Phoebe finished her speech and hurried off the stage, returning to Miles's side. "Phoebe, you did a great job! Well done," Miles said with a kind smile. Phoebe had always been one of his most promising students, and her performance was exactly what he had expected. "Thank you," Phoebe smiled back softly, letting out a sigh of relief. She was glad everything had gone smoothly. As she sat there for a while, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. There was a strange intensity in the air, and it felt eerily familiar. She looked around but saw nothing unusual, just the glare from the glass reflecting the lights. Maybe she was just imagining things. She checked her phone. It was already 10 PM, and she noticed a missed call from an unfamiliar number. The call had come in around 6 PM, and the caller had tried three times. Who could it be? Only a few people had her number. She thought about calling back but decided it was too late. She'd return the call in t
When Phoebe woke up again, she found herself lying on a large bed. A harsh beam of light pierced through her eyes, making them sting. She blinked several times before finally adjusting to the brightness.But as soon as she took in her surroundings, the unfamiliar environment made her whole body tense with alarm.She remembered being at the banquet when Samuel forcefully dragged her away. She had struggled, but then he had taken something out and covered her mouth with it. Her vision had gone black, and she'd lost consciousness."Ah, sweet thing, you're awake?" A vulgar voice sounded from above her.Following the voice, she looked up—and the next second, her eyes widened in shock. Her body froze as if struck by lightning.Phoebe stared in terror at the four leering men around her. They were all naked.Oh God, what were they planning to do?"W-What do you want?" Phoebe's voice trembled, her body instinctively retreating."Don't be scared, baby. We'll take good care of you tonight."The m
When Phoebe came to, she vaguely remembered someone carrying her into a car. Her body, as if it had a mind of its own, clung to him like a water serpent, entwining with him.Then she felt it—a strong, heated body pulling her tightly into its embrace. The way he held her was possessive, forceful, and far from gentle. He seemed angry, but none of that mattered. What mattered was that this sensation felt strangely familiar.It felt like Alexander. Was this a dream? Or was it just her desperate hope that it was him?She didn't understand why he was the first person to come to her mind. She had tried so hard to forget him, thinking that if he disappeared, she could erase every trace of him and pretend nothing had ever happened. But she was wrong..."Ugh..." She let out a soft moan, her body acting on its own. It felt like she was wandering through a desert, thirsting for water, yearning for some relief. She could feel a coolness enveloping her, and she instinctively wanted to be closer, to
After Phoebe fell into a deep sleep, a serene atmosphere enveloped the room. However, Alexander could still hear her softly murmuring in her sleep.Her faint voice flickered like a flame swaying in the wind, intermittently persistent as it reached his ears."Don't...""Alexander, help me, please help me."She kept crying out for those people not to come near him while desperately calling his name for help.Alexander's heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, a painful mix of anguish and pity overwhelming him. He pressed his lips together, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.He immediately took out his phone and called one of his subordinates, his voice cold and decisive: "Retrieve the hotel surveillance footage, now!"The wait felt interminable, every minute and second stretching on, intensifying Alexander's anxiety. He paced back and forth in the room, occasionally glancing at the sleeping Phoebe.In less than half an hour, the phone rang. Alexander quickly
Only then did Alexander realize she was still completely naked. Without hesitation, he took off his shirt and threw it at her. "Put this on."Phoebe had no choice but to take the shirt and rush into the bathroom, though she knew there wasn't really much point in hiding.Inside the bathroom, Phoebe tugged at the black shirt she was wearing. The fabric was soft and comfortable, and it felt warm against her skin, just long enough to cover her hips.But with nothing underneath, she felt incredibly insecure.Her face burned with embarrassment, and she felt like she might die of shame at any moment.His voice urging her from outside the door made her move quickly. Better to have something to wear than nothing at all.She hurried downstairs. He had told her the kitchen was on the first floor.The kitchen was large but eerily empty. It was obvious that it hadn't been used in a long time. The cabinets were spotless, and everything looked brand new.Strange. Does he not eat at home often?Shakin
In the dining room, they ate in silence. Phoebe was starving and ate quickly, almost wolfing down her food without much grace.Alexander frowned, clearly not used to seeing a woman eat so carelessly."You'll live here from now on," he said suddenly."What?" Phoebe looked up, mid-bite, confused. Was he talking to her?Alexander repeated his words calmly as he continued eating his meal with elegance.The second he said it, the piece of beef she had just swallowed seemed to get stuck in her throat, and she coughed a few times, her eyes wide with shock. "Why?""Don't forget, you're my wife now," he said, his tone sharp, clearly irritated by her attitude. Any other woman would be grateful for such an offer.Wife?Her head started to spin again."But... I didn't agree to that contract willingly. It doesn't count! Mr. Davis, can we talk about this? I'll pay you back the money, and in return, please void the contract! I'll pay you back quickly, and you can even charge me interest...""This isn
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 harsh, sterile hospital lights cast a cold, icy glow over Phoebe, as if they were a layer of frost, unfeeling and relentless.She was being held up by several people, her feet barely touching the ground, kicking frantically in panic as they pushed her toward the operating table.Fear surged within her like a tidal wave, drowning her in an instant. Her voice trembled, filled with a desperate, tearful scream: "What do you want to do to me?"A subordinate, seeing her struggles, quickly stepped forward with a forced smile, trying to appear reassuring. He spoke softly, "Don't be afraid. We're just calling in a doctor to check on your baby, make sure everything's okay. It'll be over soon, I promise. We're not going to do anything to you."Phoebe's eyes widened in terror and doubt, her voice shaking as she questioned, "Is that true?"Her hands instinctively moved to protect her belly, her heart filled with concern for her child. She was terrified that t
As the guests gradually dispersed, the church was left in disarray, filled with an unbearable tension. Alexander stood motionless, an aura of chilling menace radiating from him as he issued his command in an icy tone:"Break all ten of her fingers."His voice carried a frigid cruelty, like a messenger from the depths of hell, sending shivers down everyone's spine.Melissa nearly fainted at his words. Her face drained of all color, and terror engulfed her like a relentless tide.She screamed in panic, her voice hoarse with desperation. Even now, she clung to a sliver of hope, refusing to admit the truth. "Alex, she's the fake one! She is! You should be questioning her, not me!"But her feeble protests meant nothing in the face of Alexander's fury.Before she could finish speaking, several towering men closed in on her like ravenous wolves, seizing her with an iron grip. Melissa thrashed wildly, but she was nothing more than an insect caught i
Melissa turned pale upon hearing Hermosa's words, the color draining from her face in an instant.In a panic, she clutched desperately at the hem of Alexander's coat, her nails digging so deeply into the fabric that it nearly tore. Gone was her careful imitation of Hermosa's voice—her sharp, shrill cry shattered the solemn silence of the church."No! That's not true! Alex, I am the real one! She's the fake—she's Melissa!"Her voice was filled with terror and desperation, like a cornered beast howling in despair."Hermosa"trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks, each drop carrying the weight of sorrow and pain. "How could you be so vicious? This isn't even the first time—you've tried to frame me twice now. I am your sister! How could you do this to me?"Her eyes were filled with disbelief, her voice choked with emotion, as though she were questioning fate itself—why was it so cruel? Why had her own sister turned agai
"Hermosa, what are you doing here?"A deep voice suddenly sounded from behind. Melissa's body trembled violently, as if she had been caught red-handed in an unspeakable secret.She hurriedly hid her phone behind her back, her fingers trembling slightly. Her voice involuntarily rose, tinged with undeniable nervousness. "Alex, y-you...when did you get here?"Alexander approached her steadily, a gentle smile on his face. "I just arrived. When I didn't see you in the dressing room, I got worried that something had happened to you, so I came looking. I didn't expect to find you here." Tilting his head slightly, his eyes filled with concern, he asked, "Are you overthinking things again?"Melissa secretly breathed a sigh of relief—he hadn't overheard her phone call.She nodded lightly, her voice soft and sweet. "Mm, Alex, I was just feeling a little nervous, so I came out to get some fresh air.""You look beautiful today." Alexander com
The next morning, as Phoebe slowly awakened from her slumber, an unsettling feeling washed over her. Instinctively, she glanced around, only to realize she was no longer in that cold, oppressive, enclosed room.Everything here was different—warm, comfortable, and inviting. The bed beneath her was as soft as clouds, and beside it lay several neatly arranged maternity outfits, each exuding a gentle, soothing scent.The sudden change filled her with confusion, her mind a tangled mess.Sitting on the edge of the bed, she ran her fingers over the delicate fabric, trying to piece together what had happened. But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn't make sense of it.She changed into one of the outfits and walked to the door. As expected, it was locked tight. No matter how much force she applied, it wouldn't budge.With a sigh, she returned to the bed, her brows furrowed in deep thought. A mixture of wariness and bewilderment flickered in her eyes. She had slept so deeply that she had
Alexander's Office"Alexander, let Phoebe go right now!" Gavin burst into the office like a storm, his chest heaving violently, his eyes burning with urgency and fury.He could hardly believe that Alexander could be so ruthless. Phoebe was pregnant, yet he had locked her up in such a horrid place. If he weren't afraid of harming her, Gavin would have already blown that wretched place to pieces."I'm sorry, sir, we really couldn't stop him. He forced his way in," the bodyguards behind him stammered, their faces filled with fear."Let her out now! Do you hear me?!" Gavin ignored the bodyguards completely and roared at Alexander, his voice filled with undeniable urgency.Alexander smirked with disdain, his gaze mocking as he looked at Gavin like he was nothing more than a pathetic fool. "Weren't you so capable before? Didn't you say you'd blow that place up?"Gavin was completely enraged by his ridicule. In his fury, he lunged forward, grabbing Alexander by the collar and hoisting him up
Hermosa felt the world spinning around her. Her legs weakened, nearly giving out beneath her. Her mind went blank—she couldn't believe what she had just heard.Alexander's child? Impossible..."Do you know how much I hate her?" Melissa suddenly burst into hysterics, wildly flailing her arms in the air."You were already dead, yet she had to appear and steal Alexander away from me! She deserved it!" she screamed, her eyes brimming with pain and despair."Do you have any idea what Alexander did to me because of that wretched woman? He locked me in a dungeon, let those disgusting men violate me, and tormented me every single day! Every day, I had to endure countless men... You can't even begin to imagine that kind of suffering!"Her voice had grown hoarse, her face a mix of tears and sweat, completely lost in the depths of her harrowing memories."Do you know how much it took for me to escape? I took a drug that stopped my heart from beating. A slightly higher dose, and I would've been d
Melissa watched with satisfaction as Hermosa's expression changed, her eyes narrowing slightly, her voice laced with an almost imperceptible chill. "My dear sister, do you still recognize me?"Hermosa remained silent. The air between them grew heavy, as if frozen in place.Seeing this, Melissa smirked mockingly, waving her hand slowly in front of Hermosa's face in deliberate provocation. "Oh, silly me, I almost forgot—you lost your memory, didn't you? What a pity. If you hadn't, I bet you'd be so furious right now that you'd pass out all over again." Her words were like shards of ice, each syllable carrying a bone-chilling sting.Melissa's hatred for Hermosa had taken root in childhood.Despite looking identical, Melissa had always been the gentler, more amiable one. And yet, it was Hermosa who was always adored, always surrounded by friends, always favored. Men fell at her feet, drawn to her like moths to a flame.But what truly made Melissa seethe was Alexander's unwavering devotion
The night was as dark as ink, thick and impenetrable. The hospital rooftop was shrouded in an eerie silence. A sharp, biting wind howled through the air, cutting like blades against the skin.In the midst of the chilling cold, Hermosa slowly opened her eyes. The unfamiliar surroundings jolted her into wakefulness, her heart hammering in her chest as fear spread through her veins."Where am I? How did I get here? What happened?"A flood of questions swirled chaotically in her mind. Desperately searching for answers, she scanned her surroundings, her gaze brimming with confusion and unease.Then, she saw it—a lone figure standing a short distance away, her back turned.Hermosa's eyes locked onto the silhouette. A strange sense of familiarity surged within her, as though something deep in her memory had been stirred. She stared unblinkingly, trying to make out the woman's face.Suddenly, the woman turned around, her lips curling into a chilling, enigmatic smile as she fixed her gaze on H