Theo's statement signaled Rose's mind was far from unreasonable. Apparently the man was still in his right mind to whisper such sentences in another language—French that the baritone—voiced owner, Rose's husband, was fluent in as he approached the host—they talked for a long time. Unlike Rose's position, who successfully received envious stares from several women down there.
The stage is where all visuals are clearly captured. Even the guests outside the building, the shadows of the passers-by were caught in the translucency of the glass. "Come, Sugar." A soft invitation tingled next to Rose's hearing. She followed where Theo would lead her. They walked up the stairs one step at a time with each other's footsteps and arms clasped to show Theo's possessive side. Not knowing if this was a coincidence or not. On the last step, Rose's never—ending scanning of the entire building came to a screeching halt with a fierce face glaring at her."Happy birthday, Mommy!" Oracle's tiny fingers twirled the confetti, sending small pieces of paper flying into each other and slowly falling to meet the top of the head of the woman who had just taken a step onto the ivory-white marble. She was startled by a deafening sound not far from her position. Halfway down Rose raised her hands, letting a few papers fall into her grasp. Once there was no more waving left. The corner of Rose's lips carved a thin curve. She looked up to meet the pregnant woman's sweet smile. Bridgette with a large cake and lit candles approached Rose who was still transfixed, never expecting this to be a surprise. "Make a wish and blow out the candles, Rose." What could Rose wish for in her life right now? Each page of the coming day was a mystery. She could not guess how far fate would take her across all sorts of events, and when Rose's handful of wishes would grow into fruit ripe for the picking.
"She is Axe's niece?" Rose gave a small whisper. She frowned as Bridgette swallowed roughly the remaining cookie in her mouth. "No." The woman replied half reluctantly."Axe's daughter. Campel is with another woman. The point is that I'm married to a bastard, Rose. You know him, of course, so I won't tell you much." A forced smile-Rose calmly took in every word that passed Bridgette's lips. All the things... she either believed or didn't. For once she didn't interrupt. Waiting for her to finish. "Bridgette, can you watch Campel for a moment? There's something I need to take care of." The new one spoken of towered over. Snooping sharply at Acampeliaz's whereabouts beside Theo. "He's with your friend. You take it easy." "Keep an eye on him." Xelle's heterochromia eyes turned away and brought the cell phone closer to answer a call from someone. Busyness drove Xelle's steps to swing quickly as if pressed for time. Le
Rose went through all the activities this night with a feeling of half—sadness. Each need that she had to complete... came tumbling out, including the time when Rose had to unravel the traces of numbers and letters recorded in her memory and transfer those shadows to a digital record on her phone. She had already set aside the most important part about George to do later. The distance was getting closer, it wasn't difficult for Rose to reach the reality left in front of her eyes. Where George was going, at least Rose already held the key that would open the padlocked door for her. Rose's faint smile was followed by fingers playing with Oracle's tanned hair—each of the little boy's strands belonged exactly to Xelle along with the soft texture that never changed. Indeed, just moments ago Oracle had fallen asleep peacefully. In stark contrast to Rose's anxiety over her husband, who was like a waterfall falling and washing away the entirety of her disoriented state.
Rose did everything she could. However, only one such statement was able to pull Theo away. "I'm not angry. I just don't like it when he thinks things that aren't." The rough stomp of a glass foot drew one of Rose's eyebrows up high. "How can you say that?" "His eyes never blind me. He looks at me as if I'm going to abuse that little girl. But, I'm not" "Axe couldn't possibly—" Rose's sentence was cut off by Theo's sliding action against her arm. The bottle Rose had set aside far away was grabbed again. This time Theo downed the wine directly with it. "Want some?" Rose shook her head. Rejecting Theo's offer outright. Just a glass of cold water that was almost empty after Rose took a sip at a time—almost without pause."I want you to sleep, Theo," Rose said. She didn't know what else to say as Theo continued to gulp the wine into him without stopping. "Enough, Theo—" Rose was frozen by
"Uncle T, you hurt me. Let me go!" "Uncle T!" Rose tried to understand the situation in the dim room. Faint squeals of pain clashed in the air. Rose frowned, as the almost uninterrupted movement in its entirety pulled her closed brown eyes wide open. In front of Rose several black events were fully recorded, broadcasting the silhouette of a rough resistance along with a small body that was trying hard to pull himself out of the grip of the subconscious. Rose's heart hammered violently. All the chaos overlapped to form ornaments in her head. She took definite steps, quickly bringing half the darkness to light. And then some things that Rose couldn't digest properly, appeared in a heap, jolting her feelings. On that torture—like bed .... Oracle was completely unable to resist the strong grip that could be seen from the muscles digging into the surface of the large, clayey, man—sized arms of the person there. The
"Travis." Rose pushed her way in, making the man behind the ledger jump. "Sorry, Travis. I was in a hurry." "What is it, Miss?" The light question came after Travis closed the thin sheet marked with a string. "Do you have any painkillers or anything to treat the bruises on Oracle's hands? Theo just had a nightmare and accidentally did this to him. I'm scared if anything happens." Travis's eyebrows shot up. "Mr.T just had a nightmare?" he asked. In stark contrast to Rose's haste. Travis was too calm to notice the extent of the bruise. "No need to worry, miss. You'd better see the master, I'll treat him." Travis smiled. She hesitated between refusing or agreeing. Rose glared at Travis and Oracle's faces in turn. She blinked. "Are you sure there's nothing to worry about?" "Yes, Miss. I can handle it. You should see the master. He may need you." Stunned, considering things from all angles. Rose finally sighe
"Oracle, are you sure you want to go straight home? Not wait for Om T to wake up first?" Oracle's rejection firmly dispelled the offer Rose had repeatedly made. Rose's breath rushed out, lips pressed together thinly. She contemplated everything that had not and would happen. In front of her, from a distance Rose had guessed what Xelle's reaction would be, if the blue bruise on Oracle's conspicuously elastic bandage—covered wrist caught the heterochromia's eye. As slow as a leaf combing Rose changed position. Towering high, she awaited the quick approach of the one who was now beside her. "Daddy." The thin curve of the lips responded to Oracle's greeting. A neat knit of eyebrows rose with Xelle's sharp eyes scrutinizing. He took a deep look at Rose's face, then turned back to the first focal point. His large body knelt down, light as a feather to reach for Oracle's small fingers—noticing carefully the cloth wrapped densely... breaking the suspi
"What conclusion?" A look of unequal color narrowed sarcastically. Rose's face was lifted a little roughly until she looked up and stared at each other. "It's so bad that even saying his name scares Oracle. And you say he didn't mean it?" Xelle's whisper was like a spark of fire. Quite disturbing if Rose had to admit it. She brushed off the lingering link of fingers, though Xelle's actions were not hurtful. "Theo didn't mean to. I was the one who misplaced the Oracle in our midst," Rose argued, not realizing how the blind finally blinked. "You're defending him, Rose?" Rose swallowed harshly. The glint in her eyes flickered quickly. "I'm not. It's just that you don't understand. I told you, that Theo did that out of his control. He had a nightmare last night." Rose held back the lump in the back of her throat. "You know I love Oracle, Axe, he's my son too. But please don't make a mess here. I've seen my husband hurt enough times. Not anymore. P
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
"Who did you come with?" Rose felt a touch on the top of her head and immediately broke away from Bridgette's embrace. Xelle smiled at her and it seemed as if the man had just gotten home from work. The long blue shirt on the body was slightly ruffled with half of the buttons open, so the reddish marks on the skin of Xelle's chest were faintly revealed. Rose understood... she had just guessed wrong. "I think my arrival has interrupted your fun," she said, not directly answering Xelle's question, but at the same time Rose received a light pinch on the arm as well as Bridgette's 'shut up' gesture. "I'll take Rose inside. Don't forget to take a shower after this, Axe. You're very messy. And one more thing, tell Edward in an hour to pick up Oracle and Campel at school." Already Rose had taken a step towards where Bridgette was leading her, instantly she froze in place remembering Theo in the car. "I can't stay long, Bridgette. Theo's waiting for me." "
"This many invitations, who will be at our event?" Rose's attention was fixed on Theo and the concorde sheet of paper in his hand. Occasionally she turned back to confirm the existence of a stack of invitations arranged in tiers, some of which were in the trunk of the car with the rest sitting on the passenger seat. The golden color of almost all the invitation paper gave a luxurious impression, especially the embossed writing on the surface added an elegant side. Rose liked it when she was fingering the parts of the letters that popped out. It felt like she had just pampered her fingers. "Is your name right there?" But instead of answering Rose's question, Theo asked her that very thing. "It is." For a moment Rose returned her attention to the invitation paper. O'Douglas. Her eyes searched carefully for the name on the back. Rose had never been allowed to bear the title 'O'Douglas' for the rest of her life, but this time Rose had mad
Mesmerized. That was one of Theo's main reactions the first time Rose stepped out of the dressing room in a creamy white wedding dress like a romantic bride. An interesting conclusion emerged as Theo gazed at Rose as if she were a gentle woman with twists and turns... so beautiful and pure. The woman's sweet smile was something Theo never imagined he would have in full. Rose was absolutely stunning draped in a dress that began its beauty by leaving Rose's neck exposed in a transparent and elegant way. On the chest, the fabric that fit Rose's body was decorated with lace in the shape of spreading flowers and leaves accompanied by a sprinkling of sparkling crystals. From the hip line, the dress was in full bloom, but not beyond the slightest portion that Rose had to lift when stepping slowly. The curve in Rose's lips grew wider as she stared straight ahead. It was in those moments that Rose realized her husband was still silent without saying anything, as if he
After a flurry of activity with several dresses and eye-catching accessories. Rose's decision was then made to meet Theo in the office after parting ways with the woman who introduced herself as Alma as well as the woman's two beautiful secretaries, Evalina and Lindsey. The accidental encounter with Lion, whose fever was much better, was the moment when the man told Rose the whereabouts of Theo—who he said he had accidentally seen when Lion walked around several corners of the mansion just to add to the heat. The man wanted to sweat, but Rose's real business was with Theo. She didn't need to worry about anything else, except that her husband might be busy again. That was also what Lion had said before saying goodbye, which eventually led to Rose standing in front of Theo's study door... wondering if she should knock before entering. She didn't. Rose wouldn't do that once the door had been opened. A dimly lit room showed her husband there. Focused on his laptop, while Esmeralda
Loud howls filled Rose's senses almost all the time. She had locked the room. Her face was buried under the pillow, but Theo deliberately let Esmeralda roam the mansion. Occasionally the baritone's voice even chuckled in her ear. They seemed to be very close and perhaps Rose should have given Theo a warning not to make a single disturbing sound. Rose let out a long sigh letting her footprints rest on the cold marble. Step by step she walked out reaching out and pressing down on the doorframe then pulling the frame inwards, that second at the same time Theo's body fell along with Esmeralda who bit the man's forearm. There was no pain, because what Rose found was that Theo was enjoying Esmeralda's treatment. It actually reminded Rose of the first time she was reunited with a Siberian husky and the first time Theo found out Rose was pregnant. She smiled wryly at the thought of those days. If their baby had been saved, her stomach would have swelled up. "You and your wif