Rosella’s POV I arrived at Cambridge Lounge in time but I somehow managed to be the last person. They must be super excited about what they had planned for me if they showed up this early. Call me rude, I don’t care! I walked right past everyone seated at the round table and made my way upstairs. I was only here tonight because of Simon, I had a bone to pick with him, elsewise they wouldn’t have had the luxury of seeing my shadow!Sure enough the minute I walked past I heard their clamoring voices and it was clear they weren’t trying to hide their sharp words. One of them even seemed like she was going to charge at me while she yelled “Who does she think she is?! Is she better than everyone because she became the surrogate of a powerful family?!” The hall erupted as I saw from the corners of my eyes a few of them stopping her from following me up the stairs. How hilarious!“Please wait here, Mr. Simon would be right with you”Immediately I reached the upper floor a waitress ra
Mirable’s POVEver since Mitch’s awkward stare at the front of his car, he kept giving me the once over while driving and it was starting to get really uncomfortable. Was my new look that provocative or was he just a freak? Of course, these were my inner thoughts and I didn’t express them! I just awkwardly smiled every time our eyes jammed, which was quite often!I thought to put on some music to alleviate the weird tension but the minute I reached for the radio button he reached out as well and our fingers touched.“I’m sorry!” I pulled my hands immediately and the air got even more suffocating.“Why are you apologizing? I did it on purpose”My head slowly turned in disbelief “What?”“I’m saying it was my pure intention to feel your hands”I was left speechless, unsure of how to react then he spoke again. “Is there something going on between you and Franklin?”He dropped the question so casually yet I felt a surge of anger within me, I can’t recall how many times I’ve been ask
Mirable POVInstead of giving him a reply I turned my neck diagonally and sure enough, Mitch was staring right at me with no intention of concealing his intense gaze. My throat suddenly became dry as I picked up a glass of water but Mitch stood up to raise a toast and everyone held their wine glass up, leaving me with no choice but to switch my option.Even while standing and holding out his glass his eyes were staring at me. Is he trying to make everyone here aware of his weird behavior?!The awkward tension almost made me drink my wine but I refrained. I can’t have alcohol no matter what, the mess I made last time landed me in this spectacle. Cheers followed after his brief speech and each partner clicked their glasses before taking a sip but Mitch was alone, he was the only one without a date, it’s no wonder he could openly fix his gaze on me without restraint. “The dance floor is ours” One of the executives present announced and steadily people made their way in pairs to the
Rosella’s POV With the annoying conversation I had with Simon which was no different from barking at a wall. I was now forced to sit at the round table with every one of the pretentious people in my class.I just realized that not everyone from our session was present, it was only the selected group known for their despicable behavior that organized and showed up for this supposed reunion and I’m yet to see Adriana. Does she think her arrival will be a surprise to me? I’m sorry to disappoint her but I’ve already caught on her passionate display in one of the rooms. They were so into it that they didn’t realize the door wasn’t properly shut.My, my Jake must now be too busy with his stolen company to satisfy her desires, if she had to look to someone like Simon for it then it must be a case of chronic neglect. “Rose”I heard my name from one of their mouths and pretended not to hear. I’m only seated here because I’m now curious about their special plans for me. Since they put i
“Mr. Donovan, it’s a pleasure to meet you again” Simon’s voice cheerfully echoed as he skipped down the stairs. His actions were quite courageous as he stretched out his hand for a handshake with Donovan, where did he get such boldness?Donovan finally let go of Adriana’s hand and she winced in pain while massaging her shoulders. “Who are you?” Simon’s face instantly flushed red from embarrassment and Rose unknowingly muffled a laugh. He acted as though Donovan was his old time friend, was this just because of the one time meeting to make a reservation for this place? Because the hall was quiet and before Simom could recollect his senses, all attention was focused on the videos on the screen.“Someone turn it off” Their low voices whispered between themselves as they scurried like headless chickens trying to disconnect the massive projector from displaying their ‘best memories in school’“Get me the tape and all the copies” “Yes sir”The workers moved swiftly and claimed the
Dancing with Mitch in this god-forsaken dinner wasn’t the height of it all, I thought it would end soon but he was adamant about releasing me. Everyone else had a change of partner but not me and Mitch, he held me close like a delivery man to a parcel and when I looked over his shoulders I saw Franklin hitting the dance floor with the girl he was chatting with earlier.Must be nice to have no worries while I was stuck with this overbearing figure of a man. “Don’t you know it’s rude to have your eyes on another man while dancing with your partner?”My reverie was pierced with his intruding question. I only looked for a split second but he was watching me so closely that he didn’t miss that. I forced a smile in response.“Who says I was looking at another man? The dress she wore is lovely, that’s all”He slightly glanced at the girl in Franklin’s arms, luckily her dress was indeed lovely, I just hadn’t paid attention to it earlier. At least I was justified but he was relentless and
Rosella’s POV “Felix, what are you doing?”I ran over and steadied his figure, the shock in his eyes when he stared back at me was priceless, I couldn’t tell if it was because this was his first time seeing me all dressed up or because of Donovan’s display last night. “Where are the nurses? Why are you struggling out of bed to get a cup of water?”He didn’t respond and just kept staring at me with complex eyes. Did I have something of my face?“Felix…” I called out softly and he finally snapped out of it. “I’m fine” He limped back to bed and I dropped my purse on the shelf in annoyance.“This is a VIP ward, how can they be this negligent?!” I raised my voice unknowingly and prepared to storm out but he suddenly grabbed my wrist.“I sent them away”“What?” “I sent them away” He voiced again and his grip loosened. “Why?” I calmly asked, seeing his solemn expression I couldn’t bring myself to yell in frustration. “… I hate hospitals”The emotions nestled in his gaze were alarm
Rosella’s POV Was I wrong about Marcus? I knew he shared similar characteristics with Donovan but was it this bad? He had completely lost all sense of reasoning. “Where is Felix?” I asked again, this time my voice was firm showing no sign of jest. He straightened his posture and got his features off my face. Acting as though he was trying to remember he tucked his hands in his pocket indifferently. “And why should I tell you that?” He shot back mockingly and I totally lost it.“I swear to God, if you so much as hurt him Marcus, I’m gonna make you pay! You psychopath!”Clearly, I was the only one yelling and straining my veins despite my headaches because he looked extremely pleased to see me distressed and a wave of helplessness overwhelmed me. “What do you want?” I suddenly asked solemnly. Felix is innocent, and it’s because of me he was dragged into this mess. I sighed in despair, he wasn’t done with his treatment but now he was kidnapped and it’s all my fault. “Finally, y
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