At that moment, she felt her nightgown being gently slipped off, a chill instantly washing over her. Then, her undergarments were undone, and she instinctively shivered.Soon after, she felt a cold, hard body press down on her, causing her heart to race uncontrollably.Her mind was in disarray, unable to comprehend why she felt the urge to respond. This unfamiliar sensation should have repulsed her, yet she found herself unable to control her own body."Phoebe, I want you," a magnetic voice whispered in her ear. It was so familiar, only that man could be so blunt."Phoebe, feel it, isn't it hard?" As he spoke, her hand was guided by a warm, large hand, slowly moving downward.When she touched that hard object, Phoebe's body trembled uncontrollably."Do you know how much I need you?" The familiar voice continued to murmur in her ear, laced with temptation.Simultaneously, a pair of hands began to roam over her snow-white body, each tou
Tonight, Alexander was unusually patient. Unlike his usual urgency, he took his time, gently touching Phoebe's body, each touch seemingly imbued with a bewitching magic.At first, Phoebe was filled with tension, rejection, anger, and resistance. Her body was taut, every nerve stretched like a bowstring, ready to snap at any further move from Alexander.However, as time passed, an indescribable pleasure began to creep in, wave after wave, gradually overwhelming her. Under this onslaught, her mind went blank, and the defenses of her rationality crumbled under the erosion of pleasure.In this matter, Phoebe deeply understood that she was never a match for Alexander.He was like a master manipulator of emotions and desires, able to control her at will, while she had no power to resist, only to struggle in this vortex."Darling, do you want it?" Alexander's voice was like a beast's roar from hell, rough yet filled with temptation."No," Phoebe wh
Phoebe and Gavin’s wedding was meant to be a grand and luxurious affair. However, Phoebe insisted on keeping it low-key. Gavin, who had always indulged her every wish, agreed without hesitation. As a result, the ceremony was far more understated than originally planned.Phoebe stood quietly at the entrance of the church, her delicate veil gently draping over her face. Clad in a magnificent wedding gown, she looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tale—pure, beautiful, and ethereal.Yet, beneath this seemingly perfect façade, her heart churned with turmoil, waves of emotion crashing uncontrollably within her.A distinct, masculine scent drifted through the air, pulling her from her trance. She instinctively forced a stiff smile.The wedding proceeded smoothly, without any unexpected interruptions—just as Phoebe had anticipated. In her mind, Alexander was no longer a threat; after all, she had personally ended his life not lo
Phoebe collapsed without warning, instantly throwing the once-joyous wedding into chaos.Gavin, Ryan, and Anila were frantic with worry as they rushed her to the hospital.Outside the emergency room, the three of them stood anxiously, their emotions heavy like a gathering storm.Gavin paced back and forth like a volcano on the verge of eruption, struggling to contain his unease. Every so often, he glanced up at the tightly shut emergency room doors, then down at his watch, muttering under his breath, praying for time to pass more quickly.At last, the emergency room light switched off, and the doors slowly opened. The doctor wheeled Phoebe out.Ryan and Anila immediately rushed forward."Doctor, how is she?" Ryan’s voice trembled with urgency.Anila, her hands unconsciously clenched, stared at the doctor with desperate eyes.The doctor furrowed his brows slightly before responding, "We still can’t determine the exac
A few days later, at Gavin's residenceLet go! Let go!Laura screamed in her heart, struggling desperately. She pounded at Gavin's iron grip on her shoulders, each hit filled with panic and despair. But no matter how hard she fought, his hand didn't budge.Her resistance ignited a raging fire within him. Gavin's eyes burned red with fury, his entire being radiating danger like a wild beast pushed to the brink.With a forceful yank, he lifted Laura off the ground effortlessly, gripping her slender arms with terrifying strength.The next second, she felt herself being thrown onto the bed. A dizzying sensation overtook her as she landed hard, stars exploding in her vision.The room was thick with the pungent scent of alcohol—Gavin had clearly been drinking. Yet, despite the liquor clouding the air, his mind remained disturbingly clear. Every move he made, every word he spoke, was deliberate."Why won't you say anything?! Why?!" His roar was filled with frustration, suppressed emotions su
In the early morning, Gavin was the first to wake up. The moment he opened his eyes, a sharp pain hammered through his head, making him frown instinctively. As he tried to sit up, he suddenly felt something soft and furry against his chest. Lowering his gaze, he reached out and realized that it was Laura lying on top of him. His initial reaction was to push her off immediately, but as his eyes landed on her serene, sleeping face, his raised hand froze in midair. His gaze was drawn to her lips. As if under a spell, he slowly lowered his head, and before he could even register his own actions, he gently kissed her. This subconscious act came from the depths of his instincts. It wasn't until the moment their lips touched that he snapped back to reality, his heart surging with panic and guilt, as if he had committed an unforgivable sin. His expression darkened. He pulled back abruptly, lifted the blanket, and got out of bed. Without a second glance, he strode toward the bathroom
"Boss, Miss Laura is missing." Inside the nightclub, a subordinate rushed to Gavin in a panic, his voice trembling as he reported. Gavin's dark, night-like eyes instantly flashed with a chilling coldness. "When did she disappear?" "It seems like it's been a while… We weren't paying close attention, and by the time we noticed, she was already gone," the subordinate replied, keeping his head down, afraid to meet Gavin's gaze. His voice grew weaker with each word. The wine glass in Gavin's hand suddenly shattered with a sharp *crack*, shards scattering, and wine spilling onto the floor. "Find her!" he roared, his voice reverberating throughout the nightclub. In an instant, his well-trained subordinates sprang into action, sealing off every exit and scouring every inch of the club. They combed through every corner multiple times, turning the atmosphere tense and chaotic. Minutes passed like hours. Then, another subordinate ran up to Gavin, his face pale with fear, his steps
Gavin and Leroy locked eyes in a silent but intense standoff. Despite Gavin's overwhelming numbers, Leroy's gaze remained calm and unwavering. As he stared down Gavin, Leroy's mind worked rapidly, assessing the situation, scanning his surroundings, and calculating an escape. He didn't know exactly why these men wanted them dead, but one thing was certain—he and Laura were in grave danger. Laura, caught completely off guard by the sudden turn of events, had no idea what was happening. However, Leroy's tense voice and protective stance made her sense the seriousness of the situation. Without hesitation, she obediently followed his instructions, clutching his arm tightly and resisting the urge to peek. Gavin's gaze dropped to their interlocked hands. The sight of Laura clinging so desperately to Leroy sent a sharp sting through his chest. The pain was fleeting, quickly replaced by an icy rage that turned his expression to stone. Then, in a voice as cold as death itself, he uttere
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
Phoebe's fingertips trembled slightly as she stared blankly at Hermosa's pale face. That name always pricked at her memory like a needle—Melissa's curly hair, the unopened photo frame in Alexander's study—all flashing before her eyes now."What a coincidence. Running into you here," Hermosa said, her face still drained of color.Phoebe forced a smile. "Yeah, what a... coincidence."She quickly added, "What are you doing here?""My stomach was acting up, so I came to get something for it. You?""Oh, me? I..." Phoebe's throat tightened. Instinctively, she crushed the box of birth control pills hidden behind her back. She only realized where Hermosa's gaze had landed when it was too late. Embarrassed, she moved her hand behind her again. "I was just buying... medicine."As Hermosa turned to leave, the hem of her trench coat brushed past Phoebe's wrist, sending a chill straight to her bones. Hermosa suddenly paused. Under the harsh fluorescent lights, her profile looked almost transparent
When Alexander stepped into the bathroom, he found Phoebe resting peacefully in the bathtub, eyes closed. A soft flush still lingered on her cheeks, a trace of pleasure not yet fully faded. Her face looked like a ripe peach, pink and dewy, waiting to be picked.He walked over quietly. She must have heard him—her thick lashes fluttered as if she wanted to open her eyes. But she was too exhausted, not even a finger moved.Alexander chuckled softly, gazing at her delicate face. He'd really worn her out today.He reached down and gently stroked her silky cheek. He'd intended to call her for dinner, but looking at her now, sleep seemed more fitting.Scooping her out of the water, her smooth skin against him made his body stir again—but he held himself back.He dried her carefully, then laid her on the bed. The marks he'd left on her body filled him with a certain pride, but as he inspected the swollen red tenderness between her thighs, a pang of guilt twisted in his chest. He'd been a litt
The sound of running water from the bathroom came to an abrupt stop. Less than three minutes later, Alexander stepped out, a towel slung low around his waist, his damp hair dripping, sun glinting off his bronze skin."Do I have a good body?" he asked with a cocky arch of his brow, the towel hanging precariously low, revealing the sharp V-lines at his hips.Phoebe turned away, stubborn as ever. "Male models look better."His expression instantly darkened. The towel slipped to the floor, and he didn't seem to notice—or care.Phoebe's eyes widened, her pupils dilating as the sight in front of her hit like a punch to the gut. That bastard. He was doing it on purpose—always flaunting his raw, masculine power right in front of her like a predator marking territory."Have you tried one?" he asked, closing the distance between them. The sharp scent of cedarwood from his body wash filled her nose."They're all online!" she stammered, stumbling backward until her lower back hit the nightstand.
He wanted all of her—completely—until she melted beneath him like snow in spring.Tears still clung to Phoebe's lashes, her flushed cheeks pressed against the sofa armrest. She heard his husky laugh fall from above."Tired?"A muffled sound escaped her throat. She didn't bother answering such a pointless question. It felt like her bones had been taken apart and reassembled—dull pain laced with an electric numbness that left a tremor with every breath.She thought back to the wildfire burning in his eyes, the near-manic hunger in his touch. He didn't seem like a man who'd gone five years without a woman—more like someone hell-bent on satisfying a lifetime of cravings in a single day."Get up..."She pushed weakly at his arm, her limbs as soft as cotton, but before she could finish, he pinned her wrist against the couch. The scent of sweat and cedar clung to him, invading her senses as she tilted her head back, only to be caught in the lingering embers in his gaze."One more time," he m