In the heart of the bustling city, the King’s Conglomerate towering building gleamed under the midday sun. The gold-coated letters of the company name shone brightly on the façade, a testament to the success of one of the most powerful corporations in the region.On the 90th floor, Alexander King sat at his massive desk, surrounded by a pristine, sunlit office. The panoramic windows overlooked the city skyline, but his attention was focused entirely on the stack of documents before him. His sharp, handsome features were set in concentration as he worked, unaware of the time passing.The door opened with a casual push, and two familiar handsome men strode in like they owned the place. One had a calmer expression while the other one had his grin as wide as ever. These two men were none other than Edward and Christopher. Without hesitation, Edward walked towards the couch in the office and sat down, while Chris walked directly towards Alex and perched on the edge of Alex's desk. “Alex, i
Edward turned off the TV quickly, still startled by Alex's reaction. He had seen Alex angry before, but this was different, fiercer, more personal. “Is this why Nicholas isn't answering my calls earlier?" Chris asked, remembering how Nicholas was hanging up his calls and when he called his secretary, he was told Nicholas was attending to some issues.“It could be. How can the Gray family do.this to their own daughter? I can't begin to imagine the expression Nicholas would have when he sees the cousin he just met being brutalized." Edwards replied and his gaze fell on Alex whose expression remained terrifying. It was because they were his friends that's why they were able to withstand his dangerous aura a bit.However, as more time.is passes the more unbearable he becomes. It would be better if he just lash out than just glaring dangerous at the poor TV.“Alex,” he said carefully, “let’s go eat. Clear your head.”Alex ignored him, grabbing the phone instead. His voice was icy as he b
Meanwhile, Rose stayed in her room, untouched by the chaos around her. Beatrice was exhausted, trying to have some quiet time from her two spoiled children and had no time for Rose. The only one that would go into Rose's room was Paige and the housemaid, bringing food and drinks regularly. She relished the silence, her mind calm and calculating.She also gets a little bit of information on his devastated Beatrice and her kids from Paige who always makes sure to come to her room.Let them suffer, she thought, a faint smile curling her lips.You all deserve this. Every bit of it.Her heart swelled with satisfaction. In her past life, she had endured their cruelty, their indifference, their disdain. Now, she was beginning to see justice unfold.‘This is just the start. You’ll all pay for what you’ve done. Every last one of you will regret the way you treated me.’ she vowed silently.Although everyone thought she was just sitting in her room doing nothing, actually she was the one control
…………..A while later.Rose stretched and yawned as she turned off the TV. She had just finished binge-watching her favorite drama and was ready for a nap. She mentally counted the days since the incident with Victor. It had been long enough for the storm to gain momentum, and she knew it wouldn’t subside anytime soon. Just as she settled into her bed, a soft knock startled her. She sat up, her calm demeanor intact.“Come in,” she said evenly, already guessing who it might be as she sat back on her bed.The door opened, and her father, William, walked in. His usual confident air had been replaced with a heavy, exhausted gait. His face was lined with worry as he slowly took a seat by her bed.“Father, is something wrong? You don't look well." Rose tilted her head and asked innocently. Despite the fact that she had been staying in her room, she knew exactly what was happening at home and with the company. “Rose, our company is in trouble,” he began, his voice burdened. “The stock p
Despite the turmoil in her heart, Rose maintained her serene mask. She smiled warmly, her voice unwavering. “You’ve always overcome every challenge, Dad. I believe in you. The board members and my uncles can't take you out because you're the best. I believe in you.” ‘I will be the one to destroy you, not those stupid, greedy, selfish wimps that share the Gray blood.’William watched her closely, comforted by her unwavering support. Staring at her face suddenly made him remember a particular woman. His dead wife looked exactly like her daughter. He fell into a daze and recalled a moment from his past.*Flashback*Dressed in a red lace robe, a beautiful woman who looked exactly like Rose sat by the dressing table as she used the towel in her hand to dry her ginger red hair. Suddenly, the door to the master bedroom opened and a slightly younger version of William staggered into the room.Ruby glanced at her so-called husband through the mirror before ignoring him and focused back to wha
"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
‘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
---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
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
And just like that, the room turned into a lively scene of friendly competition. They played games, challenged each other in trivia, and even did some ridiculous dares. Rose found herself relaxing more and more as time passed. At one point, Leo and Kaleb were locked in a heated air hockey match, while Sandra and Reeves were bickering over a card game. “I swear, you’re cheating,” Sandra accused. Reeves leaned back with a smug grin. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” Sandra narrowed her eyes. “I hate you.” Kehlani sighed. “And the romance novel practically writes itself.” Sandra and Reeves both snapped, “Shut up!” at the same time, making everyone burst into laughter. After a while, Leo checked the time. “Alright, let’s get some food. Rose didn’t eat earlier, and I’d rather not have her faint on us.” Rose shot Leo a glare.“Seriously?” Leo grinned. “What? You think I was going to let you starve? I promised mom to feed you.” Kehlani got up and pulled Rose up from her seat a
The car came to a smooth stop in front of a modern, stylish building with neon accents and a sleek black-and-gold sign that read The Luxe Lounge. It had a mix of a high-end arcade, a private club, and a casual dining area—clearly designed for the elite high school crowd looking for entertainment. Rose stepped out of the car, glancing around before turning to Leo with a raised brow. “This is where you were taking me?” She asked. In her past life she was almost a full grown adult when she returned back to LA, so she never visited this kind of place nor even heard about it. Leo smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. Come on, you’ll like it.” With mild suspicion, Rose followed him inside. The moment they stepped through the glass doors, the atmosphere shifted. The warm, ambient lighting, the hum of activity, and the subtle mix of music in the background made it feel lively but not chaotic. ‘So this is where the rich kids come to hangout after school.’ She thought to herse
As soon as they stepped outside, Leo strolled over to his sleek black motorcycle, patting the seat confidently. "Alright, hop on." He said, stretching the helmet to Rose. Rose stopped in her tracks, her arms crossing over her chest as she shot him a glare. "You’re joking." Leo smirked. "Do I look like I’m joking?" "Yes," she deadpanned. "Because there is absolutely no way I’m getting on that death trap with you." Leo gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Death trap? Excuse you, this is a finely tuned machine. And I’m an excellent rider." "That’s exactly what all reckless people say before they crash into a tree," Rose muttered. Leo rolled his eyes. "Come on, don’t be such a coward." "I’m not a coward," she huffed. "I just prefer vehicles that have seat belts, airbags, and an ACTUAL ROOF." she said, making sure to emphasize on her last two words. Leo grinned. "Sounds like a coward talking to me." Rose ignored him and pulled out her phone. "Just give me the addre
As Rose followed Leo out of her room and down the grand staircase, she found herself wondering what exactly he had planned. Although she might not know Leo fully, she could already guess the kind of personality he has. ‘It could be anything from a simple drive to an impromptu trip across the city.’ Rose thought to herself. Either way, she knew she wouldn’t hear the end of it unless she went along. The moment they reached the ground floor, the sight of Anne and Karen sitting in the living room greeted them. They were seated on the plush couches, engaged in quiet conversation, but it was Karen who first noticed them approaching. Her eyes flickered to Rose and then to Leo, her brows drawing together slightly. "Dear, you decided to come downstairs already? Where are you two going?" she asked, her tone casual but laced with curiosity. Leo, never one to hesitate, shoved his hands into his pockets and smirked. "Just taking Rose out for some fun. She’s been locked up in her room all day, b
The soft tapping of fingers against a keyboard filled the quiet room as Rose remained focused on her work. She had been at it for hours, barely noticing the time passing. The only interruption she had experienced was when the maid brought her lunch, but even then, she had barely acknowledged it before returning to her task. A sudden knock on the door startled her, pulling her out of her concentration. Blinking, she stretched slightly before glancing at her phone. Her brows furrowed when she saw the time—it was already late afternoon. She hadn’t realized how long she had been working. Setting her things aside, Rose got up and walked toward the door. She turned the handle and pulled it open, only to find a familiar figure standing outside. Leo. He leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed as he regarded her with an unreadable expression. “Leo?” Rose blinked, slightly surprised to see him. “What are you doing here?” Instead of answering immediately, Leo smirked.
As soon as Rose stepped out of the car, a warm and welcoming sight greeted her. Anne and Karen stood at the entrance, their expressions filled with anticipation. "Rose, my dear!" Anne was the first to speak, stepping forward to take Rose’s hands in hers. She gave them a gentle squeeze before pulling her into a warm embrace. Rose smiled, returning the hug with familiarity. Anne’s embraces had become something she was used to—and, secretly, something she had grown to like. “Mother, I want to hug Rose too.” Karen’s voice came from behind, causing Anne to release Rose and turn toward her daughter-in-law. Karen wore a small pout, her usual composed demeanor slightly softened. Rose raised an amused brow at Karen. Though she hadn’t spent much time with her, she had always noticed how different Karen's personality was and it was the opposite of her own mother. Karen was calm and collected—unlike Ruby, whose very presence was enough to warn others not to cross her. “I thought you always l
As the car drove away from the Gray Mansion, Rose let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the seat. The weight of the morning’s events should have exhausted her, but instead, she felt lighter—freer. Luthor glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his lips curling into a small smirk. “You handled that well.” Rose tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Did I? I was just saying goodbye.” Luthor chuckled, shaking his head. “Right. And I’m sure your brother, Victor, enjoyed that hug, too.” A playful glint flashed in Rose’s eyes. “Brother Luthor, are you saying my farewell wasn’t heartfelt?” “Oh, it was heartfelt, alright. Just not in the way he expected,” Luthor remarked with amusement. “What did you say to him?” Rose rested her chin on her hand, her expression unreadable. “Just a little advice on choosing his words wisely.” Luthor hummed. “You mean a warning.” She smiled sweetly. “Advice. Warnings sound so… aggressive.” Luthor chuckled again. “You’re something else, little
Morning light streamed through the large windows of Rose’s room as Paige moved around with an air of practiced efficiency, carefully folding the last of Rose’s clothes. Although her expression remained neutral, there was a barely concealed sense of relief in her movements—relief that Rose was finally leaving the Gray Mansion. Rose, of course, noticed. She sat gracefully on the edge of her bed, watching as Paige meticulously arranged her belongings. “You seem eager to help today, Aunty.” Rose mused, her voice light with amusement. Paige, momentarily caught off guard, quickly regained her composure. “I just thought you’d want everything done efficiently,” she replied with a polite smile. “Since you’re leaving for the Anderson family… it’s important that everything is in place.” Rose chuckled softly, standing up. “How thoughtful of you.” Paige glanced at her briefly before returning to her task. “Rose, if I may offer some advice… The Andersons aren’t the Grays here. I'm sure you've