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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Inside the hospital ward.Hermosa's face carried a hint of urgency as she gazed at Alexander, her voice soft but firm. "Alex, I'm really fine now. I want to be discharged." Her eyes were filled with anticipation, eager to leave this sterile, disinfectant-laden place.Alexander frowned slightly, his eyes brimming with concern and determination. Without hesitation, he replied, "No. You need to stay under observation a little longer—that way, I can rest easy." His tone left no room for negotiation; it was clear that this decision was final.Hermosa pouted slightly, her voice carrying a trace of playful protest. "But I really am fine." She tried to persuade him once more, a flicker of stubbornness flashing in her eyes.Taking a step forward, Alexander grasped her hand tightly, as if afraid she might vanish at any moment. "I said no, and that's final. This isn't up for discussion." His voice was gentle yet resolute, and the warmth of his grip conveyed his deep concern.Looking at the unwav
The next evening, after much hesitation, Phoebe finally turned on her phone. Instantly, dozens of messages from Hermosa flooded in, the notifications overwhelming her in an instant.A flicker of irritation crossed her face. Without even bothering to read them, her fingers instinctively swiped past the messages, as if ignoring them could erase the painful past they carried.By the third day, the screen remained filled with Hermosa's apologies—each word a reminder of the wounds Phoebe had suffered.She stared at the messages, biting her lip, her emotions a tangled mess. Yet, she still chose to ignore them.Days passed—fourth, fifth… until the sixth day. Hermosa remained relentless, sending apology messages daily without fail.Phoebe had intended to stay firm, but she was never one to harden her heart completely. Hermosa's persistence, like water wearing down stone, gradually eroded the defenses she had so carefully built.Finally, she couldn't resist any longer. With trembling fingers,
Phoebe collided with Gavin's blazing gaze. At that moment, he gracefully lifted his slender fingers and slowly unbuttoned his suit jacket.A flush crept up Phoebe's cheeks. Her eyes involuntarily followed his movements, watching as he unfastened each button with deliberate ease. Then, the impeccably tailored suit jacket was carelessly tossed onto the plush bed.Her heartbeat stuttered, then rapidly accelerated, pounding as if it might burst from her chest.Nervousness gripped her, and the air was filled with his unique scent, surrounding her completely.He gave her no chance to retreat. His long fingers gently lifted her delicate chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Embarrassment overwhelmed Phoebe, and the moment her eyes landed on his striking features, a fleeting image of another man surfaced in her mind.Her face stiffened instantly, and a flicker of panic flashed in her eyes.Why? Why would she think of him at a time like this?A surge of complex emotions churned within her, and s
Tonight, Phoebe had no intention of going back to her own home. Sitting in the car, she hesitated for a moment before dialing her mother's number. As soon as the call connected, her cheeks flushed, and with a hint of shyness in her voice, she murmured into the receiver, "Mom, I'm not coming home tonight. I'll be staying at Gavin's place." The moment the words left her lips, she felt as if her face had caught fire. Her naturally reserved nature made her incredibly self-conscious, and hearing her mother chuckle on the other end only deepened her embarrassment. A wave of regret surged through her—she wished she could take back what she had just said. But it was too late now. She had already agreed to go with Gavin, and she couldn't bear the thought of disappointing him. Hanging up the call, Phoebe realized her palms were damp with sweat. She took a deep breath to steady herself.I made this decision willingly. There's no reason to be nervous.After all, they were already engaged. Liv
After hanging up the phone, Gavin rushed over, his heart pounding with urgency.From a distance, he spotted Phoebe sitting alone on a bench by the street. Under the shroud of night, her silhouette looked particularly lonely.As if sensing his presence, Phoebe's eyes welled up the moment she saw him.In the very next second, she sprang from the bench like an arrow released from its bow, dashing toward Gavin without hesitation. She threw herself into his arms, as though she had finally found the safe harbor she had been searching for after drifting for so long."Why didn't you answer my calls today? I was so worried about you." Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a trace of suppressed sobs. She had spent the entire day in distress, her heart suspended in midair, unable to settle.Perhaps she had grown too used to his daily calls—so when his voice suddenly vanished from her world, an inexplicable fear crept into her heart.She was afrai
Weekend.Gavin hadn't called in a long time, leaving Phoebe restless with worry.Now, she dialed his number again. Once, twice… several times in a row, but all she got was the monotonous beeping sound—no answer.He used to call her every day without fail, sharing bits and pieces of his daily life. But today's unusual silence filled Phoebe with an unsettling feeling.Overwhelmed by anxiety, she quickly got dressed, determined to go to Gavin's place and find out what was going on.Please, let nothing bad have happened.On the way, Phoebe sat in the back of a taxi, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Her fingers tapped restlessly on her knee, each tap echoing the urgency in her heart.As if fate was against her, the evening rush hour had turned the city streets into a gridlocked mess. Traffic crawled at a snail's pace, each meter forward feeling like an eternity.Phoebe stared at the endless line of cars in front of her
Leroy watched in shock as the crimson blood spread, feeling as if a sledgehammer had slammed into his chest. A sharp pain shot through him, as if the knife had pierced not Laura's hand but his very heart. She had blocked the knife for him—without hesitation! A flash of ruthlessness flickered in his eyes. Without a second thought, his hand clamped down on the assailant's wrist like an iron vice. With all his strength, he squeezed. A sickeningcrackechoed through the night—the unmistakable sound of bone shattering. The sheer force of it was proof of Leroy's fury reaching its boiling point. The man let out a bloodcurdling scream, his wrist exploding in pain. His grip on the knife instantly loosened, and with a sharpclang, the weapon clattered to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Leroy, still seething, delivered a vicious kick. Every ounce of his rage powered that single s
On the other side of town, Leroy booked a room at another hotel. Dragging his exhausted body inside, he thought a simple wash-up and a comfortable bed would lull him into sleep. Yet, reality proved him wrong.He tossed and turned, rumpling the sheets into a chaotic mess.In the darkness, his eyes remained wide open, haunted by Laura's image—her innocent smile, those big, watery eyes, and the look of helplessness she had worn when she was left alone. Each scene replayed endlessly in his mind.Leroy stared out at the pitch-black night beyond the window, his jaw unconsciously tightening. An unsettling sense of anxiety gnawed at his heart.Had he gone too far? It was already late, and Laura was just a young woman—beautiful and alone in a foreign city. What if something bad happened to her?Thinking back, having her around these past days had actually brought a warmth and liveliness to his life. In this foreign land, he had never felt this l
In the bathroom, Leroy felt completely cut off from the outside world. He had spent a full hour inside before finally stepping out through the tightly closed door.But the scene before him made him gasp sharply, his eyes widening in shock.Laura had fallen back into a deep sleep on the bed, as if nothing had happened. What made his blood rush even more was her completely unguarded sleeping posture.She was sprawled out in a starfish position, her clothes in disarray. And the most provocative part? The way her neckline had slipped, half-revealing the delicate curves beneath. The sight was completely unobstructed from his angle.Leroy suddenly felt an itch on his philtrum. Reflexively, he wiped it, only to find his fingers smeared with fresh, red blood.He was having a nosebleed!Damn it. It wasn't as if he'd never seen a woman before! How could he be so easily thrown off balance?His gaze roamed over her, unrestrained. Right now, Laura was like a perfectly ripe peach—tempting, luscious
At the break of dawn, on the other side of the city.Leroy slowly woke from his slumber, his chest feeling as if a heavy boulder was pressing down on it. Instinctively, he reached out, his fingers brushing against something soft and fuzzy. As his eyes fluttered open, they widened in shock.Laura was sprawled across him, completely unrestrained. Her arms clung to his like a vice, her leg hooked around his waist, making her look like a stubborn little koala refusing to let go.Her soft, delicate body was pressed snugly against his firm chest, and the blanket that was supposed to be covering her had long since slipped to the floor, lying abandoned beside the bed.Leroy furrowed his brows in deep regret.That day, he had gritted his teeth and forced himself to send her away. Yet, somehow, as if under some inexplicable spell, he had ended up bringing her back. Not only that, but he had let her stay by his side, fed her three meals a day, and even given up his own bed for her.He must have
Phoebe panicked and quickly tugged at her collar, trying to cover the incriminating marks. At the same time, she lowered her head, not daring to meet Gavin's gaze.Her mind was completely blank—she had no idea what to say.Should she explain? She couldn't bring herself to, knowing she had wronged Gavin. But if she remained silent, he might start suspecting something. Caught in this agonizing dilemma, she chose silence. She knew that at this moment, any explanation would only make her seem more guilty."Go rest," Gavin finally said. He seemed to sense her unease and embarrassment. His voice was still gentle, but there was an undercurrent of complexity that was hard to decipher.With that, he turned and walked away, his departing figure exuding a quiet sense of loss and helplessness. Phoebe stood motionless, staring after him as tears blurred her vision once again. A crushing wave of guilt consumed her, drowning her completely."Gavin, I miss the kids," Phoebe murmured, lifting her gaze