Eighteen years of relying on each other, inseparable, my brother died. He died on a rich socialite’s private yacht, simply because he accidentally stained her dress. She, always pampered and arrogant, ordered her men to break his bones and throw him into the ocean to feed the fish. When his body was recovered, it was already shattered beyond recognition. I didn’t shed a tear, didn’t make a scene. I only did two things. First, I found out that the rich socialite’s most beloved person was Marcus Thorne, the CEO of Thorne Enterprises. Second, I became Marcus Thorne’s personal assistant. Phoebe Sterling, since you made me lose the person I loved most, it’s time for you to taste that pain too. ### It was midnight, in the lavish Grand Imperial Hotel. I led Marcus Thorne to the presidential suite at the very end of the hall. The man beside me had quite a bit to drink today. A faint blush touched his usually stoic face, his eyes were tightly shut, and his breath reeked of strong liquor. I expertly swiped the room card, unlocked the door, and then slipped his phone from his pocket, dialing the number pinned at the top. Once the call connected, I deliberately loosened my grip, letting him accidentally pull me close as we tumbled heavily onto the bed behind us. The sound, heard from the other end of the phone, took on a completely different, suggestive meaning. Sure enough, the person on the other end instantly flared up. “Marcus? Where are you?” “Hello?” “Is there a woman there?! Marcus?” Before the person on the other end could completely lose her mind, I discreetly hung up. Everyone in their circle knew how much Phoebe Sterling loved Marcus Thorne. They had grown up together. Although Marcus Thorne was known for being aloof and self-controlled, deeply affectionate and loyal, with only her in his heart, never getting close to other women, she still lacked a sense of security. From childhood, she never allowed any other woman within arm’s reach of him. Too much love often leads to too much possessiveness. If she were to lose him completely one day, she’d surely go insane. And that, exactly, was what I wanted. Now, by deliberately creating this misunderstanding, I figured it wouldn’t be half an hour before she’d come banging on the door, making a huge scene. A cold smirk played on my lips. I set the phone aside and walked into the bathroom to wet a towel. Before stepping back into the living room, I delicately unbuttoned the top button of my shirt. The handsome man on the bed was still fast asleep. I leaned in close, gently wiping his face. He truly was the kind of man every woman in this city dreamed of but couldn’t touch. His exquisite features, his undeniably handsome face—any woman who saw him couldn’t help but feel a flutter. But what I wanted was far more than something so simple. I pressed harder, and he frowned, then opened his eyes. Seeing my face, his eyes instantly sharpened, and he grabbed my hand, questioning. “What are you doing?” Like a deer caught in headlights, I flinched back. “Mr. Thorne, you drank too much. I haven’t been with the company long, and I didn’t know your address, so I just booked a room for you upstairs from the banquet hall to rest.” “I was worried you wouldn’t be comfortable, so I used a wet towel to wipe your face.” After hearing my explanation, Marcus Thorne’s expression softened slightly. He loosened his tie, taking a deep breath. His gaze casually dropped to me. Feeling his eyes on me, I quickly clutched my neckline with a hurried hand. A rapid knocking on the door sounded, right on cue. “You little fox, get out here now!” “How dare you try to seduce my man? Are you asking for trouble?!” “Open the door!” I jumped off the bed, heart pounding, and whispered urgently, pleading with him. “Mr. Thorne, Ms. Sterling can’t know I’m in here. A man and a woman in the same room, no matter what we say, she won’t believe it.” “If she sees me, I’ll lose my job!” “Please, I’m begging you, okay?” My face was pale, my large, bright eyes wide and innocent, making me appear even more delicate and vulnerable. Marcus Thorne frowned, a silent acknowledgment of my plea. A wave of relief washed over me. I quickly scurried into the bathroom and hid. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, the vulnerable expression wiped clean from my face. Phoebe Sterling. The show is about to begin. Get ready for what’s coming… ###
The door opened, and Phoebe Sterling stormed in, her face etched with fury. She glanced around, but only saw Marcus Thorne. Some of the anger in her chest dissipated. She then noticed Marcus Thorne’s slightly haggard face and rushed to steady him with concern. “Marcus, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Marcus Thorne rubbed his temples with his strong, elegant fingers, his voice low. “I had a few too many drinks at the banquet tonight, so I just booked a room upstairs to rest.” “What is it, has someone been gossiping and upset you?” Phoebe Sterling’s face was tinged with guilt. She forced a smile, her eyes darting around the room. “No one, I just came to check on you.” “You’re just so desirable; there are so many women in this city who want you. If I’m not vigilant, and someone snatches you away, where would I go to cry?” Marcus Thorne chuckled softly, pulling her into his embrace. “Phoebe, don’t you know who’s in my heart?” “All these years, have I ever looked at another woman?” He’s always so distant; I’d never seen him look so tender since I started working for him. He really must love Phoebe Sterling. His words finally made Phoebe Sterling completely drop her guard. His gentle words melted away any lingering doubt. She helped him sit on the nearby sofa and instructed him, “You should get some rest since you’ve had too much to drink. I won’t disturb you.” With that, she turned to leave, but the next second, a “thump” suddenly came from the bathroom. Phoebe Sterling’s brows instantly furrowed, her sharp gaze sweeping fiercely towards the bathroom. “Who’s in there?” No one answered. She immediately started to walk towards it. In that critical moment, Marcus Thorne rose and went to her side, gently pulling her into his arms. “I was about to take a shower, so I turned on the faucet. It must have just fallen off.” “I told you I was alone. Don’t you trust me?” Phoebe Sterling quickly pushed him playfully. “Of course I trust you, Marcus. I’ll leave right away, don’t be angry.” In front of Marcus Thorne, the proud socialite, so used to getting her way, was actually lowering herself like this. A cold smirk played on my lips. The more she cared about Marcus Thorne, the more I would make her suffer. As the door clicked shut, Marcus Thorne’s cool voice sounded again. “You can come out now.” I emerged barefoot, carefully. Earlier, I had deliberately turned on the shower, soaking myself halfway. Now, my long, wavy hair fell loosely around my shoulders, making me look like a pure, innocent fawn that had just stumbled out of the woods. Marcus Thorne scrutinized me, his gaze cold and dismissive. Seeing this, I quickly lowered my head, looking cautious and nervous. “Mr. Thorne, I accidentally touched the shower just now. I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional.” He spoke coldly, “Are you very afraid of her?” I bit my soft, red lips tightly, hesitating. “Yes, I am…” “I’m even more afraid of losing my job. This job is incredibly important to me.” After speaking, as if afraid he would press further, I rushed to say goodbye before he could open his mouth. “Thank you for today, Mr. Thorne. I won’t disturb your rest. I’ll be leaving now!” With those words, I grabbed my coat and hurried out the door. Downstairs, just as I was about to pull out my phone to call a ride, Marcus Thorne’s black Maybach slowly pulled up in front of me. The driver got out, opened the door, and greeted me. “Ms. Wen, Mr. Thorne asked me to drive you home.” I paused for a moment, then opened the car door and got in. With tonight’s little stunt, I was certain I had caught Marcus Thorne’s attention. But he was clever, and I still couldn’t underestimate him. ###
In the days that followed, I went about my regular duties as if nothing had happened, maintaining a calm demeanor. Even when I saw Marcus Thorne, I remained respectful but distant as always. Phoebe Sterling, however, developed an intense hostility towards me after seeing me emerge from Marcus Thorne’s office a few times. She had never known there was such a beautiful woman working so closely with Marcus Thorne. I had never doubted my own beauty; from childhood, my looks had earned me a lot of preferential treatment. And this beauty was a huge threat to Phoebe Sterling. Because of this, whenever she came to the company, she would constantly make my life hell. She’d order me to get her coffee, intentionally spill water on me, mess up my documents, and make me work late into the night. These childish games, I never took to heart, nor did I ever mention her mistreatment to Marcus Thorne. But, each time I was harassed, I would “accidentally” make sure he saw it. This evening, after Marcus Thorne finished a meeting and left the office, he paused unconsciously as he passed my cubicle, watching the woman engrossed in her work under the lamp. His eyes flickered, but he said nothing, simply walking away. I allowed a faint smile to touch my lips. Phoebe Sterling’s behavior these past few days had already planted a seed of doubt in his mind; now, I just needed to fan the flames. The next day, as soon as I sat down at my desk, a stinging slap landed hard across my face. I was knocked directly to the floor, my cheek burning with pain. Phoebe Sterling’s furious, cutting insults rained down on me from above. “I knew you were a troublemaker. It’s just as I expected.” “You’re truly shameless, doing anything to hook Marcus Thorne. Today, I’ll show you what it costs to cross me!” I clutched my cheek, looking up at her with a pitiful expression. “Ms. Sterling, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” The more vulnerable and helpless I appeared, the more Phoebe Sterling’s rage intensified, making her unable to control herself. “Still playing innocent with me? You deliberately left that lipstick stain on Marcus’s shirt, didn’t you? Do you think I don’t know?” I shook my head frantically. “It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it, Ms. Sterling, you’ve misunderstood!” “Misunderstood?” Phoebe Sterling sneered, delivering another harsh slap. “You’re the only one in the whole company who wears that shade! Still trying to deny it?” “You dress so provocatively every day, just to seduce Marcus, aren’t you? Why are you playing the innocent act with me now, huh?” The commotion quickly attracted others in the company. People surrounded me, whispering to each other. “I knew she wasn’t any good, thinking her looks could hook Mr. Thorne. It’s disgusting.” “Exactly, exactly! She probably just used her looks to get hired in the first place.” I feebly explained, “I really didn’t. I have no designs on Mr. Thorne. Ms. Sterling, you truly misunderstood!” Phoebe, blinded by rage, wasn’t listening. She grabbed my collar and started dragging me towards the door. “You’re going to kneel right here and let everyone see what a pathetic slut you are!” Then she ordered her bodyguards, “Strip her!” “She has no shame, so today I’m going to make sure she’ll be too ashamed to ever show her face here again!” With her words, two men immediately stepped forward and began to pull at my clothes. Terrified, I curled into a ball, begging for mercy. “It really wasn’t me, Ms. Sterling…” “Ms. Sterling, you truly misunderstood…” But no matter how much I pleaded, Phoebe Sterling showed no sign of letting me go. The men tugged at my clothes, and I struggled fiercely, my eyes burning red. “Enough!” A clear, calm voice suddenly interrupted the escalating scene. The main door opened, and Marcus Thorne strode in, step by step, towards the crowd. He exuded a powerful aura, making everyone involuntarily shiver. I looked up at him, my eyes instantly clouded with tears. “Mr. Thorne…” My cheeks were flushed, and my clothes were disheveled and torn, but it only made me look more fragile and beautiful. I hadn’t said a word, yet it felt as if I had conveyed everything. Marcus Thorne’s eyes flashed. His assistant immediately took off his jacket and draped it over me. Phoebe Sterling, seething, was about to speak, but Marcus Thorne cut her off. He pressed his fingers to his temples. “Phoebe, the lipstick on my collar was accidentally transferred by one of the maids at home.” “If you don’t believe me, you can check the security footage.” Phoebe Sterling froze, then blinked, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. She quickly tugged his sleeve, trying to appease him. “Marcus, I’m sorry. I just care about you too much.” “I won’t do this again, please don’t be angry, okay?” Marcus Thorne’s gaze darkened, but perhaps because he loved her so much, he said nothing more, simply instructing his assistant to escort her back. Once everyone had dispersed, he looked down at me, still kneeling on the floor. “Come to my office.” ###
In the CEO’s office, I first sent a quick text to the maid: “Well done. Payment sent.” Then, as Marcus Thorne turned around, I discreetly hid my phone, clutching the jacket around me and trembling on the sofa. I kept my head down, tears streaming down my face. Marcus Thorne looked at me and an unfamiliar sensation stirred within him. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to me. His sharp gaze softened as he spoke calmly. “What happened today, Phoebe was in the wrong. I apologize on her behalf. She’s just a little spoiled, she doesn’t mean any real harm. Please don’t take it to heart.” *No real harm?* I scoffed inwardly, finding it utterly cynical. She thinks there’s “no real harm” now, humiliating me in front of everyone. If she *did* have bad intentions, would I end up like my brother? Such a woman—vicious and cruel—but in Marcus Thorne’s eyes, she was dismissed with a few dismissive words. Did he know that my brother was killed by Phoebe Sterling? He was the brother who raised me, who bought me the dresses I loved, working on construction sites until his hands were raw and calloused, never complaining. Even when he was accepted into a prestigious overseas university, he willingly dropped out of college to take the toughest, most exhausting jobs, just to take care of me. Though our home was poor, my brother never let me feel the hardships of life. My good, kind brother… I would never see him again. Thinking of my brother, my eyes glistened with tears even more, unstoppable. “I won’t blame Ms. Sterling, and I certainly won’t blame you, Mr. Thorne.” “I just hope that Ms. Sterling won’t misunderstand me again, and that I can work peacefully in this position.” Seeing my vulnerable appearance, Marcus Thorne couldn’t help but frown. “Is this job so important to you?” My eyes, glistening with tears, wavered. “Yes, it’s very important.” “My parents passed away when I was very young. It was my brother who gave up his studies to raise me, but a year ago, my brother also passed away.” “Our family accumulated a lot of debt for my education, so I can’t afford to lose this job.” Marcus Thorne’s gaze deepened, but he didn’t ask any more questions. “Compose yourself. You can go out later.” I nodded, leaned back on the sofa, and soon cried myself to sleep. Marcus Thorne had seen countless beautiful women. His stern eyes betrayed no other emotions, but seeing the sparkling tears still clinging to my pale face, his gaze flickered involuntarily. He took the blanket nearby and draped it over me, then half-knelt in front of me, his expression cool. Just as he was about to stand, I, in my sleep, suddenly grabbed his hand and, crying, placed it on my face. “Brother, don’t leave me…” “Brother, I miss you so much…” He paused, hesitated for a moment, then gently withdrew his hand. A few days later, Marcus Thorne was invited to a corporate gala, and as his assistant, I naturally attended with him. Phoebe Sterling saw me at the event. Though seething with anger, with Marcus Thorne present, she could only grit her teeth and put on a facade of generosity. She intended to keep a close eye on me, but unexpectedly, she felt lightheaded after only a few drinks and was about to fall asleep. She had no choice but to say goodbye to Marcus Thorne and go upstairs to rest. Watching Phoebe Sterling leave, my lips curled into a cold smile. Of course she would drink too much and leave early. Earlier, when she asked me to fetch her a drink, I had secretly put quite a bit of sleeping medicine in it when no one was looking. Now, with her gone, everything would be much easier. Many people at the banquet toasted Marcus Thorne. He was in a good mood and hardly refused anyone. Even with his high alcohol tolerance, he was swaying and about to collapse. I helped him sit down and casually poured a glass of water to hand to him. But my hand slipped, and the entire glass of water spilled directly onto him. I grabbed some tissues to frantically wipe it, but Marcus Thorne, his breathing hitched, gripped my wrist tight. “Don’t move!” His shout startled me, and I then realized the water had spilled in an awkward spot. I quickly retreated a few steps. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Thorne! I’ll go get you a clean set of clothes.” Marcus Thorne’s face was cold, and he practically gritted his teeth. “No need. You can go first.” I didn’t dare look at him again, quickly pulled a room key card from my pocket, placed it on his table, and fled in a panic. Leaving the banquet hall, I took the elevator directly to the twenty-second floor. The room key card I gave him was for Phoebe Sterling’s room, but I had already arranged for Phoebe to be sent home. I changed my clothes, lay down on the bed, and turned off the lights. Half an hour later, Marcus Thorne indeed swiped the key card and opened the door. He didn’t turn on the lights, staggering in, loosening his tie, and taking off his jacket. An intoxicating floral scent filled the air, making him instinctively reach out and pull me close. My soft, slender waist curved perfectly into his palm. He leaned down and kissed me, his voice hoarse and low. “Phoebe…”
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