“Come on, let's get you a seat rather than standing like this." Luthor said as he led Rose towards an empty table in the restaurant. Rose nodded her head and just quietly followed Luthor until he asked her to sit down and wait for him while he went to go and find his mother. “Mom." Luthor called as he walked to where his mother was standing. Even though the business was running well, they still had no money to hire staff. So Luthor's mother was the one that managed to do the serving of the customers and when Luthor's siblings came back from work and school, they would assist her as well. “Luthor, when did you arrive?” A pretty looking middle aged woman.in her early forties turned around and looked at the person that called her which was none other than her son. She was a bit surprised to see him by this time. “I came here a while ago.” Luthor replied as he hugged his mom. If one takes a closer look at the mother and son, they would be able to tell that he inherited some of his mo
Rose, who was busy with her phone, didn't notice Luthor and Maya walking towards her until Luthor called her. “Little Rose, sorry for keeping you waiting.” Luthor called her by the nickname he gave her, making Rose raise her head up. Her eyes quickly landed on the elderly woman beside Luthor and she didn't need to be told who she was because she already took a guess. Noticing where her eyes were on, Luthor quickly gestured to his mother. " This is my mother." He told her and Rose slowly nodded her head before standing up from her seat. “It's nice to meet you Mrs. Hoult." She greeted and did a small bow to her. Maya was taken aback by the gesture and quickly waved her hand. “Oh dear. Young Miss, please someone like you shouldn't bow like that to me." She nervously said and Rose raised her head up. Rose bowing to Maya was a sign of respect and politeness, reflecting her good manners and understanding of social etiquette. Maya's reaction, however, revealed her humility, as she fe
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, different black vans caught the attention of passerby outside the restaurant as they watched the cars and vans parked right outside the restaurant. The people in the vans and cars who were all hefty men alighted from the vehicles and strolled confidently into the restaurant. The sudden appearance of these men quickly caught the customers' attention and the peaceful tranquility instantly destroyed with some of the customers' faces turning pale. Noticing the change in atmosphere, Rose who was half way through her meal raised her head up and glanced at the restaurant entrance that was filled with some not-friendly looking men. A frown quickly appeared on her face because she could tell that these men are here to have a meal and they were here to do the opposite. She took a glance at Luthor and noticed the small frown on his face as well when he saw the men. “Wow, I thought this place was no longer operating, but thanks to a nice little birdie who to
"But I have already explained this situation to your boss and he agreed to give me some more time to pay the previous money. I know I know I'm a bit late with the payment but please try to understand my situation and I promise it will be ready by the end of this month.” Maya replied, this was not what she had discussed with Byron's Boss, who is the person she had borrowed the money from. "We did. However, because you've avoided and ignored us, our boss is no longer interested in giving you some time anymore, so he has canceled the agreement he made with you. He has ordered us to collect every previous money you're owing.” Byron lazily rubbed the inside of his ears with his pinky finger like he was bored to death as he replied to Maya. “You fucking assholes!" Amelia couldn't take it anymore and yelled furiously at them as she left Luthor's side and walked towards where her mother was standing. "Ah, Amelia darling. I didn't know you were also around. It's good to see your beautiful f
“I refuse your suggestion. All I beg for is a bit more time." Maya quickly cuts Byron off before he can finish his statement. No matter what happened, she would never sell her only daughter to pay off her debt. Never! “In that case, I think I have been too lenient with you guys enough." Byron turned around and signaled his boys to start destroying everything in the restaurant. Immediately a loud crashing sound of tables, chairs and glass windows being destroyed filled the entire restaurant in a blink of an eye. “No….no…..no….please don't do this.” Maya pleaded but was ignored. She eventually became agitated as she watched how Byron lackeys were destroying everything in the restaurant which she had painstakingly bought with some significant money. She was so angry that she didn't realize when she rushed towards where Byron was standing and raised her hand up. PAAAAAAAAAA!! “Stop this madness!" Maya yelled at the top of her lungs. The entire restaurant fell into silence as
" We are giving you one last chance to simply comply with us or we will wreck this place completely and beat the crap out of you too as well.” Another thug also contributed, declaring to Luthor that this was the last chance they were giving. Well, it's not like they planned to let him go in the first place after he complied. “Haha, you heard those punks, right? Let go of my hand and I might consider just breaking just two or three of your limbs for daring to you……Arghhh! Fucking bastard!” Just as the man was busy running his mouth, Luthor tightened his grip around his wrist. The force completely broke his wrist which wasn't what he intended to do, he just wanted to tighten his grip. But it is what it is. Although Luthor might look like a normal regular guy, he was actually a trained fighter and won different awards and medals in martial arts in the past. The tension was drastically rising and the rest of the other customers in the restaurant started to flee before they got mixed
She wouldn't have placed the headphone on her head if the thugs hadn't started wrecking the whole place, in order to protect her ear from the loud crashing sound earlier she used the headphones as a guide. Noticing that the girl wasn't responding to him or looking at him, when she knew someone was clearly standing in front of her. He reached out his hand to remove the headphones from her ear, thinking it was what didn't let her hear him. Seeing that the thug beside her was raising his hand and stretching it towards her, she knew what he wanted to do. Without saying anything, Rose reached out quickly and grabbed the fork on her table and in a swift movement she stabbed the thug's hand that was placed on the table using the fork. The thug's facial expression distorted as he felt the stinging pain of the fork piercing his hand. “Arrgh!....." He screamed loudly in agony and lowered his tall body a bit due to the extreme pain he was feeling. He used his other hand to grab his wrist th
Rose just quietly stared at Byron when she heard him. She was aware of the danger it might cause in the future if she told her family name, so her plan was to avoid that question. “You don't need to know my family name. All you just need to know is that just one phone call can destroy all of your lives." Rose finally replied as she looked Byron dead in the eyes. “Little girl, are we supposed to be scared all because of that simple threat of words you just said?" This time it was Fury who spoke before Byron could reply. “I'm not threatening you with words. It's easy for you guys to come here and extort your power, which is your number and all the things you have in your hands. Did you think I'd exchange just ordinary words with you guys? I also have a way to use my power over you." Rose turned to look at Fury. " What are you talking about?” Fury asked with a frown on his face. “18.2-121. Entering property of another for the purpose of damaging it, etc. Have you heard the words “di
---The press conference was held at the luxurious Riverview Grand Hotel, a venue known for hosting high-profile events. The large conference room was packed to capacity with journalists, photographers, and reporters from various media, all eager to catch a glimpse of the trending Gray family.As soon as Rose entered the room with William, Beatrice, Victor, and Sophia, the reporters surged forward like a swarm of hungry predators."Roseline Gray, what’s your opinion on the recent video?""Roseline Gray, how do you feel about being attacked by your half-brother Victor Gray?""This isn’t the first time, is it? Why have you stayed silent about the abuse?""Your father didn’t defend you—have you ever resented him for it?""How do you feel about the way your stepmother treats you?""Doesn’t your stepsister Sophia support you either? Do you feel completely isolated?""Roseline Gray, I heard you came back to the country, so what did you do to be beaten up by your step brother?”Question afte
………The next day, Rose dressed carefully for the press conference. She applied a touch of makeup to cover her bruises, though some marks were still visible. She chose a white summer dress, its delicate design giving her an air of fragility.When she descended the stairs, Beatrice was waiting, her irritation evident as Rose had made them for a long time on purpose.“Why are you wearing that? Pick a brighter color! You look better in something cheerful. And put more makeup on!” Beatrice protested as she scanned what Rose was wearing.‘What is she trying to do? Is she trying to look weak on purpose?’ Beatrice fumed internally. ‘This conference is meant to prove the video was false, not the opposite! If anything bad happens to my son, you’ll pay for it!’ she seethed.Rose’s eyes filled with tears as she replied meekly, “Dr. Noah said makeup could cause scarring if applied before my cuts heal. But I thought it would look too obvious without anything, so I used a little to cover most of the
They began the game in silence, the soft clink of chess pieces the only sound. Frank’s moves were calculated, deliberate, but he quickly realized Rose wasn’t an easy opponent. Her strategy was sharp, her responses precise, and it wasn’t long before she had him on the defensive.Frank leaned back in his chair, studying the board with newfound respect. “You’re quite skilled. Your mother must have been an excellent teacher.”“She was,” Rose replied, her tone tinged with fondness. “She always said chess was like life. Every move matters, and you have to think several steps ahead.”Frank nodded, his expression thoughtful. “A wise woman. And what have you learned from this game?”Rose paused, a small smile playing on her lips. “That you’re cautious but adaptable. You test your opponent before committing to a strategy.”Frank raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “Well observed. You’ve got a sharp mind, Rose. A rare gift.”“Thank you,” Rose said, warmth creeping into her voice.As the game p
Rose smiled, caught between the two. “I… I didn’t mean to start a competition!” she said, laughing lightly.Frank chuckled and placed a hand on Anne’s shoulder. “It’s not a competition, dear,” he said softly, his voice carrying a reassuring note. “Let her call us whatever she feels comfortable with.”Anne smiled, the playful edge fading. “Well, as long as she knows I’m the most important one,” she said with a wink.Julian laughed, crossing his arms and leaning back casually. “I’ll tell you what Rose, in order to soften the situation. It would be best if you call mom ‘Grandma’ and father ‘Grandfather,’ Deal?”Rose laughed, feeling the warmth of their banter. “Deal!” she said, her heart lightened by the playful atmosphere. She totally forgot that she felt stiffened up earlier.“Well,” she said, giving Anne a quick hug, “I’ll call you Grandma, if you prefer that. I just... I think it slipped out. It feels right.”Anne’s face softened, her smile returning. “Of course, darling. I suppose
*********The grandeur of the Anderson Ancestral home was as breathtaking as ever, with its ornate architecture and sprawling gardens. Though Rose had visited before, this time felt different. It wasn’t a casual visit—it was her escape, her refuge after the chaos at the Gray mansion.Julian guided her inside, where Frank and Anne Anderson awaited in the living room. Despite the familiarity, Rose still felt a twinge of hesitation as she approached them.“Rose, my darling,” Anne said warmly, pulling her into a gentle hug. Her soft hair brushed against Rose’s cheek as she held her close. “I’ve been worried about you. I’m so glad you’re here now.”“Thank you, Grandma,” Rose replied, her voice steady though her heart fluttered at the kindness."My goodness, how on earth did you end up in this state? How dare William Gray let his incompetent fool do this to my precious child? Does he have a death wish?" Anne fumed, her voice trembling with rage. Though most of the wounds were finally heali
Rose, who heard Beatrice’s voice paused and looked at Beatrice, her expression blank but her posture poised.Beatrice clasped her hands together, her tone pitiful. “Rose, I… I know I’ve made mistakes. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have let things get so out of hand. Please, don’t leave. We’re family. Let me make it up to you. What would the people say if they knew you left home?”‘Tsk, you're still worried about your safety and reputation.’ Rose scoffed.Her gaze fixed on Beatrice. She tilted her head slightly, her tone soft and innocent. “Oh, Mother, I don’t blame you at all. It wasn’t your fault. These things just… happen.”Beatrice’s eyes widened, taken aback by Rose’s response. “I—I’ll do better, I swear. I’ll talk to Victor, and we’ll make this right. You don’t need to go.”Rose offered a small, sweet smile. “You’re too kind, mother, But Uncle Julian is right—I need a change of scenery. It’s not about you. I just need a little time to heal.”Beatrice reached for her hand, h
---The Gray mansion loomed under the overcast sky, its towering structure a stark reminder of the battles fought within its walls. Two days had passed since Rose signed the contract, transferring her shares to William. But her mind was far from defeated. She had called her uncle, Julian Anderson, with one clear directive: take her out of this house.As the sleek black car pulled up to the grand entrance, William stood at the threshold, his expression unreadable but his stance stiff with tension. Julian stepped out, his tailored suit and confident demeanor a sharp contrast to William’s simmering hostility.“Julian,” William greeted, his voice laced with forced politeness. “What brings you here today?”Julian’s gaze swept over William coldly. “I’m here for Rose.”William’s jaw tightened. “Rose is perfectly fine where she is.”Julian smirked, his sharp features hardening. “Fine? Is that what you call being bitten by your son? Victor’s behavior was barbaric. She’s covered in bruises, an
‘My wife is right. She's changed. She's plotting something,’ William thought, his suspicions solidifying."So, she’s put her guard up against me," he muttered in a tone only he can hear, his expression darkening. If that’s the case, I’ll have to get rid of her soon.But the tens of billions he craved wouldn’t be his until Rose turned twenty.Rose felt the sudden wave of hostility radiating from her father and shivered. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do, even to his own daughter, to get what he wants. She was certain of it.That was the real William Carter: calculating and ruthless. With no power, money, or connections of her own, Rose wasn’t a threat to him—yet. But her time for revenge hadn’t come, and until then, she had no choice but to play along.Quickly, she donned a sweet smile and replied in her softest voice, "You’re my dad. There’s no need to borrow anything. Whatever you need, I’m happy to give it to you and help in any way I can."Her thoughts told a different story. This is
"Father?!" William snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Rose's voice next to him. Rose frowned at the way William jolted at her words. It's obvious he was daydreaming, but the fact that he was wasting her time was even more annoying to her.“Do you have something else to.say?" She asked.For a moment, as though remembering his true purpose for coming, he cleared his throat and turned to look at her properly.“There’s something I need to ask you, Rose.” He hesitated, his tone softening. “Do you remember the 10% shares your grandfather gifted you? I need you to lend them to me. It’s critical for stabilizing the company. I promise, once we get through this tough time, I’ll return them to you.”The words landed exactly as Rose had expected. She had been waiting for this moment.When she was born, her grandfather had gifted her 10% of the company’s shares—a sizable stake, even by Gray standards. Those shares had remained untouched, protected by a clause that prevented their use unti