“Oh my, I'm sorry for disturbing you, young miss." The maid instantly knew that her presence her disturbed Rose so she quickly apologized. “Forget it. What do you want?" Rose coldly waved her hand and asked again. “Umm…..the master asked me to call you downstairs.” The maid informed, making the scowl on Rose's face deepened. " Tell my father I'm busy now so I will come later.” Rose said and was about to close the door when the maid stopped her. " Young miss, the master said it's something important and he wants you to meet someone so he asked me to bring you now. If I return back without you, I would get yelled at.” The maid told Rose, a pleading expression on her face as she looked at Rose. She was scared to lose her job if she didn't bring Rose since William looked to be in a bad mood already. “Someone?" Rose raised her brow. ‘Did he want me to meet that bastard, Henry Walker again? Beatrice wouldn't have told him, right?’ She thought. Normally, she still wanted to refuse
“Rose, you weren’t aware of this but your mother was related to the Anderson family before she died.”William said. “Roseline, your father is right. Your mother is my cousin and we on;y heard about your arrival in the country so we came to meet your father.” Julian suddenly spoke. “Are you saying that my mother had a relative that I wasn't aware of? Why didn’t you tell me about them before, father?” Rose asked, giving William a questioning look. William was caught off guard when he heard her question because he didn’t know how to reply back to her, not when she had that expression on her face. Seeing that her husband was in a tight position, Beatrice decided to come to his rescue and help. “Rose, please don’t blame your father. He just didn’t tell you all this because he thought you shouldn’t know about thi yet. He was only doing what is best for you.” She said and William quickly nodded his head. “Is that so? I know you care for me but that doesn’t mean you have to decide whethe
Rose raised her brow in amazement because this was the very first time she was witnessing Karen look this scary. The only expression she has seen on Karen’s face was a sweet motherly expression and Rose knew that Karen wanted to dote on her but it was because she had chosen not to live with them. “Mrs. anderson, i don’t understand why you see-” “Enough of this nonsense, Beatrice Gray. you are not the one to decide for Rose. let the child decide for herself if she wants to go with us or not.” Karen didn’t let Beatrice finish speaking before she cut her off. “Mrs. Anderson, I think you are misunderstanding what Beatrice is saying. She is not deciding for Rose. Besides, Rose is also her daughter and she knows what Rose would like or not.” William tried to defend Beatrice. “Father, it’s okay. I will make my decision myself and Ihave decided to go with them to meet my mother’s uncle.” Rose suddenly intervened, making everyone turn to look at her. “What?” William was completely surpri
“My dear, this would be your room. I have everything prepared for you but if you don't like anything there, let me know so that I can have it changed for you." Karen said as she stood in front of the room door she had paid her attention into decorating for Rose during the week. It was one the reason they didn't visit the Gray mansion earlier because she wanted everything to be perfect before they bring Rose. Rose smiled when she noticed the nervousness in Karen's eyes that she was trying to hide. “Thank you for taking care of me, Aunty. I'm sure you already did a good job with the room so don't worry about anything because I will like it no matter how it looks." She told Karen who blinked her eyes in surprise. “Oh dear, aren't you so sweet? You can tell that I'm nervous that you might not like what I did.” Karen let out a sigh of relief as she smiled back at Rose. She unconsciously reached out her hand and caressed Rose cheek gently. ‘You really left an image of you Ruby and sh
“Haha, I like you’re very honest. Anyways, I heard that you are around so I came to say hi to you. Aren’t I a good house host?” Leo replied, making Rose roll her eyes at him. She was only to spend the weekend here but she had to keep up with this guy. “Thank you. And you are indeed a good house host but Aunty is very much better than you.” Rose said with a bored expression on her face. “Now that you have greeted me, I will close the door.” She added and without waiting for Leo's response she closed the door and went back to lay on the bed. Leo chuckled at the closed door and was about to walk away when he heard a voice from behind him. “Leo, what are you doing here?” Leo froze when he heard the familiar serious voice of his older brother behind him. He turned around and smiled at Nicholas who had a frown on his face with a file in his hand. “Brother, what are you doing here?” Leo asked. “I asked you a question first. Don’t ask question with question, Leo Anderson.” Nicholas r
After dinner, Rose returned to her room but remembering she had something to say to Julian, she stepped out of her room and luckily she saw a maid walking by so she asked her to take her to Julian study room. Julian was busy working on some unfinished paperwork in his office when there was a knock on his door. “Come in." He gave his permission thinking that it was one of his sons. The door pushed open and Rose slowly walked into the office and closed the door behind her. “What can I do for you, Nicholas?" Julian asked, his head buried in the file he was going through. “Uncle Julian?" She called, making Julian raise his head up when he heard a different voice from what he expected. “Rose? I didn't know that it was you." He said, surprised to see Rose in his office. “Is there any problem?" Julian asked. “No, I just came here to discuss something with you. I apologize if I'm interrupting your work." Rose said, glancing at the pile of work in front of Julian. “Don't worry, child.
Julian's mood couldn't help but brighten when he saw her smile. "You are very welcome, Rose. Whatever you need, let me know. I will always try to help you out." Julian replied " I understand. That is all I came to see you for, so I will take my leave so that you can get back to work.” Rose nodded and stood up from her seat and walked towards the door. Just as she was about to open the door, Julian suddenly called her. “Rose, just remember that you are part of this family so never hesitate to tell us your problem." He told her, making the corner of Rose's lip to raise up. “I will keep that in mind, Uncle." She told him before walking out of the study room. ………. The next day, Rose followed the Anderson family to the Anderson family house. Only Nicholas didn't come along with them because he claimed he had something to do. When they arrived at the family house, as expected, Anne quickly snatched Rose away from Karen who was already getting used to Rose. Seeing that Rose was pretty
"Think properly? Then you must have been playing games like this for a very long time.” Nicholas remarked. “Nope, I only downloaded this game the second day I came back to California.” Rose replied and closed the game after she completed the level and earned her reward. Nicholas raised his brow at her. She only started playing a game as hard as that one just a few weeks ago. ‘How talented she is. She is even better than most of the professional QA tester employees I have at the company.’ He thought. “About what you asked me to do for you, I'm still working on it." He said, making Rose turn to look at him. She knew what he was talking about and it was the secret investigation she asked him to do about Beatrice for her. Of course, she didn't expect to get any result so soon because it might take a little while for him to figure out anything related to Beatrice. She was the only one that knew that Beatrice was the person behind her mother's accident apart from her mother being p
"Shut up!” Victor snapped sharply, his voice quivering with rage. The injustice he felt burned like a firestorm inside him. “They beat me up! They should be begging for my forgiveness! I’m going to sue them all and throw them in jail!” His eyes blazed as he glared at the crowd, his words venomous. “How dare you mess with me? You’re all dead!” The crowd erupted into sneers and laughter. “If anything happens to us, the world will know it’s the Grays who did it,” someone retorted. “You’ll face justice soon enough.” Another voice chimed in, “Miss Rose Gray, it’s pointless to be kind to people like them. They don’t know the meaning of gratitude!” “They’re heartless,” a third agreed. “The more you tolerate them, the worse they’ll treat you.” “Some people are just born wicked,” an older man said, shaking his head. “Victor Gray is the perfect example.” Rose, standing at the center of the storm, glanced at Victor with a faint trace of pity. She sighed softly and said, “But he’s still my
The Gray couple stood devastated, their carefully constructed façade crumbling under the weight of the truth. William seemed to freeze, his face twitching with barely restrained fury. For a moment, he looked like a man teetering on the brink of madness. How can I possibly agree? Everyone is watching and listening. But those shares are mine. MINE. Rose kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her shoulders hunched like a frightened lamb. Her small frame trembled slightly, evoking pity from the onlookers. Poor girl. The crowd whispered amongst themselves. Born into wealth but treated like an outcast in her own family. Even her own father uses her without hesitation. Beatrice’s fists were clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Her mind was racing. No. We can’t give those shares back. They’re ours. Sophia’s and Victor’s future depend on them. She can’t take them from us! Sophia stood frozen, her face burning with suppressed anger. Yet, she dared not speak, remembering the backla
"How could a father steal from his own daughter? Or is she not even considered his daughter?” “Is the Gray Corporation really that desperate now?” Outraged whispers spread among the crowd. Some female reporters expressed their disgust. “Do you only see your son as your child? What about your daughter? This is outrageous!” Someone chimed in, “He surely cares for his daughter, it all just depends on which daughter you're referring to. And it's obvious that you mean Sophia. Look at her outfit! That dress alone is worth more than $100,000, and her jewelry must cost a fortune of a million. However , look at the poor Miss Roseline Gray…” All eyes turned to Rose, and the difference was undeniable. “My God, it seems like the ex-wife’s daughter hasn't been treated well.” “It’s clear who gets the love and resources in this family…” Beatrice Gray’s face tightened as she realized the shift in the room’s mood, but it was too late. Sophia, unable to contain her anger, stood up and snapped a
It was a speech prepared and arranged for Rose to deliver, and it would have sounded far more convincing if she had done so. However, Rose had stayed quiet the entire time, leaving William Gray with no choice but to do it himself."Fake? Photoshop? That’s the best explanation you can offer? Ridiculous! Do you think we’re so blind that we can’t tell the difference between fake and real? Does he truly think we’re stupid?"Some reporters exchanged skeptical glances, their pens pausing mid-sentence. The crowd seemed to share the same sentiment, murmuring in agreement, except for a small group of reporters.Before the other reporters had the chance to challenge him, a few voices rang out from the front row.“Mr. Gray is absolutely correct," one reporter said with exaggerated conviction. "The video lacks credibility. It's easy to manipulate footage these days, especially with advanced editing software."Another voice quickly added, "I agree. It’s well-edited, but if you look closely, you
---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