Her concern only worsened the excruciating pain he buried deep in his heart.He felt very conflicted. He desired her concern, but at the same time, he wished she would leave.Theodore looked at her with tears in his eyes, trying his darndest to keep himself calm as he said things that made his heart ache, "Rose, don't show me any more concern. Your care and concern only bring me more pain and hopelessness. No matter how much concern you show me, things between us will never return to the past. You're only adding to my pain.""Theodore Spencer, I don't understand. I really don't!" Rosalie said through her tears. "If you think that my concern only adds to your pain, why did you let Aurora get pregnant with your child?"Rosalie looked at Theodore with eyes filled with anger and sorrow. She suppressed the pain in her heart as she decided to ask him for some answers."Theo, are you taking Aurora as my replacement? Do you find everything I've given you from her?"Anger and sorrow tinge
He handed the thumb drive to Rosalie. "All his actions were captured and stored in this thumb drive. Rosalie Young, I'm giving you one chance to watch the entire thing. If you still think Sebastian didn't want to kill me after watching it and want to beg me to let him go, I'll agree to it!"Rosalie stared at the thumb drive in Theodore's hand, filled with doubt.She was curious about the footage inside. Since there was evidence, there was no harm in checking it out.Rosalie wiped her tears away. "Okay, I'll watch it. I want to know what happened, too."It was Theodore's words against Sebastian's at that time. She didn't know whose words to believe.Theodore grabbed Rosalie's wrist. "Come with me."He brought Rosalie to somewhere quiet and had someone bring his laptop over.He then inserted the thumb drive into the laptop and clicked open the video files inside.Rosalie sat before the laptop and saw Theodore navigate through the files and click on a video.However, he didn't
Rosalie pushed Theodore's hand away. "In that case, I must know what happened."Since Theodore got his hands on the so-called evidence and laid it right before her, there was no reason for her not to watch it. A few minutes wouldn't make a difference.Rosalie took the initiative to play the video.She sat quietly before the laptop, her eyes fixed on the video playing on the screen.The originally calm expression on her face slowly grew solemn, then turned into shock and disbelief.She couldn't believe that the man she once trusted so much could be capable of something so cruel.In the video, Sebastian broke into Theodore's house with a bunch of armed men.After they entered, they scoured the place for surveillance cameras and damaged whatever they could find.When Theodore and Aurora came back, they intercepted them and ruthlessly threatened them with their lives. They pointed their guns at Theodore, the vicious look in their eyes filled with ruthless cruelty.Sebastian pointe
Upon seeing how much pain and shock Rosalie was in, Theodore sighed."Now that you've seen it for yourself, do you still think I'm lying and making a mountain out of a molehill?" he asked. Rosalie stayed silent. "Do you really think Sebastian didn't intend to kill me with all those bodyguards he brought in tow? Had I not snatched his gun away, the odds wouldn't have been in my favor. The video made things very clear. Are you still going to speak up for him?"He was waiting to see how Rosalie would justify Sebastian's actions.Rosalie shut her eyes, trying her best to keep the pain and shock she was feeling in check.After a long while, she looked up at Theodore."I'm sorry for misunderstanding you. I thought…I thought things weren't so bad. I thought…"Rosalie's throat hurt—she couldn't speak any further. As it turns out, she had thought wrongly and Sebastian had indeed done what Theodore said he did.Instead of killing Sebastian under those circumstances, Theodore chose to
"Is that so? Did he tell you that?" Theodore questioned Rosalie back with a sardonic look, as if mocking her for being naive.Rosalie nodded. "Yes.""Rose, are you still going to believe him now? He clearly has a guilty conscience and is looking for an excuse to flee. Otherwise, why would he choose today of all days to flee when I was ready to give the evidence to the police? How could such a huge coincidence be possible?""I find it a huge coincidence too," Rosalie said. "But how would Sebastian know that you have the video? The footage clearly shows that he thought he destroyed all the surveillance cameras in the villa. How would he know you had a pinhole camera? Had he known, he would have fled earlier. Why did he wait till today?""I want to know the answer to that, too. Why did he find out today, of all days?"Theodore was fuming. He unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt, his chest heaving and almost panting due to his anger."Someone must have tipped him off. For al
"I don't know," Rosalie said. "Do as you deem fit. It's not my place to comment on this any further."Sebastian had done something so awful, Rosalie felt she couldn't even ask Theodore for forgiveness."I can't just let this go, Rose. I can tell you the truth. Since Sebastian has gone back home, I've decided to pass the video to the Melrine police. As for whether they can catch him, that's their business. Consider this a chance I'm giving Sebastian. If he continues staying where he is, he's safe. But once he comes back to Melrine, he'll get caught. What do you think?"Rosalie nodded. "Okay."She had no reason to oppose Theodore's suggestion. Sebastian had done something like this, so even if Theodore insisted on punishing him, she couldn't stop it.Theodore was being very reasonable, despite the high likelihood that the Melrine police wouldn't be able to find Sebastian now that he had returned home.Rosalie felt very conflicted. On one hand, Sebastian hurt Theodore and almost kil
Sebastian was probably still on the plane with her baby. She had put her son in Sebastian's hands.Rosalie didn't dare to think too badly of Sebastian. He was very good to her and sacrificed a lot for her. However, the Sebastian she saw in the video looked like another person—cruel and vicious through and through. Now that her son was with Sebastian, Rosalie felt scared and didn't dare to do anything that would provoke him.Had she known this earlier, she would never have let Sebastian take her son back home. She would insist on leaving the baby with her here.Why didn't Theodore tell her about it earlier?He had the evidence. If he had told her about it right from the beginning…Yet why…'Forget it,' Rosalie thought with a sigh. It was meaningless to ask hypothetical questions.She tried her best to believe that Sebastian wouldn't hurt her son. Despite that, she still didn't care to provoke him.Rosalie entered Justin's ward morosely, looking very troubled."Did something
Rosalie instinctively recalled what happened before at the restaurant.Sebastian had fallen and she thought Theodore was behind it. She had blamed Theodore so harshly for it.Sebastian looked so weak and vulnerable back then, and he made it look as though it was completely Theodore's fault.Subsequently, Sebastian took the initiative to apologize to her and tell her that he was the one who framed Theodore for what happened at the restaurant.Rosalie had been furious at that time, but she forgave Sebastian. Afterward, Theodore told her that Sebastian only admitted his mistake because there were surveillance cameras in the restaurant that captured the entire incident. That gave him the upper hand.Even so, Rosalie still chose to believe Sebastian. She thought that Sebastian genuinely felt guilty, which was what drove him to apologize to her, and not because he realized that he was going to be exposed.What happened today made Rosalie think of that incident.Could it really be as w
It was like a long, long nightmare.Rosalie didn't know how much time had passed. All she could remember was herself walking in the desert for a long, long time. She felt tired, thirsty, and hot. She saw no end to the desert and she seemed to be looking for something, although she had forgotten who she was.Just as she fell from tripping over a stone and found herself unable to crawl back up, a man appeared before her.Rosalie looked up, and tears welled up in her eyes the moment she saw who it was.She suddenly remembered who she was and she reached out a trembling hand, calling out, "Justin… Justin…!"Her voice was hoarse.Justin crouched down. "Rose.He reached his hand out, as tender as before.Rosalie felt as though she had found her lifeline. Yet right before their hands touched, a loud gunshot sounded as she saw a bullet pierce mercilessly through Justin's chest. Blood trickled down the wound.Justin collapsed to the ground."No…no, no!"Rosalie yelled at the top of h
"Sebastian Carter, dare you kill me? Hahaha…!" Rosalie laughed.Her scornful laughter was akin to blades that pierced Sebastian's heart. He knew his time was up and all forms of pretense were useless.Although he refused to concede defeat, he had no other choice.Anyone who loved this woman was bound to end up in a horrible plight.Out of the blue, he asked, "Theodore, do you love Rose?" "Of course I do, but I'm not as perverted as you are," Theodore spat."Yes, I'm perverted while your love is noble and dignified. At the very least, Rose loved you once, but what about me? She has never loved me." Sebastian chuckled bitterly, tears filling his eyes. "I just want her to love me! What wrong have I done? I just don't want to lose the woman I love. How is that wrong?"Until now, Sebastian refused to admit his wrongdoings. He might know it in his heart, but he refused to admit it outright.Tears of indignation rolled down his cheeks as he bawled like a child. "The only wrong I di
Sebastian gritted his teeth as he vented his overwhelming wrath on Rosalie's body.Rosalie shut her eyes and bit down on her lips hard, bearing with the pain. She didn't cry out for fear that the people outside would hear her and realize the indecency that was going on.The men outside were shouting anxiously. Just then, one of their members ran over with an electric drill in hand. "I found this! Let's try it."A loud drilling sound came from the door. A few minutes later, the door lock finally came loose.The door was kicked open with a loud bang and Theodore barged in with his men. Sebastian and Rosalie were seated by the bedside, with Sebastian holding a gun pointed at Rosalie's temple.Rosalie's hair was in a mess, with tears streaming down her face. Her sleep gown was all tattered and torn.Fire burned in Theodore's eyes when he saw the scene before him. "Sebastian Carter, what did you do?!""I did everything you can imagine! If you don't believe me, just watch." Sebast
Rosalie was sound asleep when she heard a commotion from outside.Then, shrieks pierced the air.At that moment, the door to her room was locked open and the lights were switched on. Rosalie felt the cold muzzle of a gun pressed against her temple.Sebastian's face was dark with fury as he yanked Rosalie out of the bed."What happened?" she asked.She saw his sweat-beaded brow and knew something serious had happened.Sebastian yanked the rope in his hand and Rosalie tumbled into his arms. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pointed a gun at her forehead with another.Rosalie panted hard. "Sebastian Carter, are you going to kill me? Just shoot me!""Theodore's here. Do you want to see him?""What did you say?" Rosalie was shell-shocked. "He's here?""What, are you very happy?"A flurry of gunshots sounded outside the room."Do you hear that? He's here to rescue you," Sebastian said with a smirk.Rosalie took a deep breath and said, "Why aren't you making a run for it? If
Before his departure, Theodore carried Steve in his arms for a long time, saying many things to him."Stevie, I'm so sorry. If anything were to happen to Daddy, I can't take care of you anymore. I know I should be doing that and that I shouldn't be so selfish, but I can't help it. I have to go save Mommy. If I don't come back, you must listen to Grandpa and Grandma. They will take care of you."Theodore kissed his cheek. "I left you many videos, enough to last you till you turn 18. Remember to watch one every year on your birthday. I want you to know that I'll remember you forever."He started tearing up. "I'm sorry, Daddy needs to go. I'll protect myself and your mommy as best as I can. We'll definitely find a way back home."Theodore put Steve back into his cot."Dada…" Steve leaned against the edge of the cot and blinked innocently at Theodore."I'm sorry. Daddy's leaving." He planted a final kiss on Steve's cheek and left, his heart breaking.Steve plopped onto the mattr
They were thirty hours away from the launch of the rescue operation.Theodore called Sydney and Wesley over for a talk in the living room. With his solemn expression, the atmosphere was very tense."I called you two over because I have something very important to tell you.""What is it?" Wesley asked."If I were to die, please take good care of Steve."Shock registered on both their faces when they heard Theodore's words."Theo, what do you mean by that?" Sydney asked. "What happened? You've been acting so secretively as of late. I don't see you and can't even reach you. In fact, I can't reach Rose, either."She sensed that something major had happened, but no one was telling her what it was. She even tried contacting Christopher to understand what was going on, but he refused to breathe a word about it.The rescue operation had to be kept under wraps. Theodore and Christopher hid it from everyone else for fear of unnecessary complications and information leaks. They couldn't a
In the dark, silent night, moonlight flitted about in the night sky like a weak flame on a candle in the endless darkness.Clouds covered the sky and the night breeze felt chilly, like a sneaky thief drawing close under the cover of the night.The office was a mess, the darkness outside melting into the tense atmosphere in the room.There were many computers laid out on the large table, information and data blinking rapidly on the screen like the stars in the night sky, piercing through one's nerves.Theodore was leading the pack, walking around the periphery of the table amidst the tense atmosphere, his attention completely drawn toward the computer screens. Everyone was involved in this extremely dangerous and challenging rescue operation. They were now at the stage of planning for the rescue operation.Christopher was involved, as well. Half of the men in the office room were working under him.Theodore placed the report he received on the table and said to Christopher, "Vel
Nana's tears fell down her cheeks as she clutched the blanket tightly, her small body trembling.Sebastian was originally furious. He had suffered at Rosalie's hands, but upon seeing Nana's pitiful appearance, the anger inside him began to subside. He moved closer to her and reached out his hand, but she shrank back in fear.Sebastian forcibly pulled the blanket off Nana and lifted her. He then walked toward the balcony.Nana was terrified, but she dared not move recklessly. She could only silently shed tears, too scared to cry out loud.Sebastian carried Nana to the balcony, where a cool breeze blew. He sat down in the chair on the balcony, placing Nana on his lap."Nana, are you upset with Daddy for not saving you at that time?"Nana lowered her head and kept silent."I could only save one of you. Your mother was right by my side, and you were far from me. I couldn't get to you in time."Though if given another chance, he would still save Rosalie."You didn't die, so you're lucky. I
Sebastian took a deep breath, seemingly trying to hold back his anger. Finally, he said in a calm tone, "Let's eat first. We have plenty of time ahead of us. Rose, think about it. You're just in your twenties, and we still have so many years to go. This is just the beginning."Sebastian was not in a hurry because he was the one in control. He still had plenty of time with Rosalie. He would slowly make this woman obey him.After lunch, Sebastian didn't stay long. Even though he wanted to talk to Rosalie, she wouldn't say anything pleasant. Listening to her would only frustrate him.Just as he reached the door, Rosalie called out to him. "Wait a moment."It was rare for her to call him. Sebastian couldn't help but feel a flicker of expectation in his heart.Rosalie asked, "Won't you sleep with me tonight?"There was a hint of mockery in her eyes when she said this. Sebastian's brows furrowed tightly. He knew she was humiliating him. She was saying this on purpose, trampling on his pride