A tearing pain throbbed beneath her, where streaks of dark blood stained her pale thighs.Phoebe stumbled into the rain, her heart sinking slowly into an abyss.She stood alone in the downpour, the heavy rain soaking her frail body. Covering her face, she gradually sank to the ground, tears streaming down in desperate despair.Her body ached, her heart ached, and she cried helplessly, a wretched mess. This was the saddest she had ever felt, fighting back tears that threatened to spill.How had she allowed herself to become so broken? She was a strong woman—when had she begun to feel so pitiful?Phoebe, don't cry!It wasn't such a big deal; why was she crying? Were her tears really so worthless?She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to hide the pain within. He had finally let her go, and she should be happy. This phase of her life was over—she was finally free and wouldn't have to endure his brutality any longer.She needed to forget him, as if he had never existed in her world.She
Alexander drove aimlessly through the streets, unsure of what he was doing.Ever since Phoebe had run out, his heart had been in turmoil, as if some invisible force was compelling him to search the streets for something.He circled around the road several times, his gaze fixed on the window.Damn it, it was late, and still raining—where could she possibly be?He should have been indifferent to her fate, but just the thought of her wearing that revealing outfit, the one he had torn, made him feel inexplicably uneasy. He didn't want any man to see her like that.After searching for what felt like an eternity, he abruptly stopped the car at a corner.In the rain, he couldn't see clearly, but he caught a glimpse of a couple not far away. He drove closer, took a quick glance, and then moved on.However, in that moment of departure, he glanced back through the rearview mirror.After a long search, he slammed his fist down on the steering wheel in frustration.Damn it! Where could she have g
Phoebe slept for two full days and nights. She was in a deep, heavy slumber. Perhaps she was simply too exhausted to wake up, lying in bed without the slightest desire to stir.Her whole body felt weak; even opening her eyes seemed like too much effort. She wanted nothing more than to surrender to sleep.When she finally awoke, she found herself no longer in the hospital, but in a completely unfamiliar environment. Her hands clutched the blanket tightly as she anxiously scanned the room.Pushing the covers aside to get out of bed, she discovered that her clothes had been changed. A shiver ran through her body.Just then, the door swung open, and when Gavin walked in, he barely dodged the object she had thrown at him."What did you do to me?" she demanded, picking up whatever she could find and hurling it at him.He truly was not a good person!Gavin shot her a cold glance, paused for several seconds, and then seemed to come back to himself.Phoebe's emotions surged; she was on the bri
"Pheebs, what are you thinking about?" Laura teased, waving her hand in front of Phoebe's face as she stared off into space."Nothing," Phoebe replied with a smile.She really liked Laura; she was thoughtful, mature, and great at taking care of people."Here, eat this! I just made it, and it's really good for pregnant women," Laura said, her eyes wide with excitement as she presented the food to Phoebe.Phoebe took a bite and replied, "It's delicious."Lately, she had developed a particular craving for sour foods, and Laura often made them for her.Laura's cooking was genuinely good, much better than Phoebe's own efforts, which felt inferior in comparison."I'll make this for you every day if you like," Laura said cheerfully, her voice soft and sweet."Thank you, but I'd feel bad if you did that every day.""It's no trouble at all! I love cooking for you. My brother never eats what I make," she said, her expression suddenly downcast."Why not?" Phoebe was surprised; Laura's cooking wa
On the other side, after waiting all day, Phoebe finally saw Gavin return."Sir," Phoebe approached awkwardly."Is there a reason you're waiting for me?" He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Clearly, her waiting had pleased him."Um." Phoebe nodded, biting her lip as she met his gaze. "I have something I want to discuss with you.""Go on," he replied tersely, pausing his actions and waiting for her to continue."I want to talk about Laura." She mustered her courage to say it.Gavin's eyes darkened for a moment but quickly masked his feelings. "What about her?""Why don't you let her go to school and get an education?" She rushed out the words, her heart racing.She couldn't understand how a brother could be so irresponsible.He was clearly intelligent, and with their parents gone, he should be acting as a guardian, taking care of his sister rather than ignoring her completely."..." Gavin didn't respond right away. He just gave her a meaningful look before speaking.
The next morning, when Melissa emerged from the bathroom, she didn't see Alex in bed. After searching the bedroom, she spotted him standing on the balcony.She approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist, wearing only a towel and nothing underneath.Her body pressed against his solid back; she wasn't going to miss any chance to entice him.Morning was when a man's desire was at its peak, and she hoped to spark that in him..."Alex, what are you doing here?" she asked, resting her cheek against his broad back.Alexander stiffened slightly, his movements freezing as he looked out into the distance, his eyes unfathomable.Noticing the smell of smoke in the air, Melissa spoke up. "Are you smoking?""Yeah," he replied tersely.She couldn't see his expression, but it was clear he was troubled.Was he regretting something? Did he regret that the woman he slept with last night wasn't Phoebe, but her instead? What did that bitch have that made Alex like her? What was she l
Gavin kept his promise, and today, Laura could finally go to school. But since it was her first time leaving home, she felt a little afraid."Miss, it's time to go. You've been stalling for an hour," the driver urged impatiently from the side."Phoebe, am I really going to school? I... I'm scared..." Laura hesitated, too timid to get in the car. This was her first time going out, and she didn't know what to expect."Laura, don't be afraid. You'll love school," Phoebe comforted her. Today, Laura looked different—dressed in her uniform, she radiated a youthful, lively energy."I've never been outside before. Do I look okay?""You look beautiful today, and there's nothing scary out there.""I'm still scared.""Then I'll go with you.""Really?"As she got into the car, she glanced up and noticed the brooding figure of her brother on the second floor. He had a smirk on his face, watching her intently.Last night, she had spoken to him a bit harshly. Maybe he wasn't so hopeless after all, s
Phoebe tried to shift her attention elsewhere, but her gaze was frozen in place."Phoebe, why are you crying?" Laura asked, noticing something wrong."It's nothing," she said, quickly turning her head to the window and wiping away her tears."Wow, that man is really handsome."Alexander certainly was; he was the most attractive man she'd ever seen—and also the worst."My brother is handsome too.""Phoebe, is that the man you like?""Of course not." The truth was, she didn't just like him. She loved him."You're lying," Laura teased.Forgetting someone, it turned out, wasn't easy.Phoebe thought she would be able to move on in a month, but he had only become more ingrained in her heart, occupying every corner.She hated herself for it—why couldn't she let go, and why did she still yearn for him?How long would it take to forget him?As the car began moving again, he disappeared from her view.Yet, she couldn't help but keep glancing back at his fading silhouette. There really was no fut
Phoebe was still lost in the dizzying heat of the kiss, her mind blank, unable to fully recover from the intoxicating sensation.Without warning, Alexander scooped her up once more, striding purposefully toward the private lounge attached to his office.The heavy door shut behind them with a muffled thud. Alexander carried her straight to the large, plush bed, leaning down slightly as he gently placed her onto the soft mattress.Phoebe's body sank into the luxurious bedding, her eyes widening in alarm as she looked up at him. "What… what are you doing?""I want you." His voice was deep and husky, laced with raw desire."No, you can't." Phoebe's breath came in uneven pants. Her emotions were in turmoil—fear and confusion tangled together, yet at the same time, her body betrayed her, reacting instinctively to his closeness. This only unsettled her more."Can't?" Alexander's lips curled into a faint smirk, his gaze dark and unreadable. Slowly, his eyes drifted downward, lingering at her
Phoebe stood in the secluded corner, her hands trembling slightly as they reached for the buttons of her blouse. Her gaze remained locked on Alexander's back, not daring to blink. Only after watching him remain completely still for a long while did she finally exhale softly and lower her head to begin changing.When she opened the gift box and saw the delicate black lingerie inside, she froze.Lifting the sheer fabric between her fingers, she muttered under her breath, "This is lingerie?"The material was nearly transparent—she could already imagine how revealing it would be once worn. For a moment, she weighed her options: should she stick with her own undergarments, or wear this?Her eyes drifted back to the black evening gown. Its design was exquisite and unique, seemingly crafted to pair perfectly with the lingerie, enhancing its elegance with a touch of allure.Biting her lower lip, Phoebe struggled internally before finally giving in. Slowly, she unhooked her own lingerie, her m
Phoebe dragged her exhausted body home, moving quietly to avoid disturbing her family. She didn't turn on the lights but relied on her familiarity with the house to navigate her way carefully to the bedroom in the dark.Stepping inside, she saw her children sleeping soundly in bed. Her heart instantly softened, overflowing with warmth as she unconsciously sat down beside them."Kids, Mommy saw your daddy today," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Reaching out, she gently brushed her fingers over their cheeks, her touch unbearably tender. A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips.That night, Phoebe slept more peacefully than she had in a long time.In her dreams, she saw the bright, happy faces of her children, playing and laughing together. She saw herself joining in, their joyous laughter filling the air. And Alexander… he was there too. The four of them stood in a beautiful garden, basking in the warm sunlight. It was a dream so wonderful, so perfect, that she wis
On most afternoons, as soon as lunch was over, Phoebe would return to her desk without delay, diving right back into work. But today, she was different. Instead of heading straight back, she wandered aimlessly around the company's surroundings, unwilling to return. It wasn't until 2:30 PM that she finally, and reluctantly, made her way back to the office.As she walked, her mind kept replaying the moment she had shaken off Alexander's grip earlier. His darkened expression told her everything—he was furious. She was almost certain he would take his revenge in the afternoon, assigning her a slew of unreasonable tasks just to make things difficult for her. With this uneasy thought lingering in her mind, Phoebe stepped into the office.Strangely enough, the entire afternoon passed without any sign of Alexander. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. There were no assignments, no sudden calls to his office—nothing.Sitting at her desk, Phoebe felt restless. Every now and then, she gla
Phoebe covered her lips, tears streaming down her face as she ran toward the restroom. She kept her head low, afraid of letting anyone see her in such a disheveled state. Once inside, she hurried into a stall, locked the door tightly, and slowly crouched down, wrapping her arms around her knees as she broke into uncontrollable sobs.Her cries echoed within the small cubicle, filled with sorrow and despair, as if trying to release all the grievances she had suppressed over the years. She cried for what felt like an eternity until her eyes were so swollen she could barely keep them open.Standing up shakily, Phoebe walked to the mirror and stared at her reflection—her puffy, distorted eyes a stark reminder of her breakdown. She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands under the icy water, and splashed it onto her face repeatedly. The coldness stung her skin, but it also helped her regain a bit of clarity. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and made a firm decision in her heart.Ba
Upon reaching it, he freed one hand and, with a swift motion, swept everything off the surface.A loud crash echoed through the office as papers, stationery, and files scattered across the floor.The next second, Alexander carefully laid Phoebe down on the now-empty desk. She instinctively tried to sit up and escape, but before she could make a move, his towering frame loomed over her, pinning her beneath him.Phoebe's hands immediately pushed against him, her voice trembling with near desperation. "No, don't."But Alexander was far too strong. In an instant, he seized her wrists and forced them above her head, rendering her completely immobile."Isn't this the reason you came back?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.Phoebe's eyes welled up with tears. "I didn't… The public records never indicated you were the owner of this company. If I had known, I—"Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander abruptly leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce, stormy kiss that swallowed her wor
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