On a dreamy summer night, a luxurious cruise dinner is held at Valleybrook.In the banquet hall, lights glitter and wine flows, creating an atmosphere of opulence.The entire event is a dazzling display of grandeur, filled with guests from esteemed families, business magnates, and politicians. They raise their glasses and engage in lively conversation, creating a bustling scene.Phoebe lowers her gaze, mechanically linking her arm with Alexander's as they step into the dinner hall.The crystal chandeliers reflect her slender figure. Her long gown trails behind her, requiring her to gently lift it with her fingers, which only adds to her elegance and charm.Yet with each step she takes, her heart tightens. Her palms are slick with nervous sweat, for this is a place she had visited three years ago.Entering again fills her with an unsettling dread, as memories of that night flood back.Phoebe glances at him with suspicion, her long fingers gripping his arm tightly.Why did he bring her
In the corner, Phoebe watched Alexander chatting intimately with another woman, feeling a pang of discomfort.She wanted to leave but hesitated to do so.Turning away dejectedly, she tried to avoid looking at them, perhaps subconsciously trying to escape something. But in that moment, she unexpectedly bumped into someone."I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..." she hurriedly apologized."Phoebe..."Her heart skipped a beat as she raised her eyes to meet a pair of melancholic blue ones.Curitis... he was here too, which took her by surprise."Professor... you're here too..." Phoebe managed to force a smile, recalling how she had slapped him earlier that day and the harsh words she had spoken. She suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed."Phoebe... you look beautiful tonight.""Thank you. I...""Phoebe, how do you know him?" Curitis asked, noticing her instinctively glance towards Alexander.Anger flashed in his eyes as he tightly grasped her slender arm.His sudden movement attracted the attention
A bitter smile flickered at the corners of Phoebe's mouth, her eyes dimming in response."What's the matter? Is your lover gone, and now your heart aches?" Alexander growled, annoyance lacing his voice. He yanked Phoebe's slender frame closer, gripping her wrist tightly enough to almost break it, clearly indicating her distress."Behave yourself… and stop with that annoying expression. Smile for me… got it?"Did the icy glint in his eyes hurt her?Smile? He wanted her to smile?The tense atmosphere was interrupted by a loud voice."Alex, long time no see…" A man in his late forties approached, a renowned arms dealer."Monroe. What a pleasure…" Alexander replied with a light laugh, narrowing his eyes as he lifted his wine glass in greeting."Cheers.""It's my honor… Hahaha…" Monroe laughed boisterously and downed his drink. "Alex, are you interested in discussing a business deal?""Of course…" This was exactly what Alexander wanted."And who is this lovely lady?" Monroe asked, his gree
Under the dim, suggestive lights of the banquet hall, many people swayed to the music on the dance floor, their graceful movements harmonizing with the soft melodies.Phoebe had no interest in watching. She was tense and restless, awkwardly dodging the unwanted advances of the middle-aged man beside her. Alexander's indifference only emboldened him further.She shot desperate glances at Alexander, but he merely observed coldly.In that moment, she fully understood his callousness. In this evening's affair, she was nothing more than his bargaining chip.By bringing her here dressed so provocatively, he intended for her to attract the attention of these men…Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions.As Phoebe pondered this, Monroe's hand slid from her waist to her prominent chest, his alcohol-laden breath growing closer to her cheek."Smack!" The sound cut through the laughter, drawing everyone's attention.Monroe's face bore the unmistakable marks of five fingers, his expression twisted,
Three years ago, in this very place, she had been forced to sell her body to a mysterious man for money.Now, three years later, here she was again, being handed over to another man by him—just for the sake of his business."No, let me go, let me out!" She struggled fiercely. Even if she were to die, she wouldn't let him touch her.Smack—Another harsh slap landed across her face.Her clothes were already disheveled from his rough handling...As he was about to press down on her, Phoebe, gathering strength from somewhere deep within, kicked him hard in the abdomen."Aaah!" A shriek of pain filled the room. Monroe clutched his injured lower body, and in a fit of rage, threw a punch at Phoebe, knocking her into the wall."You bitch, you want to die?"Phoebe felt blood rise in her throat, but she swallowed it down, wiping nothing away. Despite the pain, she crawled to her feet, desperately searching for the door.But Monroe was faster. He blocked her path and violently ripped her dress.
Phoebe woke up with a start, her heart racing from a terrifying nightmare.Opening her eyes, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nose.She coughed lightly and tried to move, but the pain shooting through her body reminded her that last night's nightmare had been all too real."Miss, you're awake?" A nurse approached with a smile. "Are you feeling any discomfort?"Phoebe shook her head, her gaze quickly scanning the room, searching for Curitis. Panic gripped her as she realized he wasn't there. Her chest tightened as she anxiously asked, "What happened to the man who came with me last night?""The man who came with you?" The nurse looked confused."He... he was shot..." Phoebe briefly explained, her eyes filled with worry."Well..." the nurse hesitated. "I wasn't on duty last night. Let me check with the others and find out.""Thank you..." Phoebe replied politely, though her heart was pounding. She watched nervously as the nurse left, then returned a few minutes later."There w
Three days later."Curitis...""Why are you crying?" Curitis sat up, his gaze full of affection as he looked at her. Was she crying for him? Although he didn't want her to feel sad on his behalf, his heart still swelled with joy.Phoebe shook her head, choking on her sobs."I'm so sorry. It's all my fault that you got hurt. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have..." She really was sorry."Silly girl, how is this your fault?" This was something he had willingly chosen."...Waaa..." she sobbed.Curitis chuckled lightly and affectionately pinched her nose. Then, in his slightly accented and not-so-fluent English, he softly coaxed her."Don't cry. See? I'm fine, aren't I?"His words only made Phoebe feel even more guilty."Alright, no more tears. Do you hear me? I chose to do all of this. Even if it meant dying for you, I would gladly do it." His voice was firm, his eyes full of deep emotion.Phoebe was stunned. She shook her head. "I'm not worth you doing all this...""Phoebe, you're in
"What right do you have? He already agreed to your terms, and you accepted!"That night, Curitis had agreed to his demands just in time to save her."Because we're perfectly compatible in bed..." Alexander sneered, his hand sliding down suddenly, grabbing her... Damn woman, she hadn't left him yet? And here she was, constantly calling out another man's name."No—" Phoebe's body trembled as she instinctively clamped her legs together. This was a hospital. He couldn't do this to her here."You can't go back on your word... Since Curitis already promised to give you the painting, I expect you to honor your agreement and let me go."Alexander gave her a wicked smile, one that sent chills down her spine."You're really that eager to leave me?""You're damn right! I want to leave you. I want to get as far away from you as possible..." Phoebe nearly shouted. To him, she was nothing but a plaything.Alexander leaned down, slowly whispering into her ear, "But I'm not letting you go."And with
Alexander watched as Phoebe stood frozen, her face void of any reaction. A smirk of ridicule and triumph played on his lips, as if he had known the truth all along and was merely watching her make a fool of herself. "What's wrong? Did I hit the mark?" His voice was cold, sharp like a blade slicing through the oppressive silence around them. No. This wasn't right. Phoebe's mind raced as she struggled to piece everything together. It was Hermosa who had messaged her that day, pleading desperately for help, claiming her wedding dress had been ruined and needed urgent repairs. Yet now, Hermosa was twisting the truth, framing her deliberately. But why? Hadn't she sworn she would never interfere in Hermosa and Alexander's life? Why was Hermosa doing this to her now? Phoebe took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn't panic. She had done nothing wrong—why should she fall apart over false accusations? "Right! I have the message!" Phoebe's eyes lit up as if gras
The next afternoon, the sky was weighed down by thick, oppressive clouds, casting a suffocating gloom over the city. The sunlight, weak and powerless, barely pierced through the heavy atmosphere. Alexander's fury burned like a volcano on the verge of eruption—uncontainable, scorching, and all-consuming. Without a second thought, he stormed toward the entrance of Phoebe's company. His presence stood out sharply, his entire being radiating a seething rage that seemed to set the very air ablaze. The moment he caught sight of Phoebe, he charged forward like a beast gone mad. Without a word, he grabbed her forcefully and dragged her into his car, speeding off toward the outskirts of the city. Phoebe struggled against his grip, demanding answers, but Alexander remained silent, his jaw clenched with barely restrained wrath. Upon reaching a desolate area in the suburbs, he yanked her out of the car with equal force. Completely caught off guard, Phoebe gasped sharply. She lifted her
The night was deep and silent, with nothing but darkness blanketing the world. In the villa’s bedroom, Hermosa, lost in slumber, suddenly furrowed her brows.A sharp, unbearable pain surged through her body like a raging tide, instantly dragging her out of her dreams.At first, she thought she could endure it, that it would pass with time. However, the pain only intensified, growing more unbearable with each passing second.Her head spun in dizziness, nausea churned violently in her stomach, and an overwhelming weakness spread through her limbs, as though all strength had been drained from her body.Unable to bear it any longer, she weakly called out to Alexander beside her, her voice trembling with pain and helplessness. “Alex, I don’t feel well…”Alexander had been fast asleep, but the moment he heard Hermosa’s feeble call, his drowsiness vanished.He jolted upright, his gaze immediately locking onto the deep crease between her brows, his eyes brimming with concern. “Where does it h
Phoebe's gaze fell on the damaged part of the wedding dress, her brows furrowing slightly. Without hesitation, she skillfully opened the sewing kit, delicately picking up the needle and thread with practiced ease. The issue wasn’t difficult to fix—her proficiency in needlework made it a simple task.With unwavering focus, she threaded the needle and carefully embroidered a petal over the torn area. Each stitch, precise and meticulous, concealed the flaw seamlessly.Before long, the damage had vanished as if it had never existed. "It's done. You can try it on now and see if there are any other issues," Phoebe said with a faint smile, carefully handing the dress to Hermosa before swiftly tidying up the sewing kit with fluid movements.She silently hoped this would be the last problem to fix—so she would never have to see her again."It's beautiful. Thank you," Hermosa said sincerely, taking the dress with a radiant smile before quickly heading into the fitting room.Moments later, she e
Hermosa gently pushed open the bedroom door and immediately saw Lisa standing there, acting suspiciously as she fiddled with something.A sudden jolt of unease shot through Hermosa's chest, and her brow furrowed instinctively. She had never liked this new maid, not from the moment Lisa first set foot in the house. An inexplicable sense of discomfort had lingered ever since.Raising her voice, with an authoritative tone, she demanded, "What are you doing standing there?"Her voice echoed in the otherwise quiet room, breaking the silence.Lisa froze at the sound, her body jerking as if startled, before quickly spinning around. She instinctively hid her hands behind her back, gripping something tightly as though she feared someone might steal it."I-I'm just cleaning the room,"Lisa stammered, her gaze darting nervously. The panic in her eyes was as obvious as a beacon, clearly visible to Hermosa.Hermosa's suspicions only grew. "Cleaning? D
On the other side, the courtyard was tranquil and peaceful in the afternoon. Soft sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.Hermosa sat contentedly on a lounge chair, her eyes gently closed, savoring the quiet moment as a light breeze brushed against her hair.Suddenly, a strange beam of light appeared out of nowhere, enveloping her head as if controlled by an invisible hand. Hermosa snapped her eyes open, her pupils dilating in shock and fear.The sudden change made her heart race, nearly jumping out of her chest. Her face turned pale, and her breathing quickened.After a long moment, Hermosa finally composed herself. She pressed her hand tightly against her chest, trying to steady her chaotic heartbeat.Her voice trembled with fear as she raised it and sharply called out to the maid nearby, "What are you doing here?"This maid had an unsettling habit of appearing out of nowhere, scaring her ea
The next day, the sunlight poured into the villa without reservation. After finishing breakfast, Hermosa set down her utensils, gently wiped the corner of her mouth, and stood up, intending to return to her room for a rest.She walked slowly down the corridor, the wooden floor creaking softly under her feet, adding a peaceful touch to the otherwise quiet space.Just as she was about to turn into her bedroom, a figure flashed at the end of the corridor.Hermosa immediately stopped, her gaze fixed on the retreating figure. She squinted slightly, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity, involuntarily focusing on the shape fading away.Driven by curiosity, Hermosa decided to investigate. She turned and walked toward the butler's room, her steps quickening, her mind racing with thoughts of the mysterious figure.She pushed open the door, finding the butler, Rod, organizing some papers. Upon seeing Hermosa, he immediately put down the work, stood up
That night, the moonlight was like water, and Alexander stumbled back home, his steps unsteady, his body intoxicated. Hermosa was still in the living room, her eyes filled with concern and anticipation, fixed on the door.As soon as she heard his familiar footsteps, she immediately stood up and approached him."Alex, you've been drinking again?" Hermosa asked softly, her voice tinged with mild reproach, her brow furrowed slightly. A trace of pity flickered in her eyes."All for work," Alexander slurred, burping as he spoke, effortlessly lying as the smell of alcohol wafted with his words.Hermosa instinctively took a step back, gently covering her nose. She couldn't stand the overpowering scent of alcohol that clung to him."Go to bed first, I'll take a shower," Alexander said, then swayed toward the bathroom, each step unsteady, as if walking on clouds.When Alexander came out of the bathroom, Hermosa hadn't fallen asleep. She sat quietly o
The faint light of dawn struggled through the thick curtains, spilling onto the disheveled living room. Alexander woke to the cautious footsteps of the housekeeper cleaning, his head pounding as if it might explode, his temples throbbing painfully.Frowning, he slowly opened his bloodshot eyes, barely managing to sit up from the cold floor. It took him a moment to realize that he had spent the entire night on the floor.Staring at the chaos around him, a wave of frustration washed over him. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his head, bent down to pick up his phone, and pressed the power button.As the screen lit up, a flood of missed calls appeared, each notification more overwhelming than the last. He stared in disbelief—over a dozen missed calls, all from Hermosa.His heart sank, his face turning pale. "Damn it!" he muttered under his breath, immediately getting to his feet and stumbling toward his room. After changing into fresh clothes, h