you for forty minutes, and you never came." Her voice trembled with grievance, and tears began to fall uncontrollably. Did he even know she almost encountered danger earlier? If he wasn't coming to pick her up, he could have just said so. If it weren't for him, she would have left with Alva, and maybe none of this would have happened. "I got held up by something," he frowned, noticing her tone was off. It was the first time he'd explained himself to a woman. Normally, his temper would have led to a fierce scolding. "Wait there, I'll be there in five minutes." "You don't have to come, I'll take the bus home myself." "Phoebe, if you dare, you can try." Hanging up, Alexander sharply turned the steering wheel.
Phoebe was panting slightly, her strength completely drained by him, her body soft and limp.If it weren't for his support, she probably would have collapsed into a puddle by now.That strange, electric current coursed through her body from head to toe, making her toes curl involuntarily."No... stop," she murmured weakly, her eyes clouded with a seductive glaze. Her long, loose hair framed her delicate face, making her look even more alluring.Her lips were a deep, rose-red, like a blooming flower he couldn't resist wanting to kiss again.Alexander narrowed his eyes with a mischievous glint, clearly enjoying their game. The less she responded, the more excited he became, teasing her even further.He'd never failed with any woman before, and Phoebe wouldn't be the exception—especially not in this.Again and again, he kissed her lips, his movements tender yet possessive, giving her the softest, most passionate kisses...Phoebe's heart pounded wildly in her chest, her thoughts in a conf
Phoebe's pale fingers unconsciously scratched at her own skin, as if doing so could ease the burning fire raging within her body."Oh god, what's happening to me?" The heat inside her felt like it was consuming her whole.She desperately needed cold water to extinguish the flames coursing through her veins. Fighting through the discomfort, she fumbled her way toward the bathroom door.Her vision blurred, her steps unsteady, as if she were lost in a dark labyrinth. She didn't know how long it took, but at last, she found the door—the one thing that could save her.Without hesitation, she turned on the cold water and submerged herself in the bathtub.The icy water enveloped her burning body.She had no idea how long she stayed there, but gradually, the searing heat began to fade, and the sensation of being consumed by fire slowly dissipated.When she finally rose from the bathtub, her mind was still clouded, as though she had been drugged. Her consciousness wavered—one moment clear, the
For the past few days, Phoebe had felt as if she were trapped under a heavy cloud of gloom, unable to shake off the oppressive weight pressing down on her heart. Ever since she had heard those words, it felt as though a massive stone had settled in her chest, leaving her burdened with unrelenting thoughts.Longing for someone to confide in, she eagerly arranged to meet Alva at a dessert shop, hoping that a heartfelt conversation with her friend might provide some comfort.Phoebe arrived early, choosing a seat by the window, her eyes frequently drifting toward the entrance. Minutes ticked by, and customers came and went, yet Alva never appeared.With no other choice, Phoebe ordered a drink and idly sat there, her fingers tapping lightly on the table as she waited.Before long, her phone rang. Seeing Alva's name on the screen, she quickly picked up."Phoebe, something came up. I can't make it today. Let's meet another time, okay?" Alva's voice sounded hurried.Phoebe's heart tightened w
Phoebe's thoughts were like wild horses, and those long-buried memories surged back like a tidal wave. Why hadn't they gotten married? Wasn't that what he wanted the most?He had ruthlessly made her abort the child in her womb just to marry Hermosa."He doesn't care whether he marries Phoebe or not,"Dana said coldly. No matter how Dana intended to explain, in her heart, Alexander had already been nailed to the unforgivable pillar of shame.Her eyes were downcast, her gaze filled with coldness, as if Alexander had been completely erased from her world, leaving not a trace behind.Dana leaned forward slightly, her expression sincere yet tinged with urgency. "Phoebe, there must be some misunderstanding between you two. After you left, the boss rushed to the hospital in a panic, desperate to get you back, but..."But he was in a car accident...Yet, she didn't finish that sentence.Phoebe keenly caught the fleeting, strange expressi
It was the weekend, and with her parents out of the house, Phoebe felt restless. The suffocating weight on her chest urged her to step outside, to clear her mind.Just as she reached for the door, the sharp chime of the doorbell shattered the silence.Frowning, Phoebe walked to the entrance and pulled open the door—only for her expression to turn icy the moment she saw Dana standing there.A flash of memory hit her like a thunderbolt—the last time she had seen him, he had abducted her. Fear and rage surged through her veins. Instinctively, she moved to slam the door shut, her hands gripping the handle with force, sending it hurtling toward Dana.But just as the door was about to close completely, Dana reacted swiftly, shoving his arm into the narrowing gap, stopping it just in time."Phoebe, aren't you going to invite me in?" His lips curled into a seemingly harmless smile, but in Phoebe's eyes, it was filled with calculation, making he
Inside the house, Phoebe had just taken off her shoes and was about to step into the living room when a sudden, urgent knock on the door startled her. She froze for a moment. Who could be knocking this late? Could it be her father forgetting his keys?Thinking of this, a helpless smile tugged at her lips. She slipped her shoes back on and quickly walked toward the door.As she opened it, her heart brimmed with expectation, but all she saw was an empty hallway—there wasn't a single soul in sight.Had she misheard? Just as she was about to close the door, her gaze inadvertently dropped to the ground, where she spotted her phone lying silently on the doormat.Her breath hitched. Instinctively, she crouched down and slowly picked up the phone.In that instant, a thought flashed through her mind like lightning—Alexander had been here!The more she dwelled on it, the more certain she became. She had felt it earlier—a pair of unse
In the dimly lit car parked not far away, Alexander stared intently out the window, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.No one inside the car dared to make a sound, afraid of disturbing him in his torment.Dana quietly observed Alexander's profile. He watched as Alexander slowly lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag. Perhaps he inhaled too sharply, as he suddenly broke into a violent cough, his body trembling uncontrollably.Dana sighed inwardly. He knew all too well—Alexander's love for Phoebe was genuine, deep, and unwavering.He couldn't bear to see him in such agony. If this continued, Dana feared Alexander might do something reckless.Watching Alexander chain-smoke, the glow of the cigarette flickering in the dark car, Dana finally couldn't hold back. After hesitating for a long moment, he braced himself and spoke up. "Boss, you should stop smoking. It's bad for your health."He knew his words would likely be ignored, or w
Today is the birthday of Phoebe's father Ryan's colleague's child, and Ryan is attending the birthday party, so he won't be home for dinner.In the spacious and bright dining room, warm yellow light softly bathed the table, casting a glow on the exquisite dishes. At the table sat only Anila, Phoebe, and Gavin.Anila wore a radiant smile, her eyes full of love and warmth as she kept checking on Gavin, making sure he was comfortable.Phoebe sat beside them, watching this warm scene. A smile naturally curved on her lips, her eyes filled with joy.She knew deep down that her parents genuinely liked Gavin, and Gavin, in turn, treated them with sincerity and respect.Whenever he had free time, he would sit with them, patiently listening to their stories and offering a kind, gentle smile.Not only that, but he also frequently chose thoughtful gifts for her parents, always surprising them with something special. Even the little details around the ho
The car slowly came to a stop. Phoebe looked at the familiar door of her home, and the tension in her body finally loosened a little as she let out a deep breath.But that breath was still filled with unease and anxiety. Her mind couldn't settle.She couldn't make sense of everything that had happened. The confusion left her feeling unsettled.Since Alexander had sent people to force her back, why had he never shown up? She had been certain that he would appear before her, wearing his usual smug expression, ready to mock her with cruel, biting words or do something else to make her suffer like he always did.But reality had caught her off guard.She had been inexplicably released, and Alexander hadn't shown his face at all.It felt like some bizarre dream, leaving her feeling completely bewildered.The more she thought about it, the more her mind spun, like a thousand ants were gnawing away inside her. Trying to calm herself, she step
"Miss, please eat something." The maid stood outside the closed door, her voice soft with a mix of caution and helplessness as she gently coaxed.In response, there was only the sharp crash of objects being violently knocked over, the sound of them smashing onto the floor, sharp and piercing."I won't eat! Let me out! Do you hear me?" Phoebe screamed, her voice raw with anger and despair.As she yelled, the food tray and its contents were sent flying across the room, followed by rapid, angry pounding on the door, each blow seeming to try and shatter the door that kept her trapped.The maid sighed softly, shaking her head in resignation. She turned and walked slowly back to the kitchen. This was the third time she had brought food, but each time it had ended up on the floor. It seemed she would have to keep doing this, keep bringing food, until Phoebe's mood improved and she would finally eat."Let me out! Let me out!" Phoebe's hoarse cries filled the room, but all she got in return wa