The reality was like a volcanic avalanche of vomit in Rose's head. The heat melted everything. Either happy or actually Rose couldn't let go of the so-called euphoria. She lost the ability to distinguish between reality and delusion. Her mind cavity was full, claustrophobic, especially Rose felt lied to in such a way.
"How could you do this to me, Lion? Travis, Beatrace, all of you. How could I fall for the role you played?" asked Rose almost in a whisper. Her gaze was half-empty, thinking back to how Beatrace had behaved and the series of sentences the middle-aged woman had spoken. They were all lies. Rose couldn't understand why, they interpreted it as inappropriate to know the extent of Theo's condition. What was the worst part was that they thought Rose was involved in harming her own husband.... She did all that between a sense of urgency and an involuntary impulse. Even if Rose knew Theo would protect her. She wouldn't have let Theo pull the stunt. Rose's ey"Now how is Theo?" she asked as she scrutinized Lion like he had just breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm not talking to an empty tomb," Rose quipped, thinking how foolish it would be to speak up in the face of something that couldn't possibly give her an answer. And so, Lion understood m—with some difficulty, he positioned himself to rise, though only half-slouching and showing a face twisted in pain. "Sir ...." "Sir is still in a coma, Miss." Lion's answer was a great success in exploding the contents of Rose's mind. So all this time, while Theo had never come to her, it wasn't that the man was unwilling. But there was a wall too high stretched between them. Unconsciousness. A state of sleep that was too deep. Making her husband never present in the nights Rose was always haunted by loss. She took a ragged breath... no longer knowing how to describe the truth that hit her sanity. "Theo is in a coma and why did you have to hide that from me?" "I'm so
There wasn't enough feeling during the trip to Italy. Rose's gaze was always unfocused, still speared by a jumble of bad thoughts regarding Theo's condition and how she would get her husband back. Theo was taken away and hidden by Verasco. No idea where. But the next stage of the location they would go to was Verasco's headquarters. Lion assumed it was there, a little approved by Travis who confirmed. A while ago, they had tracked the last point of Verasco's car through GPS coordinates. Unfortunately, the middle-aged man knew such things would happen, so he deliberately blocked access by not turning on the GPS function in the car. They could have hacked into the city's CCTV footage. Analyze the license plate or where cars similar to Verasco's stretched across Milan. However, the decision would have affected their chances. At worst, from the time Rose and the others arrived at Theo's mansion, two hours back was all Verasco required of them, especially Rose—
"I warned you not to participate. Now your presence is like a second barrier. We can't act freely." Rose turned away when Xelle chided rudely. "You mean I'm a burden here? I can take care of myself if that's what you think." No less sharply she lashed out at the man who was staring straight ahead. "I wonder how far you can take them. You'd better sit quietly in the car." Still with the focused, indifferent gaze Rose was getting from the man in front of her. She turned away solidifying the sentence buried in the back of her throat. "You underestimate women too much. I'll show you that I can handle anything that comes my way." "And if you continue to pick a fight with me here. I can assure you we'll never get started," Rose continued half-commemoratively. Xelle reminded her exactly of Theo who almost never relented when it came to arguing. Rose looked away not wanting to be influenced further. Momentarily noticing Travis pulling himself forward a step. "Wh
"An intruder has entered!" The warning from outside broke the silence in the clawed skies of the building. The troops hidden in the scatter hallway rushed out. Some of them were already dedicated to acting when informed. It was a strategy that Verasco had made accommodations for in case even under the best of circumstances they still had to be vigilant. Thus, the enemies in front of them would be easily conquered. Right at the entrance of Verasco's large mansion. A group of troops led by two people at once were already attacking each other, as if they were ready to fight over the order of power that belonged to Verasco, an organizer who did not even look where he was. It shouldn't be that way .... It was just that when Travis and Rose had left, on the other side coinciding with Edward's arrival—followed by Anthony next, that second Xelle began to think about pulling the bait. He single—handedly went to the guard at the very front simply to distract the attention
Verasco was too enamored of the impossible. Rose couldn't, and wouldn't want to get involved in something that wasn't ingrained in her life principles. From the beginning, Rose's goal in trapping herself there was Theo, so it would always be Theo she wanted. Even if he didn't respond at all to the various activities around him, including her standing a few meters away from him. Three months. Rose imagined how she would have to vent everything she had missed during that time. Too long to admit that she missed Theo. Everything that had ever happened between them, whatever it was, it felt like Rose wanted to hug that body right now. It didn't matter that she would be stung even worse by the menacing and dangerous surroundings of the electric shock device around her husband. "Stop where you are." Rose's steps paused as she took a step towards Theo's body, pushing him closer. However, the reflection of Verasco's sardonic smile was the worst part of Rose's decisio
Verasco recalls memories of a stack of dusty albums. It was .... 25 years ago a deal was struck between him and O'Douglas. The two partners had contradictory jobs. He who was in power in a dark organization—disguised the truth of himself by becoming the owner of a large business. O'Douglas is a geneticist or doctor who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and organism variation. O'Douglas has done some research. The man who actually works under a non-governmental agency to create a genetic engineering of living things, whether humans, animals or plants with his wife, Elisabeth O'Douglas, a chemist. However, due to one thing and another related to the ability that is used for crime. O'Douglas decided to leave the non-governmental agency. Then switch functions together with Verasco to conduct a research in the form of personal needs. At that time, O'Douglas' baby girl, about three months old, was tested on a new invention with Elisabeth's help, namel
"Thank you for your help, Miss. Can we leave now? I need to check on Mr. T, and Lion... I think it's time to take Esmeralda for grooming." Rose looked up and took a breath as Travis and Lion took turns looking at her. A moment ago they had just returned from the Verasco mansion. Several wounds lodged on the body due to the shootout incident, Rose was instead responsible for treating the three men who barely even complained during the cleaning of the blood on the gaping wounds. The wounds were fortunately not that severe. Only wide scratches on the hands, shoulders, and legs, so it was not enough to make it difficult for them to return to their activities. "With my pleasure, Travis. I'll catch up with you later." Rose's thin smile signaled to Travis something he could easily understand. Still Rose looked over the shoulders of the two men away. The curl on her lips disappeared as she looked down again. "They're so single, why didn't you date one of them yesterd
The faint howl of a loud howl drew Rose's senses slowly blinking. The first time she opened her eyes the only sight she got was her husband's handsome face. The too-close position presented how the texture of the skin lured Rose's fingers to just touch the forehead and creep smoothly towards the jawbone. She thought once he woke up, those eyes would show a beautiful infusion of color. Turns out Theo was still comfortably in the same state. Not even a hint of anything else, Theo was quietly closed, too far away for Rose to reach. He murmured a little .... Louder howls from outside forced Rose to blow air through her lips. Then she got up, releasing the hug on Theo's body indirectly. Half transfixed, Rose huddled with Lion in the doorway. The frame was still submerged in Rose's body, only the face poked out and when she glanced down... Rose's senses found Esmeralda already equipped with an oversized pink ribbon pinning the fur on the top of the head. "Why did you
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
"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