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
Back in the bedroom, Phoebe lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Gavin's words echoed in her mind, leaving her confused, yet her heart remained unmoved.What did he mean by saying she was his? How could that be? Didn't it matter to him that she'd been with another man? That she was carrying another man's child? Don't men usually care about these things? A man as dazzling as him certainly wouldn't be lacking in women around him. How sincere was he? She couldn't tell. She turned on her side, her mind in turmoil, but quickly shook her head. What was the point of thinking about it? Her heart already belonged to Alexander, whether he was genuine or not. She could never accept Gavin, even if he didn't care about her past—she did.Besides, once she left tomorrow, she'd fade from his sight, and he'd likely forget her soon enough. Chances were, she and Gavin would never cross paths again.Right now, her focus was on safely bringing her baby into the world...***In t
This afternoon, Alexander left the hospital and, on his way back to the villa, unexpectedly took a detour.The road he chose happened to pass by Phoebe's school.His car stopped outside the campus gates, parked in a discreet spot where he could clearly see the coming and going crowd.Alexander's gaze was fixed outside the window, waiting in silence.He sat there for four or five hours, from afternoon until evening, as the streetlights illuminated the surroundings. He hadn't seen the person he was hoping to catch a glimpse of, and he didn't quite know why he'd come here in the first place.He didn't want to confront the reason, nor the answer. After smoking a cigarette and scanning the crowd one last time, he finally stepped on the gas and left."Phoebe, what are you looking at?" Alva asked, noticing Phoebe's dazed expression."It's nothing," Phoebe replied, shaking her head, but her gaze lingered on the black sports car that had just disappeared down the road.The car looked familiar.
In the early morning, Phoebe slowly regained consciousness. Her mind cleared, but she couldn't immediately tell how much time had passed.The dim wall lamp still emitted a faint glow, and the heavy curtains remained tightly drawn, blocking out every trace of light.She instinctively shifted, only to freeze at the firm pressure wrapped around her waist.A strong arm was holding her tightly. She was curled up in a warm yet unfamiliar embrace. A violent shudder ran through her, every muscle in her body tensing in an instant.Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. Fear and despair consumed her. What had happened?"You bastard! Let me go! Let me go!" Phoebe's voice trembled with anguish as she screamed, her words choked with sobs. She thrashed desperately, her hands clawing at the arm encircling her waist, trying to break free from the stranger's hold.But the moment she turned her head and saw the man's face, all movement ceased. Her breath hitched. Her expression went from pan
Phoebe's mind felt as if it were wrapped in a thick, impenetrable fog. Her usual clarity had vanished without a trace, leaving her in a dazed and sluggish state.She struggled to lift her heavy eyelids, desperate to see who was in front of her. But the man's head was buried against her chest, completely obscuring her vision.What was happening? Who was this man pressing against her? What was he doing to her?A whirlwind of questions surged through her muddled mind, fueling her growing sense of unease. Everything around her became a blur, her consciousness flickering like a candle in the wind. Darkness crept in, swallowing her whole, leaving her with nothing but emptiness."Oh, Phoebe...you are mine. Mine."Alexander's voice was thick with longing as he pressed soft kisses against her through the sheer fabric of her dress. In his world, perhaps only in this dreamlike state could he truly possess her without restraint.His long fingers trembled slightly as he painstakingly undid the but
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