Chapter 3: A Peeker Discovering the Tyrant's Secret

"However—" Alexander leaned down, kissing the corner of Chloe's lips. Leaning close to her ear, his voice sounded eerie and dark: "If you make a mistake, you will be punished."

Chloe had expected as much. She blinked her eyes. "What kind of punishment?"

Alexander gently caressed her cheek, his fingers sliding down to the bite mark on her neck and pressing hard. Watching her brow furrow in pain, he suddenly burst into a quiet laugh. His hushed tone carried an uncharacteristic excitement: "Disobedient cats... should naturally be locked away, shouldn't they?"

Chloe's eyelids twitched uncontrollably as she felt the sheer terror of this man once more. *So freedom... only exists once?*

A spine-chilling fear mingled with a thrilling rush of excitement inside her. She felt like a dancer performing with demons on the brink of hell—terrified, yet unable to resist the dark fascination pulling her in.

He tapped her chin lightly and whispered, "Goodnight."

Chloe offered a gentle response. "Goodnight, Mr. Alexander."

The next second, Alexander turned over, pulling her tightly against his side. He clasped one of her hands in his and closed his eyes.

The air grew quiet. Soon, steady breathing echoed beside her. It was very light, almost imperceptible if not for the absolute silence of the night.

Chloe listened intently for a moment, left both shocked and speechless.

*How could his sleep quality be this good?*

She reached up to touch herself; nothing had changed. So was the problem with her, or was something wrong with him? Naturally, she maliciously hoped it was the latter. For such an arrogant, matchless man to have a fatal flaw—that would make things far more interesting...

Wouldn't it?

She couldn't fall asleep; the presence of the man beside her was simply too overwhelming. Every atom in the air was thick with discomfort, as if countless delicate feathers were scratching at her heart and liver, harassing every single pore on her skin. It was infuriating.

Once she confirmed he was fast asleep, Chloe no longer had to suppress her disgust at being touched. She tried to pull her hand away with unconcealed impatience, only to find he was holding it in a vice-like grip, impossible to shake off.

It was as if he was afraid she would run away in the middle of the night.

Chloe felt like a peeker who had finally stumbled upon the dark tyrant's secret—it was fascinating beyond measure.

She had assumed sleeping beside a man she detested would mean a sleepless night, yet when she closed her eyes again, she drifted off quite quickly.

Except in the dead of night, Alexander held her so tightly that she woke up feeling suffocated. Chloe thought the big boss had woken up, succumbed to another sudden bout of psychosis, and was about to cause trouble again. She didn't want to drag her sleepy body through another performance.

Yet he didn't seem awake at all. He just clung to her fiercely, muttering a single phrase over and over in his sleep: "Don't leave..."

It lacked the eerie terror of the previous night, replaced instead by an indefinable panic and a desperate, cornered reliance. It reminded Chloe of someone—though, of course, it couldn't possibly be him.

By comparison, she still preferred the gentle temper of her little mute boy, whom she could knead and tease as she pleased, she thought dully.

Pinching or kissing him when he wasn't looking would make his whole face flush red with anxiety. And if he couldn't resist the teasing and accidentally offended her, she would pretend to be angry and aggrieved. The sight of his flustered face—wanting to speak but unable to—excited her malicious urge to win more than anything else.

So she had repeatedly played that cruel joke, over and over, until he completely vanished from her life...

At the same time, she couldn't suppress her curiosity: *What kind of enchanting woman could make a man feared by so many yearn for her like this, even crying out for her in his midnight dreams?* Truthfully, as a woman, she felt a flick of disdain toward it all.

---

When Chloe woke up the next morning, the room was still pitch black. She picked up her phone to check the time—it was eight o'clock. Whenever the window sheer drifted lightly, a stray beam of sunlight filtered through.

She glanced toward the outer room and curled her lip. *The light-blocking curtains in Alexander's home were remarkably effective.*

As expected, the other side of the bed was already empty. A figure of his stature was likely busy around the clock. Her phone was flooded with missed calls, all from her manager. She didn't even need to think to know how ecstatic the woman was. Chloe was in no hurry to return the call.

When she went downstairs, Chloe was surprised to find Alexander still at home. Dressed in a formal black suit, he was sitting by the dining table. He looked as though he was waiting to have breakfast with her before heading to the company.

It seemed his "eat together, sleep together" rule from last night wasn't just empty talk.

"Meow~"

A white cat jumped down from the sofa and sauntered over to her feet with graceful cat steps. A pair of amber eyes stared up at her, brimming with "arrogance," as if inspecting this newcomer.

Chloe was surprised, her interest piqued as if discovering something fun. She hadn't expected someone like Alexander to keep a cat.

The butler, Uncle Zhang, greeted her: "Good morning, Miss Chloe."

"Good morning." As a mistress, she felt not the slightest guilt about putting her benefactor on hold on her very first day. Stepping forward with light steps, a soft smile curved on her lips. "I'm sorry, I woke up late."

Alexander didn't look as tyrannical as he had last night. "Didn't sleep well last night?" he asked casually.

Chloe paused for a second before answering honestly, "Yeah. I'm not used to sleeping in a different bed."

After their brief "clash" last night, she knew full well there was no need to lie or sugarcoat things in front of him.

Alexander gave a low "Mm," as if it were merely a passing question.

The two ate in near total silence. Between them stood a glass vase holding a few stems of striking wild roses. Likely just picked, the irregular petals were still dusted with morning dew, drawing Chloe's gaze repeatedly.

Alexander spoke up out of nowhere: "Uncle Zhang, throw the flowers away."

Chloe: "..."

*Why vent his temper on a bouquet of flowers first thing in the morning? Flowers are most captivating in the morning—men who ruin beautiful things are the absolute worst.*

Uncle Zhang, however, was thoroughly accustomed to it. Taking the "ill-fated" wild roses, he tossed them directly into the trash bin. Judging by his practiced movements, this lord had done his fair share of petty deeds in the past.

Before leaving for the company, Alexander gestured for Chloe to come over.

Exercising her full professional etiquette, Chloe got the hint instantly. She leaned in submissively and offered him a deeply alluring farewell kiss.

Alexander kissed the corner of her mouth, but didn't pull away immediately. Resting his forehead against hers, he stared deeply into her eyes, making the beauty mark beneath his eye look extraordinarily affectionate.

A sudden surge of emotion broke through the dam. Restraining the deep-seated craving seeping from his bones, his fingertips trembled as he touched her face, as though terrified the person before him was merely a hallucination.

His voice carried an unusual, pleading tenderness: "I'm sorry about last night..."

"Chloe, don't be mad, okay?"

"Don't think about leaving..."

He sounded like someone consumed by the anxiety and insecurity of retrieving something lost.

God knew how much effort it had taken for him, sitting at the dining table, to convince himself to keep waiting rather than going upstairs to confirm whether everything last night was just a dream.

Chloe's brow twitched. Even she felt a chilling, spine-tingling sense of danger. To be so tyrannical last night, only to apologize from such a low stance today... It reminded her of those psychotic male leads in American dramas who would drop to their knees and apologize immediately after abusing the heroine.

*This game is getting really interesting,* she thought.

Chloe tilted her head in feigned confusion, asking with a sweet smile, "Why are you apologizing, Mr. Alexander? Wasn't that within the rules of the game?"

No matter what kind of man he was, she had no way out the moment the game began. Besides, she hated throwing down her armor and fleeing like a coward. The game difficulty had simply increased—what was the big deal?

The next second, Alexander snapped out of his illusion. As if the man humbly apologizing a moment ago hadn't been him at all, he let go of Chloe and said unhurriedly, "Have someone take you back to your old place and move all your belongings here."

Chloe nodded. "Alright."

---

Just as she was preparing to step out, a man wearing glasses appeared in the living room, offering her a polite smile: "Miss Chloe, my name is Ethan. I will be your private assistant from now on."

Chloe let out an understanding "Ah," and smiled. "Please take good care of me."

*Do mistresses get such high-level treatment nowadays?*

Ethan smiled politely. "Taking care of you is my duty."

While Chloe maintained a proper smile on her face, she was secretly curling her lip. Under the tyrant's oppressive aura, the people around him were bound to be utterly dull.

Then again, this might be Alexander's intention. With his intense possessiveness, he certainly wouldn't allow her to get close to any other men. In that case, why hadn't he just assigned her a female assistant?

Compared to men, she much preferred the gentle, clean presence of women.

Ethan spoke up suddenly: "Miss Chloe, shall we head to your former residence now?"

Chloe gave an "Mm" and said in her usual tone, "Yes, let's go pack up my things."

Ethan: "Understood."

As she walked out the door, the white cat ran over, meowing to see her off. Its crystal-clear amber eyes stared at her, its big round pupils proudly writing: *This cat wants to go out too!*

Ethan added at the right moment: "Her name is Sweetie."

*Could it be a coincidence?* Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Did Mr. Alexander name her?"

Her mother used to like calling her Sweetie, too. She hadn't expected a man like him to keep a cat, let alone give it such a... delicate name.

Ethan gave a affirmative "Mm."

For some strange reason, Chloe's mood lifted. She bent down and gently petted the cat's head, though her words were playfully mean: "I'm going out now. Too bad Sweetie can't come along."

"Meow!" Sweetie flew into a rage, letting out a sharp meow and smacking Chloe's hand with a paw.

*Just like her master—what a terrible temper.* Chloe's heart went cold, and she instantly took a dislike to the cat as well.

---

Her former residence was located at Luming Heights, a place where many celebrities resided. Given that she was currently at the center of a PR storm, combined with what happened last night, the outside of the complex was likely crawling with waiting reporters.

Thinking about the recent rumors made Chloe inevitably irritable, her lips pressing tightly together.

Ethan was indeed an exceptionally capable private assistant. As if reading her mind, he spoke up: "Rest assured, Miss Chloe. The reporters outside the complex have already been taken care of."

Chloe offered a quiet "Oh," her heart stirring slightly. Although Alexander was volatile, he was almost too attentive to an insignificant mistress.

Even though reporters were guaranteed not to catch anything today, the internet was already in an uproar over last night's events.

A major entertainment influencer posted:

*SHOCKING! Scandal-plagued starlet Chloe catches the eye of Alexander from the Alexander Group! Everyone knows Mr. Alexander harbors a legendary 'white moonlight' he's driven crazy over. Could it be... Chloe bears a resemblance to her?*

—"Makes sense. Otherwise, why would a big boss like Alexander take a liking to a homewrecker?"

—"Wahhh, I know! He's truly devoted to his lost love. I've seen him at galas multiple times wearing a cheap five-cent hair tie on his wrist!"

—"Just a substitute. Just wait! Once Lord Alexander gets tired of playing with her, she'll be kicked to the curb sooner or later!"

—"There's no official conclusion on Chloe being a homewrecker yet, right? Stop spreading rumors."

—"There's video proof, what other conclusion do brainless fans want? [Old man looking at phone on subway.jpg]"

—"If it were fake, would the husband not say a single word? Just letting his wife trash her online?"

—"Looks like someone's about to be revived again."

—"Anyway, I'm boycotting her completely."

—"Boycott x10086."

---

Back at her old apartment, everything remained exactly as she had left it yesterday, a jacket casually thrown across the sofa.

Chloe returned her manager Chen Jie's call first. "Sister Chen."

Chen Jie was predictably ecstatic: "Chloe, where are you right now? Mr. Alexander's estate? You've really made it big!"

"Bring up your recent rumors with Mr. Alexander. To him, a matter like this isn't even worth mentioning!"

"This is fantastic! You're finally turning things around!"

The corners of Chloe's lips curved slightly into a lazy smirk. "I'm packing my things first to move into Alexander's place."

Chen Jie gasped in surprise: "You're going to—"

Without waiting for her to finish, Chloe impatiently hung up the phone. With Ethan standing right there, she had no intention of making a fool of herself in front of an outsider.

Chapter 4: Men... Truly Are Just Like Savage Dogs

Although Alexander had intended for Chloe to live at the estate, Chloe viewed this relationship as nothing more than a boring game. As a result, she only packed a few clothes, ready to pull out at any moment.

She didn't run into any reporters when she entered the complex, but on her way down, she encountered someone completely unexpected.

"Chloe!"

Seeing Chloe step out of the building, a man standing outside called out to her.

Chloe’s brow twitched imperceptibly before she masked her usual disgust for him with an expression of surprise. "Ryan? What are you doing here?"

Ryan, looking every bit the refined gentleman, pressed his lips together as he stared at her with a look of serious urgency. "Chloe, I need to talk to you."

Chloe cast him a couple of glances, a half-smile curling her lips. "I don't think there's anything left for us to talk about."

Ryan persisted, "Chloe!"

A flash of irritation crossed Chloe’s brow. Just as Ethan was about to step in, she waved her hand and said, "Give me a minute. I'll say a few words to him."

"Alright." Ethan swept an indifferent glance over Ryan, a faint, almost invisible blue light glinting off one edge of his gold-rimmed glasses. Withdrawing his gaze, he politely stepped aside.

"What is it? Speak."

Chloe had zero patience for dealing with an ex-boyfriend she had broken up with ages ago. Although he had begged her to get back together recently, watching his pathetic performance—resembling a child caught red-handed trying to trick an adult—suddenly piqued her interest.

Ryan’s eyes locked almost immediately onto her neck, where even a silk scarf couldn't hide the faint bite mark. Driven by a resentment he didn't even realize he harbored, he questioned her with an expression of dramatic disbelief, "Did you really become Lord Alexander's woman?"

Then, his tone turned furious: "Do you have any idea what you're doing? You're selling yourself out!"

His blatant stare reminded Chloe of a stray dog that hadn't gotten its fill of meat—greedy, wild, and utterly repulsive. She pulled at her silk scarf, her tone soft and sweet in stark contrast to her contorted inner thoughts: "That doesn't seem to have anything to do with you."

Ryan immediately pressed, "How does it not? I genuinely love you!"

Chloe lowered her gaze and remained silent for a moment. Trembling, she lifted her eyelashes, the moisture in her eyes threatening to spill over as she put on a deeply pained act: "But... you have no way to stand up to Mr. Alexander..."

"I..." Ryan’s heart softened just as expected. Yet, knowing he couldn't possibly go against Alexander, he hesitated for a long time. Still, the overwhelming lust for the prize won out. After his moment of hesitation, he declared with intense passion, "Wait for me, Chloe! I won't just stand by and watch you stay with a murderer!"

"A murderer?" Chloe’s expression turned instantly horror-stricken. "Really? That's terrifying..."

Ryan let his lips curve into a self-satisfied smile, though he wasn't entirely sure himself. "It should be true... That's what everyone says."

"That's what everyone says?" Chloe lowered her head, her long hair parting naturally to reveal the elegant curve of her neck beneath the sunlight—a curve lined with soft, impossibly delicate baby hairs.

She whispered softly, "Right now, everyone says I'm a homewrecker seducing a married man. Do you think I'm a homewrecker, too?"

Faced with such a heartbreaking sight, Ryan answered without a second thought, "Of course not! I believe you're not that kind of person."

"That's good." Chloe slowly raised her head, thoroughly enjoying the joke of the self-absorbed man before her. Yet her gaze remained intently focused on Ryan as her lips curled into a gentle smile. "How wonderful... Someone actually believes in me."

Ryan seemed to drown in those soft, affectionate eyes, a wave of guilt and shame rising in his heart. At the same time, he felt immensely encouraged. Passion and distress mixed on his handsome face: "Wait for me, Chloe! I'll rescue you from this hellhole soon!"

By the time he regained his composure, Chloe had already turned away, leaving him with nothing but a fragile yet mesmerizing silhouette—one that gave him a haunting fear that she might drift away at any second.

---

Chloe’s gaze casually flicked toward Ethan’s glasses, and she let out a soft laugh. "Let's go," she said gently.

Ethan replied, "Yes, Miss Chloe."

Every single word of that conversation had been transmitted through the signal and fed straight into Alexander’s ear. The woman's soft voice scratched at his eardrums like a cat's paw. Inside his meticulously designed office, the man's dark pupils shifted slightly, his lips curling into an intriguing arc.

After signing a few documents on his desk, he lazily rotated his executive chair, looking out through the one-way glass wall at the bustling city of the metropolis below. The Alexander Estate rested far off on that mountain in the distance.

*What a playful little cat...*

*Being so gentle with someone else... she deserves a lesson.*

Alexander pressed the intercom to call Ethan in, his expression unreadable. "Postpone this afternoon's meeting and tonight's dinner. I'm going back to the estate."

Ethan groaned inwardly, though his face remained a picture of professionalism. "Understood, Mr. Alexander."

*So this is what they call 'the king neglecting his duties for a beauty'?* Who could have guessed that the ruthless Lord Alexander—a man who had once dumped red wine over a beauty trying to throw herself at him—would have a day where he was captivated by a woman?

Remembering something, Ethan suddenly spoke up, "Mr. Alexander, regarding the online rumors about Miss Chloe, should we handle them?"

Alexander lifted his eyelids, a half-smile on his face. "Are you that free?"

Ethan paled in shock. "I'll take the files out right away!"

*The mind of a ruler is truly impossible to fathom.* He had thought that since Alexander finally found a substitute, he would hold her in high regard and resolve small rumors without a second thought. Yet Alexander hadn't even brought it up.

---

At the estate, Chloe was preparing to hang her brought-along clothes in the walk-in closet. Stepping inside the master bedroom's closet, she raised an eyebrow. Alexander's closet fit every standard for a ruthless CEO—clean, crisp, and organized. Surprisingly, his shirts were strictly black and white, hung with absolute precision on opposite sides.

It looked almost like... clothing belonging to two completely different people.

Last night and this morning, Alexander had worn black both times.

Chloe merely swept a brief glance over it before casually looking away, appearing completely uncurious.

The moment she turned around, she collided directly with a man’s inscrutable gaze. Startled by Alexander standing behind her like a spectral ghost, Chloe stumbled on the flat floor, nearly bowing to him in a dramatic courtly gesture.

...*What terrible luck.*

Fortunately, Alexander caught her just in time. His deep, cool voice, mixed with a faint scent of pine, wrapped around her ear in teasing amusement: "So excited to see me?"

Suppressing the intense malice in her heart, Chloe leaned into him, offering him a bright, shadowless smile: "I didn't expect you to come back so early, Mr. Alexander."

Alexander’s gaze swept over the newly added women's clothing in the closet—their vibrant colors creating a stark visual clash against the dull, dark environment. Then, his eyes fell onto Chloe’s face. Without warning, he lowered his head and bit down on her lips.

Just like yesterday, there was no tenderness at all. Forcing her lips open, he gave her no room to react or resist, brandishing his mouth inside hers with near-cruel intensity.

Pushed repeatedly against the wardrobe behind her, Chloe was surprised by how well she adapted. Putting on a proper "frightened" act, she submissively responded, pretending to crave a touch of gentleness.

Clutching the man's lapels, her mind and body felt split into two separate entities. Her body obediently cooperated with him, while her heart harbors a venomous disgust. *Men... truly are just like savage dogs. Any little thing can trigger their instincts.*

Inside the closet, a strange, intoxicating scent seemed to ignite as passion and desire burst into flames in a flash. The air grew thick with the smell of pine and crisp green citrus.

A moment later, Alexander pulled back an inch, his heavy gaze sweeping over Chloe's features. Resting his head against her neck, he closed his eyes, greedily listening to her ragged breathing.

"Do you feel wronged?" he asked softly.

Chapter 5: You Can Bite a Little Harder Next Time

"Hmm?" Chloe was bewildered for a split second before understanding struck her. She barely managed to drape her arms over his shoulders, looking up at him with eyes shimmering like water as she asked with a smile, "If I say no, will you believe me, Mr. Alexander?"

It seemed he had already found out about her conversation with Ryan. Ethan, this private assistant of hers, truly was a qualified, loyal hound sitting at the devil's feet...

Still, she didn't care much. Possessiveness was merely one of the contractual terms set by her "paying client."

Alexander leaned into her, reaching out to pinch her chin and forcing Chloe to raise her head to meet his eyes. Bending down, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "If you want something, do something that makes me happy—"

"And I'll give you everything."

*Give you everything...* The offer was blatantly enticing. Looking into his pitch-black, lightless eyes, Chloe suddenly stood on tiptoe and dropped a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. Sweeping a quick glance at his reaction, her lips curved as she continued. Grasping Alexander's muscular forearm, she discovered he was trembling—as if using every ounce of his strength to suppress himself.

Dark thoughts welled up inside her once more. *This really is fascinating.*

Hanging in the wardrobe behind her were all men's shirts. The clean scent of laundry detergent mingled with his crisp, cool aura, completely enveloping her.

Chloe bit down on his Adam's apple, finally pleasing the lord. Alexander suddenly let out a low laugh, his chuckles shifting from a quiet murmur to a crazed, highly neurotic laugh.

Chloe's lips curved slightly, ignoring the psychological disgust that almost caused her stomach to cramp.

Putting on the expected reaction right on cue... showing a faint trace of a woman's frustration, she pulled back and spoke helplessly: "Mr. Alexander..."

"Hmm?" Alexander raised an eyebrow with a hint of regret, slowly extending his thumb to wipe the corner of Chloe's mouth. "I'll take you to meet a couple of friends in two days."

Chloe knew she no longer had to worry about the online rumors. Even Chen Jie hadn't been able to figure out who was behind it after investigating for so long, and she was genuinely curious as to who had done it. Dropping a quick kiss on Alexander's lips, her eyes crinkled into a smile: "Thank you so much, Mr. Alexander."

Alexander swept a glance over her lips, leaning down close to her ear, his tone unable to conceal his excitement: "You can bite a little harder next time."

"..."

Chloe's beautiful eyes widened in utter shock. Feeling the man's breath, hot and sticky against her skin, she tilted her head away in disgust. Yet the smooth, soft contour of her profile made the gesture look more like a shy, coy dodge.

Alexander stared at her for a moment. Extending the back of his hand, he tenderly traced a half-circle along her cheek before taking her hand in his. "I have a gift for you."

Exercising a lifetime's worth of patience to endure the man's intense craving for intimacy, a perfectly timed look of expectation lit up her smiling eyes and brow. "What gift?"

Alexander cast a mysterious glance at her, saying unexpectedly, "Something Chloe likes."

His certain tone instantly soured Chloe's mood a bit. They had only had their first official interaction last night; how could he possibly know what she liked? Or... had he targeted her from the very beginning?

She coldly observed the man's confidence, calculating how she should express her dislike and trouble in a moment. Surely, the dark tyrant was looking down on her from above just like she was, admiring every move of the new pet he had casually captured.

---

Walking down the stairs to the first floor, a human-sized cardboard box sat in the middle of the living room, looking especially eye-catching amidst the exquisite decor.

Chloe was genuinely taken aback for a second. Casting a glance at Alexander, he merely raised his chin in gesture. "Go open it yourself."

Picking up a small utility knife for opening packages, Chloe's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Weighing the tyrant's unfathomable temper, her sense of anticipation steadily climbed, giving her the thrill of unboxing a giant mystery box.

Carefully cutting open the outer layer of ordinary cardboard, a human-sized black box lay inside. The textured matte finish seemed to say, "Hurry up," and "Come open me." Looking at such a massive package, Chloe had an itching premonition.

...Incredible.

Taking his unique, leisurely strides, Alexander walked over to sit on the sofa, crossing his legs with immense "big boss" swagger. Reaching out casually, he scooped up Sweetie, who was curled up on the sofa daydreaming. With a smirk playing at the corner of his lips, he watched her unbox the gift as if observing a tiny pet.

The air was quiet; Chloe could almost hear the purring rumble in Sweetie's throat under his strokes.

With his intense gaze locked onto her, she untied the ribbon on the black box and peeled open the lid with some effort. Chloe raised an eyebrow—her premonition hadn't been wrong. A gift like this fit the dark tyrant's style perfectly.

What surprised her was that it actually looked just like her...

*The tyrant's taste was... quite unique?*

Lying inside the box was a Ball-Jointed Doll (BJD) that bore an uncanny resemblance to her, fully made-up and dressed. Two pairs of identical amber eyes were staring at each other "big-eye to big-eye," which was a bit eerie. No vanity needed—this doll could only have been custom-made in her likeness.

Things were turning intriguing... Anyone who raised dolls knew just how long the production cycle was for such an intricate BJD.

It seemed last night was merely a hunting opportunity he had waited a long time for... For celebrities like them in the entertainment industry, meeting a capitalist of the tyrant's caliber was far less simple than gossip tabloids made it out to be.

*So, when exactly did I attract his attention?* Chloe thought.

Chloe couldn't remember how long it had been since she last kept a doll. Seeing such a large one out of nowhere, she felt genuinely pleased by the gift. Regardless of whether he had investigated her preferences from before her debut, or how creepy and twisted it was to have a life-sized doll that looked identical to her, she couldn't suppress a thrill of finding a kindred spirit.

Unsure when she had crept over, Sweetie stood by the edge of the box, poking her head in to peek before glancing back at Chloe. Her pupils rounded in the middle of the day. The cat's tiny brain couldn't comprehend why a "person" who looked just like her was lying inside a box. Chloe intentionally moved the doll's head, and Sweetie's back instantly arched as her fur puffed up, springing off her paws to flee in absolute terror.

Watching the white cat scurry away into the distance, a sense of pride from a successful prank welled up inside her. *She wasn't a fragile little pet who couldn't even handle this level of surprise...*

Just then, Alexander's voice suddenly sounded near her ear like a ghost: "Does Chloe like it?"

Chloe let out a quiet sigh, like a child nearly caught doing something bad. She thought dully, *Is he the cat here? Walking around without making a single sound.*

Alexander sat on the floor without a care for his image, resting one arm on his knee. His gaze was deep, as if inspecting some priceless, solitary treasure in the world.

The servants in the living room had long since retired, leaving just the two of them. Sunlight slanted silently through the floor-to-ceiling glass, stretching their shadows and overlapping them together.

Chloe turned her head, her eyes meeting his gaze with just the right amount of tenderness, offering a soft, submissive smile: "This gift is very special."

Alexander leaned closer, staring at her with a touch of persistence as he asked again, "Do you like it?"

Looking into his stubborn, pitch-black eyes, Chloe suddenly raised her head and touched his lips with a fleeting kiss, whispering softly, "I like it."

Alexander stared at her for a moment, the weather in his dark eyes turning from sunny to gloomy without warning, sounding both helpless and threatening: "Chloe is being disobedient..."

"Lying again."

Those three softly spoken words hit Chloe like a falling rock, making her heart skip a beat.

Outside the main hall was a front-facing floor-to-ceiling window. It was early summer in May, and sunlight poured through the glass. Yet a cold breeze seemed to draft through the room. A layer of goosebumps rose across her skin, accompanied by a cold sweat brought on by excitement.

Chloe's light-colored pupils flickered slightly. Unhurriedly, she reached out and grabbed Alexander's necktie, pouting at him with feigned grievance: "I really do like it... Why won't you believe me, Mr. Alexander?"

Pausing briefly, she asked what she already knew: "Mr. Alexander must not know that I used to collect these, right?"

Looking at Alexander's dark, gloomy face, a hidden, malicious thrill surged within Chloe's heart. *Knowing full well that I liked it, yet deliberately going crazy to probe me... What was the dark tyrant trying to hide?*