Two days later.Morning sunlight streamed softly through the windows as Phoebe woke up, still feeling groggy and lightheaded.She blinked a few times, trying to adjust her eyes, then pulled the blanket off herself. That's when she noticed she was wearing pajamas—she had no idea when they'd been put on her.The last thing she remembered was soaking in the cold bathtub, completely naked, before she lost consciousness.Who changed her clothes?Was it Alexander?Thinking about him brought a bitter taste to her mouth. She glanced at the white bandage on her wrist and frowned.Was she sick? How long had she been lying in bed?A glance at the clock hanging on the wall made her heart race. It was already Thursday morning, and she had been in bed for two whole days. It was 8 a.m. now.Panic stirred in her chest. A wave of inexplicable fear swept over her.She had to make breakfast for them.Would he be angry that she had been unconscious for two days? She didn't want to dwell on that thought.
Phoebe fell ill again, and this time Alexander personally took her to the hospital.She had a severe cold and a fever. He wanted to prevent her from infecting Melissa, and thought it was better for her to have nurses constantly looking after her there.From morning until afternoon, Phoebe didn't wake up. The doctor said she should have woken up already, but she was consciously keeping her eyes closed, unwilling to awaken.She didn't want to face reality, and Alexander didn't force her to wake up either. Letting her sleep a little longer was for the best. Her body was too weak; she needed rest. Apart from Melissa, Phoebe was the first woman he'd shown such careful concern for.However, he would only allow her to sleep until the evening. She hadn't eaten in days, and if she didn't eat soon, she might starve before her illness could even improve.Alexander gazed at Phoebe lying in bed. He had skipped work the entire day, not understanding why he stayed by her side in the hospital. Maybe
At the hospital, Phoebe stared blankly at the ceiling, like a soulless doll.She had woken up after Alexander left, but since then, she hadn't moved, simply lying there in a daze.Her mind was a mess, yet countless thoughts kept racing through it.She suddenly felt that her life had turned bleak. When had it all started?Maybe after that banquet. Before, although Alexander had treated her harshly, he had never been this cruel. Her stomach was empty, but she didn't feel hungry—she didn't want to eat anything.When would this miserable existence end? All she wanted was to stay in the hospital forever.She tried to hate him, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't muster the feeling.At some point, the door to her hospital room had been pushed open, but Phoebe, lost in thought, hadn't noticed."Awake? Eat something first," a deep, magnetic voice broke her trance. Phoebe's vacant gaze slowly shifted to meet his intense black eyes, but those eyes revealed nothing of what he was thin
"I'm sorry," Phoebe apologized, realizing she hadn't meant to say that, but it was the truth."Why are you apologizing?""I…" Phoebe found herself at a loss for words."Phoebe, relax. I'm not a wolf who's going to eat you."She froze for a second, surprised by his comment. But, well, he was a wolf."Open your mouth and eat this bowl of food." His commanding tone was authoritative but oddly comforting to Phoebe.She felt conflicted. She hadn't eaten much for several days, and her stomach had shrunk. Just finishing one bowl had left her feeling stuffed, and this was already the third bowl he'd served her. She couldn't eat anymore, or her stomach might burst.As she saw him prepare to feed her again, Phoebe looked at him weakly and said, "I'm full. I really can't eat any more."She was afraid he'd be angry. After all, he meant well, and here she was, refusing him.Alexander paused, realizing that in his enthusiasm, he'd forgotten she was still a patient. How could she eat so much at once
The next day.Phoebe closed her eyes, relishing the warmth as she nestled back into Alexander's arms.He hadn't left her side all night.A sudden pang of sadness welled up inside her. She had no idea what he would be like toward her after this. But right now, she just wanted to enjoy the comfort of his embrace.Unconsciously, she snuggled closer to his chest, craving to be nearer. The subtle scent of his skin filled her senses, intoxicating her. It was so alluring, she couldn't help but feel like she was falling under its spell.In his sleep, Alexander seemed to sense her movements, his arms tightening around her. After a while, his body grew restless. The soft, tickling sensation against his chest made him snap his eyes open.Damn it, Phoebe. Teasing him so early in the morning.He glanced down, a smile tugging at his lips.She was still asleep, but like a little kitten, she was nuzzling his chest as if trying to win her master's affection. The way she gently rubbed against him, almo
Alexander walked into the villa, the living room engulfed in darkness, and he reached out to turn on the lights.He had planned to visit Phoebe at the hospital, but today was Melissa's birthday, and he figured he could celebrate with her first and head to the hospital afterward.Suddenly, slender fingers covered his eyes from behind. "Don't open them," Melissa whispered, standing on her tiptoes."Melissa," Alexander said fondly. Who else could it be? It was her, of course."Don't open your eyes yet," Melissa's sweet voice teased him by his ear."Why so mysterious?" Alexander asked with a smile."I have a surprise for you," Melissa let go of him and smiled brightly. "Do you like it?"Alexander chuckled. "Did you do all this?" She certainly knew how to be romantic.Of course, she hadn't done it herself. She had hired help to arrange everything, but she didn't respond to his question."Do you like it?" she asked again."It's your birthday today, I should be the one preparing things," Ale
Alexander felt something wrapping around him from behind.He squinted his eyes, his gaze sharp and piercing. Reaching out, he grabbed and yanked whatever it was toward him to see who it was."Melissa? Why is it you?" Alexander frowned. No wonder he had sensed something familiar; he almost threw her to the ground just now."Alex," Melissa fell into his arms, her voice sweet and sticky.The cold shower had already washed away half of the heat in his body, but now it was quickly reigniting."Hurry and go back to bed," Alexander said, sensing something was off. His hand brushed against her skin. Quickly, he reached over and turned on the bedside lamp.The room lit up, and what he saw made his eyes narrow.Melissa's hair cascaded over her shoulders, her eyes full of seductive intent as she looked at him. Her lingerie—if it could even be called that—was barely there, a sheer red fabric that left little to the imagination.Damn it. Did she even know what she was doing?"Alex," Melissa purred
In the hospital, Phoebe lay dejectedly on the bed. It was late, and he still hadn't come.She took a deep breath, feeling a pang of self-contempt. Despite his treatment of her, she found herself inexplicably in love with him.Was it love?No—she didn't even know what love truly was.Was it simply liking him? It must be, since he always made her heart ache.Was it because of his looks? She wasn't the kind of girl to judge based on appearances.So what was it? After thinking for a long time, she couldn't come to an answer. He treated her so cruelly that she should hate him, yet she found it impossible to do so.For over a decade, her love life had been empty; she had never truly liked any boy. Some had pursued her before, but she had always felt repulsed.In college, juggling studies and work left her with no time to consider relationships. In the realm of emotions, she felt like a blank slate, and he had stumbled into her life, catching her completely off guard.He occupied her mind an
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
"I'm sorry, I don't know you, I have to go," Phoebe's voice trembled as she tried to stay calm. She took a deep breath, her fingers shaking as she fumbled for her phone, desperately trying to dial Gavin's number.At that moment, only one thought occupied her mind: Quick, quickly, ask Gavin for help."I'm sorry, but I have no other choice," Dana's face flickered with a brief look of apology before his expression hardened. When he saw Phoebe reaching for her phone, he acted quickly, snatching it from her hands. "Your phone stays with me. After you meet the boss, I'll give it back to you." His tone was firm and unquestionable, as if this was the only option."What are you going to do?" Phoebe's eyes widened in terror, her voice rising in a fearful shout. She instinctively stepped back, panic gripping her chest."Sorry," Dana murmured with a slight frown, his eyes showing a flicker of guilt. Still, he signaled to the burly men around him. Without hesitation, one of them crouched down and
The next morning, Phoebe woke up early, carefully preparing herself in front of the mirror, her expression a mixture of anticipation and unease. After a simple breakfast, she hurried out the door—today, she was determined to find Laura.Phoebe's first stop was Laura's school. The campus was lively, filled with energetic students coming and going, but Phoebe's focus was solely on one goal—Laura.She found a quiet spot in a corner of the campus, her eyes glued to the entrance, watching for any signs of Laura.One hour passed, then two… Time slowly slipped away, and by midday, Laura had not appeared. Phoebe's gaze dimmed, disappointment washing over her like a wave. She reluctantly stood up, ready to leave the place that had filled her with both hope and frustration.Just then, a boy's urgent voice called out to her from behind, as if he was calling her name.Phoebe froze mid-step and slowly turned around to see Wright rushing toward her, sweat beading on his forehead, his hair messy, hi