Rose slowly untied the shackles. Her eyes rounded at what lay before her.
A chimney-shaped pipe burst free, splashing green viscous liquid with such force that her face was wet beyond recognition. "Theo!" screeched Rose in exasperation. She threw the box on her lap roughly. Rubbing her face, she clears her vision to see something different-two hidden objects scattered out, one black and folded, the other sealed with a fiery red hue. Rose got up, not approaching the two tantalizing things. She left briefly to clean up and change clothes. Returning from the repetitive activity of touching the water at night. Rose hesitantly flopped softly on the floor. Her arm stretched out to grab a familiar folded object - a wallet she had been holding, complete with thick bills inside. What had Theo given her the wallet for? Rose shook her head vaguely, then moved on to another gift. ShThe corners of Sean's lips lifted, his sardonic smile never leaving. He was satisfied, very satisfied indeed. Sean didn't have to worry about anything anymore. It was just a matter of waiting to see how it would turn out and how he would make the still-in-progress upload a big news story. Damn. Sean never thought his plan would be this complicated. The arrogant arch that he spread was forced to fade when an error appeared on the monitor screen '501 Not Implemented'. It is a status code issued by the server in response to a client (website user/user) request. Where the server (file hosting) does not function or does not have the ability to recognize requests sent by users, so the server cannot fulfill client requests. "Asshole. That damn bastard!" Sean swore harshly, not wanting to fail in the middle of the breaking point. He quickly went the other way, uploading the same video on a dif
Punishment for the mistake of watching Rose's body was on the horizon. Lion would not go unpunished, even if he finally told the truth. Whatever it was, consequences were consequences. Rose's body belonged to him. Only Theo could strip Rose naked by sight and touch. "Quickly get the knife and other necessities. I want you to slice all these onions to the same size. Not too thin, let alone too thick." Theo leaned in front of the pantry, watching Lion's every move on the bar counter, doing the job he was given. Occasionally Lion seemed to wipe his eyes. Sometimes the action lasted a long time. It made Theo sick to look at him. "I didn't ask you to stop." "Sorry, sir. I can't open my eyes." Lion tried for the umpteenth time, but the pain spontaneously closed the eyelids that were forced wide. The water in the corners of the eyes even melted a little. Lion could not help it. He woul
"Shut up!" Theo's patience ran out at Magdalena's string of words. His gaze was filled with a desire to kill ever since the woman's insults. "Watch your damn mouth. I won't hesitate to sew it up once you insult Dara again." Theo lifted a leg to approach Magdalena who was glaring fearfully at him. The glare that Theo gave her was like nothing Magdalena had ever experienced. The man had really become a different person during the time they had never met. Magdalena seemed to be frozen after noticing the coldness in the gray eyes that had once drowned her so deeply. How could Magdalena break the ice there? She herself did not know how to fight for something she had lost, when what she had lost did not want to be fought for. "T." Magdalena carefully stepped back. She was not fully recovered. But when she heard Theo was returning to Italy. She was excited, despite the painful outcome
Two weeks without Theo, her life was completely free. She was like a bird flying in the night, soaring through all the things she wanted to do. Most importantly, she could focus on her original goal of becoming a prostitute. Rose readied herself, adding makeup and tidying up her previous appearance. The routine, which had been put on hold, had continued since the first day Theo left. In fact, this time she deliberately asked Aiden to provide three clients at once, in order to fill the neglected search. Picking herself up in front of the mirror for the last time. Through her work, Rose promised that she would soon find one of the members of the clan with the black cross skull tattoo in order to find out who was behind her parents' death. She strode impatiently towards the VVIP room. Still hoping for a miracle to hold her close. Although she knew, it was difficult to carry out a mission that had failed to be controlled f
"Damn it!" cursed Theo as he rubbed his rough face after closing the door to his office. He walked towards the desk that was no longer as neat as it was before his anger peaked. Mixed emotions didn't mean Theo could ignore his previous to-do list. He had to check every financial entry and exit from his several credit cards. One by one, he checked the mobile banking of credit cards used for business and other purposes without any problems. Theo switched to checking his personal credit card mobile banking. His choice went to the account mutation column, reading the details available. Theo's forehead furrowed as he realized something was wrong. There was the same amount added on the same date, after he had transferred ten thousand dollars and five times that amount for the second service on the night when Theo went to Rose's workpla
Minutes after Rose had waited in the room, she finally sensed the arrival of another person. The man, the second client, seemed to step towards her while undoing the top two buttons of the polo shirt or collared shirt that was still attached to the body. Without saying anything the man sat on the edge of the bed, right next to Rose. The scent of his body and the chiseled European accent on his face really reminded Rose of someone. Rose's chest tingled a little just remembering the name she hadn't heard in a long time. How's that bastard doing? She asked herself. She wasn't. Rose shook her head vaguely. Why would she think about a man's condition, who clearly couldn't have done the same thing. "Shall we begin, sir?" asked Rose as she tied her hair back. "Of course. Do it for fast. Tomorrow I need to go back to my country." The client by the name of George pu
"You hurt me, you fucking whore!" George pushed Rose's body away. He rose to his feet, towering over her with a haughty glare. "Is this what a high-priced whore looks like?" asked George sarcastically, then squatted down so close to Rose. His own, freed, was left hanging. "How can the owner of a nightclub here entrust the satisfaction of customers to a woman who only has a pretty face, but her skills are those of an amateur?" George grabbed Rose's jaw roughly. His lips snarled in annoyance when the woman he thought he could dominate put up a fight, shaking off his grip with a single squeeze. "Fucking bitch!" "How dare you fight me!" Rose stared at George's angry look without hesitation. The snarl had absolutely no effect whatsoever on the courage she possessed. Rose was not a weak woman, nor would she allow herself to be bullied by the haughty attitude of a man
What is our love never went away? ________________________ "After this I will keep a close eye on you guys. The company's statistics must increase, at least stabilize without decline." "And you, James, I will not hesitate to fire you, if you once again fail to improve the company's finances." "Yes, sir. I will work harder." "Good. Now you may leave." The managers in each division bowed, walking away after facing Theo's fiery anger. Each of them had been assigned the additional task of evaluating and re-planning their divisions. Theo read their retreating movements, waited for the meeting room door to close, and then his attention turned to Amerald who stood by doing nothing. "Now pack up your things from here." "You're being transferred to a branch company as head of human resources."
"I got a lot of grandchildren." O'Douglas laughed like a pirate captain who had just discovered a historic treasure. Each of the middle-aged man's arms flanked two tiny babies, while the other was in the arms of Verasco, who continued to hold them, occasionally bringing them closer with a lighthearted joke. There was no telling what Rose would say as she watched her children being swarmed as soon as Verasco and O'Douglas walked into the ward. She had just finished breastfeeding, so the satiated babies would just sleep through the day, and not trouble their two grandfathers. "You never stopped looking at me," Rose said quietly. Most of the time Theo had a glare on his face, but right now the gray bead was shining something different. It was so loving and some of it Rose couldn't interpret correctly. How could Rose stand being shot at so closely. Theo had to, just once, look away from her. "Thank you, Sugar." A gentle touch on the skin of Rose's face made her
Rose didn't expect Theo to take her to the island of Ortogia, the historical center of the Sicilian city of Sirakusa, to enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean sea. The scents by the sea were soothingly beautiful. Rose had not forgotten that Theo had not once let go of her body on the man's broad shoulders after walking along the old buildings on the islands of Ortogia. "Whose house is this?" asked Rose looking at a sturdy building that looked like it was meant for two people to live in. "Our house." There wasn't much Rose could say, except to bury her face deep in the hollow of Theo's neck. The masculine scent was still very much present, even after they had spent the whole day entertaining the guests, as if the perfume was very much at home on Theo's clay skin. "Want to go straight to bed or shower first, Sugar?" In front of a door Theo stopped and let Rose get on the floor. Between hesitation and the need for something fresh she finally looked up at Theo.
"Ready?" Rose nodded as Theo spoke over the top of her head. She was indeed standing with her back to Theo, holding the handle of a long cookie-cutter knife, while Theo's large fingers grasped each of her knuckles warmly. The multi-tiered cake, or not much different from a fragile tower, was being split open. The blade slowly descended downward to symbolize sharpness. Rose smiled almost melting into laughter when Theo whispered something funny to her, funny but Rose wouldn't tell anyone. Let her keep it to herself and make it an important fun moment. After the first slice of cake Rose and Theo should have been feeding each other. Instead Theo scooped out the cream and immediately applied it to Rose's lower lip. Rose's face was a mess, but that was exactly what Theo wanted. He took Rose's lips like he was taking a delicious cake. The sweetness of the sugar and butter mixture seemed to make Theo insatiable. He licks Rose so intimately—there's no end to it—that Rose
"It's enough. I'm full." Again Rose had to restrain herself as Theo's big fingers tried to push away the bowl of white porridge in her hand. "Just a little more, Theo. You have to finish your porridge." "Come on." Rose brought another spoonful of porridge closer, but that face refused. "Don't make me eat bad porridge, Sugar. It's tasteless." "That's why if you eat while looking at me, you'll get some flavor." "One more bite. I promise after this is over." "I don't believe it. You said that earlier, don't you remember?" Rose's wide grin completely fooled Theo. The man was exactly a child who had lost his appetite. It was very difficult to persuade him to open his mouth. "This time I'm serious about the last one. Ahk... open wide." Rose thought Theo would immediately accept her bribe. Instead, the man moved the elbow of Rose's hand, moving the bow of the spoon to Rose's own lips. "You should eat too." "I ate earlier," Ro
One day after Theo regained consciousness, Rose finally decided to return to her home, the place where she once lived alone next to her small restaurant. At the moment there wasn't much for Rose to do other than prepare to meet Theo at the hospital. Rose immediately drove her father's borrowed car. On the back passenger seat she placed a medium-sized box with several holes in it that was wrapped very beautifully. While beside her sat a cute little dog with curly hair and white color like cotton. Yesterday Rose had just bought the poodle breed at the pet shop. Intrigued. That was all that drew Rose's desire to bring home the poodle named Cocomelo. "We've arrived." Rose prepared a special backpack to carry Cocomelo on her shoulders, so that when she first entered the infirmary Theo would not immediately meet her Cocomelo but Rose would show him. And in her hand, she carried the medium-sized box and walked into the hospital. Not just daring, but Rose had already ob
Coming back from the bathroom, Rose thought she would be faced with the same situation. She had warned against it by waiting longer in the humid room until some of the noises from outside faded away. But everything Rose had expected was not true. The blood seepage on the floor when she opened the door was gone. Verasco's subordinates... even Verasco himself was nowhere to be seen, in his husband's infirmary. All that was left was Lion waiting very quietly, arms folded across his chest as he watched Theo silently. "Are you still here, Lion? Where are the others?" asked Rose as her steps brushed the side of the blanket. "Mr. Verasco asked me to wait here, Miss." Lion's attention was finally diverted. Rose suspected that he had just returned from the police station and helped Verasco and Elijah to execute George. As for George's betrayal, perhaps it was a wake-up call for Verasco to be more intolerant of hidden intentions and whatever else might happen. "Where is my
"On the way home. Their story has a happy ending. Finished." Rose closed the 400 pages book and placed it on the nightstand. Reading sweet stories had become her routine in the past few days. Rose smiled slightly at her husband's face who was lying so quietly. This morning the breathing apparatus had just been removed indicating Theo's condition was getting better after the bloody spear incident. Luckily, they immediately brought Theo to get the right treatment. Theo had to undergo surgery three times. He had lost a lot of blood and needed transfusions as soon as possible. Rose remembered that some arguments happened between them regarding Theo who had very step blood, even Verasco was helpless about it. Just a Wench .... That's what Verasco said at that time with a trembling tone of voice. Like he was so regretful. Really regretful, until finally Travis suggested the few people who were still left in Italy to bring some bags of Theo's blood that were taken two
"She's very good at acting." Rose whispered softly in Bridgette's face who had only come into view after the play had started. There was no need for Rose to ask where the woman had been, she could guess what the couple sitting next to her had been up to from the slightly disheveled appearance a few moments ago. "Yes. No wonder she's the lead. She's very pretty tho." Rose nodded in agreement as Bridgette whispered along. The students who were drafted to act out the drama on the wedding stage were really good. Their pronunciation and intonation were perfect, especially when they were blocking. Rose remembered things like that that her father often commented on when watching street theater. Until this moment Rose had not found her father's whereabouts. Rose looked at Theo for a moment. Her husband was too focused on watching the theater play. The sharp gaze and tightly clenched lips were very hot. Rose wanted to touch Theo but was prevented by the arrival of the w
Who would have thought that the two weeks since that day would feel so short as Rose's busy journey came to an end. It all seemed to be over in an instant, until in the shade of a large, luxurious building she stood. Smiling at her handsome husband whose black hair had grown into a neatly combed bun. The thick eyebrows and gray eyes were a perfect combination, plus the hot touch of lips that sometimes returned her smile, and so whispered the naughty words that the man would later plan after the party was held. There should be nothing for Rose to worry about at this point. Just carrying out the last vestiges of the plan that would lead her to an intact family, then waiting to see how Theo would fight for their happiness together. But as long as she was there. Occasionally moving her feet regularly—back and forth in turns with her arms wrapped tightly around her husband's neck. Rose didn't find anyone who might still bear a faint resemblance to her parents among the a