Phoebe lay in bed, her thoughts swirling like an uncontrollable tide. The events of the day lingered in her mind, especially Alexander's confusing gaze.
She clearly remembered, as she got into the car, catching a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye.
At that moment, his gaze was completely different from usual—his eyes seemed to hide an unspeakable sadness and loneliness, as though weighed down by something heavy, radiating an indescribable isolation.
It was the first time she had seen such an emotion in his eyes, as if something had quietly shifted between them.
Phoebe shook her head forcefully, trying to push away these chaotic thoughts. She didn't want to fall into useless speculation, and she certainly didn't want to let herself get trapped in that whirlpool of thoughts.
She forced herself to close her eyes, trying to steady her breathing, hoping to drift off to sleep as quickly as possible.
Outside the window, the moonlight
The faint light of dawn struggled through the thick curtains, spilling onto the disheveled living room. Alexander woke to the cautious footsteps of the housekeeper cleaning, his head pounding as if it might explode, his temples throbbing painfully.Frowning, he slowly opened his bloodshot eyes, barely managing to sit up from the cold floor. It took him a moment to realize that he had spent the entire night on the floor.Staring at the chaos around him, a wave of frustration washed over him. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his head, bent down to pick up his phone, and pressed the power button.As the screen lit up, a flood of missed calls appeared, each notification more overwhelming than the last. He stared in disbelief—over a dozen missed calls, all from Hermosa.His heart sank, his face turning pale. "Damn it!" he muttered under his breath, immediately getting to his feet and stumbling toward his room. After changing into fresh clothes, h
That night, the moonlight was like water, and Alexander stumbled back home, his steps unsteady, his body intoxicated. Hermosa was still in the living room, her eyes filled with concern and anticipation, fixed on the door.As soon as she heard his familiar footsteps, she immediately stood up and approached him."Alex, you've been drinking again?" Hermosa asked softly, her voice tinged with mild reproach, her brow furrowed slightly. A trace of pity flickered in her eyes."All for work," Alexander slurred, burping as he spoke, effortlessly lying as the smell of alcohol wafted with his words.Hermosa instinctively took a step back, gently covering her nose. She couldn't stand the overpowering scent of alcohol that clung to him."Go to bed first, I'll take a shower," Alexander said, then swayed toward the bathroom, each step unsteady, as if walking on clouds.When Alexander came out of the bathroom, Hermosa hadn't fallen asleep. She sat quietly o
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
Hotel Lobby.Phoebe gestured frantically, but the receptionist still looked utterly confused. The frustration of the language barrier made her clench her fists, her knuckles turning pale."Miss, please change her room."A familiar voice spoke up behind her—in flawless Japanese. She whipped around.Alexander stood just a couple steps away, his suit jacket draped over one arm, tie slightly loosened.The receptionist swiftly handed over a new key card.Phoebe took it mechanically, throat tightening.Since when does he speak Japanese? And why does he always show up when I'm at my worst?"Check me out," she said suddenly, slapping the key card back onto the counter. "Take me back to my original hotel."Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You sure?""Now. Immediately."She made it sound like an order, her nails digging into her palm. The night breeze tugged at her thin blouse, sending a shiver down her spine.A weight settled over her shoulders—a warm suit jacket, carrying his faint aftershave. S
On the fourth day of her business trip, Phoebe finally stepped out of the hotel to clear her mind. Tokyo's neon lights blinked rhythmically along the streets, but she couldn't bring herself to appreciate the view. Her fingers kept brushing over the phone screen—no missed calls, no texts.A bitter smile tugged at her lips. She had been the one to run away—so why was she expecting anything at all?The bright white lights of a convenience store snapped her back to reality. Checking the time, she realized she'd been wandering the streets for over two hours. She turned to head back to the hotel, only to find herself lost in a maze of unfamiliar alleys. The Japanese signs may as well have been written in code, and when she tried calling her colleague, she was met with a dead line.A chill wind swept past, carrying with it a flurry of foreign words. Phoebe pulled her coat tighter and quickened her steps. As she passed a bustling izakaya, a group of drunk men leered at her. Heart racing, she
Phoebe lay still, listening to the fading sound of footsteps outside her door. It felt like someone had ripped open her chest. He actually left just like that?Tears soaked half her pillow. She stared into the darkness until dawn. In the mirror, her face was pale, with dark shadows under her eyes. Just as her fingers brushed the doorknob, she felt it—his presence on the other side.Alexander was still wearing yesterday's wrinkled dress shirt. His bloodshot eyes said everything: he hadn't slept a minute. He'd been sitting outside her door all night."Phoebe..." His voice was barely more than a rasp.She recoiled as if burned, brushing past him with her head down—but he grabbed her wrist. His palm was so warm it made her tremble."Let go," she said, her voice like ice.Instead, he pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head. "What will it take for you to forgive me?"Phoebe fought to break free, her nails leaving red streaks on his arm. "Don't pretend," she choked out, tears
After hanging up, Phoebe immediately turned off her phone. She sniffled, her nose sore from holding back tears. As she looked at her two sleepy children nestled in her arms, her eyes turned red again. Biting her lower lip, she forced down the wave of emotions and held them a little tighter."We're going home." Her voice was hoarse.Jeremy and Amy lifted their heads sleepily and shook them in unison."Mommy, aren't we waiting for Uncle?""No." Phoebe avoided their hopeful eyes.The children's shoulders slumped as they looked down."But Uncle promised to take us out for ice cream..." Jeremy mumbled.A cold wind swept across the empty office building entrance. Phoebe looked at their disappointed little faces, her chest tightening."What do you want to eat? Mommy will make it when we get home.""I'm not hungry," Amy said, burying her face in Phoebe's neck."Me neither," Jeremy echoed, though he kept glancing around. "Maybe Uncle's on his way. Can we wait just five more minutes?"Phoebe's
The office clock struck five. For the third time, Phoebe glanced down the empty hallway.She clutched her phone, scrolling through her contacts again and again. Five missed calls, no one in the office, and his phone still lying quietly in the drawer—where on earth had he gone?Her reflection in the glass window revealed a furrowed brow. They had clearly agreed to leave at four. Even if something urgent came up, he should've at least found a way to let her know.When the six o'clock dismissal bell rang, Phoebe finally grabbed her bag. In the rearview mirror, the neon sign of the kindergarten glowed vividly against the twilight.The car phone suddenly rang. The unfamiliar number made her hand tremble slightly."Phoebe."That familiar voice made her heart settle—only to twist a moment later. "You're at the hospital? Are you hurt?""It's Hermosa. Acute appendicitis,"he said, hospital announcements echoing faintly in the
The morning passed in a slow, steady rhythm, the hours slipping by almost unnoticed.By the time Phoebe returned to the office after lunch, the clock on the wall pointed to half past two.Alexander's lingering kiss still burned on her lips, leaving her ears warm and flushed. She instinctively smoothed her slightly tousled hair, and when her fingers brushed against her heated earlobe, a soft smile tugged at her lips.In the break room, the moment the hot water hit the tea leaves, a delicate fragrance wafted through the air.Phoebe cupped the warm mug in her hands, and through the rising steam, she could almost see him again—his fingers laced tightly with hers, confidently leading her through the office in full view of everyone.He never hid their relationship. That unabashed affection of his… it made even her tea taste sweet.When only a few unfurled leaves remained at the bottom of her cup, Phoebe rubbed her slightly sore eyes.
The next morning."Mom, are we going to Grandma and Grandpa's tonight?" Amy clung to the edge of the table, her eyes sparkling with excitement.Phoebe nearly dropped the plate in her hand. "Hmm?" She was sure she hadn't said anything about that to the kids."Uncle said so," Amy replied confidently, swinging her legs under the chair.Phoebe glanced out the window at the man polishing the car in the driveway. Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the plate. She'd thought he was just talking offhandedly—but he actually meant it? A wave of warmth rose in her chest, only to be washed over by a ripple of unease. Would her parents even be friendly to him? Her mother hadn't said much during their last phone call, but the sigh she'd heard through the receiver still echoed in her ears."Mom?" Amy tugged at her sleeve.Phoebe crouched down and gently smoothed her daughter's crooked collar. "Of course we're going.""Yay!" Jeremy jumped up from his chair with a loud clatter of utensils. "I ha
Alexander's deep voice rumbled against her ear, and Phoebe could no longer hold back the tears welling in her eyes. Warm drops slid down her cheeks as she stood on tiptoe and clung tightly to his neck, burying her tear-streaked face into the crook of his shoulder. Her slender shoulders trembled uncontrollably.Those three words were far too heavy—so heavy, they made her chest ache.He immediately wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her back with the flat of his palm. Suddenly, Phoebe clenched her fists and began pounding his chest, each hit harder than the last."You bastard..." she sobbed into his shoulder. "You've made me cry so many times..."Yet even so, hearing his confession now, all those scars seemed to vanish into insignificance. Love was ridiculous like that—no matter how deeply wounded, the heart still surrendered without hesitation."Say it again," she whispered, lifting her tear-soaked face, her nose bright red.Alexander chuckled lowly and brushed her damp cheek
"Mom, you don't have a boyfriend, and Uncle is such a good guy. Can't he be your boyfriend? Can't he be our dad?""Yeah, Mom, just think about it!"Phoebe kept her expression neutral. This wasn't something that could be decided so easily.She wasn't about to let him off that easily. Especially after what Hermosa said earlier… What exactly did she mean by those words? And that look of surprise on her face—what was that about?Every time she thought about it, a heavy pressure settled on her chest. It felt like they were hiding something from her.She told herself not to overthink it. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the wild guesses running through her mind.Maybe... maybe it was time to ask.And he owed her a real explanation."Mom?"Her thoughts snapped back to the present. The kids were looking up at her with hopeful eyes. They really cared about her love life, it seemed. And clearly, they liked Alexander a lot.Of course she knew what they were trying to do. But a