The next day.Phoebe closed her eyes, relishing the warmth as she nestled back into Alexander's arms.He hadn't left her side all night.A sudden pang of sadness welled up inside her. She had no idea what he would be like toward her after this. But right now, she just wanted to enjoy the comfort of his embrace.Unconsciously, she snuggled closer to his chest, craving to be nearer. The subtle scent of his skin filled her senses, intoxicating her. It was so alluring, she couldn't help but feel like she was falling under its spell.In his sleep, Alexander seemed to sense her movements, his arms tightening around her. After a while, his body grew restless. The soft, tickling sensation against his chest made him snap his eyes open.Damn it, Phoebe. Teasing him so early in the morning.He glanced down, a smile tugging at his lips.She was still asleep, but like a little kitten, she was nuzzling his chest as if trying to win her master's affection. The way she gently rubbed against him, almo
Alexander walked into the villa, the living room engulfed in darkness, and he reached out to turn on the lights.He had planned to visit Phoebe at the hospital, but today was Melissa's birthday, and he figured he could celebrate with her first and head to the hospital afterward.Suddenly, slender fingers covered his eyes from behind. "Don't open them," Melissa whispered, standing on her tiptoes."Melissa," Alexander said fondly. Who else could it be? It was her, of course."Don't open your eyes yet," Melissa's sweet voice teased him by his ear."Why so mysterious?" Alexander asked with a smile."I have a surprise for you," Melissa let go of him and smiled brightly. "Do you like it?"Alexander chuckled. "Did you do all this?" She certainly knew how to be romantic.Of course, she hadn't done it herself. She had hired help to arrange everything, but she didn't respond to his question."Do you like it?" she asked again."It's your birthday today, I should be the one preparing things," Ale
Alexander felt something wrapping around him from behind.He squinted his eyes, his gaze sharp and piercing. Reaching out, he grabbed and yanked whatever it was toward him to see who it was."Melissa? Why is it you?" Alexander frowned. No wonder he had sensed something familiar; he almost threw her to the ground just now."Alex," Melissa fell into his arms, her voice sweet and sticky.The cold shower had already washed away half of the heat in his body, but now it was quickly reigniting."Hurry and go back to bed," Alexander said, sensing something was off. His hand brushed against her skin. Quickly, he reached over and turned on the bedside lamp.The room lit up, and what he saw made his eyes narrow.Melissa's hair cascaded over her shoulders, her eyes full of seductive intent as she looked at him. Her lingerie—if it could even be called that—was barely there, a sheer red fabric that left little to the imagination.Damn it. Did she even know what she was doing?"Alex," Melissa purred
In the hospital, Phoebe lay dejectedly on the bed. It was late, and he still hadn't come.She took a deep breath, feeling a pang of self-contempt. Despite his treatment of her, she found herself inexplicably in love with him.Was it love?No—she didn't even know what love truly was.Was it simply liking him? It must be, since he always made her heart ache.Was it because of his looks? She wasn't the kind of girl to judge based on appearances.So what was it? After thinking for a long time, she couldn't come to an answer. He treated her so cruelly that she should hate him, yet she found it impossible to do so.For over a decade, her love life had been empty; she had never truly liked any boy. Some had pursued her before, but she had always felt repulsed.In college, juggling studies and work left her with no time to consider relationships. In the realm of emotions, she felt like a blank slate, and he had stumbled into her life, catching her completely off guard.He occupied her mind an
Early in the morning at the hospital."Get off me..." Phoebe mumbled, realizing he had been on top of her since waking up.They were both naked, skin against skin, making her heart race. And this was the hospital—she feared someone might walk in at any moment."Phoebe, why were you rejecting me last night? Did I scare you?"She didn't answer, turning her head away from him. She closed her eyes, her long lashes glistening with tears. He hadn't forced her, yet she felt an inexplicable fear. She could no longer accept him.Alexander felt a pang of sympathy. He gently cupped her face and kissed away her tears. If he had caused her lasting shadows, he would work to erase the darkness in her heart.Unable to resist, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly without saying a word, offering her a comforting embrace.Perhaps Phoebe's earlier screams had attracted the attention of a nurse.Knock, knock, knock—"Miss, are you alright?" The nurse's concerned voice came from outside the doo
As they left the hospital, Alexander looked at Phoebe, his face pale."Why didn't you fight back? Didn't you hear what she said to you?" Why did she look so defeated, accepting mistreatment without a word?"..."Seriously? Wasn't it his fault too? The nurse's words were harsh, but she felt she had no reason to respond. She just had to endure."From now on, if anyone dares to say anything to you, I'll deal with them.." He wouldn't let anything slide.Phoebe rolled her eyes; he seemed a bit immature.Both were hungry, especially Alexander, who had been up all night. They decided to eat at the nearest upscale hotel, marking Alexander's first time taking Phoebe out to eat.Walking into the hotel in her hospital gown attracted some odd looks, but Alexander didn't seem embarrassed at all. He held her hand tightly, offering warmth, which made Phoebe feel a little touched.Since breakfast had already passed, they went straight for lunch, even though it was only eleven.After lunch, Alexander
In the upscale club, a man slapped Melissa's rear forcefully."...Don't touch me!" Melissa glared at him angrily, wanting nothing more than to go home."Already turning on me? You were just fine a moment ago," the man smirked, unconcerned about her expression."Just take me back."It was already afternoon; what was supposed to end by eleven had dragged on, and she had lost track of time, caught up in his demands.Alex must be looking for her. If she didn't return soon, he would start to worry. She could already imagine him searching anxiously for her."Afraid Alexander will be worried?""You don't get to tell me what to do. Just take me back," Melissa replied, her tone firm. Their relationship was purely transactional—he had no right to dictate her actions."You really think you can go back like this? You don't think he'll be suspicious?" The man chuckled, lighting a cigarette."You don't need to worry about that; I have my own ways.""Care to share your plan?" He scoffed. "Don't unde
Inside the hospital.Alexander frantically summoned all the doctors in the hospital to one patient room.They gathered nervously around Melissa, conducting a thorough examination of her pale face on the hospital bed. "Melissa, I won't let anything happen to you." His gaze lingered on her frail features.Guilt, shame, worry, and heartache overwhelmed him. It was his fault that Melissa was hurt! If only time could rewind, he would never have left her side. It was all his fault!"How is she?" he asked, anxiety etched on his face."Sir, the patient is currently stable, but... she has experienced intense sex and her body is weak. She needs time to recover," the doctor replied.Alexander's body trembled for a moment, then stiffened in rage as he gripped the doctor's collar. "What did you say?"Though he had already sensed it, he couldn't bear to accept the truth. How could he acknowledge such a reality about someone as pure and beautiful as Melissa?"Sir, please calm down... I..." The docto
When Alexander emerged from the bathroom, he found Phoebe already dressed and sitting upright, her posture stiff. He couldn't help but laugh. "Not going back to sleep?""No." Phoebe glanced at him quickly before lowering her gaze again. Damn it, why didn't he just put on clothes before coming out of the bathroom? Instead, he had wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out like that. He must have a thing for exposing himself.Wait—Phoebe looked again. That towel... it was her towel—the one she used to dry herself off with. How could he wrap it around his body like that?But as she took a closer look, she couldn't help but find it funny. The towel had cartoon patterns all over it. The more she looked, the more she wanted to laugh. Her lips twitched, but she managed to hold it in."Think I look funny?" His expression darkened slightly.Phoebe quickly shook her head. "No!"But in her heart, she thought he really did look ridiculous. Of course, she couldn't say that out loud. After all
The next morning, Phoebe woke up to find herself lying in bed.Had Alexander brought her back? She turned over, trying to recall what had happened last night.But as she shifted, she felt a sudden chill under the covers. She pulled them back, only to realize she was completely naked underneath.A cold shiver ran down her spine.How did she end up without clothes? She didn't usually sleep like this!Then, the sound of running water from the bathroom shattered her thoughts, making her head spin. She quickly grabbed some clothes and, barefoot and still unclothed, rushed toward the bathroom. She pushed the door open gently.Inside, the mist from the shower hung in the air, and standing beneath it was Alexander—his body, sculpted and smooth, the kind of physique that could drive any woman wild.Phoebe froze, her mind blank, her ability to think evaporating. It wasn't a dream. Alexander was in her house... and he was showering.The water cut off abruptly, and at that moment, Alexander's hea
Phoebe suddenly felt a wave of frustration. He really was so infuriating. If he kept being cruel to her, maybe leaving him wouldn't feel so hard.But now… now he had transformed into someone else—gentle, caring, and tender. His sudden kindness was disarming, and despite herself, she had to admit that she liked this version of him.Especially recently, he had been quietly taking care of her family. She never asked, but she knew it was his doing. Without him, her family might have fallen apart by now.And yet, she was terrified. Terrified that his kindness would vanish as quickly as it appeared. His unpredictability left her feeling insecure, as though happiness were just a fleeting moment she couldn't hold on to. How she wished this moment could last forever.Her pale arms wrapped around his sturdy waist, and she nuzzled her cheek against his chest, like a lazy cat seeking affection from its owner.Alexander chuckled softly. Her gesture stroked his male ego, sending a surge of warmth t
Gordon's funeral was held three days later—a simple and solemn ceremony.On the day of the funeral, Alexander stood at a distance, watching her grieve in silence. He didn't approach, wanting to give her space to process her pain.A few relatives offered their condolences and left early. Only Phoebe and her parents stayed by Gordon's graveside, unwilling to leave him alone.Phoebe stood in front of Gordon's gravestone, crying until she fainted, waking only to cry again. She couldn't believe he was gone—leaving behind their parents and her, just like that. Memories of their childhood happiness played in her mind. He had been alive and well, and now all that remained was a cold gravestone.She would never forgive herself. She believed Gordon's death was entirely her fault. If he hadn't tried to save her, he would still be here. Even if he had gone astray, at least he would still be alive.Now, with Gordon's death, more responsibilities and guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders. Staring
On the other side, Laura returned home, clutching her swollen cheek as she crawled into her bed.Her small face was buried deep into the pillow, her body curled into a ball as if only this could give her a sense of safety. It seemed like this was the only place that could bring her warmth.Her eyes were slightly misted, and she sniffled, thinking of Phoebe in the hospital. She wonders how she's doing now... Has she woken up yet?She longed to be by Phoebe's side, to talk to her. If Phoebe knew that the baby was gone, she would be so heartbroken. Laura wanted to comfort her, but Gavin wouldn't let her stay there. He told her to go home.Her pale fingers gently touched her cheek. She frowned and winced. "Ugh—hurts so much..."Earlier, when she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror, her cheek was so swollen, nearly unrecognizable—red and purple. When Gavin slapped her, her head went fuzzy. For a moment, it felt like her soul had disconnected from her body.It was easy to imagine how h
At the entrance of the encrypted ward, a group of imposing men stood in front of Alexander."Move aside!" Alexander's knuckles cracked as his fury surged."No one is allowed inside!" one of them shouted."Move aside!""I'm afraid I can't comply!"...Very well, no one had yet managed to block his way.Alexander clenched his fists and threw a punch.The third floor of the hospital descended into chaos. Despite their skillful moves, Alexander quickly took down several of them. For every man he knocked down, more seemed to appear.The corridor quickly filled with people. What started with just seven or eight men soon swelled to dozens, all fighting him at once.Alexander was a trained fighter. Even though he hadn't fought much in recent years, his skills hadn't weakened at all. He was easily handling dozens of men. However, the numbers kept increasing. After ten minutes, he saw even more people flooding in. He narrowed his eyes.These fools had no idea what they were up against. If it wer
On the white hospital bed, Phoebe lay quietly, having just woken from a nightmare. In her dream, she had seen Gordon lying in a pool of blood. She was terrified, heartbroken.Slowly opening her eyes, she saw the pale ceiling above her, and the sharp scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils. Looking around, she realized she was in a hospital."You're awake?"A male voice above her caught her attention. She squinted, then opened her eyes wider.Gavin?For some reason, the name kept repeating in her mind.Her memory began to piece itself together, and she recalled the bloody scenes before she passed out.Her eyes turned red instantly, and with a trembling voice, she stared at him, "Where... Where's my brother?"The room was silent except for the sound of their breathing.For the first time, Gavin felt as though his voice had been caught in his throat. He didn't know how to answer. He was afraid of what would happen once she knew the truth, afraid of her reaction.The tightness in his ch
"Sir, Miss Laura is here!" The butler said respectfully, standing behind the timid Laura.She kept her head lowered, afraid to raise it because the butler had said she was being brought to see her brother. The memory of his cruelty the night before made her body tremble uncontrollably."Mm, you may leave."The butler bowed and left, leaving Laura alone. She was terrified, and for a moment, she almost ran after him.She truly didn't want to be alone with her brother. The cruel images from last night haunted her, and she could still feel the lingering pain in her wrist."Come here!" His cold voice commanded, filled with authority.Laura's heart skipped a beat, and her feet felt unusually heavy, but she gathered all her courage and slowly walked over."What is it?" she asked in a shaky voice, barely audible."Take good care of her over the next few days, understood?" He didn't even look at Laura, his voice commanding. He seemed to care about her, wanted her here, just so that when she wo
The next morning, at Phoebe's home."Hello! Is this the residence of Miss Phoebe Garcia?""Yes, it is. And you are?" Hermosa asked, confused by the unexpected visitor so early in the morning."Mr. Alexander Davis, our boss, assigned me to drive your daughter to school. I've been waiting outside for an hour, but she hasn't come out. Is she not attending school today?" the driver replied politely."Alex? You mean my daughter's boyfriend?" Hermosa paused for a moment before smiling, seemingly realizing something. He's very considerate of her."That's correct. Is she not ready yet?" the driver asked, his gaze briefly sweeping inside the house."Apologies, but Phoebe rushed out after receiving a phone call yesterday. She said a friend was looking for her and didn't even stay for dinner," Hermosa explained with a hint of concern.The driver froze for a moment. "She didn't come home last night?""That's right! We were worried all night. She didn't answer any of our calls either. We were just