"Alex, don't be mad, okay? I'm fine," the girl lying on the sofa said in a soft, delicate voice, her appearance pitiable."You're saying you're fine, but you've starved yourself into a stomachache." Alexander gently stroked her hair, his heart aching at how fragile she seemed."Don't blame Phoebe. She didn't mean to starve me. She probably just forgot because she was busy with something else," Melissa said, though her eyebrows knitted together as she clutched her stomach."Is it hurting again?" Alexander reached out to touch her stomach, his voice laced with worry. When Melissa shook her head, he clenched his fists, his dark eyes clouding over."You're too kind. I won't let her off the hook." That wretched woman.He had left for an urgent trip abroad this morning and rushed back in the evening, only to find Melissa curled up in pain on the sofa. Panicked, he quickly called a doctor, who informed him that Melissa had developed gastritis from not eating all day.Phoebe had taken advanta
Phoebe's mind was hazy, but she still managed to grasp his words. What did he mean? What pain was he talking about? What happened to Melissa?"I don't understand what you're saying," Phoebe replied, her voice trembling uncontrollably.She had expected this to happen, but she never imagined he would be this angry. Her eyes welled up, not from physical pain but from heartache.All she had done was stay with a friend and forget to come back and cook for them. He was being so cruel. They could have easily gone out to eat, so why treat her like this?She clenched her teeth against the pain."I gave you instructions, and you dared not come back to cook! Were you trying to starve her? Do you know she had a sudden bout of stomach pain today? You did this on purpose, you bitch!"Phoebe was forced to lift her head. Starve her? Even if she hadn't returned, they wouldn't have gone without food. If he cared about her so much, how could she have gotten st
"Alex, are you in there?" Melissa cautiously knocked on the door from the hallway.She had waited for him in the bedroom, but after two hours passed, she decided to go look for him in the living room. Surely, he should be done punishing that woman by now.Yet, when she got to the living room, neither of them were anywhere to be seen. But she was certain Alex was still home—his car keys were still in the bedroom.Staring at the tightly shut guest room door, a glint of malice flashed in her eyes."Scream... damn it... scream for me..." he growled, thrusting hard.Outside, Melissa's voice echoed in his ears, but it didn't make him pause.He continued like a beast, venting his rage. The sound of his movements was loud.The reason he had chosen to punish her in the bathroom was because it was soundproof. So even with Melissa right outside, there was no fear of her hearing anything."Alex…"Melissa kept knocking f
DA Group President's Office."Sir, Mr. Curitis Bernard is here to see you again...""Let him go.""Understood, sir."Half an hour later, Alexander's internal phone rang again."Sir, he said... he said if you don't meet with him, he'll force his way in..." the receptionist hesitated, clearly uncomfortable."Let him in," Alexander said, hanging up with a narrowed gaze.Persistent, isn't he?Every day, right on time, Curitis came looking for him. At that dinner, he had only wanted to test the waters, but now it seemed he had underestimated Phoebe's charm.Curitis, this proud artist, had lowered himself multiple times just for her. He had once refused to sell his painting "Tears" for a hundred million euros, yet now, he was willing to trade it for a woman.The door swung open.Curitis walked in gracefully, though the anger in his eyes was unmistakable. Without wasting any time, he placed the beautifully framed painting on Alexander's desk and went straight to the point."Alexander, here's
Two days later.Morning sunlight streamed softly through the windows as Phoebe woke up, still feeling groggy and lightheaded.She blinked a few times, trying to adjust her eyes, then pulled the blanket off herself. That's when she noticed she was wearing pajamas—she had no idea when they'd been put on her.The last thing she remembered was soaking in the cold bathtub, completely naked, before she lost consciousness.Who changed her clothes?Was it Alexander?Thinking about him brought a bitter taste to her mouth. She glanced at the white bandage on her wrist and frowned.Was she sick? How long had she been lying in bed?A glance at the clock hanging on the wall made her heart race. It was already Thursday morning, and she had been in bed for two whole days. It was 8 a.m. now.Panic stirred in her chest. A wave of inexplicable fear swept over her.She had to make breakfast for them.Would he be angry that she had been unconscious for two days? She didn't want to dwell on that thought.
Phoebe fell ill again, and this time Alexander personally took her to the hospital.She had a severe cold and a fever. He wanted to prevent her from infecting Melissa, and thought it was better for her to have nurses constantly looking after her there.From morning until afternoon, Phoebe didn't wake up. The doctor said she should have woken up already, but she was consciously keeping her eyes closed, unwilling to awaken.She didn't want to face reality, and Alexander didn't force her to wake up either. Letting her sleep a little longer was for the best. Her body was too weak; she needed rest. Apart from Melissa, Phoebe was the first woman he'd shown such careful concern for.However, he would only allow her to sleep until the evening. She hadn't eaten in days, and if she didn't eat soon, she might starve before her illness could even improve.Alexander gazed at Phoebe lying in bed. He had skipped work the entire day, not understanding why he stayed by her side in the hospital. Maybe
At the hospital, Phoebe stared blankly at the ceiling, like a soulless doll.She had woken up after Alexander left, but since then, she hadn't moved, simply lying there in a daze.Her mind was a mess, yet countless thoughts kept racing through it.She suddenly felt that her life had turned bleak. When had it all started?Maybe after that banquet. Before, although Alexander had treated her harshly, he had never been this cruel. Her stomach was empty, but she didn't feel hungry—she didn't want to eat anything.When would this miserable existence end? All she wanted was to stay in the hospital forever.She tried to hate him, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't muster the feeling.At some point, the door to her hospital room had been pushed open, but Phoebe, lost in thought, hadn't noticed."Awake? Eat something first," a deep, magnetic voice broke her trance. Phoebe's vacant gaze slowly shifted to meet his intense black eyes, but those eyes revealed nothing of what he was thin
"I'm sorry," Phoebe apologized, realizing she hadn't meant to say that, but it was the truth."Why are you apologizing?""I…" Phoebe found herself at a loss for words."Phoebe, relax. I'm not a wolf who's going to eat you."She froze for a second, surprised by his comment. But, well, he was a wolf."Open your mouth and eat this bowl of food." His commanding tone was authoritative but oddly comforting to Phoebe.She felt conflicted. She hadn't eaten much for several days, and her stomach had shrunk. Just finishing one bowl had left her feeling stuffed, and this was already the third bowl he'd served her. She couldn't eat anymore, or her stomach might burst.As she saw him prepare to feed her again, Phoebe looked at him weakly and said, "I'm full. I really can't eat any more."She was afraid he'd be angry. After all, he meant well, and here she was, refusing him.Alexander paused, realizing that in his enthusiasm, he'd forgotten she was still a patient. How could she eat so much at once
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