They had barely taken a few steps when Alva suddenly remembered it was her birthday today. She turned to Phoebe and invited her."Phoebe, it's my birthday today. Remember to come to my party tonight...""Huh? Your birthday? Oh no, I... I completely forgot…""It's alright, but don't be late tonight, okay? And remember, you have to dress up!"After Alva left, Phoebe hurriedly packed her things and headed to the city center.It was all Alexander's fault. If it weren't for him, she would have already bought Alva's gift yesterday. Now it was nearly the afternoon, and she still had to rush to find something for her.She rarely went shopping and wasn't sure what to get Alva. She wandered around the mall for two hours but still hadn't found anything. She even went into a few boutique stores, but nothing seemed good enough. After thinking it over, she decided to buy Alva a long dress.Alva had a great figure and was naturally beautiful—she'd look amazing in a long dress.Phoebe checked out sev
But as a friend, Phoebe could not just stand by and watch Alva being taken away by a group of men. She was about to go up and stop them, but before she could, the other men took action."Who do you think you are, trying to take the girl we had our eyes on?" one of the men angrily stepped forward to block Noah's way, their fists clenched, ready for a fight.The group had planned to take her to bed and have their way with her, and they weren't about to let Noah simply walk off with her, especially after he kicked one of them.They wouldn't let this go."I'm her boyfriend. HOW DARE YOU even think about touching my girl?" Noah was initially too focused on being angry at Alva for not protecting herself to deal with these men, but since they were now asking for trouble, he had no intention of letting them off.Who would dare touch his woman? Even thinking about it was out of the question!"Noah, why are you wasting time with them? Let's show them what we can do!" Werner, standing behind Noa
Meanwhile, Noah took Alva to his private villa.He unceremoniously tossed her onto the soft bed, feeling a surge of anger as he recalled her flirty interactions with other men that night.Despite his playful nature, he genuinely cared for Alva. She was the first girl he truly loved, yet she had been with him for so long and still refused to let him touch her. This frustrated him immensely.In his view, love between a man and a woman must include physical intimacy; without that, what was it really?Her unwillingness to share herself only proved that she didn't truly care about him.That was why he played around with other women, stirring up rumors—he wanted to make her jealous, to make her feel uncomfortable.Yet, she remained unfazed, ready to break up with him at any moment, and now she was flirting with other men.If he hadn't shown up tonight, who knew what those men would have done to her?This thought darkened Noah's expression, and he felt a strong urge to wake her up and scold
"I..." He leaned down and forcefully kissed her soft lips, sending a shiver through his entire body.Just last night, he had taken her, and now he couldn't resist the urge to possess her again. Every part of him tightened, and she didn't know where to place her hands, so she ended up clutching at his shirt.Her heart raced wildly; his kiss was intoxicating.Caught up in the moment, Phoebe instinctively kissed him back, her fingers trailing from his chest to his neck.Their lips brushed together, though her movements were clumsy as she tried to mirror him, tentatively exploring his mouth.Yet, she felt something was off, and that realization made her feel embarrassed and shy, leading her to hesitate in initiating further kisses."Don't stop. Keep going; you're doing great..." He eased up on the kiss slightly, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. Her awkwardness only made him want her more.Blushing, Phoebe obeyed his words, not stopping. In the dark, gazing into his passionate eyes made her
When Phoebe woke up in the morning, she felt dizzy and weak all over. Still, she forced herself to get out of bed. Glancing at the time, she realized it was already nine o'clock. It was all her fault for standing by the window too long last night, letting the cold wind hit her—no wonder she had slept so heavily.After quickly getting herself ready, she hurried downstairs. There was an important lecture today, and she needed to get going before she missed it."Alex, I don't like this flavor. Where's that maid? I miss the food she used to make. It's been so long since I had it... Can you ask her to cook for me again?" Melissa pouted, gazing at Alexander across the table with a hint of coquettishness."Sure, no problem." Alexander smiled indulgently, lightly tapping Melissa's nose.He always granted Melissa's every request, and this was no exception—it was a small matter, after all.But... he wondered if Phoebe was awake yet. He checked the time, frowning. Why wasn't she up?Last night,
On the other side, Alva, still in a deep sleep, felt something warm kissing her body."Hmm... Stop it..." Alva murmured drowsily, thinking it was her dog, Dora, nudging her awake.Noah frowned in displeasure.Last night, he had planned to take her, but seeing how deeply she was sleeping, he couldn't bring himself to do it.He felt that their first time shouldn't happen while she was unconscious. She needed to fully feel his presence inside her.So, he had restrained himself until morning, intending to wake her and then have his way with her. But this stubborn woman wouldn't wake up.Looking at her perfect, fair skin, his throat tightened—she was truly beautiful.After bathing her last night, he hadn't dressed her, instead holding her naked body in his arms all night long. It was an agonizing night for him, staying awake, tormented by desire.Alva may have looked slender, but she wasn't lacking in the chest.When would this stubborn woman finally wake up?He kissed her, yet she didn't
For three days, Alva hadn't shown up for class, and Phoebe couldn't help but worry. She called her phone, but no one answered.At lunchtime, feeling uneasy, she decided to go to Alva's rented apartment, but no one was there either.Just as she was about to leave, a man suddenly appeared behind her.Startled, she jumped and turned around, finally seeing who it was."Are you trying to scare me to death?"Werner crossed his arms, smirking mischievously.Phoebe didn't feel like wasting words on him, so she turned to leave. She had always seen Werner as nothing more than a playful troublemaker."Sweetheart, it wasn't easy finding you..." Werner teased.Phoebe stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him."Stop being gross. My name is Phoebe."Werner frowned, clearly displeased with her suggestion. Sweetheart sounded much more intimate, didn't it?"Hey, Noah asked me to find you. Alva's in the hospital..."***Hospital.Phoebe watched as Noah paced anxiously in the hallway. She walked ov
"Alex, don't be mad, okay? I'm fine," the girl lying on the sofa said in a soft, delicate voice, her appearance pitiable."You're saying you're fine, but you've starved yourself into a stomachache." Alexander gently stroked her hair, his heart aching at how fragile she seemed."Don't blame Phoebe. She didn't mean to starve me. She probably just forgot because she was busy with something else," Melissa said, though her eyebrows knitted together as she clutched her stomach."Is it hurting again?" Alexander reached out to touch her stomach, his voice laced with worry. When Melissa shook her head, he clenched his fists, his dark eyes clouding over."You're too kind. I won't let her off the hook." That wretched woman.He had left for an urgent trip abroad this morning and rushed back in the evening, only to find Melissa curled up in pain on the sofa. Panicked, he quickly called a doctor, who informed him that Melissa had developed gastritis from not eating all day.Phoebe had taken advanta
In the early morning, Phoebe slowly regained consciousness. Her mind cleared, but she couldn't immediately tell how much time had passed.The dim wall lamp still emitted a faint glow, and the heavy curtains remained tightly drawn, blocking out every trace of light.She instinctively shifted, only to freeze at the firm pressure wrapped around her waist.A strong arm was holding her tightly. She was curled up in a warm yet unfamiliar embrace. A violent shudder ran through her, every muscle in her body tensing in an instant.Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. Fear and despair consumed her. What had happened?"You bastard! Let me go! Let me go!" Phoebe's voice trembled with anguish as she screamed, her words choked with sobs. She thrashed desperately, her hands clawing at the arm encircling her waist, trying to break free from the stranger's hold.But the moment she turned her head and saw the man's face, all movement ceased. Her breath hitched. Her expression went from pan
Phoebe's mind felt as if it were wrapped in a thick, impenetrable fog. Her usual clarity had vanished without a trace, leaving her in a dazed and sluggish state.She struggled to lift her heavy eyelids, desperate to see who was in front of her. But the man's head was buried against her chest, completely obscuring her vision.What was happening? Who was this man pressing against her? What was he doing to her?A whirlwind of questions surged through her muddled mind, fueling her growing sense of unease. Everything around her became a blur, her consciousness flickering like a candle in the wind. Darkness crept in, swallowing her whole, leaving her with nothing but emptiness."Oh, Phoebe...you are mine. Mine."Alexander's voice was thick with longing as he pressed soft kisses against her through the sheer fabric of her dress. In his world, perhaps only in this dreamlike state could he truly possess her without restraint.His long fingers trembled slightly as he painstakingly undid the but
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