Rose's PovSo, there I was, drenched to the bone, my hair clinging to my face like a wet mop, and my teeth chattering so violently I was pretty sure I could've powered a small car with them. My hoodie was practically weighed down by water, and if it weren't for the fact that I was holding onto what was left of my dignity, I might've just collapsed into a puddle on the floor. But I didn’t. No, because the boys were sitting there, all cozy and dry, looking at us like we were a bunch of soggy rats.“Enjoy the swim, girls!” Ryder yelled from the lounge room, his voice dripping with so much smugness that I could practically hear the smirk forming on his face.I growled under my breath, my eyes narrowing. “Ryder, you’re gonna pay for this,” I muttered to myself as I shook off the water and tried not to freeze to death. “You’re so lucky Mum and Nigel aren’t here, because I would have so gotten my revenge already.”I swear, for a split second, I saw a flicker of fear in Ryder’s eyes. But then—
Rose's PovI’m not even sure what happened. One minute, I was minding my own business, and the next, my head collided with the back of the bed board like I was in a bad slapstick comedy. Ryder, looking like a walking, talking ad for 'How to Look Like a Greek God in Five Easy Steps,' took his shirt off and casually wiped the cake off his face.I snickered—okay, maybe a little too loudly—and immediately regretted it when my eyes couldn’t help but wander. I mean, come on! The guy had abs that looked like they could cut glass.I quickly snapped my gaze away. "I hope I'm not being too obvious," I thought to myself. But knowing my luck, he probably saw me staring like I’d just discovered the eighth wonder of the world.“Did I just see some drool?” Ryder asked, his voice dripping with the confidence of someone who clearly knew he was the hottest thing in the room.I snapped out of my thoughts. "No!" I exclaimed way too fast. I sounded like I’d just been caught doing something illegal. He gave
Ryder’s POVAfter Rose stormed out of my room, I let out a frustrated groan. I needed to see the damage—I had to. With every step I took to the bathroom, I could already feel the weight of the situation. There was no way I was going to let her get away with that. I opened the bathroom door and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My jaw dropped when I saw the mess she’d made of me.“Oh, Rose is so getting what's coming to her,” I muttered with a smirk, already plotting my revenge. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to tame the chaos, but it was no use.Striding out of the bathroom, I headed straight for her room. My fist knocked hard against the door.“Petals, you can’t just leave me like this? Seriously?” I called, motioning to my disheveled hair and smeared face, trying to keep my tone playful, but the frustration was seeping through.The door cracked open slightly, and Rose’s eyes flickered down, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. She looked back up, locking eyes with me,
Rose's POV:"Why do you get the hot stepbrothers? Is there one more you don’t know about?" Janelle sighed dramatically, lying upside down on the bed, her voice tinged with mock frustration. Richelle sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes flickering between us.I stifled a laugh, unable to keep it in. "You never know," I teased, shaking my head. "There might be more. After all, Liam was a surprise, right? He didn’t even bother telling me about him—said he wasn’t important. Who says that about their own sibling? I could never say that about Will." I paused, the familiar thought of Will's name tugging at me, as I remembered the phone call just moments ago. "And now that you mention it, he's coming today."Janelle’s head shot up from the bed, her eyes widening. "You're kidding? Does he even know about your... step-siblings?" she asked, voice tinged with disbelief."I didn’t think he knew," I said thoughtfully, my mind drifting back to the conversation I’d just had with Will.Phone Call Fl
Rose’s POV:“Janelle, oh my gosh, can you stop bloody singing?!” I yelled, a mixture of irritation and disbelief filling my voice as I covered my ears, wincing from the sheer volume. Richelle mirrored my actions, her face scrunching up in distaste, while Liam... Liam couldn’t help but snicker, his eyes glinting with amusement.I shot him a glare, but he only smirked in return, a lazy, cocky grin that set my nerves on edge. Why was he so damn smug? I couldn’t help but notice his profile, the way the sharp lines of his jaw and his perfectly tousled hair caught the light. For a brief moment, my mind wandered, comparing him to someone else… He looks like Ryder, I thought absentmindedly. The thought of Ryder twisted in my chest like a dull ache.My thoughts spiraled deeper. There was something strange in Liam's gaze when he glanced at me, something that flickered, just for a moment, behind those ice-blue eyes. What happened between them? I wondered. Why did Ryder seem so… defensive? The wei
I left the cafe with a sense of relief, the chaos of my life momentarily quieted by the small break I’d taken. As we pulled away from the bustling streets and back towards the house, I looked over at Liam, my mouth curving into a small smile. "Thanks, Liam. For today and for treating us. I really needed that. The house has been a bit... chaotic lately," I laughed softly, trying to shake off the tension that had built up inside me.He glanced over at me, the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Ryder. But hey, anytime you need a break, just let me know," he said, his voice warm, but there was something in his eyes I couldn’t quite read. Was he being sincere? Or was there an ulterior motive beneath that easygoing exterior?The car pulled into the driveway, and I sighed in relief, grateful for the momentary peace. "I think I’ll call Mum, let her know you're here," I said, tapping the pockets of my jacket absentmindedly. The reality of the
Rose's PovI barely recognized the streets I was passing, my mind a whirlwind of shock and fear. My hands gripped the handlebars of the bike, but it felt like I was holding onto nothing at all. The encounter with Jace replayed in my mind like a twisted film loop—his words, his presence, the way he looked at me like I was a possession he couldn’t let go of. I thought I was free, I thought I was safe. But I was wrong. He found me, and now everything I fought for seemed so fragile.I tried to focus on the road, to steady my breathing, but it was impossible. "Okay, Rose, you can do this," I muttered to myself, trying to convince myself that everything was fine, that I was fine. I’ve faced worse before. I survived, I’ll survive this too. But my hands still shook, the tremors too strong to hide. Everything's far from perfect, I thought.With my mother away, I knew I couldn’t call her. I couldn’t tell her about this; not again. She had done so much to protect me after Dad died, but I couldn’t
Rose's PovAs I speed down the road on my bike, the wind against my face doing nothing to cool the storm raging in my mind, my thoughts spiral faster than the engine beneath me. The speed at which my brain is working almost feels like it’s beyond my control, crafting nightmares that haven’t even come to life yet. My thoughts are haunting me, and I can’t seem to outrun them.Jace.The name alone sends shivers down my spine. He’s still here, lurking in the shadows of my mind, despite a year and six months passing. He should’ve moved on by now. He could’ve found someone else to torment, someone else to break. But no—I’m the special case, the one he’s obsessed with. He’s still out there, and every second that ticks by, the more I feel like there’s no escape. No way out.As I pull into the driveway, I see Will step out of the house. The sight of his familiar, brotherly smile is like a balm to my frayed nerves. I feel a wave of relief wash over me, but it’s fleeting. My legs are shaky as I p
Rose’s POV:I stood there, staring at the dress hanging on the wall in front of me. It shimmered in the dim light, the lace and silk almost mocking me as I tried to focus on its intricate details, the beauty that should have been the highlight of a joyous occasion. But all I could think about was how wrong everything felt.“I never saw myself doing this, Sasha… getting married to Jace.” My voice was barely a whisper, the words slipping out in a way I couldn’t stop.Sasha, ever the composed one, smiled faintly as she placed a delicate hairpin into my hair. She did her best to mask the worry in her eyes, though I could see it clearly. She knew. She understood the turmoil inside me."I know," she said softly. "If your mum and dad could see you now, they would be so proud of you. You look beautiful, Rose." Her hands gently pressed on my shoulder blades, trying to ease some of the tension that I couldn’t release, but nothing could truly comfort me.“I wish they were here to see me," I said
Rose’s POV:I woke up in Jace's room, the sterile, heavy air around me suffocating. The echo of last night—the cold blade against my skin, the dark thoughts I couldn't escape—still lingered, as if they were an uninvited guest haunting me. I hadn’t wanted to survive, but here I was, still breathing.Jace didn’t want to leave me alone, of course. Because controlling me is his only way of loving me, right? Richelle and Janelle weren’t allowed to see me, the only comfort I had left. They’d been pushed away until after the wedding—after I was married off to this life I didn’t ask for, didn’t choose.I closed my eyes, feeling Jace’s arm around my waist, and I swallowed the rising bile in my throat. I was supposed to marry him today. Today... as if it would fix all the cracks in the broken pieces of me. But how could it? How could it ever?I’m trapped, I thought bitterly. I don’t even know if Kaiser can save me this time."Roselle, are you awake?" Jace’s voice cut through the silence, soft bu
Rose's Pov:I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, couldn't even focus on anything without the knot in my stomach growing tighter. My thoughts were a whirlwind, and nothing felt right. My family was a mess, and I was starting to wonder if maybe my whole life was too. It wasn’t just the chaos; it was the suffocating realization that this wasn’t what I had imagined for myself. I wasn’t sure what I expected anymore, but it wasn’t this.I turned on my side, staring at the ceiling, unable to ignore the heaviness pressing down on me. I'm getting married tomorrow. The words slipped out of my mouth, but they didn’t sound real. They didn’t even sound like they belonged to me. At eighteen, I never could have imagined my life heading in this direction. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I had dreamed of it—my life, my future—but it never looked like this.I had spent years in my head, planning my life. First date, then boyfriend and girlfriend, maybe a couple of years of growing together, then marriage
Rose’s POV:I hate this place. I hate everything about it—the suffocating walls, the constant reminder that my life is no longer my own. I can't even leave for a damn trip to the mall because Jace doesn’t trust me. What a joke. After that phone call—God, after everything—he hasn’t even bothered to come back. He’s just gone, leaving me here, locked away, as though I’m some fragile, easily-breakable object.I glance at the rack of wedding dresses in front of me. If there was any doubt in my mind before, it’s gone now. I want to rip them all apart. Tear them into tiny pieces, burn them, stomp on the ashes. Don’t judge me. I know it’s irrational. But I’m desperate. I’m suffocating, and my anger is the only thing that makes me feel alive.Sasha’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “This was the one you pointed out in the beginning, wasn’t it?”I look at the dress, the one that I’d been pushed into choosing. The one that’s supposed to symbolize the new chapter of my life. Marriage. The word
Rose's POV:I wake up with Jace’s arm wrapped around my waist, and I can already feel the weight of this day pressing on me. Tomorrow’s the wedding. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around it. This is what my life has come to? Forced into a marriage with a man I barely recognize. A man who has turned into a cold-hearted monster. I’m stuck, surrounded by lies and betrayal, and there’s only one thing I want—freedom.I glance at the ring on my finger. The stupid, shiny symbol of the cage I’m trapped in. It’s as if my heart is screaming to rip it off, but I don’t dare. Who would I even be without it?Sighing in desperation, I feel the ache of missing someone I can never have—Ryder. Ryder, the one who’s haunted my dreams and my thoughts, even after everything. I want to be in his arms. I want him to hold me, tell me everything is going to be okay, but that's a fantasy I can’t afford to indulge. He killed Felicity. My cousin. My flesh and blood. My heart knows that I shouldn’t want him, th
Rose’s POV:Oh, wonderful. Another rehearsal with Jace. Isn’t my life just one big, thrilling Broadway production? I could practically hear the applause as I plop back down on the bed in my less-than-glamorous room, my hands awkwardly folded in my lap. Yep, this is my life now: rehearsing a wedding, while my future husband—who I barely know—stands there and pretends to care. Meanwhile, I can't even find a comfortable position on this damn bed. The pillows are too fluffy, the sheets too... pristine. Doesn't it feel perfect, Rose? Just like you always imagined your wedding night to be.I glance out the window, because clearly staring at the ceiling isn’t going to solve any of my problems. Outside, the world seems to be just... existing, like it has no clue about the mess I’m stuck in. And then there’s him.“Ryder,” I whisper under my breath, like saying his name will somehow make him appear outside my window and sweep me away from this insanity. I let out a dramatic sigh, my chin resting
Rose's POV:I stumble forward, the queasy feeling in my stomach intensifying. The sharp, bitter taste of bile rises in my throat, and before I can stop myself, my body rejects everything inside me. I lean into the bushes, my stomach heaving painfully. The world spins around me as I retch, the hot bile spilling from my lips. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, the faint trace of humiliation hitting me like a brick. That’s disgusting, I think to myself, my mind spiraling into shame. I mutter the words under my breath, as if the shame might just dissipate if I could hide it well enough.I stand up slowly, still dizzy, and turn around, hoping I can escape the reality of the situation. But as I do, I almost collide with him.Jace’s concerned face is staring at me, his dark eyes full of worry. “Roselle, you okay?”I swallow hard, forcing the bile back down, but my throat burns with the effort. I feel like I’m suffocating under the weight of it all. “I’m fine. I just need some rest...”
Ryder’s POV:The moment my phone hits the coffee table, the room goes dead silent. All eyes are on me—waiting, expecting, hoping. And God, I want to give them an answer that will make this all stop. I want to tell them that this nightmare is over, that everything is going to be fine. But I know it won’t be. The weight of what’s coming crushes my chest, and for a moment, I’m paralyzed. I can’t breathe. Can’t think. But I have to say something.“It was Winston. He’s helping get the girls out,” I finally say, my voice shaky as the words fall from my lips, heavier than I expected.Brad looks up at me, his face contorting in disbelief, his hands balling into fists. “That guy tortured me while I was in there,” he says, his voice venomous, like just saying the name makes him sick. “What the hell would make him want to help?”I close my eyes briefly, swallowing down the anger that threatens to rise in my chest. I don’t get it either. None of this makes sense. But I can’t afford to waste time w
Rose's Pov:I stand up, my legs weak beneath me, as I reach for the doorknob. The cool metal under my fingers sends a jolt through my body, but it does little to calm the anger surging inside me. Don’t go back to old habits. Just stay calm, I tell myself, my voice a quiet whisper that barely reaches my ears. But it’s not enough. My thoughts are a whirlwind—fueled by frustration, guilt, and a deep sense of dread I can’t shake. It feels like I’m being swallowed whole by everything I’ve been trying to push down.As I open the door, the world shifts, and I don’t even have time to react. I run into Michael—literally. My heart skips a beat as our bodies collide, and I scramble for my balance. "Sorry, I didn’t see where I was going," I say quickly, my words coming out in a rush, too fast, too shaky. My mind is scattered, my body on edge.Before I can gather myself, his hand shoots out and grabs my arm. It’s sudden, forceful, and I freeze, caught in his grip. My pulse spikes as he drags me dow