Outside the room, Melissa asked with a sweet smile, "Alex, is Phoebe awake?""She is.""I want to ask her to go shopping with me!"Alexander remained silent. Phoebe was now filled with hostility toward Melissa; there was no way she would agree to go shopping with her. "Melissa, why don't you ask Rod to accompany you?""Oh, okay. I was hoping to spend some time with Phoebe," Melissa said, a hint of disappointment flashing across her face. Then, with a worried expression, she asked, "Is she feeling unwell?""Yeah," he replied, using it as an excuse."Then she needs to rest well. Alex, make sure you take good care of her and help her recover," Melissa said with a look of sincere concern on her harmless-looking face. She appeared so considerate."I noticed she's been staying in her room all the time and seems unhappy. Is it because of me?" Her eyes shimmered with unease."Don't overthink it. It's not because of you.""But..." Melissa started but hesitated as if she didn't know what to say
In the towering skyscraper, an imposing international conference hall was hosting a global video conference.Alexander, dressed in a sleek black suit, exuded understated luxury and elegance, every inch a symbol of wealth and power."Sir, the project here is progressing smoothly, but there's been a bit of a complication.""Complication?" His cold voice cut through the room, interrupting the speaker. With a sharp motion, he tossed the documents in his hand onto the conference table, his hawk-like eyes narrowing on the subordinate delivering the report."Well, it's like this…" The subordinate cleared his throat nervously.Suddenly, a phone rang, its discordant sound breaking the tense atmosphere in the conference room.The subordinate hesitated, unsure whether to continue. To everyone's surprise, Alexander stood up and walked out of the room. His tall, commanding figure leaving the room left his subordinates exchanging bewildered glances.He took a call during a meeting?The company had
Standing at the door to the room, Alexander suddenly felt a heavy weight pressing on his chest, as if something inside was stirring uneasily. His thoughts were chaotic.Who should he believe?He hadn't noticed anything amiss in Melissa's demeanor, but Phoebe's recent behavior had been particularly strange. Melissa hadn't really said much—it was all his conjecture.Reflecting on Phoebe's odd actions and heightened emotions, he wondered: Was she simply desperate to return home? Or was it the trauma of her brother's sudden death weighing on her?Or maybe, just maybe, there was indeed something off about Melissa.He couldn't be certain yet. He needed to observe for a few days.The investigation into the incident where Phoebe was harmed was still unresolved.Who was obstructing it?All the leads had been cut off—and cleanly at that. Things were growing increasingly complex.Was he up against a formidable adversary?What was their objective? Were they targeting him? Or was Phoebe the real t
The next day, Alexander left early, leaving Phoebe to sleep in. When she finally woke up, she found herself bored out of her mind.After being cooped up in the room for several days, she decided to go out for a walk. She didn't plan to go far—just a casual stroll nearby.However, the moment she stepped out of the hotel, she bumped into Melissa.Phoebe immediately lowered her head, trying to avoid her, but Melissa's sharp eyes caught her."Phoebe, you're looking good today," Melissa remarked with a sly smile.Phoebe glanced at her but didn't respond. To her, Melissa still had that same fake demeanor. Nothing had changed.Alexander had assured her that Melissa wouldn't harm her, and she trusted him. Yet, being near Melissa made her instinctively uncomfortable."Don't be in such a rush to leave," Melissa continued, her tone overly cheerful. "I was just about to go for a walk too. You know, pregnant women should take more strolls—it's good for the baby's health!""I'd rather walk alone,"
"Wahhh… You murderer! You killed my child! You killed my child!" Melissa cried and wailed on the ground, her voice piercing through the air."I… I didn't mean to," she stammered, trying to explain."You did it on purpose! You didn't want me to have this child!" Melissa accused, her voice filled with venom."I'm not as malicious as you think!" she retorted.A crowd quickly gathered around them, murmuring amongst themselves.She couldn't understand some of the languages they spoke, but the condemning gazes of those around her were crystal clear. She adjusted her thoughts, piecing together the situation while staring at the writhing Melissa on the ground. It suddenly dawned on her—Melissa had done this on purpose!Melissa was framing her!All she had done was grab Melissa's clothes without using much force, yet Melissa had deliberately thrown herself to the ground, causing herself to miscarry.Oh heavens, how terrifying.She was horrifyingly calculating. Melissa had always been cunning,
7 PM, Airport.The waiting lounge was eerily quiet. Phoebe sat on the spacious sofa, waiting for her flight."Miss, it's time to board," her subordinate gently reminded her, snapping her out of her daze."Alright," she replied with a faint, stiff smile.Instinctively, she turned to glance at the empty waiting lounge. A bitter smile crept onto her face. Why would he come? At this moment, he was probably by Melissa's side.On the plane, Phoebe closed her eyes, trying to rest. She hadn't slept well the night before, dozing uncomfortably at her desk. She felt exhausted now.When she woke up, she'd be home, she thought. All the unhappiness would fade away.Golden sunlight pierced through the clouds and spilled into the cabin, softly warming her. Yet, it didn't reach her heart.Phoebe had planned to take a cab home by herself. But as she stepped out of the airport, a car arranged by Alexander was already waiting for her.Once inside, she rolled down the window, letting the cool air in as sh
Alexander returned to the hospital room, only to find the bed empty—Phoebe was gone.Panic seized him, and his eyes burned red as he stormed out of the room, yelling at a group of nurses."Where did she go?" he roared."W-what?" The nurses froze, startled by his thunderous voice, their words tumbling out in fragments."I said, where is the woman from this room?" he repeated, his face dark with anger."S-sir, we didn't notice..." one nurse stammered, trembling at his fury."Damn it! Are you all useless? How could you not notice her leaving?"***The air was heavy with tension, mingled with the pungent smell of disinfectant that permeated the hospital corridors.Phoebe wandered aimlessly through the hallways, her mind a fog of confusion. She didn't know where she was going, nor did she care.A sudden, bitter laugh escaped her lips. She was pathetic.The taste of her tears lingered on her lips—salty, bitter, and sour. She had no idea how far she'd walked, only that she kept circling the
"Oh, you're not completely clueless, are you? I didn't even say it, and you already guessed?" Melissa smirked, her expression brimming with pride. "But let's be honest, if I didn't tell you, you'd probably live your whole life as a fool! Hahaha."Her twisted and triumphant laughter pierced Phoebe's nerves like needles."Why would you do this?" Phoebe's voice trembled, her body swaying unsteadily. Her lips had turned pale, drained of all color.She could barely believe the words coming from Melissa's mouth.Her brother's death… was Melissa's doing?What a horrifying truth.Did Melissa not have family? Did she not understand the pain of losing a loved one?How could someone be so cruel?"The only mistake was that he was your brother! If you want to blame someone, blame yourself! Alex's obsession with you forced my hand. Do you know how much it costs every time I frame you? Luckily, it's all Alex's money, so I don't feel the pinch!" Melissa spoke casually, as if narrating a trivial story
After bidding Alva goodbye, Phoebe nearly sprinted out of the school. Instead of taking the bus, she hailed a taxi. Taking a bus would be too slow, and a taxi would get her there much faster. Normally, she would never spend the extra money, but today, all she wanted was to see him as quickly as possible.However, once inside the taxi, her courage began to waver. A sense of fear crept over her, though she couldn't quite pinpoint what she was afraid of. She kept telling herself she couldn't back down, refusing to allow herself to retreat.When the taxi pulled up in front of the apartment complex, she realized she didn't have an access card. The security guard stopped her at the gate, and no matter how much she pleaded, he refused to let her in. Fortunately, a shift change brought a new set of guards, and one of them recognized her from a previous visit, allowing her to enter.As the villa came into view, Phoebe's steps grew heavier, as if her legs had turned to lead. It was incredibly d
"Miss, you come here every day to buy a newspaper, but you barely look through it. Are you searching for some important news?" the newspaper vendor asked with a friendly smile. Every day, this young lady would buy a paper, flip through a few pages, and leave with a disappointed expression. This had become her routine."I..." Lost in thought, she hesitated. What could she say? She was searching for news about Alexander. Any mention of him, no matter how small, would suffice."Do you have any fashion magazines?""Of course! What kind are you looking for?" The vendor gestured toward the stack of magazines on the table."I'd like an entertainment magazine," she said, clinging to a sliver of hope. She had often seen him mentioned in such magazines before. Perhaps he would appear in one of them again. She just hadn't looked hard enough."Here, try this one. It's full of gossip—rich people, celebrities, their private lives, and whatnot.""I'll take it," she said, handing over the money.On h
One Month Later."Phoebe, stop pushing yourself so hard. Come eat something first; you can continue drawing afterward."Alva snatched the pencil from Phoebe's hand and pulled her up, ready to take her out of the studio. "Who studies like you? It's like your life depends on it. You even forget to eat!""Alva, I'm not hungry. Let me finish this drawing first."Phoebe smiled and reached for her pencil, but Alva quickly hid it behind her back, refusing to give it back. She insisted Phoebe eat with her instead. For a month now, her friend had been working too hard. Study required balance, not self-torture. Sitting in one spot all day without moving wasn't learning—it was punishing oneself. If Phoebe didn't get up soon, she'd rust."No way. Finish your meal first, and then you can draw again,"Alva said firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation."But Alva, I'm almost done!"Phoebe glanced longingly at her unfinished drawing.
The door suddenly swung open from the outside. Phoebe lifted her gaze, her eyes brimming with fleeting hope before it quickly dimmed. How much she wished it was Alexander walking in. How much she longed for him to stand before her, whole and unscathed. But the person who entered was a middle-aged man, unfamiliar to her, though it was clear from his demeanor that he was one of Alexander's subordinates.Her disappointment was momentary, replaced almost instantly by desperate anticipation. Barefoot, she dashed toward him with urgency.“Him... How is he? Please, tell me. I'm begging you. I just need to know if he's okay.”“Miss, you're free to leave now. Gather your belongings, and I'll have a car take you home,” the man said, ignoring her questions and instead delivering his instructions calmly.Leave?“What do you mean?” Phoebe asked, her eyes widening in shock.“You are free now,” he replied.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Phoebe's tears began to fall uncontrollably.It wasn't true—not what she had said. She didn't want him to die. Even if she couldn't forgive him, she would never wish for his death.“Fine. As you wish,” Alexander said coldly, letting go of her.He stood up and walked toward the door. But after just a few steps, his tall, solid frame collapsed to the floor.Curled up on the ground, Phoebe instinctively raised her head at the sound. A flash of white light surged through her mind, and in the next second, she was scrambling toward him in a panic, sobbing.Kneeling by his side, she shook his body desperately. Her tear-streaked face was unrecognizable.“Alexander, wake up! Please, wake up! Don't scare me, okay?” she cried.No matter how much she called his name or shook him, he didn't respond. The blood from his head only flowed more freely. Her trembling fingers pressed agai
Alexander kissed her deeply, completely lost in the moment, while Phoebe stared blankly at the ceiling. What else could he possibly do to her besides this?She wanted to push him away, but her overly full stomach left her feeling sluggish. All she wanted was to lie down comfortably for a while.When Alexander finally seemed satisfied, he pecked her lips a couple more times before letting her go.The moment he released her, Phoebe wiped her mouth in disgust.Her reaction displeased Alexander. Did she find his kiss so revolting? Fine. The more she resisted, the more he wanted to kiss her—until every inch of her body bore his scent."Don't touch me," Phoebe warned, glaring at him."I'll do whatever I want," he shot back.With that, Alexander grabbed her head forcefully, pressing his lips back to hers. His tongue invaded her mouth, relentless and domineering, capturing her own with a fierce hold.It hurt.The despicabl
It felt strange that he would do something like this, but she had to admit that stepping out to get some air, even if it was just moving from the bedroom to the living room, was refreshing."Bring a bowl of oatmeal." Alexander commanded."Yes, sir." The servant immediately obeyed, heading to the kitchen to fetch the oatmeal that had been simmering over low heat."Leave it here and go.""Yes, sir."After the servants left, the living room fell silent, leaving only the two of them. Alexander sat down with Phoebe still in his arms, cradling her like a child. His tall frame completely enveloped her petite form."Put me down," Phoebe demanded firmly. She felt uncomfortable in his embrace. In the past, such closeness would have left her flustered, her heart racing uncontrollably. But now, there was none of that. She didn't want to be near him at all. In fact, she wished she'd never have to see him again.Ignoring her words, Alexander picked
Under the harsh glow of the fluorescent lights, Phoebe's face appeared deathly pale, drained of all color.She lay quietly on the bed, her eyes closed, devoid of any vitality.After conducting a series of examinations, the doctor inserted a needle into the back of her hand and hung an IV bottle."Sir, she's simply too weak. She hasn't eaten for a long time, which caused her to faint suddenly. After administering a nutrient solution, she'll be fine. When she wakes up, don't rush to feed her solid food. Start with some liquids, and after two hours, she can eat something light."The doctor gave instructions and prescribed some medication, adding, "She needs to take these three times a day, before meals.""Understood,"Alexander replied, his expression grave. "Will these medications have any side effects?""Don't worry, there are no side effects. They're just to help stimulate her stomach's movement,"the doctor explained with a smile, s
For two consecutive days, Phoebe continued her silent standoff with Alexander. She refused to eat anything, even though her body was weak, her head spinning with hunger. No matter how faint or dizzy she became, she wouldn't give in to him. Even if it meant starving to death, she would not yield.Once, she endured his treatment because she loved him. But after everything that had happened, she could no longer forgive him. The servants were at their wit's end, desperately trying to persuade her, but she refused to listen. With no other option, they went to Alexander for help.In the study, one of the servants hesitantly reported, "Sir, she still isn't eating.""Mm, I see. You can go.""Yes, sir.""Wait," Alexander called out, pausing for a moment before adding, "Prepare a fresh meal and bring it up."He believed she was just being stubborn and would eventually give in to hunger. But he hadn't anticipated her sheer determination to defy him, no