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
Meanwhile, Noah took Alva to his private villa.He unceremoniously tossed her onto the soft bed, feeling a surge of anger as he recalled her flirty interactions with other men that night.Despite his playful nature, he genuinely cared for Alva. She was the first girl he truly loved, yet she had been with him for so long and still refused to let him touch her. This frustrated him immensely.In his view, love between a man and a woman must include physical intimacy; without that, what was it really?Her unwillingness to share herself only proved that she didn't truly care about him.That was why he played around with other women, stirring up rumors—he wanted to make her jealous, to make her feel uncomfortable.Yet, she remained unfazed, ready to break up with him at any moment, and now she was flirting with other men.If he hadn't shown up tonight, who knew what those men would have done to her?This thought darkened Noah's expression, and he felt a strong urge to wake her up and scold
"I..." He leaned down and forcefully kissed her soft lips, sending a shiver through his entire body.Just last night, he had taken her, and now he couldn't resist the urge to possess her again. Every part of him tightened, and she didn't know where to place her hands, so she ended up clutching at his shirt.Her heart raced wildly; his kiss was intoxicating.Caught up in the moment, Phoebe instinctively kissed him back, her fingers trailing from his chest to his neck.Their lips brushed together, though her movements were clumsy as she tried to mirror him, tentatively exploring his mouth.Yet, she felt something was off, and that realization made her feel embarrassed and shy, leading her to hesitate in initiating further kisses."Don't stop. Keep going; you're doing great..." He eased up on the kiss slightly, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. Her awkwardness only made him want her more.Blushing, Phoebe obeyed his words, not stopping. In the dark, gazing into his passionate eyes made her
When Phoebe woke up in the morning, she felt dizzy and weak all over. Still, she forced herself to get out of bed. Glancing at the time, she realized it was already nine o'clock. It was all her fault for standing by the window too long last night, letting the cold wind hit her—no wonder she had slept so heavily.After quickly getting herself ready, she hurried downstairs. There was an important lecture today, and she needed to get going before she missed it."Alex, I don't like this flavor. Where's that maid? I miss the food she used to make. It's been so long since I had it... Can you ask her to cook for me again?" Melissa pouted, gazing at Alexander across the table with a hint of coquettishness."Sure, no problem." Alexander smiled indulgently, lightly tapping Melissa's nose.He always granted Melissa's every request, and this was no exception—it was a small matter, after all.But... he wondered if Phoebe was awake yet. He checked the time, frowning. Why wasn't she up?Last night,
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