Meanwhile, Alexander was interrupted from his work by his phone ringing.Checking the caller ID, he answered gently, "Melissa...""Alex, when are you coming to pick me up? You promised to take me to your villa today!" Melissa whined. Alexander had said he would take her to his villa, but it was already late, and he hadn't shown up."..." Alexander fell silent.He was reluctant to have Melissa stay at his place, especially since Phoebe was there. Concerns began to creep in."Don't you want me to go?" Melissa's voice trembled, as if she might cry, and Alexander felt a wave of guilt."Melissa, how could I not want you? I'm in a meeting right now, but I'll come to get you as soon as I'm done, okay?" he reassured her softly, maintaining his usual tenderness."You better not be lying to me...""When have I ever lied to you?" Alexander chuckled, chatting with Melissa for a little longer before hanging up.After ending the call, he pinched the bridge of his nose, then dialed another number."
"Alex... who is she?" Melissa's sharp eyes landed on Phoebe sitting at the dining table, her voice soft and curious.Then she turned to Alexander, smiling sweetly, "Is she your wife?""Melissa, don't pay attention to her; she's just someone insignificant.""Should I take you to the bedroom to rest?" Alexander withdrew his gaze and said gently.Phoebe was taken aback, her mind replaying his words—she let out a bitter smile. So she was considered insignificant?"Actually, I am a bit tired..." Melissa glanced at Phoebe before leaning against Alexander, lazily closing her eyes."I'll take you to rest right away..." Alexander affectionately brushed Melissa's nose and wrapped his arm around her slender waist as they headed upstairs.Watching their perfect silhouettes fade away, Phoebe felt tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.Just last night in the hospital, he had been so passionately asking for her, yet today, he spoke such cold and hurtful words.What did he really think of her?
The next morning, Phoebe woke up to find Alexander already gone. Last night, she had dreamt of him... She shook her head and let out a bitter smile.How could he possibly have held her while sleeping? He was probably with that beautiful girl. The thought made her heart ache even more. She sniffed and forced herself to stop overthinking.Today, she had to go to school. If she skipped again, she might get a warning from the administration. She had already missed many classes this semester, and it was a crucial one. She couldn't let her academics fall apart. In ten minutes, she got ready quickly, grabbed her things, and headed downstairs. It was 8 a.m., and she thought she had woken up early enough, but when she reached the dining area, she saw Alexander and that girl having a cozy breakfast together.Watching their intimate interaction made her heart feel heavy. Not wanting them to notice her, Phoebe quietly moved toward the door, her footsteps light and almost soundless. Just
Inside the cramped car, the atmosphere was so tense it felt suffocating. "SHUT UP! STOP CRYING!" Alexander yelled in frustration. Ever since he had dragged her into the car, Phoebe hadn't stopped crying. He had planned to scold her thoroughly, but the moment he saw her tears, his anger dissipated. Her endless sobbing was driving him crazy. He couldn't stand women's tears—except for Melissa and Hermosa. Any other woman's tears were unbearable to him. Phoebe covered her face, crying sorrowfully. She didn't want to cry in front of him, but the more he yelled at her, the more uncontrollable her tears became. "Damn it, how many times do I have to tell you to stop crying?" Alexander's brow furrowed deeply, veins bulging on his hands as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. Phoebe, exhausted from crying, bit her lip and wiped away her tears, her pale fingers trembling. She had been so overwhelmed just now, but after releasing her emotions, she felt a little better. She rarely cr
Alexander's black suit was perfectly tailored, fitting him impeccably."Get away from me, YOU BASTARD! You can't treat me like this!" Phoebe screamed, her face suddenly pale with disbelief. How could he be so cruel to her? Even as his mistress, she still had her dignity.She struggled against him, but his strength was overwhelming."You better learn to obey me, or you'll only be making things worse for yourself!" Alexander growled, ripping her clothes and yanking her hair with brutal force. He had indulged her defiance once or twice, but he wouldn't let her act out every time."You have no right to do this to me!" Phoebe shrieked, fighting to free herself."I have every right—because I bought you!" Without any foreplay, he thrust into her roughly, determined to show her that anyone, man or woman, who opposed him would meet a terrible fate."Ah! I'm not your whore! You can't treat me this way! I hate you—I hate you!"He wasn't human. He was a monster. A beast.Alexander's eyes narrowed.
After thinking for a moment, Phoebe glanced up at Alexander, but quickly lowered her head again.She tried to reassure herself—after all, they had already been intimate many times, and he had seen her body, even done more than just look.There was no reason to feel shy anymore.With this in mind, she stopped hesitating and picked up her underwear.Turning her back to him, she quickly put on her bra and panties.However, she struggled to fasten the clasp on her bra. After several attempts, she furrowed her brows in frustration. Normally, she didn't have such trouble—why were her fingers slipping today?Suddenly, she felt a wave of warmth near her back, causing her to tremble slightly. He had approached without her noticing.Her focus had been on the bra, and she hadn't heard his footsteps. But then again, she remembered clearly that he had carried her out of the bathroom barefoot.She had even glanced at his bare feet while in his arms. It made sense that she hadn't heard him approachi
They had barely taken a few steps when Alva suddenly remembered it was her birthday today. She turned to Phoebe and invited her."Phoebe, it's my birthday today. Remember to come to my party tonight...""Huh? Your birthday? Oh no, I... I completely forgot…""It's alright, but don't be late tonight, okay? And remember, you have to dress up!"After Alva left, Phoebe hurriedly packed her things and headed to the city center.It was all Alexander's fault. If it weren't for him, she would have already bought Alva's gift yesterday. Now it was nearly the afternoon, and she still had to rush to find something for her.She rarely went shopping and wasn't sure what to get Alva. She wandered around the mall for two hours but still hadn't found anything. She even went into a few boutique stores, but nothing seemed good enough. After thinking it over, she decided to buy Alva a long dress.Alva had a great figure and was naturally beautiful—she'd look amazing in a long dress.Phoebe checked out sev
But as a friend, Phoebe could not just stand by and watch Alva being taken away by a group of men. She was about to go up and stop them, but before she could, the other men took action."Who do you think you are, trying to take the girl we had our eyes on?" one of the men angrily stepped forward to block Noah's way, their fists clenched, ready for a fight.The group had planned to take her to bed and have their way with her, and they weren't about to let Noah simply walk off with her, especially after he kicked one of them.They wouldn't let this go."I'm her boyfriend. HOW DARE YOU even think about touching my girl?" Noah was initially too focused on being angry at Alva for not protecting herself to deal with these men, but since they were now asking for trouble, he had no intention of letting them off.Who would dare touch his woman? Even thinking about it was out of the question!"Noah, why are you wasting time with them? Let's show them what we can do!" Werner, standing behind Noa
Golden sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the church, casting a dreamlike glow over the entire hall. Phoebe stood beneath an archway adorned with white roses, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her father Ryan's arm."Nervous?" Ryan gently patted the back of her hand.Phoebe took a deep breath, her gaze following the long red carpet all the way to the tall figure waiting at the end. Alexander stood there in a perfectly tailored black suit, a white rose matching her bouquet pinned to his lapel. His deep, unwavering gaze was locked onto her, as if in his world, there was only her.The moment the orchestra began playing the Wedding March, Phoebe felt her eyes well up with tears. She clutched her father's arm and took her first step forward, the lace hem of her gown rippling like water, the hand-embroidered pearls on her train glinting softly in the sunlight."Oh my God, look at the flower kids! They're adorable!""They look just like the groom!"Guests' whisp
Phoebe finished getting ready and followed the two children out of the room. At the same moment, Alexander's door across the hall swung open.Their eyes met.In an instant, Phoebe felt her ears grow hot, the memory of last night's intimacy flooding back. Alexander's gaze lingered on her flushed cheeks, and a subtle tension crackled in the air."Daddy!""Daddy!"The crisp, cheerful voices of the children shattered the silence.Alexander's pupils contracted slightly as he mechanically turned his head toward them. Jeremy and Amy had already thrown themselves into his arms, their little faces rubbing against his suit jacket, leaving messy wrinkles."We're calling you, silly!" Amy said, tilting her face up to him, her eyes sparkling like stars.Alexander's hands hovered awkwardly in the air. The word Daddy struck him like a bolt of lightning, leaving his chest numb with emotion. Slowly, he crouched down, his arms closing around the children, his fingertips trembling.Leaning against the wa
Alexander let out a satisfied, mischievous chuckle. He almost wanted to turn on the light just to see how adorably shy she looked right now."Baby, you're already wet down here," he murmured after a while, gently reminding her.Phoebe felt it too—the shame hit her so hard she wanted to crawl under the covers and disappear. Panicking, she tried to pull his hand away. "Y-You... get out!""Don't be shy, sweetheart. It's a normal reaction," he coaxed softly."I don't care if it's normal! You're not allowed to touch anymore," she snapped, mortified."But you want it too, don't you?"Even if she did, she would never admit it. Biting her lip, she shook her head firmly. "No. I don't."But Alexander wasn't one to let her have the last word. He decided to give her exactly what she insisted she didn't want.The moment Phoebe realized what he was doing, she gasped sharply. Did he even know how reckless he was being?"Stop. Don't do that," she whispered, but her words quickly melted into a choked
At 2:17 a.m., Alexander jolted awake for the third time.The guest room was steeped in the scent of mothballs, and the creases Phoebe had left on the bedspread that afternoon were still visible. Agitated, he yanked at his collar. His phone lit up in the darkness, only to go dark again—the "power off" alert thudding against his chest like a silent punch.Moonlight poured over the balcony like an interrogation lamp. When he stepped barefoot onto the window ledge, the night wind from the thirty-fourth floor lifted the hem of his robe. Here he was—the man who once made Wall Street tremble—now sweating nervously just to sneak into his wife's bedroom."Locked?" The doorknob didn't budge. He nearly laughed. She thought a simple lock could stop someone who could hack into the Pentagon?The curtain in the children's room wasn't drawn properly. Moonlight spilled inside, casting a silver glow over Phoebe's exposed shoulder. Alexander's Adam's apple bobbed—she was wearing that damned silk nightgo
Phoebe stepped out of the kitchen and saw only the two kids playing on the couch. There was no sign of Alexander or Ryan.Puzzled, she walked over. Before she could even ask, the kids pointed toward the study."Mom, Grandpa called Uncle in for a talk," they said."A talk?" Phoebe glanced at the tightly closed door, her heart tightening a little.With Anila helping her in the kitchen, dinner was ready in just forty minutes.When Phoebe came out again, Ryan and Alexander were already sitting together on the couch, chatting away.Phoebe looked over in surprise—they actually seemed to be getting along. Whatever Alexander had said, it had Ryan laughing happily.For the first time, the whole family sat down together for a meal. The mood was light and joyful. With the two mischievous kids adding their antics, the table was filled with laughter.After dinner, Alexander volunteered to clean up. Phoebe didn't stop him but followed along to lend a hand.The faucet gushed noisily in the kitchen.
After landing, Phoebe and Alexander stopped by the office for a quick check-in before heading to her parents' house.As the car rolled into the familiar neighborhood, Phoebe tightened her grip on the hem of her dress for the third time. "Are you sure we shouldn't call first?"Alexander, lazily twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers, let out a low chuckle. "A surprise visit's the only way to see how they really treat you."In the backseat, the Kyoto lacquerware and Shizuoka tea sets clinked softly with each turn."My mom might actually hit you," Phoebe muttered, keeping her face stern even as her nails unconsciously scratched fine lines into the leather seat."Perfect," he leaned closer, his breath warm against the tense line of her neck, "I'll show you just how much I can take."Hidden away in the trunk was also a property transfer agreement—the land her father had always coveted, now signed over under her mother's name.Phoebe turned to stare out the window, but couldn't q
At one o'clock in the afternoon, when the cruise ship docked, Phoebe's legs were still trembling. Alexander's strong arm wrapped tightly around her waist, only making her struggle harder."Don't touch me!" Phoebe hissed through clenched teeth, her fingertips digging into the fabric of his suit sleeve.Alexander chuckled lowly and only tightened his grip. "What if you fall?" he murmured against her ear, his breath hot. "Who was it that cried last night, begging me not to stop?"Phoebe's ears instantly burned red. The curious gazes from nearby tourists made her skin crawl, and the man had the nerve to raise his voice deliberately:"Want me to carry you?""You—" She jerked her head up, only to meet his teasing grey-blue eyes. The flicker of mischief inside them made her instantly recall how those very eyes had darkened in the throes of passion the night before.In the end, she was swept into his arms. Alexander pressed her burning face against his chest."Be good. Take a nap," he said ge
In the early morning light, Alexander's bronzed chest shimmered under the golden glow. His fingers combed through Phoebe's slightly tousled hair, his Adam's apple brushing her forehead as he rumbled, "Awake?"A soft, sleepy hum was all she managed before a hot kiss pressed onto her forehead. He tightened his arms around her, the rough stubble on his jaw grazing the flushed tip of her ear."Stay a few more days?" he murmured, his voice husky and teasing, like a sea breeze whispering against her skin.Phoebe gently pushed against his chest with her fingertips. "I have a contract to sign this afternoon.""Forget it," he muttered, his breath scorching against her trembling lashes. "That little bit of money...""I miss the kids," she chuckled softly, burying her face against his collarbone. Her fingers traced the lines of his ribs. "I haven't seen my little troublemakers in a whole week."A low laugh rumbled from Alexander's chest. In one swift motion, he rolled her beneath him, trapping h
The sea breeze brushed gently past them as Alexander's long fingers traced Phoebe's slightly swollen lips, his gaze full of boundless tenderness."Having you by my side... it's the best thing in the world," he whispered, resting his chin lightly against the top of her head. "Don't be mad anymore, hmm?"Phoebe leaned into his chest and murmured softly, "Okay." Truthfully, her heart had already begun to soften the moment they were reunited."It's not easy making you happy," he chuckled lowly, twirling a strand of her hair around his finger. "I'll have to be extra careful from now on—treat you like royalty and never dare upset my little goddess again." Only heaven knew how tortured he'd been these past few days."You'd better remember what you just said." She was about to issue a stern warning when he pressed a finger gently to her lips."I swear," he said, lifting two fingers solemnly, his eyes burning with sincerity. "There won't be a next time."Phoebe smiled despite herself, and the