Rosella’s POV My vision was still black but I seem to be awake and my eyes were opened.For a crazy second I thought I had gone blind until I realized something far much worse was happening.I have been abducted! And I’m certain my head was covered with a black cloth.Oh, where have I see this before?!Donovan that psychopath! I was seething with rage and that seemed to set off the signal that I was awake. Their voices sounded muffled but I could make out the command to remove the cloth from my face. The footsteps approached me and with one swift move the cloth was dragged away and the shinning bulb above forced light into my eyes.‘Curses!’I squinted my eyes in pain and lowered my head. I was ready to give Donovan a piece of my mind but when I slowly lifted my face I was petrified. This… who are these men that abducted me?“Such a pretty face, Boss” The one closest to me which I suspect was the one who removed the black cloth said. He licked his lips lavishly but I was more
Rosella’s POV I was being carried away and I kept slipping in and out of mind. My head was dangling over his shoulder and after that I didn’t know what happened.The next thing I felt was a rain of cold water touching my hair and running all the way down to my feet.My eyes peeled open and I gasped for air. The first thing that came to view was Donovan’s figure, it took me a minute to realize my surroundings. He held me in his arms and regulated the water temperature, it was still freaking cold!Was this man tryna freeze me to death!Soon my body was shivering from the cold intrusion and as my head rested on his chest I became aware that his body was the remedy to my current madness.It was almost like every other element of the world was too severe.The air was too sharp, the water was too cold. My body felt too hot but his skin was the balance I was desperately searching for.I wanted more of it, I was like a traveler stuck in a desert and finally stumbled upon a lake. All
Rosella’s POV“You…!” I pointed my finger at him with my other hand supporting my head. “Do you have no shame? How can you do that to someone who was drugged?!”My breathing was chaotic and I was trembling from uncontainable fury! Just how low is this man going to get?! Or am I the problem? Did I offend someone deeply in my past life and I am not paying dearly for it?“Why aren’t you saying anything? Have you suddenly developed a sense of self-worth?! How could you take advantage of my intoxication?!!”I was fuming mad, I knew it wasn’t entirely his fault but I’d deal with myself later. Right now, I needed to express my utmost bitterness and disgust! It greatly irked me to see him seated with a calm expression while my face had turned ashen from rage. “In that case should I have left you to die?” He asked with his huge hands folded across his chest while still partially covered by the duvet. My head was throbbing. I reached for a nightrobe and clothed myself. At the very least
Rosella’s POV It’s not like I had a choice, she already let herself in and sashayed towards me. Her eyes were everywhere but on the supposed patient! This made me wonder if this was her first time entering his room. Since she claimed to have worked with the architects of this mansion, surely she should’ve been allowed to roam everywhere! But the look of awe in her eyes told me otherwise, she placed the box on the shelf beside me and took a moment to bask in the enchanting feel of the surroundings.Truly, Donovan’s room was made with the finest materials, it looked straight out of an ancient palace, and if I hadn't been so irritated by everything he touched, I might’ve even enjoyed living here, but sadly that wasn’t the case!“Sit up, let me see where you’re hurt”I had no intention of receiving treatment from someone who looks at me like I’m nothing but scum, so I remained in my position and said “You don’t have to, I’ll visit the hospital tomorrow”“Do you think I want to? Don’t
Rosella’s POV If there was ever a person who ignored all the obvious signs and still went headfirst diving into whatever suits his agenda, then that spot would already be occupied by Donovan! I know he clearly sees how goosebumps invade my skin just by being this close to him yet, he doesn’t have the decency to spare me some space!I stopped struggling like a fish out of water because I knew it was pointless. His hands moved freely around my thigh, making its way up my waist through my nightgown while my breathing slowly grew rapid. The tension in the air seemed to be boiling. I felt hot all over my body but my eyes weren’t blazing from desires. I was glaring daggers at him!But he wasn’t done! He steadily moved his hands to my chest which was now heaving erratically. I shut my eyes and bit my lips in frustration. It’s not like I could resist, if I wanted to.He leaned and his familiar scent got more pungent. “Keep your eyes open” He commanded.“I’m not obligated to” I retort
Rosella’s POV I looked like a criminal avoiding his sprinting figure and turning my head in the opposite direction. “Please you can’t move while I take the sample” The nurse’s voice stopped my childish display. How foolish was I to move while a needle was being inserted into my skin?!After that, a full body examination was conducted and I ended up getting admitted. So here I was in the VIP ward staring at the ceiling trying to think of my next course of action. I obviously don’t plan to have a child for Donovan so I need to move fast on my father’s company. Luckily my twenty-first birthday is drawing nearer and I will finally have access to my inheritance. When that time comes I need to come up with a plan to get Donovan off my back. Just then, the door opened and broke my train of thought. It was nurse delivering the hospital food. They said my vitals were very low and I’m honestly not surprised. With everything that happened, it’s a miracle I’m still alive.“Please eat ca
Rosella’s POV The next day came fast and I was still laying on the hospital bed. I wonder how long I have to be here, still it’s better than sharing a bed with that man.Here, I could enjoy the sunshine reflecting through the windows for a few minutes longer than usual and even dare a smile to form on my cheeks as I watched the sky from my bed.But all that happiness flew away when the nurse came to examine my condition and announced that I was free to go. “Are you sure there isn’t even a slight chance that I need to rest some more?”She looked at me weirdly but I didn’t care, I would take my chances. Unfortunately, her response was the same and I just need to rest at home, it’s not necessary to be admitted any longer. The door opened some time later and I was beyond pleased to see Mirable. She walked in with a fruit basket and this immediately reminded me of Marcus and his ridiculous offer. “How’re you feeling now? When are you getting discharged?” She asked while peeling an
Rosella’s POV Talk about the worst timing!Donovan’s figure came into view in all his glory and I swallowed the rest of my words. The earlier lively room became gloomy, if Donovan isn’t the seed of discord, I don’t know what is!Even the delivery man stood on edge, poor guy just wanted to do his job but he was having a hard time ignoring Franklin’s death stares. I stayed silent and acted like a series of questions wasn’t thrown at me a while ago. Mirable immediately made a bow and exited the room and Franklin followed behind.To be honest, I was more interested in the discussion soon to happen between Mirable and Franklin than anything Donovan had to say!Sadly, I was left alone with Donovan. “Why did you send a bouquet if you were going to show up anyway?” “It’s the finishing touch” He replied and I stared in confusion. If he was referring to his presence being the icing on the cake then I would gladly add narcissism to his list. “I heard you’re getting discharge, how
The tension in the hospital lingered in the air like an uninvited guest, heavy and suffocating. After the doctor delivered the news that their mother had survived the surgery but was now in a coma, neither Rosella nor Mirable could breathe a sigh of relief. The hope of her waking up was the only thread holding them together, yet it felt too thin, too fragile.Rosella’s knees buckled, her strength waning, but Donovan’s strong arms shot out and caught her before she could collapse completely. His grip on her was firm yet gentle, his eyes filled with concern. “You need to rest,” he murmured softly, but she barely heard him, her mind too occupied with the image of her mother bleeding out in her arms.The room where their mother was moved to was quiet, save for the beeping of machines and the faint rustle of nurses shuffling about. The doctor informed them that they could visit, but before they could take a step, Mirable turned to Rosella and Donovan, her expression conflicted. “Rosella… c
Blood spattered on the ground, pooling beneath the crumpled body of Rosella's mother. The sound of the gunshot still echoed in Rosella's ears, even as chaos erupted around her. Her body froze, rooted to the ground as the weight of her mother's falling figure pressed against her chest."No-No, no, no!" Rosella cried, catching her mother in her trembling arms. The air seemed to thicken, bullets zipping past her in the ensuing firefight. She didn't flinch.The world blurred, focusing solely on the woman bleeding out in her arms. ‘Why did she throw herself in front of me?’ Rosella’s mind was pinned on this thought. "Mom! Stay with me!" she screamed, shaking her gently. Blood seeped through her mother's dress, staining Rosella's hands and knees. "Please, don't close your eyes, don't do this to me!"Her mother's eyes fluttered open, her irises clouded with pain yet filled with a strange serenity. "Rosella..." Her voice was barely audible, a faint whisper under the chaos.Tears streamed d
The tension in the air was suffocating, thick enough to choke. The small warehouse echoed with the sound of guns cocking and men shifting into position. The stale scent of sweat, gunpowder, and mildew permeated the room, clinging to the skin like an unwelcome reminder of the danger that loomed.Rosella could barely breathe as she sat on the floor, her wrists raw from the ropes that had only recently been removed by Marcus, her heart thundering in her chest.Her mother was beside her, pale and trembling, though her gaze flickered with a strange kind of strength. Across the room, Odessa stood tall, her arms crossed and her expression cool but edged with irritation as she surveyed the chaos she had orchestrated.In the middle of it all stood Marcus, he suddenly rushed in holding a gun that wavered between two targets, Donovan and his mother, Odessa. His jaw was clenched, his brow furrowed, and his breathing uneven as he wrestled with the storm of emotions raging inside him."Marcus," O
Rosella was slumped against the cold wall of the dimly lit room, her wrists sore from the ropes digging into her skin. The air was damp and carried the faint metallic tang of rust and decay. The room itself was barren save for a flickering bulb overhead, casting long, ominous shadows across the cracked concrete walls. Every creak of the floor, every distant muffled noise made her flinch, the tension wrapping around her like a vice.Odessa stood before her, her figure imposing despite the elegant tailored suit she wore. Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she paced, the sound filling the otherwise silent room. Her lips curled into a smirk, and her dark eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She looked every bit the predator who had cornered her prey.“You must be wondering,” Odessa began, her voice smooth but laced with venom, “why I hate Donovan so much. Why I’ve gone to such lengths to tear him down.” She paused, her gaze flickering to Rosella, who stared back with defiance despi
Rosella's breath caught in her throat as her gaze locked onto the older woman slumped nearby. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Mirable's mother, her mother was sitting just feet away, her head bowed, her blonde hair falling limply over her face.The revelation felt like a sucker punch to the gut. This wasn't just a coincidence or some cruel game Odessa was playing. The truth was undeniable. The woman who had shielded Mirable with her life during the earlier chaos, the woman whose face seemed strangely familiar from the moment Rosella laid eyes on her was the same woman who had abandoned her as a child.Her mother.Rosella's heart thundered in her chest as a whirlwind of emotions tore through her.Shock, betrayal, anger, and the faintest hint of longing all fought for dominance.She clenched her fists against the ropes binding her, her nails digging into her palms as she fought back tears.Across the room, Odessa’s smirk widenedas she basked in the tension. "Well, well," she dra
Rosella’s world felt drenched in icy water as her senses came alive. She gasped, her body jerking against the tight ropes that bound her to the cold, damp floor. The sharp sting of water dripping from her hair to her skin left her shivering, but the real coldness came from the person standing over her.Emma.A wicked smile stretched across Emma’s face as she held an empty bucket, her gleeful eyes mocking Rosella’s misery. “Good, you’re awake,” she said, tossing the bucket aside carelessly. The clang echoed in the dimly lit room, its harsh sound amplifying the tension in the air.Rosella’s eyes darted around, panic rising in her chest. The room was barren except for a few scattered crates and a single dangling bulb casting a dim, flickering light. Her gaze froze when it landed on a motionless figure slumped against the wall.Mirable’s mother.The older woman was still unconscious, her blonde hair matted and her pale face streaked with grime. Rosella’s heart raced, a sinking dread settl
Rosella paced her room, the plush carpet muffling the frantic huffs of her breaths. Her heart raced in sync with her thoughts, each beat heavier than the last. Donovan’s warning to stay indoors had seemed simple enough at first, but as the hours passed, unease wrapped around her like a suffocating fog. Why wouldn’t he or Franklin answer her calls? What was happening out there?The vibration of her phone jolted her from her thoughts. Snatching it from the table, she saw the name Dalgliesh Residence flashing on the screen. Her breath hitched.“Hello?” she answered, her voice trembling.“Miss Rosella,” the voice on the other end was panicked, rushed. “It’s Mr. Dalgliesh. He’s collapsed, been rushed to St. James Hospital. It’s bad… very bad.”Rosella felt her knees weaken, her free hand gripping the edge of the desk for support. “Collapsed? What happened?!”“We don’t know yet. The doctors are trying their best, but…” The voice faltered, leaving the grim implication hanging in the air.Ros
Felix had his father discharged, watching him from home was best, even though Daisy was against the idea he went ahead with it anyway. He hated hospitals, he put up long enough already, any more would break him. Daisy adamantly followed him set his Father at home. Felix leaned against the porch railing, his gaze distant. Could he even look Daisy in the eye after what he was about to say? She stood a few steps away, her face a mixture of hope and hesitation. Did she feel the same tension in the air, the same heaviness that sat like a stone in his chest?Daisy spoke first, her voice soft. “Felix… I know things haven’t been the same since I left, but—”“Why did you come back, Daisy?” he interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. “Was it guilt? Regret? Or did you think you could fix what’s already broken?”Her eyes widened at his words, and she shook her head. “I came back because I realized what I lost. I made a mistake, Felix. I thought I was doing what was best for us, but… can’t we try a
The rain poured relentlessly, a thunderous symphony that matched the turmoil in Mirable’s chest. She tried to wrest her hand free from Mitch’s grip, but his hold was firm. His face was a picture of regret, drenched in rainwater and guilt.“Let go, Mitch!” she shouted, her voice sharp, raw.“Mirable, please, just listen!” Mitch’s voice cracked with desperation.Suddenly, a hand shot out of the downpour, grabbing Mitch’s wrist and forcing it away from her. The strength of the grip made Mitch stumble, and Mirable gasped as the figure stepped into view.It was Franklin.“You heard her,” Franklin growled, his voice low and menacing. “She told you to unhand her.”Before Mitch could react, Franklin’s fist connected with his jaw in a brutal punch, the sound of the impact cutting through the rain. Mitch staggered back, clutching his face as blood dripped from his lip.“Franklin, stop!” Mirable cried, her shock evident.Franklin wasn’t done. He grabbed Mitch by the collar, lifting him slightly