Rose held the door knob about to open the door to his room when her phone rang. It was Alana's call. Alana never called her this late except there was some emergency at Navia. She picked up the call and the first thing she heard was Alana's panicked voice over the phone. She couldn't hear what she was saying only that she sounded afraid and her speech was breaking.“Alana? What happened? Please calm down.” She said trying her best to calm down Alana but apparently the matter seemed a bit serious. “Rose, your father had a heart attack.” Alana managed to say over the phone. It was like Rose had forgotten to breathe for a couple of seconds. Confused and out of breath, she wondered what was going on. It took a while for her to get back her senses and she dashed from the halls and running down the stairs not caring if she fell when she missed a couple of steps.She didn't have the time to inform anyone about her father. All she wanted to do was to go and see him. This was the first time sh
It had been an hour since Rose left the hospital without anyone knowing her presence was even felt. Not even Gordon knew that she had left the hospital. Gordon stood outside and leaned against the car with a little cigarette between his fingers. He blew out the puff of smoke through his mouth as he stared into space. He looked at the time on his watch before he finally found his car pulling over in front of the hospital.He watched the car zoom into the parking lot but didn't bother to park well as Stephano rushed out of his car with a worried look on his face. His eyes met Gordon before he made heavy hushed steps towards him. “Where is she?” He asked almost immediately. Gordon took another drag before he crushed the cigarette bud under his shoe. “Ms Foyer is inside and isn't doing well. She needs you Mr De Luan. That's why I've called you here.” He said turning to look at Stephano. Gordon knew the only person who could comfort his mistress was none other than Stephano. It wasn't a se
Just as it was enchanting for her, it only took less than three seconds for Stephano to abruptly pull away. His face dreaded with guilt as he looked at her. Rose felt something deep inside her chest. It meant something. It was her first ever kiss with a man and it was none other than Stephano. “...Am sorry,” He only could whisper before looking away. He felt ashamed for acting on an impulse. It shouldn't have happened. He was only worried about her and didn't mean to convey his worries for her in this manner. It felt wrong in so many distinct levels. He was with Angelique. He loved her with all of his heart and Rose, on the other hand was just a good friend. A friend very dear to him.Rose moved her fingers to trace her lips. She couldn't believe he had just kissed her. Call it a peck or just lips touching lips, the truth was he had disvirigined her lips. The loud thunder roared again but it's effect didn't shake the both of them who continued to sit under the heavy rain. “It was out
“Please come in Azazel,” Mr Foyer smiled warmly before eyeing Alana for a hint. Azazel slowly pushed the door open and walked in. His eyes glanced at Rose firstly before he turned his attention back towards Mr Foyer. On any normal occasion, Rose would be annoyed to even glance his way but since they had the heart to heart talk, Rose somehow thought he wasn't that bad.“How are you Mr Foyer? My brother told me what happened.”“Stephano was here?” Mr Foyer glanced at Rose and even Alana raised her brow a bit shocked. Azazel smiled with a nod. “Yes, but he had to return back to his party. There can't be a party without it's host right?” Mr Foyer chuckled with a nod. Rose looked over to Alana who already had lots of questions in her eyes and Rose only got her cheeks red and shy. She couldn't stop thinking about how Stephano kissed her at the cemetery. It was still a fresh memory fully and permanently engraved in her mind.“Am glad you're doing alright. My dad promises to visit you in the
Though Stephano was seen in all the photos and magazines with his dashing smile on the display, only he knew the inner turmoil that was surging through him. He didn't even have the time to talk with Angelique and Angelique knew when Stephano needed to be alone. “I'll leave now. It's okay if you don't want to talk but I want you to know am always here for you Stephano.” Angelique rubbed his shoulders but her words only made Stephano more restless. The vivid image of him kissing Rose continued to play more and more in his head. Rose was his best friend. They were only in the friend zone and he loved the woman who was seated beside him right now. The door opened abruptly and prompted the two people in the room to look up straight to the door. Azazel walked in with his eyes only directed to his brother. “Can you leave us alone Angelique?” He asked calmly and Angelique smiled before she pulled Stephano towards her and kissed him. There was no hiding their relationship in front of Azazel.
Rose couldn't stop peering her eyes back and forth towards the wall clock in her office. She was already signing the last documents which Pamela had sent to her office. Stephano had given her a call to take her out on their usual outing every week. It was already five in the evening and she dropped her pen on her desk before spinning to her feet.She was excited more than ever just to spend time with Stephano. This wasn't their first outing together but this time it was totally different. Back then they only went on outings as friends. Even back then she had some insecurities thinking that Stephano only went out with her out of pity but today she wasn't. After knowing his feelings it was only natural and she couldn't help but think this was her first actual date with the man whom she loved so much with all her heart.She heard a knock on her door and Pamela walked in after Rose permitted her. “You have a pushed up meeting right now Ms Foyer...”“Please cancel it Pamela.” Rose already
One of Stephano's ranchmen came out of the stables with a horse. It was beautiful and light brown and it glistened like gold under the magical hour in the clouds. Rose fell instantly in love with it's beauty. “Would you like to ride it?” Stephano asked catching on her awe at the beauty. Rose immediately shooked her head. She did love the horse but she wasn't stupid to hurt herself if she got on the horse.“I can't... I don't know how to...” Rose hid her face with a small smile. She was embarrassed of this fact especially when it came to one of Stephano's hobbies. Since she could recall, she always wanted to be good at everything Stephano loved. It was a must she became very compatible with him in every sense. Only she wanted to be by his side.“I can teach you.” Stephano offered and walked ahead to hold the reins. Rose watched him pet the horse as he came towards her. She was nervous but since Stephano offered such a kind gesture, she would be foolish not to accept, and besides this c
“You.” She gave her honest answer.His eyes sparked slightly in both surprise and another hidden feeling. It was good to know what she thought of him. It shouldn't have mattered but it did matter to him what she thought of him. And now his heart wasn't restless but calm. Calm like the still waters.“You aren't saying anything?” Rose asked.“What should I say?” He looked at her. “Or what do you want my words to be when it comes out of my mouth?” A tugged up smile formed on his lips. He was anticipating her reaction towards his question. Rose inhaled before she looked ahead. The view of the city through it's lighted tall buildings came before her eyes. They were heading back into the city and although she would love to go back home, she did want to spend more time with him. His question baffled her all the more. Was he catching on towards her feelings. She wanted to say it but she had planned to reveal it on his birthday.She smiled again recalling their date before she said. “It's noth
“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