“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
………On the other hand, after eating dinner the Anderson family gathered in the living room. Since there are still some things that needed to be done Frank decided to ask Julian about the things they were unable to say earlier. They both discussed the situation of the company and progress of the company when Frank suddenly changed the topic.“What do you think about Roseline, Julian?" He asked his son.“Father, there is nothing wrong with Rose. Except for the fact that I get the feeling that we are not dealing with a normal girl. There are still a lot of things she has hidden but I'm sure we will figure them out the more time we spend with her.” Julian honestly replied, those were the things he noted in Rose." I have the same thought as well. She seems way smarter and more mature than her age. It makes me wonder what happened to her for her to grow up quickly.” Frank nodded in agreement with Julian with a small frown on his face.“What do you expect, Old man? That child obviously had
Despite trying different sleeping poses she would end up opening her eyes unable to sleep. She didn't know what was wrong with her but sleeping was really difficult for her“Damn it!" Rose cursed as she sat up on the bed. ‘Water……I'm thirsty.’ She thought to herself, feeling her throat dry as she looked around the room.Left with no other choice, Rose sighed as she stood up from the bed and made her way out of the room to look for water herself. Although she wasn't sure where the kitchen was in the mansion, but she was sure she would find her way there eventually. It was late already and there was no maid around that she could ask to help her.It took Rose almost half an hour before she was finally able to find the kitchen. If she wasn't really thirsty she would have returned back to her room but she was fortunate to find the kitchen.After she was done drinking water, she poured herself another glass of water to take to her room in case she was thirsty later. It would be a hassle t
Rose let out a sigh of relief as she gently rubbed her wrist. “I'm sorry about that." Nicholas apologized, gesturing to her wrist she was rubbing. Their first encounter was with him hitting her with a door and now he nearly broke her wrist again which is all red because of how pale her skin was. “Ah, it's okay." Rose replied with a shake of her head. " What are you doing here? And why are you still awake?” Nicholas finally questioned her. " I was on my way back to my room when I noticed the door opened and saw you here. I was going to wake you up but it seems like you are very much awake.” She calmly answered. “What were you looking for outside your room? It's late to be roaming around.” He inquired again. “Nothing much. I came out to get some water to drink when I was thirsty and I couldn't call any maid to help me.” She told him again. “What about you? It's quite late and cold out here.” Rose asked and she looked down at Nicholas. "I just came out here to get some breeze.
“Why don't you just call me, Rose?" She asked him, still looking at the sky. It was a pitch dark sky adorned with a lot of shining stars, even the crescent moon was glowing brighter than it usually was. Unfortunately, even if the sky was a beautiful sight at the moment, her mind momentarily drifted back to the night she fell off the yacht on her wedding anniversary day. The sky was the only thing she could see as she sank deeper into the ocean all alone, praying desperately for help. However, it seems some entity or the heavens heard her desperate cry and here she was. Rose couldn't help but shiver at her own thoughts again. “Cousin, I think I really like this family. It took me a long time and my naivety almost ruined me because I thought I had a family but they are just a bunch of people after something. I can already picture what would happen to me if they get what they want. Perhaps they would poison me, murder me and make it seem like a car accident, or better still, have me ge
Nicholas couldn’t help but take a peek at her and shaked his head. “You possess a narcissistic side to yourself as well, Rose. You easily fool people with that face and you are very proud of it.” He said. “Cousin, I have a favor to ask you.” Rose suddenly spoke, her expression becoming serious which made Nicholas look at her. “What favor do you want to ask?” He asked her. “This favor I'm going to ask has to be a secret between us for now, so are you up for it?” She questioned. The favor she was about to ask him had to do with something Sophia had told her the night she died. She clearly remembers Sophia babbling that Beatrice had something to do with her mother’s death and also William was involved with her mother’s death as well. “And why do you want to trust me if this favor is something that needs to be kept a secret?” Nicholas raised his brow at her. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t trust people easily and just because I like you doesn't mean I trust fully, cousin. What I'm say
However, amidst their yelling, Karen wasn’t done. “Let's not pretend you’re here because you care about my Rose. I don't care much about high society but I have enough information to know that you and Beatrice are never friends and you just proved me right. You saw a chance to use my Rose to humiliate Beatrice in public. But the truth is—Beatrice doesn’t even see you as a rival. You’re not a threat to her. You’re just a footnote.” That did it. Even though Karen didn't like Beatrice, she had to use her as a weapon to damage Margret. And it was true in some ways, Beatrice never saw Margaret as a rival and that was why she left her off. Beatrice is more cunning and has better things to do than Margret. On the other hand, Margaret’s face turned red, her voice rising. “You arrogant little—! Who the hell do you think you are to speak to me like that?!” “I’m someone you should’ve never insulted,” Karen replied coolly. “Especially not in front of witnesses.” “You're such a bitch! You even
Karen returned with graceful steps, wiping her hands with a silk handkerchief as she approached the table—only to stop mid-step at the sight before her. Three women, overdressed and oozing fake charm, surrounded Rose, who looked irritated and uncomfortable. Karen’s expression hardened immediately. “Is there a problem here?” Karen asked smoothly as she walked up to the table, though her voice was laced with sharpness. Margaret immediately changed her facial expression as she turned without even bothering to look properly. “Oh, relax. We’re just having a friendly chat. Nothing that concerns—” She paused, eyes scanning Karen lazily. Then scoffed. “Oh. You’re the lady that was with her earlier?” Margaret blinked, her voice condescending. “How… quaint. Let me guess—you’re her assistant or... manager?” Rose blinked, trying not to laugh. It was obvious now that these women were actually dumb. Even if Karen is not well known amongst the high socialist thanks to the fact that she lives t
From across the room, Margaret Pezz had been watching like a hawk. Dressed in an ivory designer set and dripping in gold jewelry, Margaret whispered something to her friends, eyes gleaming. With Karen out of the way, it was time to make her move. She strutted over, her heels clicking arrogantly against the marble. Two overdressed women followed her like loyal shadows. “Roseline, darling!” Margaret said with feigned delight, placing a hand on the back of Rose’s chair as if they were long-lost friends. “I couldn’t believe it was you! You look absolutely radiant in person.” Rose looked up slowly from the food menu she was still checking out, expression unreadable. “Do I know you?” Margaret laughed, her voice grating. “Oh, we haven’t officially met. I’m Margaret Pezz—a very close friend of Beatrice, your stepmother.” The moment she said Beatrice’s name, Rose’s expression soured. Margaret noticed and quickly backtracked, playing both sides. “But honestly dear, I never liked the way
The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of the Anderson estate, bathing the grand dining hall in a warm glow. Rose sat at the breakfast table, quietly sipping her tea as Anne and Karen conversed about an upcoming events. "You should get some fresh air today," Anne suggested, eyeing Rose over her cup of coffee. Karen nodded in agreement. "Actually, I was thinking of taking her out. Just a small outing—maybe some shopping, a café stop. What do you think, Rose?" Rose blinked, caught off guard. "Shopping?" "Yes," Karen said with a small smile. "You could use a few new things, and a change of scenery might be nice." Rose hesitated. She wasn’t exactly the type to enjoy aimless shopping trips at the moment, but the way Anne and Karen were looking at her told her this was more than just a casual suggestion. It was their way of trying to spend time with her. And truthfully, a part of her was beginning to appreciate the warmth they offered. "Alright," she finally agreed.
Later that evening, Rose wandered through the grand hallways of the Anderson estate, her footsteps light against the polished floors. She wasn’t sure what had compelled her to leave the comfort of her room, but something about the quiet atmosphere of the night made her restless. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of her grandfather's study. Hesitating for only a moment, she knocked lightly. "Come in," came the deep, commanding voice from inside. Rose pushed the door open and stepped inside, finding Frank seated at a massive mahogany desk, a glass of whiskey beside him. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the shelves lined with books and relics of the past. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked, not looking up as he finished scribbling on a document. "Something like that," Rose admitted, stepping closer. Frank gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit." She did, expecting the usual quiet company they sometimes shared. But instead of returning to his work, Frank pulled o
The next day, Rose sat in the sunroom with Anne, sipping tea while flipping through an old book she had pulled from the family’s extensive library. The warm golden light streamed through the glass walls, casting soft shadows across the polished floor. Anne, ever the poised and graceful matriarch, studied her granddaughter with sharp yet affectionate eyes. "Are you comfortable, dear?" Rose glanced up from her book. "Yes, Grandmother. More comfortable than I expected to be." A rare, approving smile graced Anne's lips. "Good. You should feel at home here." Before Rose could respond, Karen entered the room, her heels clicking against the marble floor. "Ah, perfect. You're both here," she said, taking a seat across from Rose. Anne arched her brow. "You sound suspiciously excited. What are you up to, my dear?" Karen smirked, “Yes, I'm excited, mother because I have some nice news for Rose.” she said then turned to Rose. "I had a little chat with Headmistress Moore this morning. She ag
Dinner continued with casual conversation, and despite how formal the Anderson household could seem, the atmosphere wasn’t tense. After finishing her meal, Rose excused herself, but before she could leave, Leo grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?" Rose gave him a pointed look. "To see Grandfather." Leo blinked in surprise but quickly masked it. He let go of her wrist and shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just don’t stay up too late." Rose shook her head and walked off. However, she didn't head straight to meet Frank, she made a quick stop at the kitchen. Frank’s study was dimly lit, the faint scent of aged paper and cedarwood clinging to the air. He sat behind his desk, flipping through a thick folder of documents. A soft knock echoed through the room. “Come in,” Frank’s voice called out, calm but firm. The door opened and Rose stepped inside, carrying a polished tray with a single porcelain teacup. She closed the door behind her with a quiet click. Frank looked up and paused, ey
“What’s going on here?” Rose’s voice was calm but firm as she stepped forward, her sharp gaze sweeping over the tension-filled scene. She had spotted the standoff the moment she entered the stall. Sandra turned to her, arms crossed. “Oh, perfect timing. This girl thinks staring at a snack means she owns it.” The girl scoffed when she heard Sandra’s explanation. “And this girl thinks she can just take whatever she wants.” The vendor, seeing Rose enter the conversation, looked relieved. “Miss, maybe you can help settle this?” Rose exhaled, her gaze flickering between them before settling on the other girl with calm finality. “If you really wanted it, you should have asked the vendor to hold it for you. Since you didn’t, I don’t see why this is even an argument.” The girl frowned, seemingly unprepared for someone to shut down the situation with pure logic instead of fueling the fight. One of her friends stepped up, opening her mouth to say something, but Rose’s voice cut through th
After finishing their meal, the group began heading back to their private room when Sandra suddenly stopped. “You guys go ahead. Kehlani and I need to grab something real quick.” Kaleb raised a brow at her. “What is it?” “A snack I saw earlier,” Sandra replied, waving him off. “It won’t take long.” Austin sighed but didn’t argue. “Fine, just don’t get into trouble.” Leo glanced at Rose, but before he could say anything, she spoke first. “I’ll catch up with you. I want to check something at the next stall too.” Leo narrowed his eyes but didn’t question her, since he knew she wouldn’t tell him what it was. “Are you sure you don't want me to come along? The last thing I need is you getting lost.” He asked which earned him a glare from Rose. “I will be fine without you. And I will also catch up with both Sandra and Kehlani, ” She replied. Seeing that she wouldn’t let him go with her, he finally relented. “Don’t take too long.” With that, the three boys walked off, leaving the girl