Alexander received a call from Melissa's servant, who informed him that she was demanding to see him as soon as she woke up.With no other option, he drove over, and as soon as he stepped through the door, he heard Melissa's emotional outburst."Alex, why can't you accept me? You spoil me and care for me so much—why can't you love me like you loved my sister?" Her voice echoed, tearing at his heart."Melissa, please calm down..." Alexander furrowed his brow, fatigue evident in his voice."I'm not making a fuss! Why can't I love you? My sister and I look exactly alike... You can treat me like her, even as a substitute... I want to be your woman!" Tears streamed down Melissa's face, her eyes filled with innocence and longing.She dreamt of taking her sister's place. They shared the same appearance, so why did her sister, who was gone, still receive Alex's love while she could only wait for him in loneliness?"I'll say this one more time... please calm down..." His tone turned cold, as i
Last night, Phoebe returned home quite late. She had gone to Meadowville and initially planned to call him to let him know she would be staying with her parents that night.However, after several calls went unanswered and he didn't reply to her texts, she grew concerned.By eleven o'clock at night, she tried calling him again, but his phone was still off.Worried that he might be upset if he returned home and found she wasn't there, Phoebe hurriedly said goodbye to her parents and called a taxi to return home.When she arrived upstairs, she found that Alexander hadn't come back yet, and she let out a sigh of relief.After taking a shower in the guest bathroom, she crawled into bed, ready to sleep. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fall asleep, tossing and turning instead.She listened intently to the sounds outside...By morning, Phoebe could no longer hold on and finally fell into a deep sleep.Phoebe woke up groggily at 1 pm the next day, listening to the soft patter of
Later that day."Miss Phoebe, are you okay?" one of her students asked with concern.Phoebe forced a small smile, rubbing her eyes. She was surprised to find tear stains at the corners. "I've just been staring too long..." she explained."Why are you wearing a disposable mask? Are you coming down with something?"Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, I don't want to pass it on to you all..."After reviewing her students' artwork, Phoebe headed straight to the studio's break room.She removed the disposable mask in front of the mirror, staring at the red, swollen mark on her cheek. A sense of helplessness washed over her. Her parents had never laid a hand on her, not even once.Yet he had slapped her twice today—each slap harder than the last. Gently touching the burning area on her cheek, she felt a sting in her nose as her eyes began to water.Once class ended, Phoebe didn't head straight back to the villa. Instead, she wandered aimlessly through the streets, not wanting to return. The thought of go
Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating every corner of the room.Phoebe frowned slightly, her eyes squinting against the bright light as soon as she opened them. A pleasant, masculine scent filled her senses, and when she looked up, she saw a handsome face next to hers.Remembering his gentle touch from the night before, warmth filled her heart.His embrace was comforting, his chest radiating warmth against her.It wasn't until she felt the heat of skin-on-skin contact that she realized, with a sudden shock, that she wasn't wearing anything.Her face flushed with embarrassment, a delicate blush spreading across her cheeks. She wanted to move but didn't dare, afraid to wake him—she'd only feel more awkward if he woke up. So, she let him hold her possessively, feeling the heat of his body against hers.She found herself liking the feeling of being in his arms more and more...As she gazed at his flawlessly handsome sleeping face, Phoebe couldn't hel
By the time it was over, Phoebe was completely exhausted, while the man above her remained as firm as ever.Seeing that he was about to continue, Phoebe hurriedly pressed her hands against his chest. "Don't you have work? You'll be late...""It seems I haven't satisfied you enough... Otherwise, why would you want me to 'leave'?"He deliberately emphasized the last word, making Phoebe want to crawl into a hole from sheer embarrassment. He was being impossible!"Women are all so hypocritical," Alexander's thin lips curled into a wicked smile. He continued, his tone teasing, "Especially when they're beneath a man... Saying 'no' with their mouths, but their bodies? Much more honest."His mocking words made Phoebe's body tremble slightly, her face burning with embarrassment, her ears turning a deep shade of red."I... I...""Are you trying to say... 'Give it to me' or 'I want more?'" He raised an eyebrow, enjoying the array of expressions on her face.Phoebe was mortified! How could he be
That night, Alexander didn't come home. However, he did leave her some instructions—she was to prepare nutritious meals and have them ready for pick-up.For several consecutive days, it was the same routine. Three meals a day, Phoebe would cook, and one of his subordinates would come by to collect the food."Miss. Here's the menu for tomorrow," the subordinate said with a smile, handing her the list while holding the freshly prepared meal."It's ok," Phoebe replied with a light smile. Looking at the varied and elaborate dishes on the menu, she sighed softly. It seemed like she would have to make another trip to the supermarket after school.Many of the dishes were ones she had never heard of before. But to make sure she got them right, she spent hours poring over cookbooks. During the day, she had classes and no time to experiment, so she'd stay up late into the night in the kitchen, practicing how to prepare everything.One afternoon..."Phoebe, you seem so out of it lately. You look
It was the afternoon after school.Phoebe had just parted ways with Alva when she lifted her gaze and locked eyes with a man walking towards her.She instinctively wanted to turn and leave quickly, but he had already stepped up to block her path.With a gentle smile that seemed to radiate warmth, he said, "Phoebe, are you trying to avoid me again?"Phoebe stopped, feeling awkward. "Professor, I... I'm in a hurry... I really have to go..."She had hoped that if she kept avoiding him, he would eventually leave and return to France. Yet, after all this time, he remained persistent, which only made her feel more guilty.Passersby occasionally glanced their way, and Phoebe lowered her head, feeling the weight of their intrigued and curious looks.Thank goodness they had moved a good distance away from the school; otherwise, rumors would surely start flying.Curitis was far more popular at the school than she had imagined.On his first day, he had attracted a large crowd of female students
"What are you standing there for? Get in the car!" Alexander's voice was cold and commanding, his gaze sharp enough to kill.Phoebe bit her lip, the car too conspicuous, making her want to turn and run. But she had no choice; she steeled herself and opened the back door, jumping inside.She knew that if she didn't get in, it would only anger him further and attract more attention from onlookers, making her situation even more awkward."Sit in the front." Another icy command, the air thickening with tension.As soon as she settled in, his sharp shout startled her. Sensing his anger, she quickly jumped out and slid into the front seat.The atmosphere in the car was tense and strange.Phoebe cautiously glanced at him; his tightly pressed lips and furrowed brow told her he was clearly upset. His piercing black eyes radiated a chilling indifference, laced with barely concealed fury.What's wrong with him? Why is he angry?She didn't know. Was it related to her?It had to be! But how had sh
The next day, sunlight filtered through the thin clouds, casting soft, fragmented rays on the world. But Hermosa's mood was like the weather—unstable and filled with gloom.With a nervous heart, she walked toward the agreed meeting spot, each step feeling like she was walking on cotton—soft and aimless, filled with hesitation.She arrived on time and had barely sat down when her heart continued to race wildly in her chest, trying to calm her nerves. At that moment, a deep voice came from behind: "You're right on time."Hermosa's body tensed instantly, like a deer sensing danger. She instinctively wanted to turn around and see who was behind her, pulling the strings in this mysterious encounter.But before she could react, the voice continued: "No need to turn around. Just stay as you are."The words cut through the calm in her heart like a sharp knife, and she immediately became more guarded against this mysterious person.Hermos
Gavin slowly raised his hand, the same hand that had once struck her with force.Now, it was as gentle as the willow fluff in spring.He carefully brushed his rough fingers against her soft, yet burning, face—an expression of tenderness as if he were touching the most precious treasure in the world, or soothing a deeply wounded creature.His gaze involuntarily wandered, resting on her trembling body. The guilt inside him flooded like a burst of water, overwhelming him with its intensity.Had he been too harsh with her? Each of her slight trembles felt like a sharp dagger stabbing into his heart, tormenting him.His touch became even softer, his long fingers moving slowly across her face, first brushing over her furrowed brow, trying to smooth away the fear-induced wrinkles.Then, they traced down her small nose, as though sketching a delicate work of art. His fingers lingered on her eyes, gently wiping away the tears that threatened to
Meanwhile, at Wright's home, Laura remained trapped in the terrifying memories of the film, unable to escape...Wright stepped out of the bathroom, ready to go to bed, when the doorbell rang.He was puzzled. Who could be visiting him this late?Not bothering to put on a robe, he wrapped a cloth around his waist and went to answer the door, still naked.As soon as he opened it, a blast of cold air hit him. He looked up and saw a man of striking presence standing there."Can I help you?" Wright asked, his voice cautious.Gavin's cold, dark gaze swept over Wright's half-dressed body, and his face twisted with fury. Without warning, he swung his fist at Wright.Caught off guard, Wright was struck hard. His brain buzzed, and before he could react, he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.With a violent kick, Gavin slammed the door open, storming inside.Room by room, he kicked open the doors with force, each one shaking with t
Wright reached out to hug her, but Laura struggled, trying to push him away."No. No.""Laura, what's wrong?"Her reaction puzzled Wright. His brow furrowed in confusion, his expression full of disbelief. But beneath the confusion, a wave of worry surged within him, sending his heart into a frantic turmoil."No, no, I'm your sister!"Whatwas she talking about?A thousand thoughts flashed through Wright's mind, like tangled threads that he couldn't untangle. He instinctively opened his mouth to ask something, but the confusion bottled up inside him, and he couldn't speak."Don't be afraid. I'm Wright."Wright suppressed the growing panic inside and tried to make his voice gentle, comforting, as he cautiously approached her.But the closer he got, the stronger Laura's reaction became. She acted like a frightened animal, desperately fighting back. Her sharp nails scratched his face, leaving a few bloodied marks.Af
"Gavin, why do I never see Laura around lately? Is she busy with her studies?"During dinner, Phoebe set down her fork and gazed at Gavin's handsome and elegant profile, finally unable to hold back her question.The last time she saw Laura was just a brief encounter, and since then, she hadn't seen her once. Something felt off, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was."...?"Gavin fell silent, clearly unaware of Laura's situation."Don't you care about your sister at all?"Phoebe complained, frustrated.What kind of brother was he? Gavin treated her so well, but he seemed so indifferent toward Laura. That really bothered her. She just couldn't understand it.Logically, a brother should care for his sister, so why didn't Gavin seem to care about Laura at all?Especially that day when Laura looked at him with such fear—Phoebe found that really strange.In the past, even though Gavin didn't seem to pay much a
The warm sun shone brightly as Hermosa and Alexander shared lunch in a cozy restaurant. Suddenly, Alexander's company called with an urgent matter, and he quickly drove her back to the X villa before rushing off to his office.Hermosa moved gracefully, the sound of her heels echoing through the empty hall as she opened the villa's front door. At that moment, a servant's voice rang out: "Miss, your letter.""A letter?"Hermosa raised an eyebrow, her voice filled with confusion."It just arrived,"the servant replied respectfully.A hint of suspicion rose in Hermosa's mind. Could it be from my foster parents? But that doesn't seem right. They always call. She extended a slender finger, taking the letter from the servant and examining it closely. The sender's name and address were both blank, leaving her with an unsettling feeling."Who brought this?"she asked, lifting her gaze to the servant."I'm not sure. When I went outside
On the other side, Phoebe found herself unable to decline the task of designing a wedding dress. She had considered resigning, but was told that without her, the project would fall apart entirely. Out of a sense of responsibility, she reluctantly decided to stay.After a few days of deliberation, she resolved to grit her teeth and see it through.The preliminary work was already done, but the latter stages would be more demanding. She needed to take Hermosa's measurements before beginning the actual construction of the dress.Once it was nearly finished, Hermosa would need to try it on again for final adjustments to ensure the gown was flawless.By her estimate, they would only need to meet four or five times in total.All she had to do was treat Hermosa like a stranger.She kept telling herself: "Just get through these days, and it'll all be over."Phoebe comforted herself with this thought.When she met Hermosa again, she exp
The Next Day – Alexander's OfficeMorning light streamed through the blinds, casting slivers of shadow across Alexander's expansive desk. Seated behind it, he worked intently, his pen gliding across the documents, pausing occasionally to annotate or circle key points.The room was silent except for the faint scratching of the pen against paper and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall.The quiet was broken when the office door creaked open, and Dana stepped inside. His usual nonchalant grin spread across his face as he observed Alexander's focused demeanor.Teasingly, he said, "Boss, so this is how you look when you're working in the office? Quite serious, aren't you?"Alexander paused, setting his pen down deliberately. He raised his eyes slowly, his sharp gaze cutting through the room. "Speak. What is it?"His tone was cold and clipped, like a blade slicing through the air.Unfazed, Dana chuckled. "Boss, you're about to
"Did Alex invite you here?"Hermosa asked softly, breaking the silence as she glanced at Phoebe. The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them, feeling they were too abrupt.Phoebe stood frozen in place, her shocked expression revealing she had no idea about Hermosa's identity. Clearly, she had just found out."Though this comes as a surprise, I still want to thank you,"Hermosa said calmly as she took a seat. "I doubt Alex even knows that you're the designer working on my wedding gown."Phoebe sat beside her, gazing at Hermosa up close. A sudden, inexplicable sadness washed over her. Hermosa was stunningly beautiful.Her elegance was entirely different from Melissa's fiery charm—gentle and serene, like water."May I see your designs?"Hermosa's question broke the awkward silence. Normally reserved, Hermosa found herself speaking more than usual in the face of Phoebe's quiet demeanor.She understood why Phoebe