He instantly recognized them, most especially the woman that was currently yelling at Luthor. She was one of the VIP clients in their stall and he hadn’t noticed her earlier with her friends. On the other hand, Luthor frowned at the way the woman yelled at him as if he was at fault. Normally, he wasn't supposed to apologize to the woman because despite the fact he wasn’t paying attention to the front, he was still walking in a proper way which was enough to not let him bump into anyone. Instead it was the woman who was at fault for not focusing on where she was going and bumped into him instead. Technically, she was the one who was supposed to apologize to him but he still chose to say sorry to her out of courtesy. Instead of letting it go she was yelling at him like it was his fault. “Why are you yelling at me when you’re the one who wasn’t paying attention to where you are going? Besides, you should be glad I didn’t demand an apology from you.” Luthor remarked, the frown on hi
"Are you nuts? You dare to say that I'm lying right?! Are you tired of working? If this bastard isn't causing discomfort to others, then I'm uncomfortable just by seeing him!” Lara yelled at Boyd when she heard his reply. “How can someone like him be a customer here? He clearly can even afford to buy that bag not to talk of him buying a car." “I'm starting to think this store is trying to insult us high class socialites by allowing people that are not in the same level as us to enter a place like this. What is this store trying to prove?” "That's right. Isn't this place meant for only high class people like us? How can they let us share the same roof with people like this." Lara’s three friends also added in support of their friend. When the other customers heard the women's words, they couldn't help but feel the same way that the store was trying to insult the higher class by allowing Luthor, who wasn't dressed in expensive clothes, to come here. They started to murmur am
Unlike Luthor, Rose was still dressed neatly and even though it wasn't really expensive clothes, she knew that the clothes she was wearing were expensive as well. And with the way she carried herself and the air surrounding her, she could tell that Rose might come from a rich household as well. Rose ignored Lara and turned to look at Luthor. “Did you find anything, brother Luthor?" She asked him. “I didn't. Why are you here?" Luthor replied and asked Rose. Even though he acted like he wasn't surprised to see her, he really was. "I came because you weren't answering my calls when I called you." Rose replied. She has been trying to contact Luthor but when he didn't answer his calls she asked Doris to bring her to where he was. Everyone thought she had just gotten to the scene when I'm reality she had been watching the little argument between Luthor and Lara from the moment when she asked them to kick Luthor out of the store. No one had noticed her because their attention was on the
“That's enough. I can already tell you came here with this lowlife. However, you seem to be on a different level from him and I don't care how you're associated with him. But do you have any idea who I am, for you to be insulting me and my friends like that?” Lara was unable to take it anymore and questioned Rose, who turned to look at her. “Do I give off the impression that I give a damn about who you are, woman?" Rose inquired with an uninterested look on her face. Her response completely took Lara and the crowd back in surprise. She was really bold and confident! Despite the fact that she was not expensively dressed like Lara and her friends to announce that they were from wealthy families. Rose was dressed in a simple and mature attire that was expensive but not as expensive as what Lara was wearing. However, her demeanor and aura that emitted out of her was like that of a goddess and mafia queen who cared less about the information of her enemy since she was going to destroy
The Nixon family are a second tier family in the City, however, because of their new rise in status they were able to start earning more recognition than they did in the past and Lara was the second daughter and also the youngest child of the Nixon. She was extremely pampered by her family and was always given what she wanted despite the fact that she was a grown woman already. In reality the manager wouldn’t want to associate himself with someone like Lara since she was very problematic but he had to be nice to her anytime she visited their store because of her background. “Stop flattering me, Manager Cord. I’m not in the mood for that nonsense because I’m highly disappointed with the way I am treated in your car shop.” Lara arrogantly waved her hand at the manager who swallowed the rest of his words as he looked at Lara. “What happened, Miss Nixon? Did one of my staff do anything to annoy you?” he asked. “This isn’t about your staff, manager Cord, even though they were a bit s
A lot of children from rich and wealthy families have visited this place but this was the first time he would be someone as young as Rose. “Aren't you missing out on the part where I apologize to you before you start yelling at me? And like I said, you are the one who should apologize to me because you're the one at fault.” Luthor ignored the Manager's stare and replied back to what Lara said in order to defend himself. “This crazy……. Manager Cord, can you see this? This is exactly what I'm talking about, your store has been letting the high socialites get insulted by the likes of him. How dare a nobody like him talk to me like that?” Lara wanted to insult Luthor but chose to use the opportunity to make her prove her point to the manager. “I understand what you're saying, Miss Nixon. Please allow me to take care of this matter from here.” Manager Cord nodded his head before turning to look at Luthor. In this situation whether or not Lara was right or wrong he knew he had to h
The manager looked at Rose and slowly nodded his head at her. He didn't expect her to suddenly speak and her fault was really something that he couldn't resist and he wanted to hear what she had to say. “Let me ask you a simple question.” Rose said and everyone's eyes landed on her. “Please go ahead." The manager agreed. “Aren’t you about to chase us out of here because that woman made the request as a VIP client? However, isn't this a car shop that allows anyone to come in and out to purchase a car, so why are we being chased out? Is this how your car shop has earned the reputation it has now?” Rose asked as she looked directly at the manager who blinked at her questions. "What kind of question is that? Even if this place is a car shop that allows anyone to come in, did a brat like you think that someone like you and him would be able to purchase a car here? It's obvious that only people from a high class are the one that can come in here and you two have entered the wrong pl
“I refuse to leave with a tangible reason, Manager. I don't care if this is a request from your VIP client or not. I'm going to comfortably shop for what I came here for and take my leave." Rose adamantly refused, staring intently at the manager, who was taken aback by her refusal again. Without her dressing luxuriously, he was not stupid to not be able to tell that the aura that emitted from Rose right now was even more powerful than that of Lara that was just simply throwing a tantrum. “But, young lady…..” "Do you want to have the security guard drag both of you out of here?!” Lara didn't let the manager speak as she shouted at Rose, who ignored her. " Manager, that woman demanded an apology from my brother when she was the one clearly at fault. Like my brother said, I want her to apologize back to him.” Rose told the manager with her arm crossed in front of her chest. "Does this child need a beating or what? How can you expect our friend to apologize to that lowlife? What wo
---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