It was already 11 p.m. by the time Phoebe left the hospital, wandering alone through the streets.The night wind tousled her messy hair, but she didn't bother fixing it. She walked aimlessly, letting the cold breeze chill her face and stir up the confusion in her heart. There were few pedestrians on the street, though many cars passed by. Her silhouette, however, stood out in its loneliness, enough to make anyone feel for her.A single tear slipped from beneath her black-rimmed glasses, landing on her lips. The tear tasted salty, bitter, and painful... much like her current state.Her mind was consumed with thoughts of money—no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't think of a way to come up with the funds she needed.Suddenly...A blue Bugatti Veyron screeched to a halt just a few meters ahead of her. Its bright headlights cut through the darkness, blinding her momentarily.Phoebe froze for a second, wiping the tears from her eyes. The car was blocking her path, so she turned to wal
In the bathroom, the water cascaded down her body, following every curve.Phoebe closed her eyes, letting the hot water pour over her for what felt like an eternity.Finally, she turned off the faucet and took a deep breath, staring at her reflection in the mirror as she forced a smile."It's only a year," she whispered to herself. "It'll pass quickly."Her eyes stung with unshed tears.The thought of becoming his mistress was like a knife twisting in her chest.In her world, especially in art schools like hers, many were willing to sell their bodies to wealthy businessmen in exchange for a life of luxury. She had always looked down on those who took that path—yet here she was, finding herself in the same situation.A one-night stand. Being kept. These modern, shameful realities had somehow become hers.She laughed bitterly. How had it all gone so wrong?Her fingers trailed along her neck, brushing the scar that had already begun to heal. The occasional sting from it reminded her of t
In the bustling commercial district of Valleybrook stands the towering DA. Group building, a hundred-story marvel designed by one of the world's top architects. This globally renowned conglomerate has emerged in recent years, establishing a strong foothold in various industries.Group dominates numerous sectors, particularly in finance, energy, real estate, hospitality, and entertainment...Alexander Davis, the founder of DA. Group is said to be ruthless and iron-fisted. He is notoriously enigmatic, with very few people having seen his true face—even the media, known for chasing rumors, have failed to capture his image.Standing at the foot of the DA. Group building, Phoebe gazes up at the opulent structure. With her heart racing, she finally musters the courage to step inside."Excuse me, miss, who are you looking for?" The receptionist blocks her path as soon as she enters."I'm looking for…" Phoebe stammers, her nerves getting the best of her."I'm looking for your boss!""Mr. Alex
"I…" Phoebe bit her lip."The door is right there! You can leave at any time!" Alexander's voice was cold."That's not what I mean!" She stiffened, closing her eyes, her pale face looking even more fragile in the chill. His message was clear: the choice was hers.She had carefully considered her tone, yet it still managed to infuriate him!"I'm sorry!""Then come here!" His commanding tone brooked no dissent.Under his intense gaze, Phoebe felt a surge of panic. Yet, her body slowly moved toward him.With her head bowed, she crossed the distance between them, her heart racing uncontrollably!"Do you want to just stand there?" He narrowed his eyes, leaning back with his arms crossed, his lazy demeanor reminiscent of a predator. "Come here!"Each step felt like walking through molasses; the few feet felt like a century.A gust of wind swept by, and suddenly, her arm was yanked forcefully, sending her tumbling onto his strong legs!Alexander gripped her waist tightly, pulling her closer.
"Sir, I… I'm sorry, I didn't know!" She bit her lip, seeming to only know how to do that in front of him.Wasn't he asking her to please him? How could she please him without kissing?"Remember, don't touch my lips again!" he said in a low voice. Yet, seeing her bite her lip so enticingly only made him want to kiss her even more!Damn it, no one got to make exceptions for him! And certainly not her; he thought women's lips were dirty."Mm!" She nodded like a child caught in trouble, her head lowered. But inside, she was stubbornly thinking, if he didn't want to kiss, then fine! She wouldn't mind! Kisses were meant for lovers! And between him and her…She recalled that other man, who had been much kinder than Alexander!"Don't keep me waiting too long?" His eyes burned with desire, as if he wanted to undress her."I…" She looked up, licking her lips, on the verge of tears…Was he deliberately making it hard for her? She had tried so hard to please him just now, but he had turned away i
The next day, Phoebe prepared breakfast early and headed straight to the hospital.As soon as she entered the room, she was met with a shocking scene. A group of men with hostile expressions surrounded the hospital bed. She immediately recognized them as loan sharks."What do you want? Mom, are you okay?" Phoebe rushed over, pushing the men aside and placing herself between them and her mother."Phoebe, don't worry about me! Get out of here!" her mother, Hermosa, cried out."Here… This is your money!" Phoebe pulled out a crumpled check from her bag."Well, aren't you impressive? Got the money so fast?" A sleazy middle-aged man grinned as he took the 500,000-dollar check, his leering eyes roaming over Phoebe.He hadn't expected Gordon to have such a sister… Her innocent, schoolgirl appearance was exactly the type they liked to toy with."Where's my brother?" Phoebe frowned slightly, feeling her stomach churn with disgust at the man's gaze."We'll bring him out soon enough!" the sleazy
The luxurious bedroom was entirely decorated in black tones, giving off an oppressive and heavy atmosphere. Phoebe stood in silence, feeling Alexander's piercing gaze sweep over her like a predatory panther.His presence was overwhelming, causing her whole body to tense. Fear, anxiety, and panic surged through her all at once."You're late," Alexander's voice was as cold as ice, enough to freeze the air around them. Damn it. No one had ever dared to make him wait."I'm sorry... I... it won't happen again!" Phoebe lowered her head, apologizing in a weak and timid voice. Her face had gone pale, and her palms were sweaty from the tension.Alexander rose elegantly and walked toward her, each step closer making her more nervous. He gripped her chin tightly, forcing her to look up."And what about this time? How do you think I should punish you?" he growled."I... sir, I swear it won't happen again!" Her voice trembled with fear, and the pain from his grip brought tears to her eyes.Damn it
"What… what does this mean?" Her face was filled with shock and confusion as she asked, her voice trembling. God, what had she just done? She must have been bewitched to sign it! She didn't even read the contract before signing it! Wasn't this supposed to be a lover's arrangement? How did it turn into a marriage contract— and for three years? Tears welled up in Phoebe's eyes… she felt deceived."Does that expression mean you're unwilling?" Alexander's voice was cold, his face hard. Damn woman, what kind of reaction was this? Any other woman would be ecstatic, but not her. She looked like she wanted to run away."I… I… I…" she stammered, still unable to wrap her head around what had just happened. "Don't worry, you'll be well compensated," he said, his tone dismissive. "Wait… I didn't read it properly before signing. It doesn't count!" Phoebe protested. She didn't care about the money. No matter how much it was, she didn't need it. She had wanted to clear things up with him
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
"What... what did you say?" Her voice trembled, and her breathing grew uneven."Take it off!" he ordered, his eyes narrowing dangerously. His fingers gripped her pale wrist, his strength threatening to snap it.Laura followed his gaze to her own arm, her heart pounding in panic. "But... this..."Wasn't this a gift from him? Why would he ask her to take it off? And why did his expression look so terrifying? Had she done something wrong?"It hurts!" she whimpered softly as his grip tightened, pain shooting through her wrist. Instinctively, she tried to break free from his hold, but this side of her brother made her shiver uncontrollably.The pain was excruciating. Laura furrowed her brows tightly, tears brimming in the corners of her eyes.With a forceful shove, Gavin pushed her down, his movements rough and unrelenting. He yanked her pajama pants, leapt from the water, and pinned her beneath him."Ugh!" Laura gasped as her head slammed against the hard floor, a sharp crack echoing in t
"Did you know? He really likes Phoebe," she murmured softly.Titan, lying silently like a loyal listener, rested his head on his paws."I'm so jealous of Phoebe," she whispered to herself. "If only he could like me, even just a little."But deep down, she knew Gavin would never look at her the way he did Phoebe. She tried to console herself: As long as he doesn't hate me, that's enough.Is he back now?What does he do out there every day?She had only overheard bits and pieces from the butler—her brother seemed to be involved in something akin to the mafia. But what exactly was the mafia? She wasn't entirely sure.Brushing off the grass from her clothes, she stood up. "I should head back now, Titan. I'll come visit you again when I can!"She coaxed Titan back into his cage. He whimpered in protest, reluctantly stepping into the enclosure and laying down, his sorrowful gaze fixed on Laura. He wished she wouldn't leave."Goodbye," Laura said, waving reluctantly. She gave Titan one last
After Gavin left, Astor didn't follow him. Instead, he walked toward the group of arrogant men who had been causing trouble moments before, raising his gun without hesitation."We're sorry! We're sorry! We were wrong!" they knelt, pleading desperately for their lives."Yes! We were wrong! We didn't want to hurt her! Someone made us do it!"Hearing this, Astor's hand paused. His voice was cold as ice."Speak. Who was it?"The men, thinking they might have a chance to live, scrambled to respond."She's called Sheridan!""Yes! We just overheard it, but that's the name we caught!"Astor's eyes darkened.A moment later, piercing screams shattered the stillness of the night, one after another, painting the air with an eerie tension.***At the hospital."Save her!" A frantic male voice echoed through the hallway.Blood streamed down Phoebe's legs in an alarming volume, staining Gavin's clothes entirely red.Doctors rushed out, quickly placing her on a stretcher and pushing her into the oper
On the other side, a burly man grabbed Phoebe from the ground and barked an order to the others, "Take the body back.""Let me go!""Do you want to die too?!" the man snapped harshly. Ignoring Phoebe's struggles, he began dragging her away, but a man suddenly stepped in front of him."Get out of the way!" the burly man roared at the stranger.The dim lighting in the bar obscured the stranger's face, but not the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes."Let her go." The cold, commanding voice cut through the air like a knife.Gavin lowered his gaze to the disheveled Phoebe, his entire presence radiating lethal intent."Mind your own business!" the man growled impatiently."Boss, this guy doesn't look easy to deal with... Look, he's got a whole group of bodyguards with him," one of the lackeys murmured nervously, his eyes darting toward the stoic men standing behind Gavin."Useless fool! What's there to be scared of?!" the burly man bellowed, though his expression darkened.Years in the underwo