After she hung up the call, she texted Luthor in order to confirm if he was okay which he called her instead of replying to her message.“You could have just texted me rather than calling, Brother Luthor.” Rose remarked, after she answered Luthor’s call.“I’m sorry, I just decided to call so that I can hear your voice.” Luthor replied.Rose smirked at him, he was making it sound like he was her personal bodyguard rather than her personal driver. “Are you comfortable with the place you are in? If you don't feel comfortable, you can go back. Once it’s tomorrow you can come-” Rose was unable to finish speaking when Luthor suddenly interrupted her.“What are you talking about, Little Rose? I’m your personal driver so I have to be wherever you are. And I’m comfortable here so don’t worry about me. I will call my mother and let her know if you are worried that she might be worried about me as well.” Luthor remarked.“Okay, if you say that then.” Rose replied not wanting to push him any fu
When they got outside the study room, Anthony asked Rose to wait while he entered first and informed Frank about Rose's arrival. Soon, he came out and opened the door for Rose to walk in. “The Old Master asked you to come inside.” He told Rose." Thank you Grandpa Smith.” Rose thanked Anthony before she entered the study room.When she walked into the large and spacious study room, Rose raised her brow when she not only saw Frank who she was expecting. She also saw Julian, Nicholas and Leo also in the study room.The reason Leo was in the study room was because Frank had asked him to come. Earlier after Anthony led Rose to her room, Frank asked his son and grandsons to move into his study room in order for them to discuss properly. Moreover, he wanted to ask Leo some questions about Rose since he was the only person that was a bit closer to Rose than all of them.Meanwhile, Rose was a bit confused about everything. ‘Is something wrong?’ She thought to herself.“You're here, child. Ta
" We will understand you properly no matter how you explain to us. And don't be nervous to speak freely with us, child.” Frank commented with a reassuring nod. Ever since he saw Rose apart from looking exactly like her mother, he had a feeling that he would really like her which was turning true with every minute he spent with her. Because he didn't want to scare and make Rose feel uncomfortable he had been trying to act calm and collected when in reality he wanted to really get to know her. But he wasn't sure how she would react to him. “My mother didn't just leave the message of me finding this family alone. There were other things she left for me which I'm slowly finding out now.” Rose stated, making everyone pay attention to her. " What are you talking about?” Julian asked. "I'm talking about her Will. Since you guys are the closest relatives of my mother, I'm sure you guys are aware of my mother's will she wrote before she dies, right?” She replied and asked them. Julian turn
“The thing is….. after my father sent me to school abroad, any time he called me he usually asked if I knew some information about my mother, most especially her passwords she used to save some of her possessions. From there I figured that there was actually something my father was doing secretly and it was something that my mother was involved in. As for how I knew about the will before coming to the country, I heard it from my father but he didn't know I overheard his conversation with someone when he called me.” Rose finally replied, quickly coming up with an excuse and lie that she hoped they would buy and believe. Nobody said anything at first after Rose replied and they all stared at her with different thoughts going through their head at the moment. They somehow felt like there was still something that Rose wasn't telling them but her explanation on how she found out about the will was believable a bit. It was possible that William wasn't aware that his phone call with Rose w
She looked at the envelope in her hand and raised her head up to look at Frank who suddenly smiled gently at her for the first time she had met him. She couldn't help but blink her eyes at the sudden gesture from the serious and stern looking old man.“You can go ahead and open it, child." Frank told her.Rose finally turned her gaze back to the envelope and opened it, only to find a few paperworks and documents inside which she slowly pulled out from the envelope and placed the envelope on her lap while she slowly went through the paperwork one by one.“Your grandmother is my younger sister and was once part of the Anderson family. Your grandmother gave her own shares and property she had in the Anderson family to your mother. Your mother is also a bloodline of the Anderson family which made her have her own shares too in the Anderson family. However, your mother never added her shares and your grandmother shares of the Anderson family to her will because she wanted you to have it. T
“There is one more thing. I can't take over everything now." She stated making the four men crease their brow a bit.“Why, little Rose? Didn't grandfather just say they belonged to you?" Leo asked.“It's true but I think I would get overwhelmed by this. It's a good thing that I'm aware of it but I'd like to ask a request from Patriarch Anderson?” Rose asked.“What request?" Frank nodded at her.“If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'd like whoever is in charge of maintaining all of this property from my mother and grandmother to continue. I'm not sure I would be good at managing all this property and shares by myself." She said, not bothering to waste her time. It's true she had other things to do than having to maintain this property, so it would be best to let the person taking care of it continue.“Are you sure about this? What about the personal account that was created to save all the incomes?" Julian was the one who questioned her.“I will keep that as well. I don't really need
“Um……I don't really know how to address you guys though.” Rose replied, not knowing how to really react to Julian's question. She didn't even realize how formal she sounded until now. "Child, you can address us with whatever makes you comfortable.” Frank gently told her, so that she doesn't think she is being pressured. “Oh, okay. Then I will keep that in mind.” Rose nodded her head. " You will be leaving tomorrow right?” Nicholas suddenly asked, making Rose turn to look at him. "Yes, I am." Rose answered. “That's indeed a pity because this Old man would have wanted you to stay but we all understand your reasons as well." Frank remarked, sounding a bit disappointed. “I can always find time to visit regularly if that is okay with you.” She replied as she looked at Frank. “You can also visit the mansion too if it's too hard for you to come here. Don't worry about the entrance, I will take care of the security guards once I return back home.” Julian suggested, taking the opportun
They took their seats on their respectful chairs. Frank sat at the head of the table with Anne beside him, Julian and his two sons sat at the other side of the table. As for Rose , she ended up sitting in between Anne and Karen which made her a bit calmer. She felt the motherly aura from both Anne and Karen. No matter how dry and blank she looked, Anne did not mind her and just showed her love without thinking the same goes to Karen who had liked her the moment she set her eyes on her. Rose put a small piece of the meat in her mouth gracefully. Every gesture she made while eating was extremely refined and delicate from the way she moved her chopstick to how she cut the meat or moved her mouth to eat the food was screaming perfect elegance that even people from well reputed families can't imitate. Her action took everyone present by surprise. She didn't look like she had any idea about etiquettes but she just displayed a perfect eating etiquette that would take people years and ye
---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