“Why did you want to investigate your step mother, rose?” Nicholas couldn’t help but ask her. “Just because……” Rose replied with a shrug but it only made Nicholas narrow his brow at her because he didn’t buy that response from her. Rose knew Nicholas didn’t buy her response but she chose to ignore him. After all, she has already told him that he would get his answers if he really investigated Beatrice for her. “Are you going to help me, cousin?” She asked him. “I already agreed to help you so I have no choice but to do it.” Nicholas said. Rose couldn’t help but smile when she heard him. “That’s good. Thank you for helping me and I might end up giving you the answers you need before you complete the investigation. But that is if I see that you are trustworthy enough.” she told him, making Nicholas raise his brow at her. “I thought you said you didn’t have the answers to my question?” He asked but Rose grinned at him. “I don’t have your answers now but I might have them in the fut
***** The next mornings, RING! RING! RING! Rose was woken up from her sleep by the sound of her cell phone ringing. She lazily stretched her arm to the bedside table where she left her phone before going to sleep the previous night after her conversation with Nicholas.Without checking the identity of the caller she just accepted the call and placed the phone on her ear. "Hello, who is this?" Rose asked in a drowsy voice. "Good morning partner, I can't believe you're still in bed sleeping by this time in the morning." A familiar feminine voice accused Rose who opened her half closed eyes.“Mrs. Theresa?" Rose called as she wasn't expecting her to be the caller. “Oh, yes. Dear Rose, it's me but it seems like you are still on the bed?" Theresa answered and asked with an amused smile on her lips."It is still early in the morning, so I think I'm the one who is supposed to be complaining about you calling at such a time, Mrs. Theresa." Rose retorted in a defensive tone. Theresa co
"Believe it or not, it's your money that keeps this business afloat. So I think you've earned more than enough rights to get involved in its management. You should really take this much more seriously." She advised Rose. "Mrs. Theresa, I want you to know that I would never spend any amount of my money on someone or something that I don't trust would yield good interest. So just handle the business anyway you deem fit to increase our profit." Rose's words were filled with so much confidence that Theresa was unable to refute her because she felt that it would be wrong if she made Rose start to doubt the trust he had put in her. "So tell me exactly why you have decided to call me today?" Rose asked, wanting to know the reason why Theresa had called her. "It's nothing serious my dear, I just wanted to discuss some new business plans that I recently came up with to you. So, I was curious to know when you would be stopping by because I also need your approval." Theresa informed her tone
“I'm ready. I hope it won't be too much trouble for you to help me take care of the clothes I wore yesterday?” She asked the maid." Of course not, young miss. I will have your clothes stored in the wardrobe for you next time you visit.” The maid smiled at Rose who nodded her head.“Let's go." She told the maid who started leading her to the living room where everyone was seated waiting for her."Good morning, everyone." Rose greeted with a smile, making everyone turn their attention to her. " Oh, my dear Roseline. You're finally awake.” Anne said as she gestured to Rose who moved closer to her.“You must have been really tired yesterday, look at the time you woke up." She added as she helped Rose tuck her hair behind her ear.“I guess. Um…. thank you for the dress as well.” Rose replied."Don't worry about that. I'm glad it fits you well.” Anne casually replied."We have already had breakfast, we didn't want to disturb you when the maid said you weren't answering. Let me ask the ma
Suddenly Frank turned to look at Anthony with a scowl. “Anthony, how come you are being addressed as Grandpa Smith?" He questioned, making Anthony smile gentle at his friend.“I told the young miss to stop calling me sir, so she agreed to call Grandpa Smith instead since she is comfortable with it." Anthony replied.“She calls you ‘grandpa’ when she still addresses me as ‘patriarch’. Am I really that scary for her to not feel comfortable with me?” Frank asked. He heard how Rose addressed him earlier but didn't say anything since he told her he wouldn't pressure her until she was comfortable. However, it still pricked his heart a bit because he hoped she'd call him Grandpa too. Although he was not her real grandfather, he has already made up his mind to treat her like his real granddaughter, after all, he treated her mother like his own daughter.“Don't worry, Old master. I'm sure that with time, the young miss would feel very comfortable around you and will change the way she addresse
“I can drive myself. I was serious about being able to drive yesterday at the car shop. So you can use the weekends to stay with your family." Rose replied. “It's not a suggestion, Brother Luthor. That is how it will be, no discussion." She added when she noticed Luthor was about to argue back.Luthor couldn't help but swallow back the words he wanted to say when he heard her and continued driving.“Once we are done at where we are going, you can branch your home and grab the things you want to take with you. But I doubt you would be taking a lot of things since you would visit home every weekend. Also we would discuss the amount of salary I would be giving you every month as well.” Rose remarked and Luthor nodded his head while watching her lean her head back and close her eyes through the rearview mirror.A couple of minutes later, they arrived at their destination which was none other than the mall. Luthor parked the car in front of it for a short moment to allow Rose to alight fr
Instantly her stoic facial expressions transformed into a bright smile which utterly surprised her subordinate who had never seen this particular young lady making such an expression.The lady immediately pointed at one of her subordinates. "You, hurry to the Madame's office and inform her that our store's first exclusive customer has arrived." She ordered in a stern voice but her facial expression was unable to hide her excitement."Yes. Ma'am." The staff replied and hurriedly headed to carry out the assigned task.Meanwhile, the lady also quickly approached Rose in swift steps. She immediately bowed respectfully as she greeted. "Welcome, Miss Rose. It's such a delight to have you visit our stall." She remarked with a bit of flattery and a wide smile.Rose turned her head to the direction the voice she heard came from and placed her gaze on the lady that just addressed him. The lady standing next to him was undoubtedly a staff of the stall because she was putting on a professional u
Rose nodded in satisfaction. "I guess you are in safe hands and I've got nothing to worry about while handling my business." Rose remarked as he glanced at Luthor. " Wait, why are you suddenly buying clothes for me? “ Luthor asked with a small frown on his face. He wasn't told that she was bringing him here to shop for him. "Brother Luthor, I think this is right. Besides, I learnt something yesterday from our experience at the car shop yesterday that your appearance matters. I should have thought of this before we went there looking like two regular people. That's enough insult we received yesterday, so I'm planning to do an entire makeover for you. One more thing, you are now my personal driver so you have to look very good since we can't waste that good look you possess.” Rose calmly explained to him. Though the ridicule she received was much lesser to Luthor who was treated like a nobody at the car shop which she didn't like and it was because of his appearance. Without receiving
---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