On the other side, the courtyard was tranquil and peaceful in the afternoon. Soft sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Hermosa sat contentedly on a lounge chair, her eyes gently closed, savoring the quiet moment as a light breeze brushed against her hair.
Suddenly, a strange beam of light appeared out of nowhere, enveloping her head as if controlled by an invisible hand. Hermosa snapped her eyes open, her pupils dilating in shock and fear.
The sudden change made her heart race, nearly jumping out of her chest. Her face turned pale, and her breathing quickened.
After a long moment, Hermosa finally composed herself. She pressed her hand tightly against her chest, trying to steady her chaotic heartbeat.
Her voice trembled with fear as she raised it and sharply called out to the maid nearby, "What are you doing here?"
This maid had an unsettling habit of appearing out of nowhere, scaring her ea
Hermosa gently pushed open the bedroom door and immediately saw Lisa standing there, acting suspiciously as she fiddled with something.A sudden jolt of unease shot through Hermosa's chest, and her brow furrowed instinctively. She had never liked this new maid, not from the moment Lisa first set foot in the house. An inexplicable sense of discomfort had lingered ever since.Raising her voice, with an authoritative tone, she demanded, "What are you doing standing there?"Her voice echoed in the otherwise quiet room, breaking the silence.Lisa froze at the sound, her body jerking as if startled, before quickly spinning around. She instinctively hid her hands behind her back, gripping something tightly as though she feared someone might steal it."I-I'm just cleaning the room,"Lisa stammered, her gaze darting nervously. The panic in her eyes was as obvious as a beacon, clearly visible to Hermosa.Hermosa's suspicions only grew. "Cleaning? D
Phoebe's gaze fell on the damaged part of the wedding dress, her brows furrowing slightly. Without hesitation, she skillfully opened the sewing kit, delicately picking up the needle and thread with practiced ease. The issue wasn’t difficult to fix—her proficiency in needlework made it a simple task.With unwavering focus, she threaded the needle and carefully embroidered a petal over the torn area. Each stitch, precise and meticulous, concealed the flaw seamlessly.Before long, the damage had vanished as if it had never existed. "It's done. You can try it on now and see if there are any other issues," Phoebe said with a faint smile, carefully handing the dress to Hermosa before swiftly tidying up the sewing kit with fluid movements.She silently hoped this would be the last problem to fix—so she would never have to see her again."It's beautiful. Thank you," Hermosa said sincerely, taking the dress with a radiant smile before quickly heading into the fitting room.Moments later, she e
The night was deep and silent, with nothing but darkness blanketing the world. In the villa’s bedroom, Hermosa, lost in slumber, suddenly furrowed her brows.A sharp, unbearable pain surged through her body like a raging tide, instantly dragging her out of her dreams.At first, she thought she could endure it, that it would pass with time. However, the pain only intensified, growing more unbearable with each passing second.Her head spun in dizziness, nausea churned violently in her stomach, and an overwhelming weakness spread through her limbs, as though all strength had been drained from her body.Unable to bear it any longer, she weakly called out to Alexander beside her, her voice trembling with pain and helplessness. “Alex, I don’t feel well…”Alexander had been fast asleep, but the moment he heard Hermosa’s feeble call, his drowsiness vanished.He jolted upright, his gaze immediately locking onto the deep crease between her brows, his eyes brimming with concern. “Where does it h
The next afternoon, the sky was weighed down by thick, oppressive clouds, casting a suffocating gloom over the city. The sunlight, weak and powerless, barely pierced through the heavy atmosphere. Alexander's fury burned like a volcano on the verge of eruption—uncontainable, scorching, and all-consuming. Without a second thought, he stormed toward the entrance of Phoebe's company. His presence stood out sharply, his entire being radiating a seething rage that seemed to set the very air ablaze. The moment he caught sight of Phoebe, he charged forward like a beast gone mad. Without a word, he grabbed her forcefully and dragged her into his car, speeding off toward the outskirts of the city. Phoebe struggled against his grip, demanding answers, but Alexander remained silent, his jaw clenched with barely restrained wrath. Upon reaching a desolate area in the suburbs, he yanked her out of the car with equal force. Completely caught off guard, Phoebe gasped sharply. She lifted her
Alexander watched as Phoebe stood frozen, her face void of any reaction. A smirk of ridicule and triumph played on his lips, as if he had known the truth all along and was merely watching her make a fool of herself. "What's wrong? Did I hit the mark?" His voice was cold, sharp like a blade slicing through the oppressive silence around them. No. This wasn't right. Phoebe's mind raced as she struggled to piece everything together. It was Hermosa who had messaged her that day, pleading desperately for help, claiming her wedding dress had been ruined and needed urgent repairs. Yet now, Hermosa was twisting the truth, framing her deliberately. But why? Hadn't she sworn she would never interfere in Hermosa and Alexander's life? Why was Hermosa doing this to her now? Phoebe took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn't panic. She had done nothing wrong—why should she fall apart over false accusations? "Right! I have the message!" Phoebe's eyes lit up as if gras
Inside the hospital ward.Hermosa's face carried a hint of urgency as she gazed at Alexander, her voice soft but firm. "Alex, I'm really fine now. I want to be discharged." Her eyes were filled with anticipation, eager to leave this sterile, disinfectant-laden place.Alexander frowned slightly, his eyes brimming with concern and determination. Without hesitation, he replied, "No. You need to stay under observation a little longer—that way, I can rest easy." His tone left no room for negotiation; it was clear that this decision was final.Hermosa pouted slightly, her voice carrying a trace of playful protest. "But I really am fine." She tried to persuade him once more, a flicker of stubbornness flashing in her eyes.Taking a step forward, Alexander grasped her hand tightly, as if afraid she might vanish at any moment. "I said no, and that's final. This isn't up for discussion." His voice was gentle yet resolute, and the warmth of his grip conveyed his deep concern.Looking at the unwav
The next evening, after much hesitation, Phoebe finally turned on her phone. Instantly, dozens of messages from Hermosa flooded in, the notifications overwhelming her in an instant.A flicker of irritation crossed her face. Without even bothering to read them, her fingers instinctively swiped past the messages, as if ignoring them could erase the painful past they carried.By the third day, the screen remained filled with Hermosa's apologies—each word a reminder of the wounds Phoebe had suffered.She stared at the messages, biting her lip, her emotions a tangled mess. Yet, she still chose to ignore them.Days passed—fourth, fifth… until the sixth day. Hermosa remained relentless, sending apology messages daily without fail.Phoebe had intended to stay firm, but she was never one to harden her heart completely. Hermosa's persistence, like water wearing down stone, gradually eroded the defenses she had so carefully built.Finally, she couldn't resist any longer. With trembling fingers,
Even though the room was shrouded in darkness, Hermosa could clearly feel the rough, powerful grip tightening around her arm. Fear surged over her like a relentless tide, swallowing her whole.She instinctively wanted to scream, but a large hand clamped down over her mouth, stifling even the faintest sound.More hands suddenly grabbed her, wrapping around her body with brute force. Her heart pounded violently, as if it were about to burst from her chest.She frantically darted her eyes around in the pitch-black room, but she couldn't make out the figures surrounding her. One thing, however, was certain—she wasn't alone with just one man."You'll have a good time tonight,"a sinister voice sneered in the darkness, sending an icy chill coursing through her veins.Then—rip!The sound of fabric being torn apart pierced the silence like a blade, slashing through her last shred of hope."No! No, please—!"Hermosa
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