Rose knew this was bound to happen and was prepared for this reaction. And the reason was because she hadn't worn any makeup to conceal her beauty so everyone in the room was quickly captivated and mesmerized by her beauty. However, among the students murmuring, Rose felt a particular person among the students was staring at differently. She followed her instinct and saw a young boy staring intently at her. She narrowed her eyes at him seeing how he didn't flinch when their gaze met. Rose was pissed at the fact that he was staring at her, but the reason why she narrowed her gaze was because he had the same gray eyes like her. “What is causing you trouble in my class?" The teacher, who wasn't aware that Rose had entered his class as he was focused on what he was writing on the board, finally turned around to give a good scolding to his students to shut them up. However, he was shocked to see Rose in his class the moment he turned around. His eyes widened as gaze at the extremely go
She saw him leaning against the elevator wall with his hand tucked in the school pants pocket with a calm and aloof expression. Rose knew without being told that he was from a rich family but she was amazed seeing how he had almost similar expressions to her.“Why are you staring at me? Do I have something on my face?" The boy suddenly asked, noticing that Rose was gazing at him ever since they entered the elevator.“Nothing." Rose calmly replied as she turned to look away from him. However, she failed to notice the smirk on the boy's face.A few moments passed and no one said anything until the boy spoke again to break the silence. “Why are you here alone in the first place? Didn't you come here with someone?" He asked. Ever since she entered the classroom and he laid his eyes on her, he felt like Rose was familiar and his curiosity increased when he saw her having the same gray eyes like him. “I didn't come alone. My younger sister is a student in this school and she was supposed t
“Beatrice told me that you said you will take our school exam? Isn't that's why you're here?” Headmistress Moore quickly composed herself and got back to business. “Yes. I would like to start the exam now if you don't mind.” Rose said as she looked at the Headmistress. “Ah, yes. I will have them prepare the papers now. Please take a seat and wait." Headmistress Moore gestured to the couch in her office while she called her assistant desk number and gave a few instructions to her before hanging up. "Mr. Anderson, do you have some other business here in my office?” Headmistress Moore asked, turning her attention to the boy who had accompanied Rose. “No.” He curtly replied, still sitting down on the couch. Headmistress Moore eyed him. “You can go back to your class Mr. Anderson. Thank you for bringing Miss Rose here." She finally said, making sure she sounded as respectful as she could. Even if she was the headmistress of this academy, there are certain students she can't afford to
Mr. Hughes was taken aback by surprise when he heard Rose confirm it. However, he was more taken aback by the strange aura that surrounded her, she was acting way more than her age. “Mr. Hughes, since Miss Rose had already confirmed it, please take her to where she would be taking the exam.” Headmistress Moore decided to speak up seeing that the atmosphere was about to get more intense than she planned. She turned to look at Rose. “Mr. Hughes would be the one to be in charge of your exam, Miss Rose." " I-I understand Headmistress Moore. Miss Rose, please follow me." Mr. Hughes said nothing else and gestured to Rose to follow him. Just as Rose stood up from her seat, the boy who had been quiet since Mr. Hughes entered the office, also stood up. “Mr. Anderson, I don't think there is a need to follow them. I'm sure Mr. Hughes would take care of Miss Rose.” Headmistress Moore said when she saw him stand up as well. “I would like to follow her. Like I said I brought her here so she
Fifteen minutes later, Rose stood up from her seat with the question paper in her hand and walked towards where Mr. Hughes was standing and stretched the paper to him. “I'm done." She calmly told him. Mr. Hughes' eyes widened when he heard her. “A-are you sure? I mean you still have five minutes left, so you can cross check your work again." He said, glancing at the clock, seeing that there was still five minutes left before the one hour deadline he gave Rose to finish the question paper. “I know that, but I'm done answering the question and I don't need to recheck my answers.” Rose replied with an innocent expression on her face. She didn't understand why Mr. Hughes was telling her that she still had more time when she knew that. ‘Is this spoiled brat kidding me right now? How can you answer all that question in just fifteen minutes.’ Mr. Hughes thought, but he couldn't say anything and just collected the paper from Rose. “In that case, you can return back to the headmistress of
Hearing her, Rose said nothing and stood up from her seat walking towards the desk. However, she paused mid way when she noticed the boy also standing up and following her. She gave him a questioning look that says ‘Dude, why are you following me’ The boy just smiled sweetly at her when he saw her gaze, so she rolled her eyes and decided to leave him be. She stood in front of the desk, glancing at Mr. Hughes who was also looking at her. His doubtful expression was completely gone, but she didn't care to wonder why. She opened the file and glanced at the last page to see her results. Under her name, she saw that her results were ninety seven out of a full hundred marks. ‘What a shame, I was aiming to get all hundred marks. Ninety seven marks doesn't sound bad itself.’ Rose thought. Both Headmistress Moore and Mr. Hughes stared at her blank expression, they were expecting her to show some kind of shocked or happy expression upon seeing her scores but contrary to what they were expec
A few minutes later, a beautiful petite young lady wearing an old fashioned dress and glasses that seems to be too big for her face walked into the office. She was none other than Teacher Lopez that Headmistress Moore was talking about. “Miss Lopez, I want to introduce you to Miss Rose. She is joining our school and wants her to be in your class. Here, go through her qualifications yourself and tell me if you want her or not.” Headmistress Moore said and handed a file of Rose information to her. When Teacher Lopez opened the file and saw Rose qualifications she was ecstatic. She is clearly looking at a young genius. Her skills exceeded all of her previous students. Be it in academics or extracurricular activities. This was a big blessing for her. ‘Finally, heaven had taken pity on me and sent a genius that I can adopt to me.’ “Miss Rose is willing to take any test you want to give her if you're still doubtful of her skill.” Headmistress Moore added, she had a slight frown on her.
An hour later, the school bell rang and immediately all the students rushed out of the classroom. Rose, who was busy playing a game on her cell phone, hadn't heard the school bell because she had her headphones on. However, she raised her head up when she noticed the figure of students passing by. She glanced out the window and saw that there were a lot of students which made her know that the school had closed. A few minutes later, Rose noticed Sophia walking towards the car with a group of her friends. The driver quickly got in the car and opened the door for Sophia. “I will see you guys later-” Sophia was talking to her friends when the driver opened the car door and she saw Rose sitting in the backseat. She was shocked to see Rose in the car because she had thought she would have gone home. Sophia's friends who noticed the shocked expression on their friends' faces also leaned and glanced in the car. Their jaws nearly dropped to the ground when they saw a beautiful young girl s
---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