She turned to look at the driver when she heard him and gave him a small nod.Rose tried to lift her legs, and with the slightest bit of force, an excruciating pain tore up her legs, causing her to groan a bit.“I'm sorry, let me give you a hand." The driver quickly rushed over to assist Rose. Just as he stretched his hand to touch her, Rose reflexively raised her hand and smacked him while sending a deadly glare at him.Now that he was standing close to Rose, the driver realized at the moment that Rose didn't have the clear and bright eyes that girls her age should have. Her eyes were so dark and cold that he gave him a different chill.He instantly retracted his hand and only watched Rose endure the pain as she walked to the car.The moment the door closed, a strong wave of dark, dangerous aura greeted her and her face immediately went pale but she kept her composure and remained calm.The driver knew what Rose was going through and he could only pray silently that his boss would c
Rose, sitting quietly on the bed, barely reacted as the doctor began to pick gravel from her wound with precise, steady hands. Her eyes were distant, lost in thought. To her, these doctors were nothing more than fleeting faces, people she would never meet again once she left. There was no point in worrying about them, no reason to care about their hushed whispers or their quick glances of curiosity.The doctor was surprised to see a beautiful young girl all messed up and injured like that. They wondered where she was coming from to attain this situation, some even gave a side glance at the driver thinking he was the one behind it but the driver quickly shook his head.“Little Miss, how can we contact your family so that we can tell them where you are?" The driver asked.Rose, who didn’t expect the driver to ask for a contact details to reach her family, lifted her head and fixed the driver with a dark gaze. She shook her head slightly, her long black hair spilling over her shoulder li
The nurse’s face flushed with embarrassment. “I—I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” "Ah, I’m sorry." The nurse's face flushed with embarrassment as she paused in her nagging, realizing that she said something that she shouldn’t have. She made up the details of a familial soap opera in her head, and she gave Rose a pitying look. "Then you..." Rose's expression was as calm and collected as always, lost in her own thought. She knew this was bound to happen the moment she told them about her mother. ‘Why did this have to happen today of all the days.’ She was quite caught up on this and reached to massage her temples gently. The nurse thought for a bit and decided to continue speaking. She was a nurse in-training and still hadn’t had much experience in dealing with patients, so she decided to advise this ’lost lamb’ from her so-called justice. But didn’t she know that her self centered sense of justice was the same as stabbing a knife into one’s heart? She was lucky that her superior were not
The driver seemed to want to contact the girl’s family because it wasn’t proper to leave such a young woman at the hospital by herself late at night, but she was quite stubborn and didn’t give him any information. He had been worried about Mr. King, who had been waiting downstairs because it was his duty to send him to the airport, and it would have been hard for him to withstand the consequences of failing his mission. Now that Mr. King came up by himself and didn’t seem to blame him in the slightest, he calmed down quite a bit. The driver stood by awkwardly, shifting from one foot to the other. He looked at the man nervously, unsure of what to do next. “Sir, should I… should I contact her family?” Alex turned his head slightly, his eyes still focused on Rose, as if weighing his options. After a long pause, he finally spoke. “No. I’ll handle it.” The driver looked visibly relieved, quickly bowing his head before exiting the room to get the necessary medicine. When there wa
She glared at him. This person must have been so used to having his way that he didn’t even give her a chance to refuse. She tried to struggle but found herself unable to pull away. The warmth of his body contrasted sharply with the coldness of his earlier demeanor. "You can’t stay here alone, and I’m not leaving you here." His words were final, leaving no room for argument. Rose's heart raced, her mind swirling with confusion. She was used to handling things on her own, relying on no one. This sudden display of protectiveness, from a man she barely knew, left her unsettled. But something in his tone, in the way he held her as though she were precious She couldn't help pursing her lips slightly before lowering her head in defeat, hiding away her emotions. Alex frowned and took a peek down. The person in his arms was practically a light as a feather, and even a rifle was denser than she was. His expression darkened as he thought about the reports he saw earlier. A weak consti
Rose's sharp eyes took it all in, but she wasn’t particularly surprised. She had encountered her fair share of grandeur in her life, and her thoughts were too busy with more pressing matters. “Young master, you've arrived.” A middle aged woman walked over to them and greeted them. She was the female butler in charge of maintaining the manor. Of course, Rose heard the woman's voice but she was pretty occupied in her head. “Young master, you didn't tell me you were going to visit the mansion.” The woman said with a huge smile on her face. “It was a late decision.” Alex curtly replied with a straight face. The woman smiled at Alex, already used to him. However, her gaze left Alex and landed on Rose who was standing next to Alex. She glanced back to Alex with a curious gaze, gesturing to Rose with her eye. Alex frowned when he noticed her gesture and he turned to his side following her eyes and saw Rose staring at something in daze. “Would you stop staring like a fool?” H
“I'm Lara Jim. The head maid and female butler of this house. Please feel free to call me Lara.” Lara introduced herself to Rose with a smile. She didn't know why but she felt a feeling of liking towards Rose the moment she saw her. Maybe it's because of the fact that she is the only human of the opposite sex Alex has brought into this house. She cared less about her relationship to Alex but she liked Rose and the way she carried herself.“Mrs. Lara. I will call you that if you don't mind instead." Rose replied. There is no way she would call a woman old enough to be her mother by name. This is her house so she can't disrespect the people living here. Moreso, Lara has a similar vibe to her new favorite Aunty Karen.Lara smiled widened. The bar of her likeness for Rose just rose up because of her words. ‘What a respectful child. Her mother should be proud of her.’ “Alright then, I'll leave you alone to rest for a while. Would you like me to get dinner?" Lara asked.Rose shook her. Sh
Lara sighed and shook her head at her Young master. Though he rarely visited this place, she has known Alex for a long time before she started working here as the head maid here. “If you don't mind me asking, Young master. What happened to the young miss you brought? She looked so badly injured on face and hand.” Lara asked worriedly. Though she didn't say it out, she knew those injuries were the cause of being beaten up. She couldn't help but wonder who would do something like that to a young girl.“I haven't found out yet. Just do your own job and worry about nothing else.” Alex replied coldly. He almost forgot about the wounds on her face not until Lara mentioned it again."Oh my! I nearly forgot.” Lara suddenly exclaimed, making Alex crease his brow at her." What is it this time?” He could feel his patience running out with the way Lara was trying to disturb him. This is the reason why he didn't like coming here." It's late, I almost forgot to take my medication which is bad. H
---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