"Phoebe, pack your things and report to the CEO's office now!" the HR manager, Alvis, commanded.Phoebe, who had been carefully organizing documents at her desk, immediately stopped what she was doing and responded, "Got it, sir!""I mean NOW! Don't keep boss waiting!" Alvis urged. Phoebe didn't dare hesitate any longer and hurriedly stood up to gather her belongings.Ten minutes later, she was on the top floor, her arms full of items.The company had been doing well, but for some reason, it was mysteriously acquired by an unknown corporation last week, and with that, a new boss had taken over.The news had shocked the entire staff, including Phoebe. But what puzzled her even more was how she had inexplicably become the new CEO's secretary.Was she lucky or unlucky?On one hand, her salary had doubled, but on the other, she had suddenly become the target of envy and hostility from the female employees.As she stepped out of the elevator and arrived at the CEO's office door, she knocke
Five years ago...Outside a dimly lit, intoxicating bar at night, Phoebe stood with her head lowered, nervously watching the men and women who continuously went in and out of the establishment.It was her first time in a place like this, and the unfamiliar environment already made her feel uneasy. The leering gazes of some of the men nearby only heightened her anxiety, causing her to break out in a cold sweat. She was too scared to even take another step forward."Hey, are you...?" A voice suddenly appeared near her ear, making her heart skip a beat. The man didn't say so explicitly, but the leering look up and down his face said it all.Phoebe timidly raised her head, only to regret coming here the moment she saw the disgusting man standing in front of her. But there was no turning back now.A bitter taste spread in her mouth as she lowered her eyes. Did she even have a choice? She didn't.Her father was still lying in a hospital bed, her brother had accumulated a massive debt due to
On a summer night, the city was ablaze with lights, hosting a world-renowned luxurious yacht party.Phoebe stood still by the window like a beautiful statue, not moving an inch.However, her hands at her sides were clenched tightly, her knuckles pale. The sea breeze brushed her face, but all she could feel was a bone-chilling cold. The moonlit night outside was mesmerizing, yet she had no heart to appreciate it.Watching the elite guests move across the yacht's deck, each of them radiated an aura of wealth and prestige. They whispered in low voices, laughing softly, clinking their glasses in elegant toasts.She smiled bitterly. This was the stark difference between the rich and the poor.The world was never fair, and all she could do was use her body to save her family.Raising her eyes to the empty night sky, her heart filled with a deep sadness. She felt utterly lost."Follow me." A deep, magnetic voice came from behind her.Phoebe closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her chest r
Without warning, darkness engulfed the room, plunging her into a pitch-black world.Power outage?Phoebe's heart clenched, fear and panic consuming her.It felt like a suffocating weight was closing in, making her body tremble uncontrollably.Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past her, and before she could react, a strong arm wrapped tightly around her waist.Her bare back pressed against a firm chest. Even through the fabric of his shirt, she could feel the heat emanating from him.Startled, she let out a cry, "NO..."But the man chuckled darkly, his deep, husky voice breaking the silence of the room. "Don't make a fuss..."His voice was intoxicating, but why did it carry such an overwhelming sense of dominance? The aura of this man was formidable!"You...who are you?" Phoebe mustered the courage to ask, her voice trembling.Though the room was pitch dark, the man's sharp eyes could clearly catch every emotion in her wide, clear eyes—those beautiful eyes, like black pearls, pure and flaw
Two years later.At the art gallery, the staff bustled through the exhibition halls, meticulously preparing for an upcoming grand solo art show."Phoebe! How's the progress on Curtis' exhibition?" A deep voice asked from the other end of the phone."Everything's ready, just waiting for the gallery to open." Phoebe adjusted the outdated glasses perched on her nose. Her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail, giving her a fresh and elegant appearance.After hanging up, Phoebe carefully examined the paintings on the wall. This exhibition was part of Curtis' nationwide tour, and she was fortunate to have been selected as the temporary tour assistant for this world-renowned artist.During a small exhibition, one of Phoebe's own pieces caught Curtis' eye by chance. He appreciated her unique perspective on art, and that stroke of luck made her his chosen assistant.Phoebe had a natural talent for painting.For the past two years, her goal had been to apply to Valleybrook's top art school. H
Her heart clenched tightly, a wave of fear and panic rushing through her.Curtis quickly extended his arm, pulling her waist close to him, wrapping her in a firm embrace. His heart raced, and Phoebe clung to him like a frightened rabbit, seeking warmth and comfort."Phoebe, don't be scared. I'm here, everything's going to be fine," he whispered, gently stroking her soft hair in a soothing gesture.The car came to an abrupt stop after a series of jolts, skidding to a halt at a sharp corner. Only when Phoebe felt the car come to a safe stop did she slowly open her tightly shut eyes. She was still shaken, her gaze lifting toward the man holding her. A hoarse whisper escaped her lips, "Are we safe?""Yes, we're fine now," Curtis nodded, his gaze soft and reassuring. In this moment, he felt needed by her, a feeling he savored."What just happened? Did we crash?" Merle asked, steadying himself, his voice shaky.Curtis was about to ask the driver what had happened when he noticed that their
Phoebe sat in the car, anxiously waiting. She kept glancing toward the distance, silently praying that Curitis would return safely.The events of the day were terrifying, and the mysterious people they encountered filled her with fear. The suppressed memories from her past resurfaced, dragging her into a pit of darkness. The unsettling gaze of that man earlier left her deeply uneasy."Merle, do you think someone is targeting Mr. Curitis? Could they be part of a terrorist group?""It's possible...but Phoebe, don't overthink it. He'll be fine. Let's wait here for him." Merle tried to comfort Phoebe, though he, too, was still shaken by what had happened. They could do nothing but wait for Curitis to return—only then would they know what was going on.Suddenly, the sound of an approaching car broke the silence.Phoebe's heart raced as she looked outside—Curitis was back."Did they hurt you?" The group rushed forward, anxious to see if he was okay. Seeing him unharmed, they finally let out
Three days had passed, and Phoebe walked through the hospital, her body exhausted. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at her parents lying unconscious in their beds.She would find the money. Her parents would be okay!But—Where was she going to find so much money? She had already begged for help wherever she could, lowering herself, speaking softly, but the amount she managed to borrow was still a pittance.Suddenly, a face flashed in her mind. She remembered Curtis, and for a moment, a glimmer of hope sparked within her.She could ask him for a loan, and once she graduated and found a job, she'd pay him back.Nervously, she tried calling Curtis' private number. But after several attempts, the phone was still switched off.She tried calling Merle as well, but no one answered. Disappointment crashed over Phoebe once again, and the last bit of hope in her heart crumbled.She wandered aimlessly through the streets, her figure fragile and lost. The path ahead seemed uncertain, and
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