The next morning, at Phoebe's home."Hello! Is this the residence of Miss Phoebe Garcia?""Yes, it is. And you are?" Anila 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?" Anila 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," Anila 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 about
"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
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
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 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
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 a
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
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
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
Phoebe stood in the secluded corner, her hands trembling slightly as they reached for the buttons of her blouse. Her gaze remained locked on Alexander's back, not daring to blink. Only after watching him remain completely still for a long while did she finally exhale softly and lower her head to begin changing.When she opened the gift box and saw the delicate black lingerie inside, she froze.Lifting the sheer fabric between her fingers, she muttered under her breath, "This is lingerie?"The material was nearly transparent—she could already imagine how revealing it would be once worn. For a moment, she weighed her options: should she stick with her own undergarments, or wear this?Her eyes drifted back to the black evening gown. Its design was exquisite and unique, seemingly crafted to pair perfectly with the lingerie, enhancing its elegance with a touch of allure.Biting her lower lip, Phoebe struggled internally before finally giving in. Slowly, she unhooked her own lingerie, her m
Phoebe dragged her exhausted body home, moving quietly to avoid disturbing her family. She didn't turn on the lights but relied on her familiarity with the house to navigate her way carefully to the bedroom in the dark.Stepping inside, she saw her children sleeping soundly in bed. Her heart instantly softened, overflowing with warmth as she unconsciously sat down beside them."Kids, Mommy saw your daddy today," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Reaching out, she gently brushed her fingers over their cheeks, her touch unbearably tender. A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips.That night, Phoebe slept more peacefully than she had in a long time.In her dreams, she saw the bright, happy faces of her children, playing and laughing together. She saw herself joining in, their joyous laughter filling the air. And Alexander… he was there too. The four of them stood in a beautiful garden, basking in the warm sunlight. It was a dream so wonderful, so perfect, that she wis
On most afternoons, as soon as lunch was over, Phoebe would return to her desk without delay, diving right back into work. But today, she was different. Instead of heading straight back, she wandered aimlessly around the company's surroundings, unwilling to return. It wasn't until 2:30 PM that she finally, and reluctantly, made her way back to the office.As she walked, her mind kept replaying the moment she had shaken off Alexander's grip earlier. His darkened expression told her everything—he was furious. She was almost certain he would take his revenge in the afternoon, assigning her a slew of unreasonable tasks just to make things difficult for her. With this uneasy thought lingering in her mind, Phoebe stepped into the office.Strangely enough, the entire afternoon passed without any sign of Alexander. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. There were no assignments, no sudden calls to his office—nothing.Sitting at her desk, Phoebe felt restless. Every now and then, she gla
Phoebe covered her lips, tears streaming down her face as she ran toward the restroom. She kept her head low, afraid of letting anyone see her in such a disheveled state. Once inside, she hurried into a stall, locked the door tightly, and slowly crouched down, wrapping her arms around her knees as she broke into uncontrollable sobs.Her cries echoed within the small cubicle, filled with sorrow and despair, as if trying to release all the grievances she had suppressed over the years. She cried for what felt like an eternity until her eyes were so swollen she could barely keep them open.Standing up shakily, Phoebe walked to the mirror and stared at her reflection—her puffy, distorted eyes a stark reminder of her breakdown. She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands under the icy water, and splashed it onto her face repeatedly. The coldness stung her skin, but it also helped her regain a bit of clarity. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and made a firm decision in her heart.Ba
Upon reaching it, he freed one hand and, with a swift motion, swept everything off the surface.A loud crash echoed through the office as papers, stationery, and files scattered across the floor.The next second, Alexander carefully laid Phoebe down on the now-empty desk. She instinctively tried to sit up and escape, but before she could make a move, his towering frame loomed over her, pinning her beneath him.Phoebe's hands immediately pushed against him, her voice trembling with near desperation. "No, don't."But Alexander was far too strong. In an instant, he seized her wrists and forced them above her head, rendering her completely immobile."Isn't this the reason you came back?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.Phoebe's eyes welled up with tears. "I didn't… The public records never indicated you were the owner of this company. If I had known, I—"Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander abruptly leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce, stormy kiss that swallowed her wor
Phoebe's fingers hovered over the cold doorknob for a second, her knuckles whitening. She drew a sharp breath and pushed open the heavy black door.The CEO's office was more expansive than she had imagined. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering cityscape beyond, while at the center of the room, a large black executive chair sat with its high back turned toward her—tall enough to nearly obscure the figure seated in it."Sir, I'm the new secretary, Phoebe Garcia." Her voice cut through the silence, so clear she could hear the faint tremor in her own words.No response.The chair rotated slowly, and Phoebe's gaze traveled upward—over polished leather shoes, long legs, an immaculately tailored suit—until it landed on that face.Alexander Knight.Her breath hitched. Her pupils constricted. It was as if every drop of blood in her veins had frozen solid.Thud. The cardboard box in her arms crashed to the floor, the small potted succulent inside shattering, soil streaking her skirt.