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Stephano was horrified to the bones as he knelt by the bathtub to pick her up. Getting her out of the tub, Rose instantly coughed before her lashes fluttered to then reveal her dull eyes. Her eyes were heavily burdened with her sadness and his strong betrayal. She looked up to him as he nessled her up into his arms. His eyes gazing at her with tenderness. His hold on her, soft but firm. His heart wasn't at ease seeing how she almost tried to kill herself. And, it was all because of him. “What are you doing here?...And, put me down.” Her tone came out sharp but also hazy from weakness. Her tender eyes glared sharply at him. Her face scrunched with anger and hatred as the source of her anger was staring right at her. “A-Are you alright baby?...” Stephano asked softly. His voice going so low that it was merely a whisper. He was heaving a sigh of relief that he got to her on time before she could harm herself. He knew he wouldn't be able to go on without her. “I said put me down!” She
Rose flickered her eyes open. Her eyes were first casted upon the familiar ceiling in her bedroom. She hissed a little feeling a little pang in her head. “You are awake my love.” Her gaze sharply turned to her right to see Stephano seated so close to her on the bed. His eyes on her were soft and a smile adorned his lips. His expression had softened and his lips let out constant sighs of reliefs. Rose only blinked at him but didn't say anything before she felt him holding her hand and bringing it to his lips. He gently pecked her hand not taking his adoring eyes away from her. The eyes that would once stir her insides. And, now she only looked at him coldly. Wondering why he did what he did with her and somehow acting casual about it. It was irritating her more than ever. “You had a very high fever and your blood pressure spiked up a little. Thank God you are alright my love.” He brought her hand to kiss it again but she took her hand away from him before she turned to the opposite
“Mr De Luan? Your brother Mr Azazel De Luan has been arrested and confined at the police station.” “What are you saying? And, who's speaking to me on the phone?” Stephano asked dumbfounded. It couldn't be a prank call especially this late at night. “My name is Andrew, an officer at the station. Your brother is with us and in a cell. He's been arrested for murder.” The person on the other line repiled and Stephano blinked before getting into his car and seated behind the wheels. He disconnected the call immediately before driving towards the hospital. He refused to call his father right now until he knew the situation at the station. All the while he was wondering why Azazel had ties to a murder case. Sure Azazel was sometimes restless and doesn't think things through but it wasn't enough for him to be associated with killing someone. Stephano knew for certain that Azazel had never even touched a weapon used to kill before much less killing someone with it. It had to all be a misunde
“You want to travel to France?” Mr Foyer was surprised that his daughter asked for this. His brows knotted lowly eyeing his daughter who seemed to be in deep thoughts. Her fever had long subsided and she was a lot better. “Any sudden commitments or plans over here dear?” He enquired but only realizing Rose wasn't even paying attention. She had been in her own world since he walked into her room this morning to check up on her health. “Rose? What's the matter?” He held her hand and Rose had to blink before looking at her father. “What were you saying father....” “I was asking why the sudden trip to France? And, right now?” Rose forced a smile before shifting on her bed. “There is nothing as such father. I just want to take some weeks break from here that's all. Yesterday's launch party was a success thanks to Alana and so I would like to provide myself a solo vacation. Just to relax.” She said but she knew this was her only way to escape from Stephano. She didn't like his tone and wh
“You are here?” Rose refused to turn around before gulping. She had her eyes situated against a center table with a flower vase on it in the middle of the front hallway. She inhaled before his steps came to echo in her ears more profoundly. He was in front of her in seconds. Her eyes were casted everywhere except at him. This was what she was afraid of. To bump into him at his home and now thinks of going back into her car. The atmosphere was already beyond tense at the De Luans home and she didn't want to interfere. “Won't you even look at me once sweetheart?” Stephano asked softly bearing a smile. His face was hard and clenched on his way to his home. After seeing the news had somehow gotten to the media this morning, he was as mad as a burning volcano ready to erupt. He wondered the rat who dared to film the entire scene at the station last night and now have it broadcasted. He was going to eliminate that rat once he gets that person out of hiding. He already knew his father wo
Azazel was seated by the bar and already twirling his tumbler while staring into space. His face completely dull and frigid. Rose made her way into the room and saw his back completely stretched out on both sides giving his back view a more rigid look. It seemed Azazel took notice of her presence as he snapped his neck behind to now look at her. He wasn't surprised to see her but he was rather more disappointed at himself. He couldn't manage to stop his family's reputation from now going under. To think that his father had made a prediction like this years ago. “Leave me alone. I don't want to see anyone.” He said gulping his brandy and stomping the tumbler against the table. He turned his back to Rose once more before pouring himself another drink. A little sniffle followed and Rose only got her other foot inside the all silent room except the whistle sound of brandy being poured into the glass. Her heels made a creek noise against the marbled ties as she approached him. Even she
“Yes miss. I know who you are. Your assistant called in minutes ago to cancel your flight.” Tania answered and Rose blinked before she sat more upright on her seat. “What?... My flight was cancelled?...”There was a slight pause over the phone before Tania got her voice back. “Yes miss. It's...on our records. It was done from the higher-ups that you chose to cancel your flight at last minute.” Rose felt a little disoriented, probably because the brandy was beginning to show it's effect.“It must have been a mistake. Reschedule please...” Rose almost stated in a panic.“We can't do that miss. You'll have to board the next plane that goes to France...”“And, when does the next plane leave for France?,” Rose quickly intercepted her speech feeling her heart pounding a little. The thought of someone who had cancelled her flight continued to cross her mind. She knew Pamela won't have been behind all of this so her mind only went to someone in particular. Someone whose mind could become cyni
Stephano De Luan. That very day he extended his hand towards her. A truce for the beginning of a friendship. Somehow Rose knew that it was a deep feeling at first sight. Even before the word love could be imprinted in her head as a concept, she knew she felt something strong for Stephano. She could vividly recall each and every detail. His face was almost unreadable but his eyes were fierce and sharp piercing towards her. She remembered his left foot was in front and his right foot a little behind giving that pose of a poise gentleman in a black suit. His hair a little tousled to one side but was still gelled to perfection. How one strand was so stubborn that it tried to massacre his entire hair but couldn't because he was just so... beautiful with his alluring eyes. His right hand extended towards her as she only clunged her notepad towards her aching and heaving chest. He had taken her to a corner away from Angelique and the other kids. She recalled not even able to muster up a th
“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