[Forgive me].
Charlotte sighed. That was Sean's last statement since the man stopped texting her. Gone. Charlotte didn't get any news, just as the longing she had was also forced to sink. She didn't want to be grandiose, just hoping Sean would fight harder to get her heart back. Unfortunately Charlotte felt Sean gave up before she managed to establish herself from a big dilemma. A man who doesn't want his son, does Charlotte deserve to forgive him so easily? No, she doesn't. Forget Sean for a while. Charlotte flopped down on the freezing cold bed. She looked up at the ceiling of the room with a sense of unease. Who would have thought that a man like Verasco would be as busy as he looked. Verasco was hardly ever at the mansion, where Charlotte was currently staying. She could liken the inside of the mansion to an uninhabited building. It was deserted. Except for the heavy surveillance outside. Enough to make Charlotte"If I was jealous. I wouldn't have let you do it more than once." Theo's exhale hit the surface of Magdalena's face. Every time she remembered how deeply she knew Theo, Magdalena felt like she had been told a thousand lies. She simply didn't understand his way of thinking, or anything directly related to her ex-husband. "I'm sure you're jealous. Just like you deliberately showed me the kiss marks on that prostitute's body to make me hurt." Magdalena tried to convince herself. Theo was hers, always would be. "She's not a whore. She's my wife. You need to underline one thing, I like to make art on her body, not to make you jealous. But, I guess explaining all that to you is pointless. You're too ...." Theo stopped his sentence. The facial expression was deliberately thoughtful. "Too stupid-perhaps." He grinned sarcastically. Still with the Italian dialect, which sounded sexy from his lips.
Rose fell silent. Her brain and body seemed to be disconnected. She was still motionless, frozen before the man, who looked different from the last time they met. It was like being trapped in a sensory distortion. The air around Rose was filled with painful tension. She just wanted to burn the 15 roses, which were received from hand to hand for five consecutive days. However, her readiness had to be hindered when Theo walked in with wobbly steps. Not even looking at Rose, when he had the chance to look away. "Here's the lighter, Miss-" Just like Rose. Beatrace stopped when she realized Theo was there-standing with an unreadable ripple on his face. Having barely seen each other, the slight change was obvious. "Good afternoon, sir." Beatrace ventured a greeting. The nod she received was followed by Theo's departure with a decisive step. Beatrace also looked at where her master had gone. Then turned to Rose. "There is a mas
"I said get out!" "No way!" argued Rose. Approaching with explosive curiosity. Theo's appearance in her eyes had always been perfect. Different from the one Rose currently noticed. That stain... really invites curiosity. "Why are your clothes dirty?" Getting closer. Rose tried to touch the button of the shirt Theo was wearing. "None of your business. Go away!" The reality was that Rose failed when Theo chose to avoid. Every action the man made, pulling off the dirty shirt, did not escape Rose's sight. Half of Theo's shoulders and arms were covered in abstract tattoos. Rose couldn't quite grasp the meaning of the ink that blended with Theo's skin pigment. The tattoos she saw were already there, she didn't feel the need to meddle with them unnecessarily. Except, when the man approached the figurine on the bed. Theo seemed to be holding a small object, or Rose could call it a camer
His lil sister. That was obvious. Rose didn't need to show any overreaction, but there was still one thing that had her overwhelmed with curiosity-what and how. She took a step closer, another step... then the distance between them vanished. Theo's half-naked body didn't matter. Rose touched the surface of that chest slowly-little by little getting acquainted with the sculpted skin to the rows of abdominal muscles. Theo's breathing was labored. Rose could feel it when he looked up, noticing how the look in the ashes was misty with hurt, as well as passion. "I so fucking miss you, Rose." Theo's statement was like a lullaby, Rose was forced to sleep just to escape the bad thoughts. She brushed Theo's large fingers away as she felt a gentle squeeze on her arm. "I still have one more question, and don't think I've forgiven you when you haven't."
"Lion, I need your help!" There was nothing to explain. Rose needed Lion to go back and break down the door to Dara's room. She had waited, thinking Theo would come out after everything was over. Until the commotion died down a bit, Rose got nothing. Not once did Theo respond to her efforts. Strangely enough, Rose didn't understand why a short sentence from him had such an effect. The waves seemed to crash over their pebble-stuck relationship. They were never okay, like two people who didn't belong together. If Rose hadn't been presumptuous enough to intrude on Theo's past. Maybe there wouldn't have been such a hassle. She didn't expect Theo to have more emotions than she had ever seen. "Come on, Lion, hurry!" Continuing to pull brought Lion to where he needed to be. Rose held her breath, feeling even more disoriented when she heard the same shattering sound, even worse. "Theo is inside. Hurry up and break down the door," Rose said half-urgently. They had to hurry, or somethi
Behind the face that was buried in the recesses of that warm neck. There was a tinge of reddish color that couldn't help but appear. Not much different from the reaction she showed, Rose realized Theo's body was frozen... until she felt a thorough rubbing of her back softly. "Are you sure, Sugar?" Theo touched Rose so carefully. Adoring every sculpted curve of her female body. Or actually he was neutralizing the shock Rose had created. Theo didn't believe anything at all, it was hard enough, but couldn't resist the kind of wedding Rose wanted. "When do you want to have the blessing?" Theo's question was the trigger for what felt like a real buzz. Rose fumbled, never thinking Theo would be so quick to agree to her request. "When?" She repeated the one word at the beginning, which was the farthest shadow of Rose's memory. "Yes, when do you want to do the blessing?" Rose watched Theo's face carefully, searching for something there... perhaps Theo was offering a joke under the gu
"Theo?" Rose woke up wondering. In her sleep, she had dreamt of a very real commotion. Faint sounds, even still echoing, formed a trigger in her head. Rose moved to position herself to sit back slowly. Since the commotion yesterday, until the situation got better-Rose had to face Theo's attitude that never let her go. However, this time was different, Theo was nowhere to be found on the side of the bed. As Rose recalled, before she fell asleep. The man was still focused on playing with the laptop on his lap. "Mercy, sir. I won't do it again." A faint whisper of fear caught Rose's attention. Supposedly in the middle of the night like this, there was no sound that was still propagating as a wave emission, and was captured directly by her hearing. But Theo's distinctive baritone voice added to Rose's curiosity. She immediately moved, slowly towards
Who could help Rose hide her face from the guests? The situation at the altar was inevitably tense. It had only been a few seconds that she had felt resigned to sing her readiness for marriage vows, naming Theo as her partner for life. Now the admiration of some people made her unable to restrain herself. Hesitantly Rose's net glowed, watching the faces there. There had to be a justification, that the blessing was just a formality. Those sitting upright were Theo's people. There wasn't anyone Rose would have expected to be unfamiliar. Not even Bridgette, who was not part of the event today. Rose turned to look at Theo sharply. The man who could not be expected - shattering all Rose's dreams because of his madness. Rose felt a twinge of regret for making a decision that made her lose face. "Give me your hand, Sugar. You're keeping everyone waiting." The innocent face smiled sweetly, took Rose's fingers and pinned on the ring that Rose patented as a sac
It was too painful when the man had left her existence. Going far away. Untouchable. And Rose was sure that the more the sturdy shoulders were built up, the more the recently demolished skeleton would be forced to collapse. Exactly Verasco's statement. Callous phrases spoken in such a cruel way that they had a profound effect on Theo and took away whatever form they took, which was even the same thing—Rose had to watch her husband build a high wall. She hasn't tried to reach it yet, but knows it won't be easy. Rose couldn't drag Theo by the arm like she had in the past and whisper soft words. Inviting her husband into the room, then Theo would say yes. None of that was easy. Not when Rose's decision was too late to make. Theo was already making his way down to the top floor in the left wing. What could Rose do as the door thudded loudly, bouncing off the mansion's skylights. Rose had never even so much as focused her mind on the highest point of the building's structure, which
Underneath the hiding place Rose's heart pounded violently. She couldn't understand how Theo could be so calm, while the man's heartbeat was Rose listening. She was a little jealous of Theo's skill in dealing with a tense situation. Verasco's presence was nerve—wracking when Rose thought she and Theo should be sharing their closeness in the presence of the man who had strictly forbidden their relationship. "What is this asshole doing?" "He's hacking into something?" There was a pause after Verasco's question aired freely. Rose hoped that Lion—who was probably still accompanying the middle-aged man—could give a plausible reason without being dishonest. It was dangerous if Verasco knew the truth about what Theo was doing secretly. "Yes, sir. Mr. T is indeed having a drop." Woe be to Lion. Rose could barely keep herself from swearing harshly. Lion was too... honest. "Hacking what?" "That I don't know, sir. You can probably ask Mr. T directly la
Waking up under the warm, soothing gaze of her husband's eyes seemed to lead Rose astray into the gray beads and thick fur that seduced her defenses. She closed her eyes again and nuzzled the surface of Theo's chest more closely. Inhaling the masculine scent that never faded a bit until the only thing Rose couldn't escape was that intoxicating fragrance. Rose deepened the sweep of her face in search of the most comfortable position, at least until Theo embraced her with his arms, but he did not. Theo gently grasped her dark brown hair, which felt just right as the man's large fingers sank between strands and then rubbed the back of Rose's head lightly. "Still sleepy, Sugar?" Theo's baritone voice was crisp as if the man had been preparing for a long time to ask her just one question. Rose pulled herself up onto Theo's body. Let her husband lower his head slightly, and she would look up to start the conversation. "You've been up since earlier?" That swee
Rose woke up amidst the silence passing through her body. She scanned the perimeter of the living room still sharing the same oxygen and other things that wouldn't change. Including her husband—Theo on the side sitting back with his beady eyes closed so calmly, as if unaffected by the slightest movement from Rose who had just removed the arm band around that solid and firm body. She didn't know the last time Theo had immersed himself in the deep sea between them. Rose only remembers the little part of her that couldn't hold on any longer, then fell asleep clinging to Theo's body. While her husband was busy drumming on the keys of the keyboard, occasionally rubbing the top of Rose's head–offering a nod to the drowsiness and heaviness in her eyes. Rose's gaze shifted momentarily to an object on Theo's lap. It looked like Theo's coding work had been completed. A horizontal green line almost a quarter full filled the empty box lengthwise on the monitor screen. Then Rose as
"You brought Esme out of the cage to meet Mr. Zever, Miss?" Lion's one swift question seemed to intimidate Rose that she had just made a big mistake. While twisting the lid of the jar of snacks that had just been removed from a whole plastic packet, Rose deliberately did not let her gaze linger on Lion for long. Neither did she deny the accusation based on the 'truth'. It was Rose, and she had no intention of simply wishing for time to turn back to fix her empty knowledge. If Rose hadn't brought Esmeralda to the main room and sent Zever into a tizzy. Maybe she wouldn't have been hounded by her own thoughts about Theo waiting in the living room and her accompanying her husband on the hack. Last time Rose had told her everything. All about the problems they had to face together. And just like that—there wasn't much of a response from Rose after she ended her long string of sentences. Theo was silent, but Rose was sure he had processed all the information well.
"Can you, Theo?" repeated Rose. Without specifying an answer she wanted to understand what Theo was thinking. Theo's silence was like ice until the atmosphere in the room changed. "Theo ...." "We can't predict what problems will happen in the future." "Yes, I'll try not to put you in any danger. But I can't promise." "I'm talking about you. Not me." To not put her in danger. Rose didn't think that was what she meant. "I know. I can take good care of myself." "But you didn't even dodge when I shot you." Rose parted the blanket between them. Her gaze fell to where she had fired hot lead at Theo. Already back to full skin, the scars were invisible—perhaps Travis had given them an elixir. Some of the wounds on Theo's body weren't as gruesome, except for the part where the shredded wound merged with a fold of flesh. "I didn't dodge, because I knew you weren't a danger to me." "It just looks that way, doesn't it? In fact, I put m
Rose never looked away from the sleeping face in front of her. Theo had said he wanted to sleep, and he did just that after their intimacy ended. The intimacy while Theo was awake was exciting, but what was unforgettable was that Theo held Rose almost tightly, never once releasing the embrace until all Rose could do was stay still. Occasionally she would have to wail at Dara's figurine. Rose imagined how if Dara hadn't had such a bad experience, maybe she would have seen what a happy man her husband was without having to carry guilt for almost the rest of his life. Rose understands that Theo might be carrying all the wounds, especially Verasco's denial of his existence. And it was Theo who had to bear every bit of pain that Zever should have. Rose had already found the answer to the very first question posed to Theo. She had once hurt the palm that now often caressed her, when she lost Oracle and caused Theo to come face to face with Bouldog. Rose questioned why Theo didn't sh
"Damn woman. How dare you play behind my back!" A thrown item almost hit the woman who was staggering in fear. Still in her nun's clothes, the woman's body was dirty and covered in bruises. Her long hair was disheveled. The woman grimaced with the corners of her lips trembling in fear. It was her fault that she was found in a state of no escape. The rage of a man was about to take her life. A man in a fit of rage is truly merciless. She endured every punishment, especially the way the cigarette flame touched the skin of her hands and feet. She just resigned herself unable to hold on to the resistance. It was all too late. Couldn't get rid of the savage, crazy and heartless old man. "Mercy, sir," she said softly, but explosions of rage overwhelmed the worn-out warehouse. She was helpless. Her long hair was pulled back to stare up at a face full of frowns and vicious streaks that went everywhere. Then a slap made the nun—clad woman turn away violently. "I apo
For the next few seconds, not a word was spoken. Theo's fingers were still doing their endless thing. More and more those hot lips began to nestle in the recesses of Rose's neck. Sometimes a small nibble on the earlobe would tempt Rose to let out a stifled moan. Rose had to remind Theo they had just had an emergency situation. His father probably hadn't left the mansion yet. And the man was already back to his perverted thoughts. "Theo, this isn't our room," Rose warned. It was enough to make Theo stop. The moment the ash bead turned towards Dara's large figurine, a mischievous grin simultaneously appeared offering Rose all kinds of alarm. She should have acted quickly before Theo did anything. Unfortunately Rose's movements were sluggish, spilling onto the bed first as Theo brought her to tussle under the thick blankets. One tug of a t-shirt on Rose's body slipped away. The rest of the clothes were just as easily tossed to the floor. Theo seems impatient to undo