"What?" I asked in surprise."If you agree to be mine, I would agree to everything you want, without any protest," he said with a teasing gaze that turned me on. "You agree to be mine, I become your slave to command." He chuckled as I couldn't help the throaty laughter that escaped my lips."You make it sound like the ancient days when it was normal for people to have slaves," I said as I watched him, my eyes glittering as he moved toward my mouth and bit my lower lip. "I don't mind being yours..." He moved to my ear and whispered, "Forever." He whispered as he moved back to look at me."What do you say?" He raised a brow, watching me calmly, but his gaze did crazy things to me, crazy weird things."Hesitating?" He asked again as I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again as I shook my head. "I-""Don't." He raised a finger to stop me from talking as I watched him patiently. He wasn't right.Thank God he stopped me, because my self-control where Valerio is concerned is deeply rest
ROSE"Oh my God," I gasped as Marco walked towards me with a bouquet of flowers and handed them over to me."Is this for a party? What about the chairman?" I asked, staring at Marco."How could you think of attending a function with the chairman when it's your birthday?" Vicente asked, and I turned to him with a wide smile on my face. "Oh my God, Vicente, I'm so touched," I said genuinely as he walked over to me and opened his arms. "Happy birthday, Rose," he said, and I chuckled and walked into his arms without a second thought. On the other side stood Valerio, staring at me like... I could make a thing from his contemplation."That's okay," Valentino walked up to us and separated us with a smug smile, as if they had promised not to nag. Vicente let go of me without much pressure."You look beautiful, Princesa," Valentino said with a smile and held my shoulder as if trying to get a better view of me. "Let's go eat. I'm hungry," Valerio rolled his eyes as he passed through our midst an
ROSE“What do you-" I turned to look at him as he watched me, as if I had lied and there would be an issue.“I believe I know you to some extent, Rose,” he said, as the song in the background continued, but my soul felt cut off when Valentino popped that question.“And there is something going on between you two,” he added, his eyes on Vicente. “And it seems my little brother is crazy about you, but you're so invested in Valerio that you don't notice anyone else,” he said, as I bit my lower lip.“It's nothing,” I said, but my voice didn't even sound convincing to myself.“I don't care anyway. I took your advice and want to keep this family together. Your wish was that this family stayed together and loved each other…” He turned to look at me.“Don't ask me how I knew… you are literally obsessed with keeping my brothers and me together. That will be my birthday gift from me to you, Rose. I will fulfill your birthday wish,” he said as he watched me, devoid of emotion. “I hope your relati
ROSE "When you say 'leave,' you mean…""Leave the mansion," the chairman clarified as my heart sank.I watched as it appeared he breathed a sigh of relief. "The brothers are now getting along with each other. What I didn't expect to see, but you made it happen. I'm just so enthralled that I don't want to burden you any longer, Miss Arturo.""What? No!" I stood up abruptly, staring at him in fright. "It wasn't a bother, I promise. I enjoyed every moment of my time with them." I said absentmindedly, the chairman looking at me in confusion as my words seemed somewhat out of line. I quickly corrected myself. "I mean, helping them to love each other," I said, praying he wouldn't read any hidden meaning into it, as he had always been suspicious of me before."Right? They were lovable as kids," the chairman said after a moment of silence following my statement. "I thought if they were less cranky as adults, they would be extremely lovable," he chuckled, and I struggled not to breathe a sigh
ROSE"I was expecting you," he said after watching me for what seemed like an eternity."I know," I bit my lower lip as I continued towards him, then stopped when there was a considerable distance between us."The chairman-""Told you everything, didn't he?" He asked with an arrogantly raised tone."Yes," I replied with a lower tone, not sure what my motive was, whether to garner pity..."Yes, he did.""You should be happy. That's what you've always wanted," he continued, and as I patted my lips to say what I didn't even know, he continued."Oh... it was what you were paid for. Of course, you were passionate," he said with a smile, which didn't look like a true smile because the look he kept giving me was void of emotion. If hate was not such a strong word, I would have used that to describe it."We were just a job to you," he said again with a bitter smile."I'm not-""How would the others feel when I tell them that.""It was the chairman's orders, Valentino. And trust me, as time we
VALENTINO"I retrieved the TV remote from Marco and turned off the television. Glancing at Rose, she appeared pale, as if she had just witnessed something deeply disturbing."Rose," I called out, reaching towards her, but she quickly moved away in shock."Damn," I muttered quietly."Marco," I beckoned, and understanding my intent, he moved towards her."Let me take you home," he offered. As I expected, she accepted, and they departed, not acknowledging Valerio. Valerio, in turn, knew better than to approach her.Initially, I thought he might follow them, but I hurried ahead and met him, only to receive a firm, dismissive look."Go away," he said calmly, but his tone betrayed irritation."Don't talk to her. This isn't her fault," I insisted, staying composed as he scoffed, ran his hand through his hair, and advanced, locking eyes with me."When you came to my room the other day, suggesting we set aside our differences and live as a family for Rose, I couldn't believe I fell for your de
VALENTINO"What do you mean?" I asked calmly, suppressing the unease churning in my stomach as fear took hold. My grandfather could be loving as a grandfather, but as Giovanni Sabatini, it spelled nothing but trouble."And you will stay out of this," he pointed at me, eliciting an incredulous chuckle from me."You know that's not possible. What are you planning to do? I told you she's gone! Let her be, Grandfather, I beg you," I pleaded desperately, observing him pull out a file from his desk and place it on the table.Upon opening it, I saw the compensation for breach of contract."We both know this is unnecessary," I remarked with an edge in my tone, attempting to maintain calm."Unnecessary? Yes, it is! Just like it was unnecessary for her to be involved with you and your brothers!""You're making this sound as if she killed someone. Cut it out!" I fired back. I came here to reason calmly with him, but it seemed the Sabatinis resolved things through violence."She killed me! She ki
VALENTINO“What?” He raised a brow in confusion. I drew in a deep breath. It was better to speak the truth and get this over with.“Rose is a fraud,” I calmly stated, while he observed me as if waiting for me to continue.“Actually, Grandfather hired her, believing she was a family psychologist. Her task was to live with us and help us bond.”“When I say 'us,' I mean... you know, all of us,” I reiterated, unsure of what was running through his mind.“No wonder,” he muttered softly. “So, what's false about her?” he prompted.“She isn't a doctor. She posed as her twin, Renata Arturo, a renowned psychologist,” I explained, noticing Vicente's raised brow.“She's a con artist,” I said in a hushed tone. I had considered leaving that out or fabricating her real occupation, but it was only a matter of time before she found out. It seemed pointless to hide it.“So, what...” He began to say, but his question seemed to get stuck in his throat.“What was her motive for lying?” I watched as his fa