The CEO's runaway wife.

Emily couldn't recall what happened last night, but now in a half-awake state, she felt weak and tired lying on a large bed in a suburban villa. Next to her was the figure of a handsome young man smoking, having almost finished the pack of cigarettes. He didn't see any signs of Emily waking up.

"Still not getting up at this hour?" Alex tossed the half-smoked cigarette down and walked to the bed, impatiently attempting to wake her. He spoke with impatience, accompanied by a dangerous smile.

"It's just a mild sedative that made you sleep this long. You seem to be sleeping soundly. Do you think someone kindly brought you home drunk last night? Wake up! Get up now for me."

Startled by his firm shake, could she not wake up? She struggled to open her heavy eyelids, taking a few seconds to adjust to the light in the room. While still groggy, she didn't know what had happened and asked hoarsely:

"What's going on?"

Alex saw her open her eyes and tried to get straight to the point, but Emily's words made him slightly irritated. He slapped her face a few times to help her wake up, accompanied by threatening words:

"Do you really think you can't wake up after being shaken this hard?"

Emily, with swollen eyes, tried to open her eyes wider, taking some effort to become more alert. When she was fully awake, she looked around in bewilderment. It was a large unfamiliar place, accompanied by a cold darkness that made her shiver. She stuttered:

"W-where am I? Who are you? Why did you bring me here? What do you want? We don't know each other."

Alex felt a bit angered by her statements, and he slapped her a few more times, frustrated. He spoke with a menacing tone:

"Still not fully awake, huh? Let me tell you, Emily, I dislike slow and hesitant people like you."

"Being clueless and wanting to accuse me? Let's see how brave you are. Do you think you can escape from here? I went to great lengths to find your whereabouts. Do you think I would just let you escape easily?"

Although not speaking loudly, each word that came out of this young man's mouth made her feel a bit frightened. She sat up, struggling to open her eyes wider, trying to wake herself up more. When she was fully awake, she was startled and continuously looked around, in a strange and vast place that sent chills down her spine. She stammered, trying to speak:

"W-where is this? Who are you? Why did you bring me here? Are you kidnapping me? Aren't you afraid I'll report you?"

"You're not fully awake yet, are you? Let me tell you, Emily, I hate indecisive people like you."

"Foolish as you are, you still want to accuse me? Let's see how brave you are. Between you and me, we don't have any acquaintance to talk about."

Emily tilted her head to avoid his menacing gaze, but he forcibly grabbed her chin, making her look directly into his eyes.

"Hm, so you're clueless? Let me tell you, Emily, what I hate the most is indecisive and sluggish people."

"You, acting clueless, and you want to accuse me? Let's see how capable you are. Do you think you can escape from here? I've spent a lot of effort to find your trace, and you think I'd let you easily escape from here, huh? Emily."

He laughed menacingly, approaching her face, staring directly into her frightened eyes.

"I really don't have the time to bring you back here just to see how well you sleep. Do you think someone kindly brought you home drunk last night?"

Although she couldn't comprehend what he was saying, his words and the intense red veins in Alex's eyes were terrifying, making her sit up and force her eyes open to become more alert. When she was finally awake, she gasped and kept looking around, feeling the vast and eerie unfamiliarity of the place. Her mouth moved a few times before she could utter a complete sentence:

"W-where am I? Who are you? Why did you bring me here? What do you want?"

Alex hadn't finished his sentence when Emily took the words, and her denial and confusion angered him, prompting him to strike her and threaten her:

"Oh? Remembered the incident between us three years ago, huh? So why did you deny it earlier? Now you see me as a fool, huh? Trying to deceive me for something. Do you believe I won't let you see the sun tomorrow?"

He thought that soothing a bit of his current hot temper with her words would work, but unexpectedly, her recent words were like digging her own pit. Threatened by Alex like that, her tears, suppressed for so long, suddenly flowed down her cheeks because she truly didn't know how to handle the current situation. Could he shoot her if she truly provoked him? So, an idea came to pretend to mislead him, hoping he would rethink, lowering his angry temper:

"I admit we had an unintentional relationship, but the issue about the child is a bit confusing. You... put the gun down, let's talk slowly, alright?"

Alex found it ridiculous, thinking she was feigning innocence to escape everything. Instead of soothing his anger, her words provoked more doubts, using threatening words:

"Oh? Now you remember our relationship? Then why did you deny it earlier? Do you think I'm a fool? What do you want to deceive me for? Do you believe I won't let you see the sun tomorrow?"

She thought feigning innocence might calm his current temper, but her words seemed to only further infuriate him. He pushed her to the edge, and her suppressed tears suddenly flowed down because she genuinely didn't know how to handle this situation. Only after one night, everything was turned upside down. Since she woke up until now, she couldn't explain why she had to endure this.

To prevent Alex from getting angrier with her words, she chose not to say anything else. But seeing Emily cry, Alex suddenly felt a bit amused. Wasn't she truly the problem?

He suddenly pressed his rough palm against her face, making her slightly startled. His thumb wiped away the tears on her cheeks and gently touched Emily's pale lips, speaking lightly:

"Why are you crying? I haven't done anything, and you're already crying. If this were outside, people would say I'm bullying you, right?"

Alex abruptly, gently, and in his heart already had suspicions. Her hand, trembling with fear, clenched into a fist, her nails digging deeply into her palm, almost drawing blood. Alex looked at her tears, unsure if it was her softening or something else that made him lower his gun, but his wicked smile didn't fade. He stood up straight, putting his hands in his pockets, looking at her. The more he looked at Emily, the more she seemed like a trapped animal, desperately trying to find a way to escape. The more he provoked her, the more interested he became, sparking a desire to tease and toy with her. Emily was like a timid prey, trying to threaten her to make her afraid, causing her to tremble.

Emily hesitated, her grip on the gun trembling. The weight of the decision she faced was overwhelming. She desperately searched for an escape, a way to endure, but her options seemed to dwindle.

Alex's taunts and provocations continued, pushing her to the edge, but she couldn't bring herself to end her own life. It wasn't the solution; she wanted to survive this, to find out what was truly happening, and to escape this torment.

"Still hesitating? Afraid of death, huh?" Alex's voice dripped with mockery.

Her hand quivered, sweat mixed with tears on her forehead as she felt the cold metal against her skin. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, trying to drown out the vicious words that echoed in her mind.

In a moment of desperation, she screamed, "Stop!"

To her surprise, Alex paused. The laughter subsided, and he watched her closely, intrigued by her sudden outburst.

"Enough, please. I don't know what you want from me, but I'll cooperate. Just... just don't hurt me," Emily begged, her voice filled with genuine fear.

Alex observed her for a moment, contemplating her words. He enjoyed the power he held over her, the fear in her eyes, but he also knew that keeping her terrified wouldn't yield the information he sought.

"Fine," he finally said, seemingly relenting. "Cooperate, and maybe things will go easier for you."

She let out a sigh of relief, the gun still clutched tightly in her hand. It was a small victory, but it bought her time, and time was what she needed to figure out a plan.

"First, tell me why you think I have any knowledge about a child. I genuinely don't understand," she asked, her voice trembling but determined.

Alex seemed to contemplate her question before he responded: "You're not as innocent as you pretend to be. You were involved three years ago, and that involvement doesn't simply disappear."

Three years ago? Emily's mind raced, trying to recall any significant events from that time. But the more she thought, the more her head throbbed in confusion. She drew a blank.

"I... I truly don't remember. Please, you have to believe me," she pleaded, feeling a wave of frustration and helplessness wash over her.

Alex looked at her skeptically, assessing her sincerity. He could see her genuine confusion, her fear, and it made him wonder if there was a chance she was telling the truth. But he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

"Fine, for now, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But remember, your cooperation is your only lifeline in this situation," he warned, a hint of threat in his tone.

She nodded, acknowledging his warning. She needed to play along, gain his trust, and find an opportunity to escape.

"What do you want to know?" she asked, her voice softer now, an attempt to convey compliance.

Alex crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, contemplating his next move. He had to be strategic, ensure she gave him the information he needed without raising too much suspicion.

"Tell me about the events three years ago. Everything you remember," he demanded.

Emily racked her brain, trying desperately to recall any details from that time. But it was like trying to grasp at smoke - nothing tangible emerged.

"I... I really can't remember. It's all a blur. Can you... can you give me some context? Maybe that will help trigger something," she suggested, hoping to buy more time.

Alex considered her request. He needed to be careful with the information he provided, to ensure she didn't piece together too much.

"Three years ago, you were involved in something that had far-reaching consequences. A child was at the center of it all. A child that was supposed to be mine," he revealed, watching her closely for any signs of recognition.

Emily's heart raced, her mind struggling to process what he just said. A child? Was she involved in a child's disappearance three years ago?

"I... I don't understand. I've never been involved in anything like that," she stammered, genuine confusion in her eyes.

Alex studied her, evaluating her response. Could she truly have no recollection of those events?

"Look, I'm trying to be patient, but you need to remember. Your involvement had dire consequences. If you don't cooperate fully, those consequences could return," he threatened.

She felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The fear of the unknown, the fear of what consequences he spoke of, all of it was suffocating her. But she had to stay strong, keep her wits about her.

"I'm trying to remember, but it's just not there. Can you... can you tell me more about what happened three years ago?" she asked cautiously.

Alex hesitated, contemplating how much to reveal. He wanted her to give herself away, to divulge any hidden knowledge she might possess.

"Three years ago, there was an incident involving a child, a child that was meant to be a link between two worlds. It was a pivotal event, and you were part of it. Do you remember anything about that?" he inquired, carefully watching her reaction.

Emily felt a rush of confusion and fear. A child as a link between two worlds? What did that even mean? She was certain she had no part in such an event.

"I... I swear, I have no memory of being involved in anything like that. I don't even understand what you mean by 'link between two worlds,'" she responded, her voice shaky but genuine.

Alex scrutinized her, searching for any signs of deceit. He needed to break through her facade, get to the truth. He had invested too much to let her slip through his grasp now.

"Very well," he said, momentarily retreating. "But remember, cooperation is your only way out of this."

She nodded, feeling a sliver of hope. If she played her cards right, maybe she could uncover the truth and escape from this nightmare.

The room was engulfed in a tense silence. Emily clutched the gun, her fingers white-knuckled with the effort to maintain her composure. She had to find a way out of this, uncover the truth, and ensure her safety. The battle for her survival and sanity had just begun.

"As a renowned comic artist with many devoted fans and admired by fellow authors, stepping onto this path was no easy feat. Oh well, if something were to happen to you, I wonder how they would grieve, especially your family. Oh, what an enticing movie this would make."

Alex chuckled loudly, the laughter echoing through the empty room, sending shivers down one's spine. Each word from Alex tore at Emily's emotions, stirring her intensely. Her current state was like a struggle, unable to advance yet unwilling to retreat. In her eyes, he seemed like a lunatic, a sinister demon.

Indeed, her life over the past years had not been easy to reach this point. She couldn't simply discard her hard-earned progress, and there were many things to do, places to go, and people to care for. She couldn't die! She had to think of a way to escape, to preserve herself. But why did he know so much about her? She had no memories of him, nor any recollection of events from three years ago. The compressed sound in her throat made her uncomfortable. She opened her mouth to explain and implore Alex:

"Consider this my plea, I truly don't know you, let alone the child you mentioned. I have no reason to hide this. Have you ever thought that having both parents might not be a good thing for a child? Why would I do such a thing? In this world, there are lookalikes, maybe you mistook me for someone else. How can something like this not happen..."

Her voice grew quieter by the moment.

Seeing Alex silent, she involuntarily tossed the gun aside, patting her face to regain composure. Wanting to talk to Alex and explain herself, she was mistaken for trying to escape. His movements were so swift that she was pushed back onto the bed before her foot could touch the ground. Unable to control her own force at that moment, he unintentionally caused her head to hit the bedframe. She yelped in pain and reached to soothe the spot. Instead of showing concern, Alex grew angrier.

"What are you planning? Trying to run away?"

"No, not at all. I just wanted to stand up and talk to you clearly, not with the intention to escape." Emily hurriedly explained to prevent further misunderstanding.

Her shirt had slipped down unnoticed, revealing her slender neck and delicate, pale shoulders. Alex's eyes, having left his previous words behind, were fixed on it, making her realize and quickly pull her shirt back up. However, this action accidentally touched his desire, exciting him. Using this pretext to confirm their past three years' situation and wanting to help her remember the past, he proposed to examine Emily's body. Alex was shameless, whimsically saying:

"Haven't you said that anything can happen in this world? Let's assume it's because people look alike that I mistook you, but it's not out of the question that you're the person I'm looking for. Or how about this, let me examine your body. If you're truly not the person I'm seeking, then..."

She stared at Alex with widened eyes, reflexively trying to pull her body back, but Alex held onto her ankle, his hand touching her skin as if an electric current ran through her, causing her to shudder.

She wanted to kick him off, escape his demonic grasp, but her leg stiffened, replaced by uncontrollable shouts of curses:

"Let go of me! You're a nerve wreck, a pervert, a sicko! Do you believe I'll kill you? Let go of me!"

Talking to this demon only fueled her anger, her throat hoarse from the yelling, yet he seemed to enjoy her helplessness. His excitement grew with every insult she spat.

Alex laughed joyfully, unaffected by her resistance, and began to loosen the tie binding her hands behind her.

Every time Emily resisted, refusing to stay still, it was like cheering for him, encouraging his actions to quicken. The way he laughed at her, made her shiver to the point of being haunted.

"You should save your strength for later to truly feel what heaven is like. Don't let me waste my energy 'testing' you in vain."

Not wanting to say more, Alex began to indulge his own desires, forcefully pressing her under the bed and kissing her from her forehead, down to her lips, cheeks, arms, and neck, not missing a single spot.

Her breathing began to quicken, she clearly felt her face and body heating up without the slightest sign of abating.

Every kiss made Emily, Emily let out an urgent moan. gasping for air followed by a pleading cry to get there.

"Ugh... um... Don't... uh, please, don't... don't do that."

The body refused to stay still and kept twisting and avoiding, causing Alex to be filled with anger. Two strong, strong arms tightened around Emily's body like two iron pincers, engraving her body into his chest.

Her enchanting whisper echoed in his ears, drawing him deeper into his inescapable desire. Suddenly, both her neck and shoulders were covered in red kiss marks, looking even more prominent on her white skin.

Emily was afraid, she was very afraid, she felt both scared and disgusted, in her heart was a panic, her whole face was now wet with tears but he kept frantically tearing every bit of her sensitive skin...

Alex stopped the kiss and pulled away from Emily. She thought he had changed his mind so she was secretly happy, but after less than three seconds it was extinguished. It turns out... it turns out he's getting rid of all the pieces of fabric that are stuck on his body.

His toned body and tanned masculine skin quickly appeared before her. This embarrassing sight made Emily unable to help but quickly look away. Alex's body was suddenly once again glued to Emily's, making her dare not move even if she wanted to move.

He grabbed her chin and pulled her to look at her face. The more he looked at it, the more fascinated he became. This delicate face full of charm made him want to be fierce and gentle at the same time.

Next, he couldn't hesitate any longer, combining his hands and lips to "check" Emily's body. Wherever his lips touched, her skin turned red, and wherever his hands touched, her body trembled. tremble.

Every time her wet sound came out, it ignited a fire in Alex's lustful mind, and the way she resisted in desperation made him even more satisfied.

"Uh... um... don't... ha."

"Do not? Listening to your voice, it seemed like you felt comfortable. If that was the case, why would you be embarrassed to hide it? Three years ago, didn't you feel very comfortable? Why are you resisting even a little bit now, be a little obedient, don't make me lose my mood, otherwise you'll have to bear the consequences." – Alex stopped for a moment and looked at her current appearance mockingly.

She raised her head and swallowed back her tears. Being threatened by him, she was helpless to stop resisting as if letting Alex do whatever he wanted.

The dress, under Alex's tearing force, was quickly pulled cleanly off Emily's body little by little, until her entire white body collapsed under his satisfied gaze. He laughed coldly, snorting at her:

"Look, the mouth says don't but the body is very honest."

Alex proactively hugged Emily close to his chest to easily perform each of his exploratory movements, his hands moving to caress and caress each smooth layer of skin. Alex's lower body kept rubbing against her thighs, causing her whole body to suddenly tremble as if she were in a cold place.

The flexible tongue coordinated with the hand to roam little by little on the body, sometimes trying to bite and suck on sensitive places. This wet scene made others blush and feel embarrassed.

What does someone like Alex know about the word shame?

Her eyes closed tightly, wishing she could go blind right now. Her mouth tried to close tightly, suppressing the humiliating sound in her throat, but the result was that she couldn't hold back, constantly emitting bewitching sounds, both his and her breathing began to quicken:

"Ha.... ah... um... So annoying.".

Each of Alex's movements left traces of kisses and teeth marks. His hands groped Emily's private parts, making her startled and struggled to close her legs tightly in an attempt to stop him from doing anything rash, but it didn't work.

Used, her private space gradually became his mastery to the point where she didn't know if this was her body or Alex's.

Every time his hands fiddled with her, every time she was stimulated by her own desires.

Obviously she didn't want to, but his actions gradually aroused her shameful desire.

Again, he involuntarily let out a satisfied sound:

"Ha... ah... hmm... mmmm."

Before he could realize what he was doing, this seductive sound reached Alex's ears, causing his desire to flare up until he couldn't hold it any longer.

Alex roughly grabbed her slim waist, wanting their bodies to merge into one. He did not feel the slightest bit about her feelings, only knowing how to follow his desire.

From pain to pleasure, Emily received it all, her ears, face and body were all red and hot, wanting to burn her own heart and liver. She clenched her teeth so that she wouldn't make an embarrassing sound this time...

Alex's lower body moved continuously as if he wanted to vent his anger and lust. His rapid panting made her feel more and more disgusted.

The large bed kept shaking according to his movements, occasionally making a harsh "creaking" sound. Alex made a satisfied, wanton sound:

"Ah...ha...."

I don't know how many times Alex stopped, but before he could satisfy his desire, Emily was made unconscious by him...

The sunlight seeped through the window, casting a dreamy haze in Emily's room. The alarm clock rang on time, startling her awake. She lay there, dazed, staring at the ceiling. Her headache, lost in a vague daze. What was happening? A series of events from before played like a dream in Emily's mind, a dream that felt oddly real.

She lay there, lost in thought, seemingly unmoving, staring at the ceiling. If not for her breathing, one might have mistaken her for something else. Her head throbbed, lost in a foggy state. What was going on? Images from earlier danced in Emily's mind, resembling a dream... yet feeling so real. She gazed at the ceiling, the scenes replaying in her mind, until a particular intense one made her blush and sit up abruptly, slapping her face and reminding herself, "Wake up! What are you thinking?"

She covered her face, looking around-it was her room. Yes, just a dream. She reached for the newspaper by her bedside, flipping through the pages to distract herself, trying to find something to focus on and not let her mind wander. Coincidentally, she landed on an article praising a successful young individual, a renowned company director named Alex. It caught her attention, making her mumble to herself, "Wealthy, handsome, and exceptionally talented. Boys like him probably exist only in dreams or on the screen. That's right, just like that."

The familiar ringtone interrupted her thoughts, Marry, her editor's call. Emily rubbed her head a few times to ease the pain before picking up the phone, her voice husky with a hint of sleep, "Hello, this is Emily. What's up, Marry?"

Marry steadied the phone against her shoulder, holding a stack of Emily's comic sketches, flipping through them continuously, feeling both anxious and worried. "Emily, can you check if you have the draft for a specific comic page? I just reviewed the series, and it seems a few pages are missing. The deadline is tomorrow. Losing even one would be a disaster."

"Didn't I send all of them to you yesterday? I double-checked before handing them to you. Let me look for it," Emily responded in urgency, scanning her small room.

She hurriedly got up, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, her body ached and fatigue overwhelmed her, especially in her lower back, causing her to fall back on the bed. She couldn't control it, letting out a quiet exclamation, "Shhh... ow."

"Emily? What's going on?" Marry, hearing the unusual sound on the other end of the line, asked with concern.

"It's nothing, just a muscle cramp. Give me a moment to look for it," Emily responded, ignoring her bodily discomfort. She pushed through the pain quickly, searching for the pages. The room was small, so it didn't take long. In about ten minutes, she found a few pages, sighing in relief before calling Marry again, "I have pages 7, 15, and 47. Just these three, please check how many are missing."

Oh, those were the page numbers that had Marry sweating with anxiety. Marry sighed with relief and chuckled, "Those are the ones, really had me sweating. I'll come to pick them up. Shall I swing by your place or do you plan to drop by? I don't want to lose them again."

Emily glanced at the clock; it was just past 8 AM. She gently massaged her sore lower back, contemplating. She had finished drawing for the month, and it was a Saturday. Brooding alone at home about the incidents earlier was not a good idea, especially with the headache.

Emily had always been a person who didn't interact much with the outside world, as she preferred tranquility. Part of it was her nature and partly because of her profession as a comic artist. Every time she went out, she was cautious every step of the way. This time, it was more of a forced decision, and in the end, she decided, "The work for this month is done. I'll drop by the old café. If you're free, you can join me. Then I'll bring it to you."

"Unfortunately, I'm quite busy today, so I won't be able to join you for coffee. But you can stay at the café; I'll come to pick it up. Just leave it there, and I'll grab it to save you the trouble of coming over. Don't forget it or lose it again," Marry replied.

"All right, that works. Remember to bring the book I left at your place the other day. Sitting alone can get boring," Emily said.

She hung up, and Emily lay back on her bed, looking up at the ceiling. The sighs she had been holding back finally escaped. She shook her head vigorously, trying to snap out of it and rushed into the bathroom, standing under the cold water to wash away the haziness, pushing away the thoughts from earlier.

At a familiar coffee shop in a quiet corner.

Emily ordered a cappuccino and a plate of her favorite pastry. She scolded herself a bit for not making use of this rare free time to relax, contemplating about the earlier vague incidents. She sipped her cappuccino, lost in thought when her phone rang again-Chang, a close friend from university. Emily's mood brightened, and she eagerly picked up, her voice full of enthusiasm, "Chang? It's been so long since I called you. I thought you'd forgotten about me."

Chang heard the familiar voice on the other end and feigned a scolding tone, pretending to be annoyed, "What are you saying? If I hadn't called you today, would you have bothered to call me? What kind of busy life is keeping you away for months?"

"Come on, don't be like that. You know how demanding this job is. When deadlines approach, I can hardly keep up. How about this? I'm currently at Owl Coffee. If you're free, come join me. It's my treat today, consider it an apology. Deal?" Emily said, chuckling.

"Respecting your intention, I'll reluctantly accept your apology. Okay, text me the address. I'll sort things out and come over," Chang replied.

Ending the call with Chang coincided with Marry's arrival to pick up the manuscript. After a brief conversation with Marry, Emily and Marry chatted for a while, and then Marry went about her work. While waiting for Chang, Emily picked up the book Marry had brought and started reading to pass the time, flipping to the bookmarked page from her last read.

Emily was once again drawn into the gripping plot of the book, just like before. Her face showed intense focus as she read every word, not missing a single one. Lost in the narrative, she lost track of time. Unbeknownst to her, Chang had arrived and was sitting silently. Suddenly, Emily's focused expression changed to one of discomfort, contorted as she reached a particularly intense scene in the story. This made Chang curious, and she finally spoke up, "Hey, Emily. What are you reading that's making you grimace like that?"

Emily was startled by Chang's voice but also relieved, thanking Chang silently for helping her snap out of the hazy thoughts again. She scrambled to close the book, looking at Chang and attempting to explain, "Chang... When did you arrive? I was just reading a story, and there was a... a scene that was a bit intense, so my face must have grimaced due to the tension."

Chang squinted suspiciously at Emily while sipping her coffee, "Hey, Emily. What were you reading that made your face contort like that?"

Emily feigned composure, hastily folding the book and glancing at Chang, smiling awkwardly, "Chang... When did you arrive? I was reading a story, and there was a... a scene that was a bit intense, so my face might have shown tension."

"You were so engrossed that you didn't notice me at all. I've been here for a while, just watching to see if you'd notice me or not. I wasn't sure if you still considered me a friend. Hmm, but... really, an intense scene in a book, huh? You looked like you stumbled upon something horrifying," Chang remarked, sipping her coffee and narrowing her eyes playfully at Emily, who was struggling to find an excuse.

Emily pouted and waved her hand dismissively, trying to appear nonchalant. She pursed her lips, putting on a calm facade, and shook her head, affirming, "Honestly! Because you arrived, I was caught off guard, and that's why I looked shocked. I don't have anything horrifying hidden in that book. I've never kept anything from you before."

Chang chuckled, observing Emily's demeanor. Emily and Chang continued to spend their day, forgetting about the morning events, roaming from one familiar café to another.