She actually said he had never been good to her. Couldn't she see his kindness?"You're hurting me…" Phoebe whimpered, her pale fingers trying to pry his large hand away. When he didn't let go, instead tightening his grip, she stopped struggling, sniffling in frustration."You're going to marry Melissa! Why would you give me hope? You must be doing it on purpose, playing with my feelings, right? Don't you know I'm not as strong as you think? In situations like this, I only feel heartache, not knowing what else to do. You're such a jerk. Don't you know I… I don't want you to marry her. Don't you know I like you?"Her voice broke, each word a mixture of accusation and confession."Damn it, who told you I'm getting married?" He looked down at her, and seeing her tears, his anger softened. Was that why she hadn't been answering his calls? She was angry at him?"Melissa told me herself. You've been lying to me all along—isn't this what you wanted? My heart aches so much. Are you satisfied
"Baby, beg me," his raspy voice whispered in her ear."I don't want to." She turned her head away. Didn't he realize that what should have been sweet words were, in truth, utterly cruel to her?"Don't refuse me." His voice came heavy, almost breathless, laced with a raw edge.His eyes, shrouded in a misty intensity, made her heart tremble. She wished he liked her, not just her body.Seeing her avoid him, Alexander's face hardened."Are you trying to make me angry again? Hmm?""Sir," she said, her tone distant, sucking in a sharp breath.Sir?"Damn it," Alexander spat, teeth clenched. His recently simmered-down anger reignited as he grew more furious. She hadn't even spoken to him yet she was still pouting."What's that supposed to mean?" His voice was frigid."I just wanted to make things clear," she said, her voice steady but her heart heavy. If he only saw her as a plaything, he didn't need to say words that could sway her heart."What do you want to make clear? Hmm?" he asked, eyes
"Melissa, get some rest," Alexander coaxed her gently as he held her, though his mind had drifted to Phoebe.If she hadn't said those irritating words earlier, he wouldn't have left her to come to Melissa."Alex," Melissa murmured, tightening her arms around his waist, her face buried against his solid chest."You're not upset that I told Phoebe about our engagement, are you?""Of course not." Sooner or later, she was bound to find out."Then, when will we get married?"Her question caught him off guard, making him pause. He softened his tone to soothe her. "I've been really busy lately. We'll talk about it later.""Are you...?""Go to sleep!" All he wanted now was for her to fall asleep so he could quickly go and deal with Phoebe.Melissa's face stiffened for a brief second, but soon she obediently nestled herself against him. Listening to her steady breathing, Alexander carefully untangled her arms from his waist and closed the bedroom door quietly behind him.As soon as he left, Me
He'd called her in, leaving her no room for escape. Phoebe took a shaky breath and gently pushed open the door, which swung wide.She entered nervously, keeping her eyes down, feeling the intense chill of his gaze overhead. Sometimes she wondered what she liked about him—aside from his striking looks, nearly everything about him fell outside her tastes, especially his bad temper."Close the door," Alexander commanded coldly, staring at her.What did he want to close the door for in broad daylight?Her mind raced.She had briefly hoped that if he dared treat her roughly, she'd scream for help, giving his employees a real taste of his character, maybe even seizing the opportunity to escape. She hesitated, unwilling to comply.This was his office, after all, not their home; surely he had to maintain some level of decorum.Cursing under his breath, he noted her stubbornness and spoke again, voice colder, "Come here." His tone held an icy edge, a warning that was impossible to ignore.Phoe
"No..." She felt flustered as his playful bite on her ear sent a shiver through her entire body."It's simple—I FUCK you, or you kiss me. Your choice." His tone was intense as he issued the ultimatum.She had been with him enough times, but even so, she seemed reluctant to give even a kiss."You!" she exclaimed, her cheeks turning red as she glared at him in frustration. Why was his mind always on things like this?"I'll give you three seconds to decide. Three, two, one..." His voice was a low, deliberate countdown.Before he finished, Phoebe shyly hooked her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his. Revengefully, she gave his lower lip a firm bite before slipping her tongue into his mouth.Alexander's body tightened, and without hesitation, his large hand gripped her, deepening the kiss as one hand wandered beneath her shirt."Mmm—"She felt her strength drain away under his touch. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were left a bit swollen from his intensity.She felt incred
This kiss wasn't forceful or rushed; it was filled with deep affection."Mmm!" She mindlessly responded to his tender touch, unsure of her own feelings—embarrassed yet secretly thrilled.Her body trembled involuntarily, craving something more from him, though she couldn't believe she'd even think such shameful thoughts.Phoebe felt conflicted, embarrassed to desire anything more."Sweetheart, how can you be so sweet?" Alexander murmured, entranced, alternating between kissing her lips and gently nibbling at them.At first, she tried to resist, but soon he had her utterly breathless, her mind spinning into a dizzy blur.She gasped for air, thinking, Is anyone else this affected by a kiss? She was sure she might drown in this passion.Finally, as she rested in his arms, catching her breath, she managed to say, "I...I think I need to go." She didn't dare stay any longer. He was overwhelming her."But I haven't eaten yet," he replied, casually slipping his hand along her back, unclasping
Why wasn't he answering her?She was so desperate to know the answer. What was he thinking?"Um..." she hesitated before softly asking, "What would you do if I were pregnant?"He paused, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized every expression on her face. Her reaction made him doubt, "Are you pregnant?"His voice was cold, and her heart sank.She felt so foolish, didn't she?"Tell me, are you pregnant?" He tilted her chin up, gazing at her with an icy intensity that held no warmth.Her heart ached; it hurt so much. This child was indeed unwanted.She wanted to strike him fiercely. If he didn't want her to have a baby, why did he give her this chance?Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to sound casual. "No." But her voice betrayed a hint of sadness, and fearing he wouldn't believe her, she continued to explain, "I was just asking casually... I've been taking birth control pills..."This seemed to remind him. He had never made her take birth control pills.With so many women, he alw
Phoebe woke up after three hours of sleep.Habitually, she reached out to feel the space beside her—cold and empty.Opening her eyes, she turned to the side, and his voice echoed in her mind. Her face instantly paled, and she fought back tears, telling herself not to cry.Beneath the sheets, she lay bare, curling into a small ball, staring blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings. Her memories only went as far as the office—had he carried her here?She didn't know where she was, but she felt safe. The décor was distinctly Alexander's, and the sheets still carried his scent.Taking a deep breath, she inhaled his familiar fragrance, then closed her eyes again, a single crystal tear escaping from the corner of her eye.His cold tone replayed in her mind, stirring a wave of pain in her heart. And Melissa—if it were her, he certainly wouldn't act this way.Did he truly not care for her at all?But what could she do? She liked him so much—his good side, his bad side, his domineering nature, a
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