All morning, Phoebe was distracted. Curtis's words kept replaying in her mind, and she couldn't calm down. "Phoebe, what are you daydreaming about? Look at this! It's gone viral!" Alva laughed, handing Phoebe a gossip magazine. "What's got you so excited?" Phoebe snapped out of her daze and took the magazine, glancing at the cover. Instantly, she froze. The glaring headline and lewd images drained the color from her face, leaving her mind in a whirl. She knew those people. "Isn't it wild? 'Four Tycoons Forced to Self-Castrate!'" Alva said with indignation. "Look at those disgusting old men—serves them right for harassing so many innocent girls!" "Phoebe, are you okay?" Alva asked, noticing her friend's pale expression. She had been fine just moments ago. "I'm... I'm fine... just engrossed in the story," Phoebe mumbled, staring at the article. It happened yesterday. Thank God she hadn't been harmed by those scumbags. "That was a close call..." she thought with a relieved
At midnight, Phoebe changed out of her bar uniform, ready to leave.The bar was close to school, and it only took her about fifteen minutes to bike there. But before she could even get close to campus, a car suddenly swerved in front of her, blocking her path.Startled, she screamed, nearly being thrown off her bike. Heart pounding, she was still trying to catch her breath when a commanding voice rang out from above her."Get in the car!"Phoebe froze in shock. It was Alexander. Before she could react, he stormed out of the car, kicked her bike aside, and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the ground."You're disobeying me?" His voice was slow and deliberate, every word dripping with dangerous intent as he locked eyes with her.Phoebe's face paled as she struggled to breathe. Without a word, Alexander threw her into the car and got in himself. The door slammed shut, and the locks clicked into place. He pressed a button, and the car's windows darkened with a black tint.Phoebe c
The next morning, Phoebe woke up feeling like her entire body had been broken. Her most intimate areas ached with sharp pain. She glanced around and saw that Alexander was already gone.On the bed beside her, a gold card, a key, and a check for five million lay neatly on the sheets.Her hands shook with anger as she gripped the blanket tightly. What good was money? It was just a transaction for her body! She didn't care about the money—not at all!But last night had taught her one thing: the more she resisted, the more it fueled his desire to conquer her.He had made it clear that once he was done playing with her, he would let her go. Until then, she had to accept her role as his wife and cater to his every demand.Since she couldn't fight back, all she could hope for now was that he'd tire of her soon.After the brutal night, her strength was completely drained. Phoebe got up, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was pale, her eyes were ringed with dark circles, her lip
The following week Phoebe'd been going to Alexander's villa as he requested. However, she only went after midnight, as she didn't want to give up her job at the bar, which ended at 12:00.After checking with the butler, she was shown to a guest room. Alexander wasn't there, and she didn't dare sleep in his bed. Besides, she didn't want to—it smelled like him, which unnerved her.By the time she showered and changed into her pajamas, it was already 1:00 a.m. She lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.This had been happening every night. Despite being exhausted, sleep wouldn't come.What exactly was she waiting for?Why hadn't Alexander come back in all this time? What was he doing?Damn it, why was she thinking about him again?That beastly man! She must have been cursed to even think about him. She should hate him—despise him.Phoebe clenched her fists, wishing he would never appear before her again. She slapped her head in frustration, turned off the light, and buried hers
Phoebe felt deeply embarrassed by her shameful thoughts. She was becoming less and less like herself.Stealing a glance at the man beside her, she noticed his eyes were still closed. Assuming he had fallen asleep, she carefully thought about how to slip away from him without making any noise."And what about the rest?" Alexander's eyes suddenly opened, locking onto her. He was waiting for her next move.Phoebe's already flushed cheeks burned even hotter under his gaze. She understood exactly what he meant.Fearing he might get angry, she didn't dare hesitate. Nervously, she got down on her knees and began to unbuckle his belt, then carefully unzipped his trousers, struggling to pull them off.Her face reddened further as she averted her eyes, her heart racing. She dared not look at his strong, muscular legs. When her fingers had brushed against them, she had felt a strange, electric-like jolt run through her."Keep going," Alexander ordered in a low voice.Phoebe looked up at him, pan
Fortunately, Alexander did not."Close your eyes and sleep," he ordered, his long, cold fingers intertwining with hers.His deep voice rumbled in her ear, but his actions were surprisingly gentle, causing her tense body to relax slightly. She had been bracing herself for him to go further, but instead, he stopped. And the way they were lying there, entwined like this... it almost felt like they were a couple in love.Her head rested against his chest, their fingers interlaced, her body pressed against his solid frame, surrounded by the scent of his masculine presence.His body was cold, likely from the shower, but holding her like this, he felt warm.Phoebe bit her lip, her long lashes fluttering. Her body still trembled slightly, but it felt like her heart was starting to thaw, little by little.Why was this happening?This strange, unfamiliar feeling...Was it just an illusion?How could she possibly think this cruel man was being gentle?She must have been frightened into thinking
At the university's design building—Class hadn't started yet, and a group of girls had already gathered, gossiping loudly about someone else's drama."Hey, did you hear? Eve just became someone's mistress," one girl whispered."Seriously? And the guy's an old man practically on his deathbed. Can he even get it up?" another asked with a smirk."They've got pills for that now. If he can't, medicine will make sure he can," they laughed."How much is she getting?""Eight thousand a month.""That's it? She sold herself cheap," the girl scoffed."Especially to an old guy!" someone added."Why would she do that for so little money? And with an old man? If she's going to be someone's mistress, at least find someone younger!""People are so desperate for money these days. I wouldn't be surprised if someone in our class was doing the same," one girl suggested."Who? Who?" The group perked up, their eyes darting around the room in anticipation."Look over there," Eden said with a sly grin, nodd
At a high-end French restaurant, Phoebe sat nervously in her seat. It was her first time in such a fancy place, and she felt out of place."Phoebe, why aren't you eating?" Curtis asked gently, his blue eyes soft and full of affection.His warm, magnetic voice wrapped around her, making her even more flustered. She stammered, "I'm... I'm not hungry. You... you eat."Seeing how she kept her distance from him, Curtis gave her a tender smile, one so gentle it could make anyone's heart flutter. "Phoebe, will you give me a chance?"Phoebe felt a pang of guilt. She had already turned him down once. She never expected him to show up at her school as a professor.For someone as kind and accomplished as Curtis, she felt undeserving. "I'm sorry, sir. I—""Just call me Curtis. And don't be in a rush to reject me. I'll win your heart, I promise," he said with confidence. He wasn't going to pressure her, but he would be by her side, waiting patiently for her to accept him.Just then, the restaurant
Before long, they arrived at their destination, and Phoebe made a beeline for the nursery. The soft golden light draped over the two cribs like a delicate veil, casting a warm glow over the sleeping infants. Phoebe tiptoed closer, afraid to disturb them. Bending slightly, she placed gentle kisses on their rosy little cheeks. Then, with the utmost care, she reached out and lightly brushed their tiny hands with her fingertips. Her movements were slow and tender, each touch filled with boundless love and affection. She couldn't take her eyes off them for even a second. As if sensing her presence, Jeremy and Amy suddenly opened their bright, round eyes at the same time. Their clear, innocent gazes studied her curiously, making Phoebe chuckle softly, happiness brimming in her laughter. In her heart, she marveled at how incredibly lucky she was to have these two precious little angels. The babies sucked on
Time flew by, and Friday arrived in the blink of an eye. With their flight scheduled for 4 PM, Phoebe woke up early, brimming with excitement as she packed her luggage. The mere thought of finally reuniting with Jeremy and Amy filled her with uncontrollable joy, and the smile on her face never once faded. At precisely eleven o'clock, Gavin arrived to pick her up. They enjoyed a leisurely lunch at a nearby restaurant before heading back to Gavin's place. The plan was to rest for a bit before leaving for the airport at three in the afternoon. However, Phoebe was far from feeling tired. She was in the living room, deep in conversation with Laura, her eyes alight with enthusiasm. Seeing this, Gavin could only shake his head helplessly. Letting them be, he retreated to his study to take care of some unfinished business. Phoebe and Laura lounged comfortably on the sofa, chatting freely. Phoebe had kicked off her shoes a
"Damn it! What the hell are you grabbing me for?!" the man bellowed in pain, his features contorted as he struggled against the crushing grip on his arm. He thrashed desperately, trying to break free, but the strength of the man in the wheelchair was astonishing. His bones felt like they were on the verge of dislocating. "Apologize." Alexander's voice was cold, his presence radiating an intimidating chill. The undeniable authority in his tone made it clear—this was not a request. "What the hell are you talking about?!" the man shouted, his voice tinged with both anger and confusion. He had no idea who this person was and hadn't done anything to provoke him, so why should he apologize? Alexander's grip tightened. The man broke out in a cold sweat as fear crept up his spine. His bravado crumbled in an instant, and his tone softened to one of pleading desperation. "Wait—stop! Please! I don't even know what I did wrong. Could you at least tell me?" "Apologize to the person you j
For the past few days, everything had been calm—life was uneventful, until today, when Phoebe's phone rang. It was Gavin. He was calling to tell her that he would be taking her to France this Friday to visit the children. The news instantly ignited Phoebe's joy, and she spent the entire morning immersed in uncontrollable excitement. She carefully selected her outfit, grabbed her bag, and hurried out, heading straight to the shopping mall. From noon until the afternoon, she wandered through various stores, buying several adorable outfits for the children and picking out a few delicate little toys. She knew full well that Gavin had already filled an entire room with toys for them—so many that Jeremy and Amy probably couldn't even play with them all. But the moment she laid eyes on these toys, she was completely captivated and couldn't resist buying them. By the time she left the mall, Phoebe was carrying bags upon bags, her arms full. As she walked, images of Jeremy and Amy ap
Gavin seemed to sense Phoebe's confusion. He frowned slightly, his cold gaze sweeping briefly over Laura before softening as he turned to Phoebe. In a calm, measured tone, he said, "Phoebe, she was away during that time because she had some issues with her voice. I sent her abroad for treatment. I didn't tell you beforehand because I didn't want you to worry unnecessarily." Hearing his explanation, Phoebe suddenly understood. The doubt in her heart dissipated, but at the same time, a strong sense of guilt welled up inside her. Her eyes reddened slightly as she spoke with deep remorse, "I'm sorry, Gavin. I misunderstood you. How is Laura now? Has she recovered?" She looked at Laura with genuine concern in her eyes. "Not completely. Her condition is quite complicated and will take some time to heal," Gavin explained patiently. "Is it difficult to treat?" Phoebe frowned. "It can be cured, so don't worry too much. She just can't speak for now." Gavin reached out and patted Phoebe'
At four in the afternoon, Phoebe stepped out of her home, planning to make a quick trip to the supermarket to pick up ingredients for dinner.Her steps were light as she walked along the familiar street, but just as she lifted her gaze, her movements suddenly froze.Not far ahead, Gavin stood elegantly, leaning against his car door like a living masterpiece. The golden sunlight cast a soft glow on him, outlining his sharp features and adding to his naturally distinguished aura. His eyes were fixed solely on her, as if everything else around them had faded into insignificance.Phoebe's heart clenched, and for a few moments, her mind went completely blank. She quickly regained her composure and instinctively lowered her gaze.For the past few weeks, every time Gavin had tried to reach her, she had come up with excuses to avoid meeting him. When her phone rang, she ignored it. When text messages arrived, she never replied.Now, she ducked her head and pretended not to see him, turning sw
In the DA Corporation's conference room, the atmosphere was as tense as the moments before a storm.After months of being elusive, Alexander had finally made an appearance.At this moment, the company's top executives were all gathered. The directors and shareholders sat around the long conference table, their expressions varying. Among them was the representative of the mysterious company that had successfully acquired DA Corporation. He surveyed the room with a smug sense of satisfaction."Sir, the paperwork for the company's handover has been prepared. We kindly ask for your signature here." A staff member stepped forward respectfully, presenting the documents and a pen to Alexander.Alexander's gaze swept over the documents, and without a trace of hesitation, he swiftly signed his name. His expression remained calm.Letting go of DA Corporation was nothing more than a minor step in his grand scheme. To him, this was merely another move on the chessboard. More importantly, there we
Laura shuddered violently as the breath drawing near sent chills down her spine. She instantly lowered her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes. Panic surged through her, and she frantically shook her head, her body twisting desperately as she tried to retreat.But before she could escape, Gavin's hand clamped down on her flailing leg, capturing her like a hunter seizing his prey. Any chance of breaking free vanished in an instant.She turned her gaze away, her eyes darting elsewhere in terror. Even catching a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye made her heart pound with fear—she couldn't bear to look at him directly.Gavin's cold gaze bore down on Laura's pale lips, his eyes as frigid as ice, capable of freezing the entire world."Slut." His voice was hoarse with fury. "You've only been gone a few days, and you're already spreading your legs for another man?"Rage churned inside him. She had really left him. She had really gone to another man's bed. The thought gnawed at his pride
Early the next morning.Leroy slowly awakened, feeling a soft, warm weight pressing against his chest.He lowered his gaze and found Laura clinging to him like a cuddly koala, her arms wrapped tightly around him. One of her legs draped lazily over his, her posture exuding a sense of comfort and intimacy. Her small lips parted slightly with each gentle breath, accompanied by a faint, rhythmic snore—she was sound asleep.Leroy watched her in silence, his eyes brimming with tenderness and affection. As he gazed at her peaceful face, his lips curled into a subtle smile. He realized that with her by his side, life seemed to have taken on a whole new warmth, filling his world with an unexplainable sense of joy.She was never a burden—she was a priceless treasure granted to him by fate.Leroy carefully adjusted his position, trying to move without disturbing her. But the moment he shifted, Laura instinctively snuggled closer, tightening her hold on him as if, even in her sleep, she refused t