********At the top roof of the King Conglomerate building, a helicopter was already waiting and prepared as Alex stepped out of the elevator along with Derek behind him.“Boss, are you sure you don't want me to come along?” Derek asked, raising his voice as he spoke because of the sound coming from the helicopter. Earlier today, they got a report that there was a problem at one of the company branches and also there was another business that required Alex's attention which was the underworld problem. Some new gangs were trying to do something, so Alex had to make his presence at the underworld to handle the situation as always."Stay behind and manage the company till I come back.” Alex replied, unlike Derek who was shouting to speak, he was calm and collected as usual."Alright boss," Derek nodded his head as one of the bodyguards opened the door for Alex.Just as Alex was about to board the helicopter, he stopped and turned to look at Derek.“Give me the report of what I ask you to
Meanwhile, outside the building where Luthor was waiting for Rose after getting her text that she was coming, he stood next to the car since he would have to open the car door for Rose once she came outside.At the same moment he was waiting for Rose, Sophia walked out of the building fully dressed and ready for school. She purposely woke up early today because she had a mission.Sophia spotted Luthor immediately and her gaze landed on the black Bentley, her eyes sparkled and strutted her way to where Luthor and the car was.“Hey, you…..” She called, making Luthor turn to look at her."How may I help you Miss?” Luthor asked, while raising his brow at Sophia. He didn't know her but his instincts told him that she was probably Rose's younger sister based on the way she was dressed but he didn't care much about her.Sophia eyed Luthor with a disgusted look, not liking the way he didn't bow to greet her. However, she didn't want to cause any trouble because of what she wanted to accompli
“Sister, I'm glad that you're here. You won't believe that this dumb driver you hired won't let me into the car even when he knew that I'm your younger sister. He kept saying he wasn't ordered to allow anyone else into the car apart from you." Sophia quickly explained, ignoring the fact that Rose said she was not an exception the first time.“Really? But I gave him that order." Rose casually replied as she looked at Sophia.“But sister, he should know that I'm an exception because I'm your sister and we always share everything together." Sophia remarked, frowning a bit at Rose.“I said you are not an exception. I gave him the order which includes you so he has every right to refuse because he is following orders.” Rose dryly replied, repeating her words again.“What….? Sister, how can you not make me an……exception? Did I ever….. wrong you in any way, sister?” Sophia asked, her voice shaking a bit.“You haven't wronged me, Sophia." Rose suddenly smiled gently at Sophia. “I gave him tha
Just like Rose expected, Sophia was completely amazed by the interior decoration of the car as she kept checking every feature out. Of course Rose didn't stop her and let her continue with whatever she was doing as leaned her head back and closed her eyes while she silently listened to one of her best playlist by ‘Post Malone’ to avoid having any sort of conversation with Sophia, who thought she was sleeping. When they got to school, the two sisters went to their different classes. It's been an entire weekend so when Rose entered the classroom, she was immediately strangled in a hug from Sandra while Kehlani just smiled brightly at her. The entire school day went by peacefully and Rose didn't come across Leo in any way but she had fun with both her two friends with no trouble coming to look for her. After school ended, Theresa was unable to come and pick Kehlani up from school because she was extremely busy at the mall, so Rose offered to drive her home since she was also going t
Meanwhile, Sophia had a dark expression on her face as she read Rose's message that was sent to her. ‘That damn witch! How dare she! Is she trying to get back at me or what?’ Sophia thought as her grip tightened around her phone. “What's wrong with you, Sophia?" Peggy asked. Sophia immediately turned to look at her friend and shook her head. " Is there a problem?” Kara also asked. They all knew that there was a problem. Sophia wanted to tell them that there was nothing wrong but she decided to use this opportunity to.her advantage. If she wanted to ruin Rose's reputation in school then she had to do it slowly and that was making her friends believe that Rose is no good. “The thing is my sister left me alone. She just sent me a text message saying that she has to leave urgently.” Sophia told them in a low voice. “What? How can she do that to you?!" Kara yelled, surprised when she heard Sophia. “I told you that your sister is really a crazy person." Peggy also added. “No, my s
" I serious, I can no longer keep up with Grace being our friend. She is really getting on my nerves.” Kara complained as she glared at Grace's back.“Sophia, don't take whatever Grace said too seriously. You know that is how she always acts." Peggy agreed with what Kara said but she decided to console Sophia first.“Peggy is right. You know that Grace acts like that because she is jealous of you, right?” Kara also quickly shifted her attention to Sophia."Yes. And Grace is our friend so let's not get angry with her. She might be in a bad mood.” Sophia nodded her head. ‘That crazy wench! You love going against me all the time. What exactly is your problem?’ Contrary to what she looked, Sophia was badly cursing at Grace for defying her.…………On the other hand, Rose smirked to herself after she sent the message to Sophia. ‘An eye for an eye! I hope you like my little gift.’ She thought. She had purposely not argued with Sophia this morning and willingly agreed to let her ride. It was
" I serious, I can no longer keep up with Grace being our friend. She is really getting on my nerves.” Kara complained as she glared at Grace's back.“Sophia, don't take whatever Grace said too seriously. You know that is how she always acts." Peggy agreed with what Kara said but she decided to console Sophia first.“Peggy is right. You know that Grace acts like that because she is jealous of you, right?” Kara also quickly shifted her attention to Sophia."Yes. And Grace is our friend so let's not get angry with her. She might be in a bad mood.” Sophia nodded her head. ‘That crazy wench! You love going against me all the time. What exactly is your problem?’ Contrary to what she looked, Sophia was badly cursing at Grace for defying her.…………On the other hand, Rose smirked to herself after she sent the message to Sophia. ‘An eye for an eye! I hope you like my little gift.’ She thought. She had purposely not argued with Sophia this morning and willingly agreed to let her ride. It was
Kehlani turned to look at Rose and got lost in her own thoughts for a while. She knew Rose was right but she just couldn't get over what happened in the past. Both Kehlani and Sandra used to attend the same junior high school. Even though the school was very expensive and for rich kids, Kehlani was able to attend the school because her father and mother hadn't separated then, so her father paid for the school expenses. Kehlani was usually the type to not like getting involved in order people businesses but she encountered Sandra back then. At first sjw knew Sandra was from a family that is more wealthy than her own small family so she tried to keep her distance but Sandra was unlike what she expected.After much pestering, she became friends with Sandra and they were really close back then. However, Sandra's other friends from the same high society were not pleased with how close the both of them were, most especially Kehlani. They believe that Kehlani was from a lower class family a
---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