Rosalynn’s POVAs night fell, I lay in Nolan’s arms, my head resting on his firm chest, listening to his steady breaths.I carefully slipped away to sit up, letting my legs dangle over the edge of the bed, and looked back at the sleeping man, his face troubled even in sleep. My trembling fingers wanted to touch him one last time, but I pulled back immediately, afraid that even a small gesture might wake him.After dressing, I pulled a suitcase from under the bed.I glanced around the room once more before leaning down to kiss Nolan’s lips.Holding back my tears as I felt his cool breath, I looked at his face one last time and whispered to myself, “Goodbye, Nolan.”Then, I resolutely stepped out of the room.Closing the door behind me also closed the chapter of memories from the past two years tied to this house.I believed that only by silently fleeing could I escape this man. Yet, no matter how determined I was, my heart ached deeply, the pain intensifying as I entered Hailey’s bedro
Nolan’s POV."Just this once." I kept muttering, hoping to see a change in her expression.I lowered my voice, begging Rosalynn to reconsider. I hoped she could forgive me for treating her as a stand-in for someone else. But no matter how gently or lovingly I treated her, it never seemed to be enough.Was it all because of Liam?Rosalynn stood still, her cold gaze piercing my heart. After a few seconds, she smirked and laughed bitterly, "Just this once? I’ve waited and trusted you so many times. Do you think I can forgive you for killing Liam?""Why won’t you believe me? I didn’t kill him!" I snarled in frustration, wanting to grab her."Stop denying it!" she screamed, "I heard your voice. I heard the recording of your plan to kill Liam. You’re a cruel bastard!"I clenched my fists and furrowed my brow, anger surging within me."For Christine, you’d do anything, wouldn’t you, Nolan? So why can’t you let me go?" Rosalynn's voice cracked, and tears streamed down her face.She was in pai
Rosalynn’s POV.FIVE YEARS LATER.“Ms. Wilson, why did you return to Las Vegas first after winning the international piano competition?”“Ms. Wilson, are you planning to develop your piano career in Las Vegas?”At Harry Reid International Airport, I strode confidently in a professional navy blue suit. In one hand, I held a designer handbag, and with my other small hand, I pulled a suitcase through the crowd.Flashes from cameras and reporters' microphones were constantly directed at me. However, this didn’t bother me as I had gotten used to it over time, and I had prepared for the media frenzy when I announced my return.Stepping out into the airport arrival hall, I slowly removed my sunglasses and smiled brightly as I took in the familiar surroundings.“There’s someone in Las Vegas I want to challenge. Please look forward to my upcoming performance.” I bent slightly and waved towards the cameras.“A piano challenge?” The reporters, catching onto the sensational news, immediately buzz
Rosalynn’s POV.I sipped a bit of red wine and glanced toward the center of the hall, illuminated by sparkling golden lights. The sweet grape flavor slowly spread through my mouth, creating a cool sensation in my throat as I swallowed.In the past, no matter how much I yearned, I could never attend piano artists' gatherings like this. It used to be my dream and marked the beginning of my career.However, holding the invitation in my hand today, I no longer felt much enthusiasm. Or maybe, I wasn't particularly happy to hear Christine's name the moment I stepped inside.Standing next to a few other piano artists, I remained silent, not initiating any conversation with them."Shhh! If Christine hears someone comparing her to anyone else, she'll definitely go crazy!" another woman quickly warned, her face looking cautious."Exactly. After Mr. Watson lost the mayoral election five years ago, she seemed to turn into a different person," someone else agreed."I think it's because her company
Rosalynn’s POV."Even Professor Charles has stepped in, is she really not going to have a celebratory drink with Rosalynn?" The murmurs of gossip continued unabated, increasingly putting Christine in a difficult position.Christine's shoulders trembled slightly as she faced me; it seemed her mind was filled with curses and insults directed at me.I swirled the wine in my glass, watching the movement of the red liquid. I kept a calm smile on my face, waiting for Christine's next reaction.Before returning to Las Vegas, I knew that Christine had long since abandoned her innocent angel act from years ago. But the Watson family no longer held the power that allowed her to be arrogant and haughty, so her standing in the piano world was no longer as solid.Now, my presence in this city is her greatest threat.I was genuinely curious to see how she planned to eliminate me once again."Rosalynn!" Christine called my name through gritted teeth, but the next moment, she suddenly laughed softly
Nolan’s POV.I had only stepped away from the table for a few minutes to take a phone call, and when I returned, I saw Hailey at someone else’s table. She was always so open and trusting with strangers, far more than her mother and I ever were.Hailey ran over to hug me, her sweet voice chiming, “Daddy, I’m playing with the pretty lady and Ryan.”My attention was solely on Hailey. Holding her small shoulders, I lowered my voice to show my seriousness, “Daddy has told you many times not to talk to strangers. Did you forget?”“But the pretty lady isn’t a stranger. I’ve met her twice before. And today she brought a very cute boy with her.” Hailey pouted, looking at me pleadingly.Realizing her mistake, she gently tugged at my shirt.“Alright.” I sighed and patted her head. “Next time, don’t leave Daddy’s sight when we’re out, okay?”“Yes, Daddy.” Her joy returned instantly, and she nodded enthusiastically before clinging to me even tighter.Since she was a baby, Hailey had always been cl
Rosalynn’s POV."Let's get out of the car, Ryan." I placed one hand on the car door and helped my adorable little boy out as we arrived at the party we were invited to tonight.A second later, David took Ryan's other hand, and together we walked through the grand entrance of the hall. Originally, our father was invited to the party, but he couldn't make it due to his busy schedule after the international piano competition. So, we had to come in his place.David looked a bit tense as he turned to me, seeing the crowd mingling inside, "You know I’m not good at socializing, Rosa.""I know. You don't have to remind me. There will definitely be a few people you know here. After we pass on Dad's regards to the host, we can just talk to those people," I said with a chuckle, winking at Ryan, who was eagerly watching me.Kids usually love lively events. Plus, today's gathering was more like a family party, with many people bringing their children along.As I passed by a little girl about the s
Rosalynn's POV. “Wait a minute, Mr. Carpenter.” I reached out and called out to the middle-aged man who was striding away after seeing me. David stood behind me and just silently observed everything. None of us can act happy in this moment anymore. Perhaps the incident that year was such a big knot between me and the Carpenter family that now it also involved my Wilson family. I still remembered that day my father and I went to the Carpenter family's house, and they all showed signs of not welcoming my arrival. Even my sister Marie Wilson was not too comfortable with this. Mr. Carpenter stood but did not turn toward me, as if this were the last of his patience with me. I gulped and said, “The anniversary of Liam's death is coming up, please allow me to place a bouquet of flowers and light a candle in front of his gravestone.” When I returned to Las Vegas, I dreamed about Liam the first night. It seems like the nightmare of his death has always stuck with me for many years, but I
One year later.In London.“Hailey, Ryan, stop running around!”“It’s raining. Hurry up and get inside!”I sipped on my hot tea and watched Marie trying to keep the two kids in line. As I saw the rain splashing against the clear glass window, I thought about getting up to fetch an umbrella for them, but Nolan stopped me.“Just relax, I already gave them one. Hailey will come inside soon—she hates getting wet in the rain.” He set a plate of pastries in front of me and sat down beside me.Then, he rested his head against my large, round belly and playfully asked, “Son, have you been making mommy tired today?”That’s right, I was nine months pregnant, and the little one inside me was a boy. Every night, I eagerly awaited his arrival, imagining his face and thinking he would probably look just like his dad, Nolan. The doctor said my due date was approaching soon, so I had to be careful with every move I made.I ran my fingers through Nolan’s soft, short hair, teasingly saying, “I think yo
Rosalynn’s POV.A musty smell enveloped me as I slowly opened my eyes, realizing I was tied up. My heart skipped a beat when I remembered my daughter.Just then, something soft brushed against me. I looked down and saw Hailey lying next to me, fast asleep. Relief washed over me, but my head still throbbed, likely from the lingering effects of the sedative.I sat up and scanned the room. It was clear—we’d been kidnapped.But who would dare pull this off so close to Nolan’s estate? And how did they slip past Alex’s guard?“You’re awake, huh?” A woman’s voice echoed through the room as the door to this dingy warehouse creaked open.Being a pianist, I was more sensitive to sounds than most, and my memory of voices was sharp. I recognized her immediately without needing to look, “Christine Watson. You should be locked up in the police station awaiting trial. How did you escape?”Christine let out a loud, deranged laugh, “If I told you Nolan had mercy on me and didn’t hand me over to the po
At the Watson family mansion.Nolan's POV.“What the hell are you doing? Let my father go. Do you have an arrest warrant, or are you just barging into our home?”As I stepped into the Watson family's grand hall, Christine’s screams echoed loudly. She showed her sharp and aggressive side in front of the officers arresting Kyle. That sweet, gentle expression of hers, it seemed, only ever appeared when she was with me.The moment she saw me, Christine’s eyes lit up as if she had found a savior. She rushed over to me and pleaded, “Nolan, please! There must be some mistake. Tell them to release my father.”I pulled my hand away, not hiding the annoyance on my face, “Enough, Christine.”“What?” She froze, looking at me with confusion in her eyes, “What do you mean?”The officer beside me presented the arrest warrant and said firmly, “Mr. Kyle Watson is suspected of orchestrating the fire at the Kingston mansion 27 years ago. And Miss Christine Watson, you are believed to be an accomplice fo
Rosalynn's POV.Early afternoon on Saturday, I impatiently sat in the living room of Nolan's mansion and waited for the team to decrypt the USB I had just found. Looking at the clock as the minutes ticked by, I kept walking back and forth so continuously that Hailey got dizzy and she frowned at me.“Rosa, can you stop walking? You're influencing me to study!” She pouted at me, holding a crayon on her hip, looking very adorable.Today I braided Hailey's hair into pigtails. Every time she bent down to study, the ends of her hair will wiggle with each movement of her pen.I sat down and hugged Hailey and kissed her head affectionately, “I'm sorry, sweetie. So now I'll sit quietly and watch you study, is that okay?"Hailey nodded and then held up the painting she had just completed for me to see with bright eyes. It seems that since childhood, she has loved painting. She is very sensitive to mixing colors, more interested in pictures than numbers. One day when I went to school to pick her
Rosalynn's POV.Mark seemed scared by Nolan's appearance as his face turned pale and all of his aggressive appearance was gone. He glared at his wife and then grabbed his suitcase to leave the house, but Nolan's large body was blocking the door.He didn't dare to speak to Nolan, so he turned and walked back to his room, then slammed the door hard.Mark's wife, her name was Rachael, immediately collapsed to the floor and covered her face, crying helplessly. I moved closer to comfort her, and at the same time, Riley's room door also opened.The little girl, her face filled with tears, ran out and hugged me and her mother. Perhaps I always deeply sympathize with Riley because her eyes are exactly the same as when I was adopted by the Carter family. Every day there would often be thugs coming to collect debt, they would destroy things and my adoptive parents would have to kneel down to beg them. I once desperately begged everyone to spare our family, but at that time I did not understand
Rosalynn's POV.In the middle of the large living room, I sat next to Anne and leaned my head on her shoulder like we were once so close. My eyes looked toward the closed piano box, and a ray of pain gently passed through my heart, making the bridge of my nose sting.Anne patted my shoulder and her warm voice rang out, “Mr. Nolan always cleaned this piano himself without anyone touching it, not even Hailey.”“I know that. A few days ago, Hailey revealed it to me.” I chuckled and sat up straight, holding Anne's hand tightly.When she looked at my face again, tears welled up in her eyes and she pursed her lips to control her choking, “Luckily you're alive and well, Rosa. Where have you been lately? It is said that you have found your family, they are very rich and also love you. I was very worried when I heard you left with nothing."I felt the back of Anne's hand. Because of regular housework, combined with her growing age, her skin has shown signs of aging. Listening to her ask a seri
Rosalynn's POV.I clearly understood what Nolan was about to say, as well as being fully aware of the meaning of today's dinner with our little daughter. But making this sudden decision was very difficult for me.When I saw Mark and the man with freckles on his face walking out of the restaurant together, the first thought that popped into my head was to chase them. They were the most important clues in this case that I was quietly working on, and it seemed like my intuition was right.When I arrived at the parking lot, I hid behind a car parked closest to them and kept quiet about their next movements.“Sir, when will I receive the money you said? We are gradually transferring our convenience store. Before the next term starts, I have to transfer my daughter's school. So please hurry up a bit..." The other Mark's voice was filled with flattery.Right after that, another male voice rang out, that of the man with freckles, "Wait a minute. I will arrange your accommodation when you go t
Nolan's POV.The strong scent of perfume entered my nostrils, making me frown in discomfort. Immediately after, I grabbed Christine's arms and pushed her body, “What the hell are you doing?” I huffed.She was crying with tears streaming down her eyes and her eyes were completely red, but I had been feeling this annoying for a long time.Christine tried to grab my arm even though I pushed her out of the room, “Nolan, do you know what you're doing? We made an appointment last night, but you went to sleep with another woman. She finally…”While scolding me, she pointed at Rosalynn who was sitting up on the bed. Only when her eyes clearly saw Rosalynn did she shut her mouth and her expression revealed an unacceptable look.“That bitch Rosalynn!” She stomped her feet and tried to rush towards the bed, but I quickly grabbed her.Not only was she trembling, but even I felt confused when I saw Christine's presence here. I knew what I was afraid of, what Rosalynn would think about Christine's
[WARNING R-18] THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS.Rosalynn’s POV.After over ten minutes of struggling, I finally managed to get this large man into the elevator. I knew Nolan had a presidential suite on the top floor of the JW Kingston hotel; I just needed him to give me the password to get inside.As we exited the elevator, he started kissing along the side of my face and held me tightly. His hot breath on my skin made me feel flushed.“Nolan, stop messing around.” I pushed his head away after he nibbled on my earlobe.Reaching Nolan's room, I shook him gently and asked, "Hey, what's the room password?"This damned man didn’t answer my question. Instead, he leaned down to bite my lower lip, attempting to kiss me again. Earlier, I had barely managed to push him away to catch my breath, but the drug was taking stronger effect as he clung to my waist.“Damn it!” I lightly tapped his head as he hugged me from behind. Glancing at his face resting on my s