Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"It’s your turn, mister..." Amber's heart skipped a beat. She was startled by Axel looking teary-eyed. His gaze was one filled with grief. His eyes looked dim, like an almost burnt-out shooting star.

"You've won. Good for you..."

Axel smiled with his eyes as he gently pinched the top of his glass with his fingers, clinking it against hers. He continued, "I really hope that you can keep winning."

Upon saying that, he finished the cognac in his glass. A trickle of the liquid spilled from his mouth, tracing the curve of his lip and descending along his impeccably sculpted jawline.

Amber's eyes turned red. She felt like a buoy in the middle of the sea, floating beyond her control.

She had never heard words like that said to her before, others always required, dictated or commanded her to do things. No one had ever uttered a hopeful sentiment to her, wishing for her triumph or a future free from darkness. And that she could also have...

All of a sudden, her mind went blank. She couldn't stop herself from wrapping her arms around Axel's broad shoulders and kissing him on the lips.

Axel held his breath, then lowered his gaze. He placed his hand on the back of her head. Amidst stroking her head, he quietly pulled the silver hair stick out of her hair.

The subordinate, who had been waiting for Amber to be done, waited until it was almost sunrise. When Amber still hadn't come back out, he decided to go in to search for her.

After going around the place a few times, including the washrooms, he realized the Amber had vanished! Her cell phone had also been switched off!

panting heavily. He had come with more

him, "How could a full-grown adult vanish just

to follow her initially, but Ms. Altman said she wanted to handle that man by herself. So, I could only wait for her outside. I really have no idea what happened inside!" he explained as he trembled in

Mr. Schmidt. If anything were to happen to her,

a cat on

was petite and only had

Mr. Schmidt. Otherwise, Ms. Altman might

the Schmidts left, Sean insisted on staying at Heightsnew Villa to accompany

expression on his face, he simply returned to his

next afternoon came, Winston was still unwilling to come out of his room. Inevitably, everyone else began to

needs some time

out a despondent sigh. "On the surface, Mr. Taylor may seem unaffected, but

is still a blessing in disguise. I suppose, Mr. Taylor

a shaky voice, she said to Neil, "Mr. Benton, if you get a

good word or two for Sean. If it's

try

side, "Following this, I'm sure that

I will make the