⚘ ' Mili ' that was what written in cursive on the small wrapped up box which a maid delivered to Miliani this morning. ' If you don't come downstairs wearing it, I'll come upstairs for you - D ' If this small note was not attached to it, Miliani would have returned it already. Even though she could not understand why Daniel would want to give her something, her fear of him was so profound that she dared not to defy him. Miliani clutched the small roll paper in her hand while entering her room with the box on her other hand. Emilia had already begun preparing herself for the evening ahead. Emilia batted her eyes with utter annoyance towards Miliani. If letting Miliani stay inside her bedroom was not enough, Miliani even managed to get on her elder sister Rose's good side, on top of that Emilia came to know that their birthday also coincided on the same fucking day. She had enough reasons already to hate this unwanted girl but crashing her special day was something totall
. Rosalia never wanted to try something so daring. Rose gave it a thousand thoughts at least. After that fateful night, she discussed everything with Miliani and demanded to know about the explanations behind her intuitions. The only person bearing the reason for harming Rose is no other than Kate. Daniel is like the shadow of Kevin, even if the shadow faltered Daniel never would. That much Rose knew. But stating Kevin would bring no help, she was certain. If Kevin digs into this matter, a bunch of random maids would pay the price of their lives nothing else, he would never suspect his sister. Rose desperately hoped her suspicions were wrong, though she feared they weren't. Rose never wanted to think of Kate harbouring such malice towards her. In between these thoughts, Rose somehow despised herself for becoming like this, being drawn into these webs of deceit and immorality. Her heart skipped a beat as she brought the uncapped poison bottle near the plate but she kept her face
⚘ Miliani's heart filled with delight. In the past days when she was in the Romanos shelter, she used to fear being eighteen. She knew something horrible was going to happen to her whenever she would turn eighteen. From what the other maids told her about that surrogacy and stuff, she was fortified to her core. But now she is in a different place far away from those evil minded people, life is really unpredictable, she appraised. She drifted off into her own thoughts when one of Emilia's friends accidentally spilled some mocktail on her dress staining the white cloth in deep blue. She mouthed a 'sorry' before casually passing by. Miliani quickly reached for the stairs, it was her only decent outfit, she urgently needed to clean it up. Just as she reached for the doorknob, a firm hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, slamming her lithe body against the hard wall. Daniel's icy blue eyes bore into her terrified ones, there was no one except for them in the passage. "W
She felt like the closest I would ever get to salvation Yet I wanted to pull her into the depths of my darkness ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin was raging through his bones, rage coursing through his veins settling every muscle on fire. Kevin's irate presence filled their room with palpable menace. Rosalia all worried and pale could read his anger weighing down her heavy heart. The sight of abortion pills hidden in Rosalia's medicine box ignited a storm of frustration inside him, a mix of betrayal and helplessness that he could not contain and swept everything within his reach off the surface in an attempt to pacify his anger. Rose, her eyes were filled with trepidation yet fixed on him. Beneath all her fear, there lay a deep, twisted dependence and an unspoken yearning for assurance and safety. Despite everything, Kevin was the only person who cared about her pregnancy more than herself and that seemed to be closing in on her. Exhausted and desperate, Rose felt her legs move before he
Rose was not as paranoid as she had been before. She was resting against the bedframe leisurely reading a magazine after having dinner while Kevin entered the room post workout. For the past few days, Rose gave it a thought about how she should put the issue of Kate in front of Kevin. If not directly still somehow she wanted to convince him of something being wrong. But when Kevin emerged out of the bathroom, his trousers were hanging loosely around his waist revealing the chiselled perfection of his lower abs. He casually rubbed his wet hair with the towel letting the droplets of water trace the sharp lines of his jaw and the sculpted muscles of his chest. The seductive scent of his cologne mixed with the freshness of his shower created an intoxicating aroma that braced the air around Rose. As he walked past the bed, Rose could not help but stare, her eyes devouring the view, her mouth opened and closed like a little goldfish out of the water. Lately, her every emotion fe
•It was concerning, the image on the mirror showing the little baby bump was genuinely concerning for Rose. From what she knew, she was not supposed to have a baby bump just at the beginning of her second trimester. While pulling up the side chains of her dress, Rose was studying her body. She was getting ready for her first ever ultrasound scheduled by the doctor. "Don't worry, maybe you are going to have twins," Agatha said softly reading the worry written all over Rose's face. "Yes. It's quite likely. The second pregnancy in this family is always twins," Maria added from nearby while her hands were busy collecting the breakfast plates. That was not incorrect. Kate and Daniel are also twins. Does that mean I am also having twins! Rose was so scared and confused, not having an idea how to feel. The thought of twins was overwhelming. Rose just wished for a moment of clarity, a sign that everything will be okay. Rosalia felt anxious all the way to the hospital while Kevin br
"See, even the lady can suggest better alternatives than you guys," utter annoyance was evident on Kevin's face as he slammed the last file onto the table, he was running short on his temper but did not shout those words like he usually does, thanks to the quieting presence of his wife, Rosalia. Today’s conference was supposed to focus on innovative strategies for generating new business ideas. But presentation after presentation had failed to spark even a flicker of intrigue, whereas Rose suggested, why don't they try on ethical diamond jewellery? They could focus on sourcing conflict-free diamonds and using eco-friendly materials for the designs and even create custom high-end pieces that tell a story about the origin of each diamond, making every piece unique and special. People would love knowing that their beautiful jewellery also supports good causes and the environment. Even though that's out the Knight's current priority deals but what Rose suggested was commendable, consi
• • •After Kevin finished a few remaining paper works and delivered them to John, both Rose and Kevin descended from Kevin's home office to the hall area. Rose had invited a special guest to dinner today, Susan, a very close friend of hers from high school. She could have invited her at any time of the day but she intentionally chose the dinner time on the weekend where every family member would be present. But that was exactly what Rose hoped for. Susan, currently pursuing a master's in clinical psychology at Stanford, is always praised for her brilliance in the field. Rose was desperate to do something with Kate's deceit that's why she sought help from her friend, Susan. Rose involved herself in a small chatter with Susan before the dinner, and then at the dining table, Rose strategically seated Susan next to Kate, hoping her keen insight would expose Kate's true nature before it was too late. The others in the family will see the truth through Susan's professional eye or
Three years later ___________ REX AND REYNA • • • 'IMPACT' Top 10 Under 30 Most Influential Women of the Year - ROSALIA KNIGHT Rose admired her picture on the glossy magazine cover, her fingers grazing over the newly launched diamond label she had worked tirelessly to establish. The name "Rosalia Knight", printed in bold, elegant letters under the headline, brought a satisfied smile to her lips. She still remembered the first time she had discovered her face in an entertainment column. It had felt surreal, even intrusive. But now... Now, she was a force to be reckoned with. She had carved her own empire, standing tall not only as Kevin Knight's wife but as Rosalia Knight - an influential entrepreneur and a mother of three. Unable to contain her excitement, she ordered the driver to hurry back home. She couldn't wait to brag about her recent ventures in front of her husband. The moment Rose stepped into the grand Knight Mansion, she was greeted by the sound of t
• • • A week passed by and Rose was at home steadily recovering from her postpartum. Her happiness knew no bounds with her babies safe and sound, cherishing beautifully in her arms. She had been deeply concerned about their health due to the premature delivery, but the doctor had assured her that they were perfectly healthy. The anxiety that had clouded her heart during those initial days had slowly dissipated, replaced by immense relief and gratitude. Despite the joy, a shadow of sorrow lingered in her heart. Rose had previously decided to give Maria the honour of naming her babies, acknowledging her invaluable support during the most critical moment of her life. But fate had been merciless. With Maria's tragic passing, the decision had slipped from her grasp. However, she chose to honour another tradition. One that Maria herself had informed her about during her pregnancy. According to the family's old customs, the first born boy and the first born girl would inherit the m
▪⬞▪ Like a fragile bird trapped in a storm, she felt the weight of his presence suffocating her every hope of escape. ▪⬞▪ The Knight family's middle aged consigliere produced some paper and put it on the front table. Two of the maids were standing at a far distance to provide if something was needed. A few men were standing outside the room and Miliani, shaking like a little leaf, was forcefully made to sit beside Daniel. Till then Miliani was fearing if he would force her to marry someone among the men present there but when the fretful realisation gnawed on her that she was about to be wedlocked by the man she could not hold herself stable in front of, it was too overwhelming and intimidating for her to take in. Daniel with his beautiful cursive writing signed the papers almost immediately, he was just a small step away from ascending to the pinnacle of his authority. Should he be bothered by this girl's reluctance and snivels? .. never. He strived hard, fought for year
• • "Is it necessary to play by the rules?" Daniel queried being serious; he relied on Kevin's wisdom for the endeavours he was striving to get even though he craved to behead the Romanos all at once, not caring about any consequences. "It's for the best," Kevin suggested confidently. With Tristian Romano being dead and no one else in his bloodline alive, it empowered the Knights to take control over their territory officially. As their mother, the daughter of one of the founder members, was a Romano by blood which attached them with the authority to acquire the empty position. But the situation was quite risky and perilous, all surrounded by their enemies but Daniel could not care less. He wanted to eliminate the other Romano families and take control over the whole of their territory but Kevin wanted him to cautiously play by their rule first then eventually ascend to the position, he aspires to. Daniel's eyes flashed with resolve as he gave Kevin a curt nod signalling his
•••All his sins, all his misdeeds circled his mind pushing his soul to the verge of damnation. Kevin's breathing grew heavier at that moment. He braced himself for acceding his eternal doom, but a firm determination was flooding through his entire being; he was definitely not surrendering his life in vain, not so easily, not before stoning the security and safety of his love, his Rose. In a heartbeat, Kevin brought out the small pistol that he tactfully hid down in his pants, pushing it halfway into the side of his shoe predicting the extreme adversity that might occur any moment. Three bullets got fired together. From a distant vantage point, Daniel fired without hesitation or a careful aim. The shot struck Tristian's hands, causing him to flinch in his determined aim and Tristian's bullet went astray, driving itself into Kevin's upper leg. At that exact moment, Kevin's own shot found its inevitable mark, piercing straight into Tristian Romano's heart. Tristian grunted ou
Kevin’s world tilted on its axis. He had suspected betrayal, but hearing it from Kate’s own lips was a dagger to the heart. Tristian’s small, evil laughter echoed in the room, a sound devoid of any humanity. He wanted to take advantage of Kevin's most vulnerable moment and Kate served in his favour well. Kevin’s heart pounded with a fierce mixture of fear, rage, and a desperate determination. The day’s harrowing events had driven him to the edge, and the sight of Tristian in his home, holding his family hostage like the Romanos did in the past and his own sister shaping all these behind his back pushed him over. He wanted to reach out and throttle Tristian, to make him pay for every ounce of pain he and his family had inflicted on Kevin and his family. But with Kate standing between them, the path to vengeance was blocked. For the first time ever in his life, Kevin felt his fingers shaking on the trigger. "Kate, you know, you don’t have to do this," Kevin implored, his voice raw w
• • • Rose had just given birth to their twins under the most harrowing circumstances and now, the ominous sound of a gunshot shattered the fragile peace that had barely settled over their mind and home. Kevin was all alert on his senses standing in the hallways, his intuition battling with unpredictability and determination that something was terribly wrong for sure. He glanced back toward the bedroom where Rose and their newborns were resting, safe for now. The decision gnawed at him, should he stay and protect his family or investigate the threat that lurked within their mansion, their safe boundary? Being unable to put the damn network into any work, he frustratedly threw his phone off and after a moment of agonizing hesitation, he resolved to ensure the safety of his loved ones by confronting the danger head-on. Kevin hurried downstairs to his study on the first floor. He opened a concealed drawer, revealing a sleek, black handgun. The cold metal felt reassuring in his
• • • Rose was not due in a month but the sudden panic attack induced her labour. All the while, Kevin stayed by Rose's side, not leaving her even for a second and urging her constantly to breathe through the contractions. "You are doing great, baby. Just keep breathing for me," He hushed softly near her ear. Rose tried to focus on Kevin's voice, but the shooting pain was overwhelming. Each contraction felt like a wave crashing over her, leaving her gasping for breath. She clenched Kevin's hand, barely holding onto her consciousness. "It hurts...," she cried out of sheer helplessness, tears were streaming down her cheeks, strands of hair sticking onto her face, "...so much." "You can, Rose," Kevin said firmly, though his own heart was breaking to see her in such excruciating agony. "You're going to be the strongest mother I know. Just keep breathing, okay? We're going to get through this," he tried to coo her, boosting her courage. Maria and Agatha worked quickly,
A thousand thorns were pierced on her belly at once, that's what it felt like for Rose when she could not stop herself from dropping onto her bare knees. Rose swept on the floor on her side with a cry of agony at the gruesome sight of her kitten's lifeless body, the blood scrawled word BITCH got washed away painting her forearms with the fresh warm blood of her feline baby. Relentless waves of panic tied a burning knot inside her stomach forcing her to curl into a small ball. All the muscles of her distressed body contracted altogether. Rose shot her eyes closed, haphazardly gasping for some air and just as she was about to collapse, a sharp, searing pain shot through her abdomen causing her to shriek with all her might due to the spasm. Rose sensed the popping feeling of water gushing down her inner thighs. Miliani, rushing back with a glass of milk, screamed, calling Rose in alarm, watching her lathering on the floor. Dropping the glass out of instinct, she sprinted to Rose