Phoebe woke up with swollen eyes and a heavy body, wishing she could stay in bed, but she had to go to class, even though her mood was terrible.As she stepped out, her gaze caught sight of her exquisite phone, stirring a pang of sadness. With just that brief glance, she closed the door behind her.Upon arriving at school, she intentionally glanced at the bulletin board. Just as she expected, an announcement had been posted: Curitis had resigned from his position and left...As soon as she entered the classroom, a sharp voice pierced through the air."Well, look who it is, the little slut."It was Eden's voice.Phoebe didn't need to think to know who Eden was referring to. She lowered her head and took her seat, refusing to engage. Eden always picked on her, and Phoebe couldn't be bothered to respond."Phoebe, you really have some nerve! When did you and the professor become an item? You can't hide it this time," Eden spat out venomously.The surrounding students joined in with mockin
Another day flew by, but Phoebe's mood only grew heavier. She was reluctant to go home and wished she could find a place to hide.Torn inside, she decided to visit the art studio instead, having not taught her students in a while and missing them.Alexander had restricted her freedom, not even allowing her time to teach.Adding to that, she had been to the hospital several times recently, and her job at the bar had only lasted a few days before she stopped going altogether.After spending a few hours in the studio, her spirits lifted considerably.By the time she returned to the villa, it was already ten o'clock at night.She deliberately stayed out late, avoiding the thought of Melissa marrying Alexander, which only made her more anxious about facing Melissa.After taking a shower, she lay in bed, her mind racing with thoughts, feeling exhausted. It took her a long time to finally fall asleep.That night, she had a dream about Melissa and Alexander's wedding. As soon as she appeared
That night.Phoebe didn't return to the villa. Instead, she spent the night with her parents.As she lay in bed, she held her mother, Hermosa, tightly as she fell asleep...Meanwhile, across the city in New York, on the bustling financial street, Alexander returned to his hotel, exhausted after a long day. He had to handle some important matters at the branch office in person over the past few days.After stepping out of the bathroom, he casually picked up the phone. He dialed several times but only got voicemail.Irritated, he frowned.Phoebe hadn't answered any of his calls. This was the fifth day he had tried to reach her. How could she disregard his words so easily?Alexander narrowed his eyes dangerously. She better pick up his call soon; otherwise, he wouldn't hold back!Growing impatient, he called Rod directly to inquire.He learned that she hadn't even returned home that night!Hanging up, Alexander clenched his fists, the knuckles cracking ominously.Great! She had pushed hi
It all happened so suddenly that Phoebe was momentarily stunned, her eyes wide as she stared at him.Gavin's eyes gleamed with mischief as he took in her expression. This wasn't just a light kiss; he intended to delve deeper into her mouth...Kissing her was an impulsive reaction, driven by the sight of her enticing, ruby-red lips. He hadn't anticipated how soft they would be, transforming his initial peck into a desire to explore her sweetness.Her body stiffened at his touch. She understood perfectly well what he wanted and instinctively tried to push him away.However, his strength was astonishing. Being a solidly built man, no amount of effort on Phoebe's part could dislodge him.She gritted her teeth, refusing to give him an opportunity to invade her further. But then he shamelessly squeezed her chest, and the pain made her cry out, allowing his tongue to slip in."Mm—" she whimpered, utterly incredulous at the violation happening before her. She had thought he was a good person;
She actually said he had never been good to her. Couldn't she see his kindness?"You're hurting me…" Phoebe whimpered, her pale fingers trying to pry his large hand away. When he didn't let go, instead tightening his grip, she stopped struggling, sniffling in frustration."You're going to marry Melissa! Why would you give me hope? You must be doing it on purpose, playing with my feelings, right? Don't you know I'm not as strong as you think? In situations like this, I only feel heartache, not knowing what else to do. You're such a jerk. Don't you know I… I don't want you to marry her. Don't you know I like you?"Her voice broke, each word a mixture of accusation and confession."Damn it, who told you I'm getting married?" He looked down at her, and seeing her tears, his anger softened. Was that why she hadn't been answering his calls? She was angry at him?"Melissa told me herself. You've been lying to me all along—isn't this what you wanted? My heart aches so much. Are you satisfied
"Baby, beg me," his raspy voice whispered in her ear."I don't want to." She turned her head away. Didn't he realize that what should have been sweet words were, in truth, utterly cruel to her?"Don't refuse me." His voice came heavy, almost breathless, laced with a raw edge.His eyes, shrouded in a misty intensity, made her heart tremble. She wished he liked her, not just her body.Seeing her avoid him, Alexander's face hardened."Are you trying to make me angry again? Hmm?""Sir," she said, her tone distant, sucking in a sharp breath.Sir?"Damn it," Alexander spat, teeth clenched. His recently simmered-down anger reignited as he grew more furious. She hadn't even spoken to him yet she was still pouting."What's that supposed to mean?" His voice was frigid."I just wanted to make things clear," she said, her voice steady but her heart heavy. If he only saw her as a plaything, he didn't need to say words that could sway her heart."What do you want to make clear? Hmm?" he asked, eyes
"Melissa, get some rest," Alexander coaxed her gently as he held her, though his mind had drifted to Phoebe.If she hadn't said those irritating words earlier, he wouldn't have left her to come to Melissa."Alex," Melissa murmured, tightening her arms around his waist, her face buried against his solid chest."You're not upset that I told Phoebe about our engagement, are you?""Of course not." Sooner or later, she was bound to find out."Then, when will we get married?"Her question caught him off guard, making him pause. He softened his tone to soothe her. "I've been really busy lately. We'll talk about it later.""Are you...?""Go to sleep!" All he wanted now was for her to fall asleep so he could quickly go and deal with Phoebe.Melissa's face stiffened for a brief second, but soon she obediently nestled herself against him. Listening to her steady breathing, Alexander carefully untangled her arms from his waist and closed the bedroom door quietly behind him.As soon as he left, Me
He'd called her in, leaving her no room for escape. Phoebe took a shaky breath and gently pushed open the door, which swung wide.She entered nervously, keeping her eyes down, feeling the intense chill of his gaze overhead. Sometimes she wondered what she liked about him—aside from his striking looks, nearly everything about him fell outside her tastes, especially his bad temper."Close the door," Alexander commanded coldly, staring at her.What did he want to close the door for in broad daylight?Her mind raced.She had briefly hoped that if he dared treat her roughly, she'd scream for help, giving his employees a real taste of his character, maybe even seizing the opportunity to escape. She hesitated, unwilling to comply.This was his office, after all, not their home; surely he had to maintain some level of decorum.Cursing under his breath, he noted her stubbornness and spoke again, voice colder, "Come here." His tone held an icy edge, a warning that was impossible to ignore.Phoe
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
"Gordon, what's going on?""Don't ask questions now. I need to get you out of here!"Before Gordon could finish speaking, a group of burly men suddenly appeared, surrounding both him and Phoebe, leaving no escape."What do you want?" Gordon positioned himself protectively in front of Phoebe, his gaze fixed on the men with a wary intensity.He had to shield his sister. It was his fault she was in danger, and he wouldn't allow anything to happen to her."Escape? You think it's that easy? The five million we gave you wasn't charity!""Keep the money. Just let her go!" Gordon shouted desperately at the men."Hahaha," the leader of the group laughed mockingly, as if Gordon had just told the best joke. "Do you think this is a place you can walk in and out of as you please?""If any of you dare touch her, I'll fight you to the death!" Gordon roared, his voice like a feral animal's, his desperation evident."Save your breath. You can't even save yourself, let alone someone else."Fueled by ra
As soon as Phoebe stepped through the front door, she heard the phone ringing in the living room."Phoebe, answer the phone! I'm busy in the kitchen!" Hermosa called out, poking her head out briefly."Okay, Mom, I'll get it..." Phoebe replied, quickly swapping her shoes and hurrying to the phone. The moment she picked up, her brother's voice came through the line.Phoebe froze, thinking she must have heard wrong."Hello, Gordon?" she asked, puzzled. He was supposed to be in rehab. Why would he be calling her out of the blue?"Phoebe, you have to come help me!" Gordon's voice was strained, filled with pain."What's going on?" Phoebe asked, worry creeping into her tone."I'm trapped at a bar, surrounded by some..."Phoebe gripped the phone tightly, her heart racing. "How did this happen? Aren't you supposed to be in drug rehabilitation center? Why are you at a bar?""Phoebe, there's no time to explain! Just come and help me!"Gordon quickly rattled off the location—a seedy underground b