Meanwhile, what was happening in the CEO’s office of the Grays Corporation was a complete mess. Ever since the news had burst out, William was scratching his head with both hands, suffering from a terrible headache. It was too sudden and unexpected. His phone constantly kept ringing as requests for interviews, statements, damage control. He was on edge, pacing back and forth, his jaw clenched. The room was thick with tension.“Mr. Gray, CWAY News wants to interview you.”“Newsbreaker Company, Scoopley TV…” His secretary’s voice droned on, each outlet wanting a comment, a reaction.William's patience snapped. He grabbed an ashtray and hurled it across the room, his voice a furious roar. "Tell them no! Leave it to PR. I'm not dealing with this trivia thing!"Without uttering another word, the secretary slipped out of the office, he couldn’t help thinking to himself. Trivia?This isn’t just some minor PR problem, Mr. Gray. This is a nightmare. The brutal beating, the indifference, the
The weight of the situation pressed on him like a crushing tide. The company’s reputation, carefully built over decades, was crumbling before his eyes. This wasn’t just a bad day—it was the worst disaster the company had ever faced.The shrill ring of the phone cut through the silence, further fraying William’s nerves. He ignored it, leaning back in his chair, utterly defeated. But his reprieve was short-lived. A soft knock at the door drew his attention.His secretary peeked in, her voice hesitant. “Mr. Gray, Mr. Jones and Mr. Bill are here to see you.”William’s jaw clenched. Brian Jones and Donald Bill were among the most demanding members of the board. They were notorious for their stinginess and narrow-mindedness, but under these circumstances, they were the last people he could afford to upset.“Send them in,” he said, forcing a smile onto his face.Brian, thin and sharp-eyed, strode in first, followed by the larger and more imposing Donald. Both men looked furious.“William, wh
Donald shook his head, unconvinced. “It’s not just Victor. It’s your whole family, William. That video—it’s horrendous. You wouldn't believe that my wife cried when she saw it. Do you realize how this makes us look?” He said, his displeasure evident in his voice.Brian chimed in, his tone biting. “That's true. Besides, Rose, she is your own daughter. How could you let something like that happen to her? Even a stranger would have been treated better. It’s beyond cruel.”William’s fists clenched under the table, but his voice remained steady. “I love my daughter,” he said, though the words sounded hollow, even to himself.Donald let out a sarcastic laugh. ‘Geez, admitting it would be better than that foolish lie. Even a deaf person would tell how your words are contorted with lies.’ “Love? Come on, William. The video speaks for itself. Your wife Beatrice just stood there and watched, and your daughter Sophia didn’t lift a finger to help. If this is love, I’d hate to see what neglect lo
Anderson Ancestral MansionThe study room’s atmosphere shifted abruptly, as though an unseen storm had descended upon it. The once calm and serene space grew heavy, an oppressive tension filling the air. An unnatural chill settled in, biting at the skin, despite the air conditioner being lifeless and still. The space, once warm and inviting, now felt cold and foreboding, as though a dark presence had invaded.Sitting behind the massive desk, Frank Anderson was the epicenter of the tension. His sharp gray eyes remained fixed on the laptop screen, where a trending video played.Bang!Frank’s hand slammed down on the desk, the sharp sound reverberating through the room. His face twisted in fury as he paused the video, unable to bear another second of watching. The clip showed Rose, his granddaughter, being brutally beaten, her helpless state etched into his mind. She was the granddaughter he had long yearned for, only to discover her subjected to such abuse.“That damned Gray family! I w
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
Beatrice, who had been busy receiving a foot massage from one of the maids, sat up instantly. “What did you just say?” she asked with a surprised expression on her face as she looked at Mary. “Madam , this is not the time to sit down. I think you should go and make an appearance immediately before things get out of hand.” Mary advised Beatrice, who nodded her head in agreement despite the fact that she was still stunned by the news. “Does my husband know about this already?” Beatrice asked as she gestured to the other maid to leave. “I overheard the Head maid instructing the maid to go and inform the Master.” Mary replied. “Alright, let's go.“ Beatrice said and quickly rushed out of the room along with Mary behind her. Just as she stepped out of the room, she met William in the hallway, and he had a sour expression. “Honey, have you heard? Why would they come here at this hour?" she murmured, exchanging a wary glance at her husband. William exhaled sharply. "Only one way to fi
The evening air was crisp as a sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of the imposing Gray Mansion. The headlights cut through the dimly lit driveway before fading as the engine turned off. Paige immediately stepped forward and bowed her head as the people in the car highlighted. “Good evening, Madam Anderson, Mr. Anderson. I'm Paige, the Handmaid of the Gray Family.” She greeted both Anne and Julian in a respectful manner while introducing herself to them. Just before the car arrived, she had received a message from the security guards at the entrance and that was why she was already waiting for them. Anne glanced at Paige before giving her a small nod while Julian gave Paige a quick response. He didn't know Paige but she has always welcomed him warmly with respect anytime he visits the Gray mansion. As Paige led Anne and Julian into the elegant living room of the Gray Mansion, she gestured for them to take a seat. The air was thick with tension, though Anne maintained her u
Just as Rose was busy enjoying her time reading each negative comment on the Gray family, her moment got interrupted when a call notification popped up on her phone screen. Rose frowned slightly at the interrupting but the frown quickly vanished when she saw the caller was none other than Alissa so she immediately answered the call. “Hey Li-" Rose had barely had a chance to greet her before a loud voice exploded from the other end. "ROSELINE GRAY! Do you have any idea how long it’s been since you last called me? Are you alive? Did you forget I exist?" Rose chuckled, holding the phone a little away from her ear. "Hello to you too, Alissa." "Don’t you ‘hello’ me! Three. Whole. Days. Do you know how much can happen in three days? I could’ve been kidnapped, gotten married, or worse—run out of my favorite snacks!" Rose shook her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "You? Run out of snacks? Impossible. You probably have an entire stockpile hidden under your bed." "That’s not the
Everyone leaned in to see the screen. News articles and social media posts flooded the internet, all centered around the incident at today’s press conference. The video William had tried to suppress had resurfaced, spreading like wildfire. The public was outraged, and the Gray family was being criticized heavily for their treatment of Rose. Karen gasped. “But how? William had this taken down hours ago.” Julian smirked slightly. “Exactly. He tried to take it down. But someone clearly made sure it didn’t stay that way.” Anne’s eyes widened in realization. “You think my Rose had a hand in this?” “I’m not certain,” Nicholas suddenly spoke. “There is someone who is making sure William Gray doesn’t get the last word.” he added, his eyes darkened when he thought of the only person who could do something like that. Karen and Anne exchanged glances. The situation wasn’t as hopeless as they had originally thought, but still, the unease lingered in their hearts. Karen exhaled in relief as
The Anderson Ancestral Mansion was bathed in the soft glow of evening lights as the family gathered in the grand sitting room. After watching the Gray family press conference today, Karen had urged her husband seriously to bring them here and since he originally wanted to see his father about their next plan seeing how the Gray family has treated Rose so he agreed to bring them along. After discussing with his father, both Julian and Frank came down to the living room where Karen, Anne were sitting in the living room. Karen, who had been holding a teacup in her hands, suddenly set it down on the coffee table with a sharp clink. Her face, usually calm, was now etched with frustration "I just can’t keep quiet about this anymore," she said, looking around the table. "What we saw today at the press conference was unacceptable! How can we allow Rose to stay in that house after everything the Gray family has done to her? Did you see how William treated her? Like she was nothing more th
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom of the Gray mansion, William stepped inside to find Beatrice already waiting for him. She was seated on the edge of the bed, her arms crossed as she observed his unusually calm demeanor. Her brow lifted in suspicion the moment their eyes met.“You’re back,” she remarked, standing up and making her way toward him. As she reached him, her hands instinctively moved to help unbutton his shirt. “Did something happen? You seem... different.” Her gaze searched his face for answers.William exhaled as he shrugged off his shirt. “Nothing,” he replied, his tone dismissive. “I just went to clarify a few things with Rose, and it turns out I was worried for nothing. She’s still the same—naïve and foolish as ever.”Beatrice, however, wasn’t convinced. “Honey, are you sure about this?” she pressed, folding her arms. “You saw how things played out today. Someone orchestrated that disaster, and we were humiliated. Who else could have done something like that? And…” She
Edward, who had been observing the conversation silently, finally spoke up. “It’s curious, isn’t it? Alex, of all people, taking notice of a young woman like Rose. Makes you wonder if he sees something the rest of us don’t. You know what I'm saying, Nicholas.” Nicholas’s dark eyes flicked to Edward, colder now. “Alex doesn’t make moves without reason. Whatever he sees, I’ll make sure it doesn’t harm her.” Edward smirked, clearly entertained by Nicholas’s unwavering stance. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you? I didn’t think you’d grow so attached so quickly.” Nicholas ignored the comment. He wasn’t attached. Not emotionally, at least. This wasn’t about sentimentality—it was about principle. Rose was young, yes, but she wasn’t fragile. She had already proven she could hold her own in their world. But Alex was a different matter entirely. Chris sighed dramatically, shaking his head. “You’re not going to stop Alex, are you? I mean, he’s Alex—cold, calculating, and terrifying in h
The Gray family’s carefully crafted facade was crumbling, and their dirty secrets were being laid bare for the world to see. Victor, seeing that his mother was not taking his side after his pride was hurt, lashed out at both his mother, sister and even the maids in the room, yelling, “Get out! Leave me alone!” Hearing this from her own room, Rose smiled faintly. Despite the pain and humiliation she had endured, the tide was turning in her favor. She let out a sigh, savoring the sense of triumph. “Like they say, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Betrayal for revenge." Rose mumbled under her breath as she walked towards the dressing table and opened a drawer. “Victor, let's talk–” Beatrice tried to persuade her son to calm down. " I said, leave!" Victor didn't wait for Beatrice to finish talking because he cut her off again. “Mom, let's leave him alone.” Sophia, who was still pissed off at Victor, couldn't stand him anymore so she practically dragged her worried mother out o
Dr. Noah was bewildered to see both Beatrice and Victor beaten, but he dared not utter a word. It was the older daughter who got beaten just a couple of weeks ago, and now it was their turn? What is wrong with this family? He could tell that there is definitely something wrong with this family but he knew his place. He couldn't ask questions so he only ignored his curiosity and did his job. William had been told it was merely bruises and minor cuts, but he insisted the doctor check again thoroughly and ordered him to stay just in case. Though unnecessary, Dr. Noah obeyed. He cleaned the cuts carefully, terrified of making any mistakes as William watched tensely. When he had finished, he glanced at Rose, who sat by Victor’s side looking genuinely worried. He packed his medical kits and then quietly made his exit not without stealing a glance at William. ‘ What a contrast! When his older daughter was injured, he didn’t even ask how she was. Now that it’s his wife and son, he’s sick