Rose's POV This was really happening. I stared in front of the mirror in the bathroom and saw the eminent glow on my face. To think that I just kissed Stephano minutes ago before walking in here only told me that all of these wasn't a dream. It was still a bit difficult to believe that we were actually in a relationship. We hadn't talked about it but last night said it all. There wasn't need for words. I found myself jumping in excitement and let a tear fill my eyes. It was a dream come true. The man whom I love so much with all of me also loves me back. He didn't say it to me last night but he did tell me countless times in the past. I couldn't see it earlier but now i do. I feel like such a fool for not realizing his advances in the form of being my friend. He actually loved me and I saw it as the reason why he was always there when I felt all alone and unwanted. I touched my face and giggled from ear to ear knowing that it wasn't too late. We had hit it off and even though someti
Stephano's POV Recalling her angelic smile always puts me in such high spirits. I don't know why it felt very different spending time with her this time. This wasn't the first time we even stayed on the same bed or should I say a mat. I remember camping during our end of highschool. I shared my mat with her because at the time no one wanted to have her as a partner. I just knew I loved being with her last night. And, I wanted to have that chance again. Lighting up my cigarette, I held it between two of my fingers and directed it straight for my lips. I was in my chamber and already I could smell her presence all around me. Her ambience seemed to be stuck on my body and I feel the scratches on my back from her nails dug in me. There was this kind of rush of emotions that pounded me. When I saw her eyes staring up to me with watery eyes that only spoke of her honest love for me, I knew I wanted her close. I wanted her to only look at me with the love she said she felt for me. I believ
Rose brought the bouquet closer to her nose and perceived the sweet roses. A smile adorned her face and she looked up to Stephano with pure love. “These are beautiful.” She uttered as her cheeks tainted red when she found him looking at her with so much interest. She had expected him earlier but now seeing him come through her balcony was another feeling altogether.“I thought you wouldn't come.” She said and looked everywhere except at him. Stephano got his other foot into her bedroom and smiled down at her. “I always keep my promises my babygirl. You should know that about me by now.” His words were unknowingly stirring up her insides and she felt flushed. It was true. Stephano always kept his promises by always being by her side when she needed him the most. The only person who didn't judge her and now taking this next step with her. She was on typical cloud nine.She held his hand and led him more into her bedroom. It was the first time she had welcomed anyone other than her fathe
Rose woke up to have her body caged by two pairs of calloused hands. His scent evaded her sense of smell and looked down to also see his left leg towering over her her right knee. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as his front clashed against her back. A bright smile played on her face. She recalled last night and the thought of her loosing her virginity to Stephano was only making her heart slowly flutter.“Thank you God,” She slowly uttered her thanks as her bright innocent eyes stared up to heaven. She only wanted this from God for as long as she was taught how to pray. She only asked God for one thing. To make Stephano love her the way she had always loved him for years. And her prayer seemed to have become more than a far fetched dream. It was now a reality. She closed her eyes tightly causing a tear to squeeze out from both her tightly shut eyes and clasped both her hands together. Her face still staring up to heaven.“Please God. Don't let anything nor anyone se
Feeling her lips against his was supposed to feel good and satisfying. It was to be tempting for him to now grab her thin fancy dress and tear it apart to reveal her naked body to him. But this time Stephano felt nothing. He was blank and his heart didn't rush up like it should have. His arms were still down on both sides of his body and he didn't react to even welcome her properly by caging her waist. On the contrary, he felt she was intruding by coming over to his home. His eyes were still opened and didn't even shut for a second to welcome her kiss. Her kids felt bland and not nourishable for his mouth. Stephano pulled away immediately and Angelique looked into his eyes. His eyes which didn't return her gaze and looked everywhere except at her. Even Angelique could feel something was cold about him. His expression was boldly written on his face. It seemed she had come at a bad time. “How did you get in?” His voice was cold matching his expression. Angelique blinked and wondered w
Rose walked into her office after the meeting. She hadn't expected the meeting to be brief and only few altercations before launch date. She had time on her hands and moved to settle herself on her seat before she heard something hit the windows. It began to pour slightly and the sky was a little gloomy but not dark enough for a storm. She admired the rain and always thought of it as a sign of good luck. It was the drought after the long avid season. A spring break after the pass of summer. She stood up and walked over to the window which viewed the spun city at large. Tall towers standing tall and reaching the clouds. A reminder of how she was also an established woman owning a multimillion company. All of her achievements went solely to two people in her life. The first was God and the second was Stephano who believed she was truly capable of coming out of it. She couldn't help but reminisce his touch and kisses all over her body. Last night played like a video in her mind. She had
Stephano opened the door and moved to the left to let Rose walk in first. Stepping into his home already felt like her new home. She felt okay and at peace. They had dinner outside and even took a walk around the vicinity on foot. Despite coming from a wealthy family, Stephano always caught Rose's nature so down to earth. There was always something simple in her and he didn't know why he was being drawn to that. The complete opposite of Angelique.“Welcome to my humble abode, Again.” He smiled and got his hands on her waist quickly. Rose didn't flinch and loved his hands on her. She turned her neck around to get a closer view of his face. “Am sorry I was in a rush to get you out of the house. It wasn't my intention at all.” He didn't have to explain himself but for some reason he felt like doing so. He wanted no doubts in her mind regarding him. He wanted to play it safe with Rose. Rose shooked her head choosing to pass it off as just a hitch. Her endearing smile captivated him. She w
Stephano moved in his sleep and scrunched his brows when he felt the other side of his bed cold and...empty? His eyes quickly opened to fully register her absence. He was laying on his front and the sheets covering his lower nakedness. The room still reeked of her scent and he wondered where his little rose had run off to.He pulled himself out of bed and picked up his boxers from the floor. He got into the bathroom and she wasn't there. Though the scent of humidity was still permeating into the air meaning someone had taken a shower not too long ago. He made his way of his room and got down the small trail of stairs.Rich scents got through his nostrils and he made his way towards the kitchen. And, there his baby was. She was chopping some onions and occasionally wiped her watery eyes. Her hair was tied in a messy bun with strands of her hair all over her face. She was focused on the task she was handling.Looking to his left where the stove was, Stephano found a pot on the stove and
“We both are right here waiting for you, love.” Stephano gestured with a warm smile while holding their little six months old baby girl Arielle closely in his arms. Her tiny feet moved to graze Stephano's arm.Rose didn't want to shed any tears but she couldn't help it. Today was her surgery and she didn't want to get her hopes up. It was a fifty percent chance of success but Rose only chose to think about the beautiful family she had created in the last half a year. The nurses were pulling at her stretcher and taking her into the operating room.She saw Stephano's face and her little angel before the doors closed and she looked up to heaven. She had wanted to hear more than anything. It was the reason she had stalled her wedding until now. She wanted to also have Arielle before going into surgery. Doctor Drausio and the two other doctors smiled at her and Rose only inhaled sharply. This was her second ear operation and she didn't want to think about it anymore. She had now left it al
Rose groaned as she slowly opened her eyes. Her ears immediately working to pick up some faint beeping sounds. Her vision was blurry but was staring at something white before she clearly saw the white ceiling above her.Looking down she saw the cannula fixed in the back of her hand and attached to a long tube of a bag that hanged on a metal stand just beside her bed. Her breathing was normal and she only then realized she was at a hospital. She tried to recall what happened but only made her head throb.Rose looked to her side and found Stephano sleeping on the long couch. She blinked and again wanted to recall and then saw herself being bound. She recalled her breathing growing hard and intense. Someone had held her arm behind and then her eyes saw a white cloth coming towards her nose. She was quick to smell the chloroform and once it was on her nose everything went black.She winced more feeling her head now running over the place. She stirred and Stephano groaned before opening hi
Stephano tried to wiggle his arms but only found the ropes tightening him more. He groaned and saw Rose walk back to stand beside Joel. Stephano's jaw hardened when he saw Joel's arm now coming to rest on Rose's waist from behind. He had never loathed anyone as much as he did for Joel right now. He was a sudden disease like the covid that came to plague his entire family. He couldn't help but look at Rose again. Why hadn't she recognized him? Her eyes seemed so distant and so far away from him. It was as if she was not his Rose anymore. But he knew she wasn't in her right senses. He was soon beginning to dread the thoughts about what that maniac might have given her.“Are you still wondering what I did to her?” Joel read what was in his mind and Stephano couldn't help but want to punch that smug face of his hard and make him scream in pain.Joel brought Rose closer to him and about to kiss her in the mouth when Stephano growled loudly at the top of his deep voice. “HEY! DON'T FUCKING
Few Hours Ago, The choppers had now passed the Russia borders. The air traffic control had given them the clear signal to get into the cold sky. “It's damn freezing here in Russia.” Mason now had on his long coat while Stephano seemed unbothered by the cold. His eyes keenly stared outside the window. His hands moving on his thighs with an inpatient face. His entire demeanour was relentless and all he wanted to do was to have that bastard in his hand and kill him brutally. “We'll get him son.” Mason told him but Stephano didn't want to hear anything right now. He already had his gun in hand and anxiously waiting for the choppers to land on the ground. “How long till we land?” He impatiently asked the pilot. “We'll be landing in half an hour Mr De Luan.” Stephano relaxed back on his seat and had his eyes back at the window. He could see the entire city of Russia bathed in a cold like mist. Unlike Spain still wanting to enter winter, Russia had beat them to it. The cold breeze coul
“It can't be...” Azazel blinked for the third time before hearing Joel laugh out. “I can get you some water to wash out your face. Maybe then you can see more clearly.” Joel smirked but Rose only looked at Azazel with no visible expression on her face.“You are alive Rose. You are...But you died in the fire? Stephano found your body...” And, Azazel paused only to turn his gaze towards Joel. His face immediately scrunched in disgust when his arms were wrapped around Rose's waist. He looked at Rose again and couldn't recognize her. Her face looked like she had been hypnotized.Azazel only wondered who this guy was and why he had him and Rose kidnapped. Looking at him again Azazel could tell he wasn't older than 20 to 23 years of age. “Who are you and what the hell do you want with us?” Azazel gritted this time before groaning when one of the guys kicked him in the stomach.Rose flinched hearing him groan and Joel had to touch her face prompting her to look at him. “You shouldn't look at
“Who the fuck is Joel? Can someone explain this to me!” Stephano looked from his dad to his mom hoping one of them could answer. He still couldn't forget how his father's face had gone a little pale but then looked at his mom.“Mom...”“He...he was your father's elder half brother.” Sierra repiled gaining her composure. It was like she was reminded of a terrible past when it came to Joel. The man was a real piece of shit in her eyes. Never worth even looking at.Stephano was shocked to the bones. He was never informed that he had an uncle until now. And, why wasn't he informed. And, then it hit him. “He was?... He's dead?”“We don't know. He disappeared without a trace years ago.” Mason had now taken back his seat looking a little puzzled.“Well he doesn't look like he died all those years ago. This picture is just over ten years old dad!” Stephano informed and Mason looked at Sierra. “Where did you find this picture Stephano?” Mason asked.“That fucking bastard led us there!” Stepha
As the city's lights blurred past the window in his car Stephano thought of her. The inner turmoil in his heart was weighing heavily on him. He didn't know how he could move on. Every second her face was etched in his mind and soul. His body craved for her presence every damn second of the day.It had only been three days since her death so it was still a fresh bruise on his heart. But unlike any other bruise he knew his heart won't heal for as long as he lived. He could never find happiness anymore and was merely pushing through life with one goal in his mind. One that he planned to pursue until he took his last breaths.He took a sharp turn and paused getting his feet onto the brakes. The car had halted in front of a flower shop. The display of flowers outside the shop were mostly roses. It was also Rose's favourite flowers. He couldn't help but think that Rose would have liked to have seen her room filled with her favourite flowers. Something she could sniff in and have that wide b
Stephano constantly crashed his foot against the accelerator almost making it loose it's functionality. He had broken three traffic rules on his way back to his apartment building. He was anxious and confused. His pulse was very high and he felt his body shivering.He tightly held onto the steering wheel while gritting and cursing. He tried to stay calm but even his mind was fighting against it. The truth was he didn't know if Rose was still alive. Not knowing what was happening was killing him. He had dialled Judith's cellphone number for the ninth time now but was found switched off. His insides were burning him knowing he could be too late in saving her.He didn't know who this enemy was but one thing he knew was that he wasn't stupid and he kept on blaming himself for not seeing things this clearly. The fact that the enemy got to know about Rose's pregnancy got him all the more agitated and anxious. He wondered how he got to know about it. He had only told his family last night an
Rose got down to the kitchen and stood in front of the refrigerator. She opened it only to find the entire fridge packed and stocked with groceries and foods. Her stomach sounded good when her eyes settled on the ingredients and foods in the fridge. She wondered if Stephano had told somebody to stock his apartment.She got out the bread and made some quick sandwiches for herself. She made three for herself and was still contemplating whether to make some for Stephano. No doubt she was still upset with him for what he did at his parents' house but she couldn't starve him. Only recalling how he had driven the car all the way from the beach house down here made her decide to make sandwich for him as well.She was getting the fresh lettuce on the bread when she felt large pair of arms coming to snake around her belly. She instantly went stiff as a board but slowly relaxed when his scent came to her nose. She also sensed tension in his body and she couldn't help but look at him from the co