Gavin parked the car by the side of the road and turned to glance at Phoebe. She was sound asleep, her head resting against the car window.Her delicate white face, long curled lashes, and rosy lips made her look like a crystal doll.She was beautiful, stunning enough to make his heart race. Gavin leaned closer and softly pressed his lips against her pale ones.It was a deep kiss.Perhaps his movement disturbed Phoebe, as she slowly opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with his handsome features.Her eyes widened, realizing he was kissing her.Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't push him away. Instead, she pretended to close her eyes again.Gavin kissed her lips once more, but this time, he didn't deepen it. A light, loving kiss was enough to leave him satisfied.He pulled away and smiled at her, noticing her trembling eyelashes."Awake?"His voice was low and seductive, and Phoebe awkwardly opened her eyes."I'm going back now. Be careful on your way.""Mm." Gavin s
Gavin was equally shocked, unable to articulate the feeling swirling in his chest. She was carrying Alexander's child. No man would ever want his woman to bear another man's child.Phoebe came out of the bathroom, her pale and delicate hand tightly gripping the pregnancy test stick. The two prominent red lines made it unmistakably clear—she was pregnant.But Phoebe's emotions were a confusing mix.Why didn't she feel the happiness she had imagined? Instead, the reality of it felt like a heavy burden.Her fingers instinctively pressed against her flat stomach, and a wave of emotion hit her. This pregnancy couldn't have come at a worse time.Alexander was despicable. Even after abandoning her, he wouldn't let her live in peace. He had to leave her with a bond between them—this child.Gavin watched her lost expression, and without a word, he knew what had happened. He felt a heaviness in his chest.He didn't know what to say.More importantly, he didn't know how she planned to handle thi
Three months later, Phoebe's life had returned to its usual routine. She went to class in the mornings and worked at the company in the afternoons and evenings. Her life was calm, filled with purpose every day. Her parents had returned last month, and seeing them in good health brought her a sense of relief.Her heart finally settled.At home, the place no longer felt cold and empty. With her parents around, everything seemed warmer.It was the weekend, and she decided to go to the hospital by herself. After registering, she was waiting in line when she suddenly felt thirsty and decided to step out to buy a bottle of water.When she returned, she ran into the man she never wanted to see again.She stood frozen, locking eyes with him.In that moment, time seemed to freeze.Both of them were caught off guard.But neither of them showed any expression.It had been three months since the dinner party. She hadn't seen him since, and never expected to run into him here today.Neither of the
Hearing his words, Phoebe's anger was instantly replaced by sheer astonishment.She stared at Alexander, searching his eyes for any sign of deception. Yet no matter how long she scrutinized him, she couldn't detect a single crack in his truth.Hermosa? Isn't she supposed to be dead?How could she believe that Hermosa was alive—and perfectly fine?Impossible.Suddenly, it all felt like some absurd, elaborate farce where she was nothing more than a pitiful fool.Phoebe glanced at Hermosa again. This time, she noticed subtle differences between her and Melissa. Despite their identical appearance, there was something distinct about Hermosa—the quiet dignity in her eyes, the sharp, cold aura woven into her very presence. Her voice, unlike Melissa's gentle softness, carried a distant chill.Then, like a bolt of lightning striking her mind, the truth hit Phoebe with terrifying clarity.Hermosa. The very woman Alexander had loved and longed for with every fiber of his being.In an instant, al
Time flew by like a fleeting shadow, and before Phoebe knew it, the seasons had changed once again.Winter had arrived quietly, though it wasn't particularly cold this year. Dressed in a simple coat with a thick, cozy scarf wrapped around her neck, Phoebe strolled leisurely down the road on her way home from the office.Her stomach had a slight swell—so subtle that it would be easy for others to miss unless they looked closely.Three months ago, with a heart full of trepidation and resolve, she had lain on the operating table, ready to endure the cold instruments and terminate the life growing inside her. But the doctor's words had struck her like a thunderclap, shattering her resolve.Due to a previous miscarriage, her uterine lining was now dangerously thin. Another abortion would greatly diminish her chances of conceiving in the future.The doctor's tone was calm, seemingly indifferent to her decision, but those words unleashed a storm within Phoebe.Fear surged like a tidal wave,
It was finally Saturday.Phoebe stepped out of the car, her eyes fixed on the house not far away, her steps faltering."Gavin, I'm so nervous." She looked up at Gavin, her palms clammy with cold sweat.Gavin gently enveloped her small hand in his warm, firm grip. His magnetic voice was calm and soothing as he whispered beside her, "Don't be nervous. You're carrying a baby; you can't let your emotions get too intense, okay?""But I don't dare go in." Phoebe lowered her head again, her voice barely above a whisper. She was truly afraid.Now that the moment to face her parents had arrived, she felt completely unprepared. Her mind was a jumble of uncertainty. What would they think once she told them about the baby? How would they react? She couldn't imagine how her usually obedient self would explain becoming an unwed mother."I don't even know how to begin. My mind is all over the place right now.""I'll explain everything. You just sit there and listen. I'll handle it.""Really?"Gavin
Gavin continued, "I've known Phoebe for some time now. I haven't visited you before, but today, I came to discuss our marriage plans.""Marriage?" Anila widened her eyes in surprise."What's going on?" Ryan asked, his face serious. "Phoebe, and what's the deal with Alex?"Anila quickly kicked Ryan, signaling him to stop talking.Gavin, however, spoke first. "Uncle, Phoebe and Alex have been separated for a while now. Phoebe didn't want to mention it out of embarrassment, but in fact, we've been together for quite a while."Ryan and Anila exchanged a look, still too shocked to respond."Phoebe, why didn't you say anything?""Forget it, it's your business, and we can't interfere," Anila said. "But you're not even graduated yet. Getting married this soon... that's not going to work.""Aunt, I've thought about that too. But the thing is, Phoebe is pregnant with my child. That's why I've decided we should get married now."Ryan and Anila were stunned into silence by this unexpected revelat
Watching Phoebe walk into her room, Anila turned to Gavin with a serious expression. She didn't want to make things difficult for him; she just wanted to share her thoughts."Gavin, although we don't know exactly what happened before, since you and Phoebe have broken up with Alex and she has chosen you, I believe you must hold a special place in her heart. Our family is quite traditional, and we struggle to accept the idea of having a child before marriage. But since it's already happened, what we want is for our daughter to have a happy future. We want her to marry a good man and build a wonderful family. As for everything else, it doesn't matter to us. We don't care about your background or wealth. We just need one thing from you: can you guarantee a good future for her?""I can," Gavin said firmly."With your word, we'll be at ease. Seeing you both happy will be the greatest comfort for us." Anila continued. "Considering Phoebe is still in school, we think it
"Hermosa, let me explain.""Explain what?" He couldn't even bring himself to say it."Alex, why did you lie to me? You have to explain. I need to know the truth. Tell me!"Hermosa shouted. This was the first time she had gotten angry at Alexander since he regained his memories."Hermosa, calm down first."Seeing how agitated she was, Alexander softly tried to comfort her, wanting to hug her, but Hermosa pulled away."Tell me, where's my sister? Where did you hide her?"Tears immediately flooded her eyes. She wanted to know how else he planned to deceive her."Hermosa, this is something that can't be explained all at once."He tried to soothe her emotions."So, this means it's all true? You were really deceiving me?"Hermosa yelled in anger. Her emotions flared, and the next moment, she fainted.Seeing her collapse, Alexander panicked. "Hermosa! Hermosa!"He quickly scooped her up in his arms, calling
In the afternoon, Laura accompanied Phoebe to the hospital for a routine check-up. After two exhausting hours, they finally emerged.As they stepped out of the hospital, Laura spotted Wright walking towards them. She froze when she saw his bruised face, feeling a pang of guilt deep in her chest.Wright hadn't expected to run into them at the hospital. Due to the injury on his face, he'd been skipping classes the past few days, planning to return once he healed. Seeing the girl he liked in front of him while he looked so disheveled made him feel uneasy.But he quickly masked his discomfort with his usual cocky demeanor, squinting as he approached Laura and greeted her."What are you doing here?""I'm here to accompany Phoebe for a check-up,"Laura answered, biting her lip.Wright flashed a smile at Phoebe, offering a casual greeting. His eyes briefly lingered on her belly, and he thought to himself, Looks like Werner's chances just went
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