For the past few months, a heavy gloom has hung over Valleybrook. Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents of turmoil churn. First, a sudden and devastating car accident left Alexander severely injured and unconscious, lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. His fate hung by a thread, and everyone around him was gripped with anxiety.Then, like a stone thrown into a still pond, a bombshell dropped—DA Group declared bankruptcy, only to be quietly acquired by a mysterious company.This monumental business change rippled out like a butterfly effect, triggering a chain reaction across the global economy. Stock markets faltered, chaos spread across industries, and countless lives and careers were swept up in the economic storm.Thankfully, Alexander clung to life with tenacity, pulling himself back from the brink of death.However, the accident left him with severe nerve damage in both legs, leaving him paralyzed. In his hospital room, his eyes appeared hollow and dazed, lost in a d
The moment Hermosa's gaze met Alexander's, her pupils shrank in disbelief. She covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes, her heart aching with shock and sorrow. The man before her was a far cry from the vibrant image she had in her memories.He was thin, with protruding cheekbones that made him seem fragile, as if a gust of wind could knock him over. His thick stubble grew wildly, covering the once-defined jawline, and his deep-set eyes had sunk, as though swallowed by darkness, no longer reflecting the vitality he once had.Hermosa's gaze slowly dropped to his lifeless legs, and the tears she had fought so hard to suppress spilled uncontrollably. Her body trembled as she stumbled to his side. Her knees gave way, and she collapsed to the floor."Alex, how did you end up like this?" she cried, her voice breaking as she tightly grasped his hand, full of sorrow and pity. "Please, get better. Go for treatment, okay? You can't keep living like this."Her eyes were filled with concern a
The next day, Hermosa packed her things and left. The villa suddenly felt even more silent.Alexander didn't go to see her off. Leaning against the large sofa, he silently drank his alcohol, his eyes slightly narrowed, as the frustration within him lingered, refusing to fade.He didn't know how much he had drunk. Bottles were scattered all over the floor. As he drank, his mind slowly started to unravel, but sadly, his consciousness remained sharp. Why couldn't this alcohol make him forget the pain?He had no interest in dealing with work—the company was already in complete disarray. He spent his days in the darkness, wallowing in despair.One disappointment after another. One discouragement after another.In his dreams, the same scene repeated over and over.His Phoebe had come back. He held her tightly in his arms, kissed her, and kept whispering apologies."Please, please, don't hurt my child… Don't..." In her sleep, Phoebe furrowed her brow, her face pale, her body uncontrollably t
Phoebe slowly closed her eyes, and before long, soft and even breathing filled the room.Gavin quietly watched her, her peaceful and serene sleeping face making his lips curve into an involuntary smile. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, moving slowly as if afraid to disturb her. Afterward, he straightened up, turned off the light, and silently left the room.As the door softly clicked shut, Phoebe's eyes slowly opened.She gently turned over, instinctively pulling the blanket tighter around her, as if doing so could keep all her fears at bay. Gavin had always been like a guardian angel, constantly by her side, unwavering in his support.Whenever she found herself in a hopeless situation, surrounded by darkness, Gavin was always the first to break through the gloom, shining light into her world, bringing warmth and hope.How could such a thoughtful, gentle, and caring man not make her heart flutter? The happiness she longed fo
In the early morning, soft light filtered through the thin curtains and quietly bathed the room.A handsome man stood silently by the window, surrounded by the warm glow of the sunlight, as if an ethereal golden halo had been drawn around him.Suddenly, a faint sound came from the hospital bed, and he slowly turned around.He saw the girl on the bed beginning to open her eyes, still tinged with the remnants of sleep.His lips parted slightly, his voice low and magnetic. "You're awake?"Thinking back to last night, he remembered getting up to get some water. As he passed through the living room, he caught sight of a small figure curled up on the sofa, clearly in pain.As he approached, he realized it was her, suffering from menstrual cramps. The noticeable stain on the sofa immediately made his frown deepen.He was well-known for his obsessive cleanliness, holding impossibly high standards for his living environment. How could he toler
The car moved slowly along the road, the scenery outside flashing by like a slideshow, but the atmosphere inside the car was suffocating, as if the air itself had thickened, making it hard to breathe.Laura sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her back straight, her hands tightly clutching the corners of her clothes, her knuckles white from the tension. Her lips were pressed together, as if glued shut by some invisible force, leaving her unable to utter a single word.Leroy's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. After several attempts to speak, he sighed in resignation, his voice thick with frustration and helplessness.But it wasn't just the silence that weighed on him—it was the faint scent of blood coming from the girl beside him. His gaze instinctively shifted to Laura. Her face had turned pale, her head slightly lowered, as if he had somehow hurt her.Laura, too, noticed the change. Her face flushed red instantly. She knew she had made
France, CastleThe quiet hallway echoed softly with the sound of footsteps. A maid, dressed in a neat uniform, carefully held a delicate box in one hand and a pair of beautiful crystal slippers in the other. She arrived at a door, gently knocked, and waited for a response."Come in,"a soft voice called from inside.The maid opened the door, slightly bowing with a warm smile. "Miss, these clothes are from the young master."She carefully placed the items on a table nearby and added softly, "The young master is waiting for you downstairs."She then withdrew quietly, closing the door behind her.Phoebe sat dazedly at the edge of the bed, her hollow gaze fixed on the elegant gift box and the shimmering shoes on the table. Her fingers subconsciously tugged at the bedspread, her knuckles turning pale from the pressure.Are we really going back?The question swirled in her mind, tightening her heart like an invisible hand, causing a
The quiet morning at X Villa was abruptly interrupted by hurried footsteps. Dana, along with a few friends, rushed in, their expressions anxious.They had just received the news—Gavin had returned to the country, accompanied by a woman.A few months ago, Gavin had vanished without a trace. They had used all their connections, searched every possible corner, but found not a single clue. Now, however, he had returned in such a high-profile manner, it was utterly baffling.Logically, Gavin knew they had been searching for Phoebe, so he should have hidden her well, leaving no trace behind. But now, he was back, strutting around with a woman. What was his intention?Impatient and anxious, they desperately wanted to discuss a strategy with Alexander. They rushed to where he was, but Rod stopped them at the door."Rod, just open the door. Alexander won't blame you," Dana urged, visibly anxious."But…" Rod hesitated, his feet seemingly rooted to the spot, showing no sign of intending to open
Phoebe fought through the discomfort wracking her body, her voice trembling with urgency and pleading. "Let me answer the phone… please?""No."To Alexander, the fact that she could be distracted now felt like the ultimate insult. Rage flared instantly, and his actions grew rougher, more intense.Phoebe was panicking. All she could think about were her children. What if something had happened at home? What if one of them was sick, or crying uncontrollably? A mother couldn't ignore those thoughts—no matter the situation."Let go of me. Let me go!" Phoebe's eyes widened in fear as she began hitting Alexander with all her might. But compared to his strength, her resistance was like a feather against a stone.When her slaps proved useless, she bit down—hard—on Alexander's shoulder, sinking her teeth in deep enough to nearly break skin. At the same time, her nails clawed into his flesh, her rage and desperation pouring out through every move.But Alexander was already lost in a storm of po
His words were so blunt, so daring, that Phoebe felt a rush of heat surge from the soles of her feet straight to her head. Embarrassment spread like wildfire up her neck, turning even the tips of her ears crimson."So, do you want to?" Alexander tilted his head slightly, a wicked grin curling at his lips."Of course not!" Phoebe blurted out almost instantly.But the moment the words left her mouth, doubt flickered in her heart. Why did it feel like… she was secretly looking forward to it?"You do," Alexander said confidently, his eyes gleaming. "I can tell."Maybe he'd struck a nerve, because Phoebe snapped, her voice rising with frustration, "I don't! Now let me go—let me leave!" She struggled against him, but his grip was like iron, holding her firmly in place, completely immovable."Not a chance." His gaze turned intense, burning with urgency. His voice dropped, low and rough, thick with domineering authority.Phoebe's heart skipped a beat—this time not from desire, but fear. In he
Alexander poured out all the pent-up emotions and desire he had been holding back for so long, only releasing Phoebe when he finally felt a sliver of satisfaction.He lifted his head slightly, his gaze lingering with a hint of hunger as he warned in a low voice, "You'd better behave. Or else, you know exactly what I'll do."Truthfully, if it weren't for the fact that guests would soon be leaving the banquet and coming to retrieve their cars, he wouldn't have hesitated to take her right then and there in the cramped backseat. After years of deprivation, the craving for her was like a tidal wave—how could a few short hours possibly quench it?"You—" Phoebe was both furious and flustered. Anger and humiliation tangled inside her, but no matter how fiercely her temper burned, she didn't dare provoke him further.She turned her face away, refusing to look at him as he fastened her seatbelt again.The memory of what had just happened—Al
As soon as they left the hotel, Alexander caught up with Phoebe in a few strides. He reached out, gripping her arm firmly, and spun her around to face him. "Damn it, why are you running?""Let go of me, you jerk!"Phoebe’s eyes were red-rimmed, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. She sobbed as she pounded her fists against his chest with all her strength."What’s all this crying for?"Alexander’s gaze was a mix of heartache and helplessness as he held the distraught Phoebe in his arms. He couldn’t fathom what he’d done to upset her so deeply."None of your business!"Phoebe’s voice was hoarse from crying. "Aren’t you busy with another woman? Why are you even bothering with me?!"Hearing the unmistakable jealousy in her words, Alexander’s irritation suddenly lifted, as though sunlight had broken through the clouds. The corner of his mouth quirked into a faint, almost imperceptible smi
Ten minutes passed quickly before a stunning woman, dressed seductively, hurried over. Spotting Alexander from afar, she quickened her pace, moving as if the wind carried her forward.Just as she was about to introduce herself, Alexander didn’t spare her a single glance. Instead, he flicked his burning cigarette to the ground and crushed it underfoot with a cold expression. Then, he said curtly, "Follow me."Alexander strode ahead with firm, purposeful steps. The woman, struggling in her ten-centimeter heels, had to jog to keep up, calling out in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Alex, wait for me!"But Alexander acted as though he hadn’t heard her. His pace remained steady and unyielding.The moment he reentered the banquet hall, his gaze swept across the crowd like a sharp hawk, searching keenly. Soon, his eyes locked onto the center of the dance floor—where Gavin held Phoebe in his arms, dancing intimately to the elegant melody.Alex
Phoebe stood frozen in place, her eyes welling up with tears that threatened to spill over. In that moment, she looked like a helpless little puppy cruelly abandoned by its owner—full of grievance and sadness, with no one to confide in.For so many years, Gavin had been a great help to her, someone she regarded as family. Did she really not even have the right to greet him? Alexander was being so petty. Why couldn't he ever say something that would put her at ease? Why did he always jump to conclusions and misunderstand her so easily?Just then, Gavin approached her, raising an eyebrow as he spoke. "He left?""Yeah… he left me behind again."Phoebe's voice was soft, tinged with disappointment."He was jealous, wasn't he?"A playful glint flashed in Gavin's eyes as he recalled the sharp, icy glare Alexander had given him earlier. "I almost thought he was going to charge at me and start a fight.""I wish he had,"Phoebe mu
As they stepped into the grand banquet hall, a sea of elegantly dressed guests filled the space—powerful elites from various industries, all mingling and exchanging pleasantries.The moment Phoebe entered, she felt countless gazes land on her. Instinctively, she shrank back slightly, tightening her grip around Alexander's arm.Alexander's expression remained cold and unreadable as his sharp eyes swept across the room, catching the way certain men eyed Phoebe with curiosity. Without a word, he subtly withdrew his arm from hers, only to move behind her and slide an arm around her waist—a gesture both possessive and intimate.Phoebe let him lead her through the crowd, their presence drawing attention wherever they passed.She had always found these social events tedious, despising the superficial interactions and empty flattery. But tonight, she was surprised to realize that she no longer minded. With Alexander by her side, his promise still ling
Inside the car, the atmosphere was suffocating.Phoebe sat sideways in the passenger seat, her vacant eyes staring out the window. Yet, her mind was far from the passing scenery. Alexander's cold gaze and piercing words haunted her, swirling through her thoughts like ghosts refusing to fade.Alexander gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. Though his eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, his mind was elsewhere. Phoebe's earlier words were like a sharp thorn lodged deep in his heart—every time he recalled them, a stabbing pain followed.A heavy silence engulfed them. No words were exchanged, no glances met—only the low rumble of the engine and the whooshing wind outside filled the void.Before long, they arrived at the hotel where the banquet was being held.Alexander glanced sideways and uttered two cold words: "Get out."Phoebe slowly turned her head, her eyes filled with grie
Phoebe was still lost in the dizzying heat of the kiss, her mind blank, unable to fully recover from the intoxicating sensation.Without warning, Alexander scooped her up once more, striding purposefully toward the private lounge attached to his office.The heavy door shut behind them with a muffled thud. Alexander carried her straight to the large, plush bed, leaning down slightly as he gently placed her onto the soft mattress.Phoebe's body sank into the luxurious bedding, her eyes widening in alarm as she looked up at him. "What… what are you doing?""I want you." His voice was deep and husky, laced with raw desire."No, you can't." Phoebe's breath came in uneven pants. Her emotions were in turmoil—fear and confusion tangled together, yet at the same time, her body betrayed her, reacting instinctively to his closeness. This only unsettled her more."Can't?" Alexander's lips curled into a faint smirk, his gaze dark and unreadable. Slowly, his eyes drifted downward, lingering at her