"Ally, you know what it's like to be in love with someone. You should understand that sometimes, you can't stop loving someone just because you want to," Travis said.Feeling caught, Alanna said, "Travis, you should give your love to someone even better."Travis looked her in the eye and said, "I've already met the best woman in the world."Alanna didn't know what to say.Hades, who was standing on the side, snorted and called out, "Why are you so determined to keep pestering her, Travis?"Travis eyed Hades and retorted, "Why don't you take a look at yourself before you make comments about other people?"His remark silenced Hades, whose expression turned grim at once.Travis turned back to Alanna and said, "Happy holidays, Ally."Once he finished speaking, he turned on his heel and walked off.Alanna frowned as she watched him leave.Hades walked up to her with a sour expression and said, "Why are you staring at him? Is his figure better than mine?""When did you become so s
Stunned, Hades soon felt a wave of pain striking his heart. He could barely breathe from the sudden pain.It was true that Alanna had given him multiple chances in the past. The times she had probed him and gauged his reactions were the opportunities she had given him.But with every probe came disappointment that kept stacking up.Bitterness surged into Hades' heart at that moment. He suddenly remembered the things Alanna had said to him back in Brunstein City.They could've restarted their relationship as long as Hades could ignore Melanie's plight forever. But in the end, he was the one forcing Alanna to drop the charges on Melanie with a contract in hand.Hades pinched the spot between his brows forcefully."So, this means all my efforts are useless no matter what I do, right?"Alanna gazed at him. Pinpricks of pain attacked her heart."Not everything can be given a second chance in life."Once upon a time, Alanna, in her lovesick stupor, had given everything she had to Ha
Alanna was enraged, to say the least.Hades got in the driver's seat. He chuckled coldly while fastening his seatbelt."So, you see me as the kind of man who's only interested in sex, huh?"Alanna fell silent at the question."Aren't you?" she shot back a moment later.Hades just harrumphed in response. "Well, I do have sex on my mind, but I'm no bastard. I'm not interested in forcing myself on you. That is… unless you're willing to go with the flow."Once again, Alanna found herself speechless.Soon, Hades' car reached Alanna's hotel foyer. Just as she was about to get out of the car, she felt Hades grabbing her hand all of a sudden."Ally, I haven't reserved any rooms of my own."Alanna was momentarily surprised at his words. "Do you need me to reserve a room for you? There should still be vacant rooms in this hotel."Hades decided to go down the shameless route. "Can you take me in for the night?"That earned a cold chuckle from Alanna. "Just how shameless are you, Hades?
Alanna clenched her fists in response. A surge of mixed feelings flooded her heart immediately.Hades dragged her into the hotel without waiting for her response. He kept walking until he stopped outside a particular room.Alanna was flabbergasted, to say the least. It was then that she finally realized that the room she had booked at the front desk happened to be her own room.She turned around to glare at Hades. "Did you bribe the hotel receptionist?"Hades chuckled before tapping his keycard against the electronic panel of the door. Then, he dragged her into the room.Furious, Alanna shrieked, "Get out!"But Hades' shamelessness kicked in once again. "Ally, you were the one who told me to sleep in this room…"Alanna responded by snatching a pillow and throwing it at him.Hades laughed as he caught the pillow. He then approached Alanna before asking, "What if I tell you I'm taking the couch?"Alanna just glared at him. "It's fine. I'll book myself another room."Hades quick
Travis was also astonished to see Hades in Alanna's room."What are you doing in Ally's room?" he questioned.Hades' expression darkened as well.Why was Travis looking for Alana at such a late hour? What was he up to?"Shouldn't I be asking you that question, Mr. Silva? What are you doing here at such a late hour?""I'm here to apologize to Ally."Hades chuckled coldly at Travis' words. "You're here just to apologize to her?""Why else would I be here? What do you think I'm here for, Mr. Florentine?""Who knows? It's pretty late now, you know. For all we know, you could be harboring ulterior motives.""You're the one to talk!"When Alanna heard Travis and Hades' conversation, she began walking toward the doorway hurriedly. Before she could reach her destination, she saw them starting a brawl on the spot.Hades spotted Alanna heading toward him. He could have avoided Travis' punch, but he stopped moving all of a sudden.Alanna shrieked. She was shocked by the turn of events
Hades was shocked to see Alanna's tear."What's wrong? Did you have a bad dream?"His first instinct was to wipe the teardrop away.Having regained her senses, Alanna dodged his hand instinctively. Then, she gazed downward while wiping the teardrop away."It's late. You should go back to your room."After setting her laptop aside, Alanna got up and headed toward the bathroom. Her eyes were slightly red even after she washed her face.At least, the feeling of being on the brink of death that had plagued her in her dream had already vanished the moment she woke up.Alanna looked down at the crescent marks her nails had left on her palms. She took a deep breath a moment later before exiting the bathroom.Truth be told, this occurrence had grown to become a norm in her life ever since Alanna fell off the cliff.The helpless feeling of her near-death experience seemed to have transformed into a nightmare that she could never shake off no matter what.Alanna had been suffering from
Hades took a drag of his cigarette before tilting his chin upward and leaning against the wall."Travis, do you have any idea how much trouble you'll cause for her if you keep this up? Either you grow a pair and oppress your family before courting her, or stay away from her from now on."Travis was silent for a moment. "Hades, will your family accept her?"His words made Hades pause in his actions. Travis continued with a frosty chuckle, "Or have you never thought about introducing her to the rest of your family? "You're hell-bent on pursuing her right now. Is it all because you want to make her your secret lover again? Have you ever thought about marrying her and giving her a bright future?"Hades' fingers, which clasped the cigarette, curled slightly at the barrage of questions. "Aren't you being a little too nosy right now, Travis?"Travis just smiled. He didn't mind Hades' jabs at all."Hades, I can stay away from Ally for her own good. Are you able to do the same?"That
Hades grunted in pain before releasing Alanna.Alanna glared at him angrily. "Are you nuts, Hades Florentine? Why the hell are you towering over me by my bed? Get out of here right now! Also, give the keycard back to me!"Hades chuckled out loud. "It's mine now since you gave it to me."As he spoke, he withdrew another keycard from his pocket. "This is the keycard to my room. Let's exchange keycards for fairness' sake. If you can't sleep in this room, feel free to drop by mine."Alanna looked at the keycard in front of her. Fury shot up to her head in an instant. She snatched it and flung it at his face."Fuck off!"Hades didn't plan on overstaying his welcome. His original intention was to check on Alanna, after all.He felt immensely relieved upon finding out that Alanna was doing well.Then, Hades pulled Alanna into his arms. "Sweet dreams, Ally," he murmured under his breath.Before Alanna could struggle out of Hades' arms, she felt him releasing her swiftly. She gazed a