"I don't know if you're in a mode, or if you really want Oracle to call you daddy."
Rose spoke focused on staring out the window. The display of beautiful nature in motion was far more interesting than the man beside her. Something felt bad before they left the mansion located in the middle of the forest. Rose had objected quite a bit when the Oracle hadn't rejected Theo's offer. Even Bridgette herself approved of what shouldn't have happened. After all, Theo had used Oracle as bait just to lure Rose into serving him right at the beginning when they started to get into trouble. Theo, who was an uninvited guest until Rose found out he was a client under an assumed name, was still in Rose's head for several incidents. The chastity that was taken from her is still in the shadows. Rose's breath hitched as the car, which had left the forest track, entered the city. She waited for Theo's reply, which had yet to come.Magdalena, oversized suitcase in hand, climbed the stairs one by one, not caring that Lion tried to prevent every detail of the action she took. There were seven days left in the divorce trial, enough to convince Magdalena to re-enter Theo's mansion as a sanctuary. She didn't blame the handsome judge, who so easily fell for her charms. It was a win-win deal. Magdalena only had to serve the handsome man when and where they had to prepare themselves. She couldn't wait to see what Theo's reaction would be at the end of his own lawsuit. "Stop, ma'am." "Let go! Don't touch me." Magdalena brushed off the stranglehold on her wrist. "You'll pay a very bad price if I fall." It went on without stopping. Magdalena stomped the suitcase on the marble with a piercing gaze. Not hesitating to grin cruelly, she approached the two people who were silent.
"Shut up! Keep your boundaries, Magda." Theo looked away, glaring at the cold, untouched Lion. "Make sure Rose doesn't go anywhere. Hold on, take her to the guest room." "Yes, sir." After Lion's departure, Theo locked onto Magdalena with a ripple of anger. Keeping a few meters away, to avoid the body scent that made his digestive system churn. Theo chuckled. The second time Magdalena's arrival had been equally disruptive. Too presumptuous. How could she have entered under such close surveillance. Did Theo have to wrap her mind around the fact that Magdalena had a manipulative nature that could not be underestimated? "I don't know if you're still connected or not. But you shouldn't have come here when in seven days we'll be nothing." Theo's statement received a sardonic response. Magdalena tossed her hair back with a haughty smile that never went away. "You c
"Open the door, Lion. You can't lock me in here. I want out!"Rose repeatedly pressed on the doorframe. Hoping to be freed from the impeccable room, which had a thick glass window on one side. There didn't seem to be a single part that Rose could access by simply sliding the frame tightly together. She was completely trapped. The door she tried to open was also a scary specter. Lion had probably gone too far, leaving her alone to struggle like an insane woman.From the beginning Rose never expected to be trapped in a situation like this. Why would Theo hold her back if the one person he had hoped for was already back-coming with the arrogance and humiliation she had to endure. Rose saw for herself how Theo fell so badly with the dream. What else to expect? Wouldn't the trigger for his sleep problems be cured by being under the same roof? Rose's body moved back a few steps. Taking a sitting position on the bed, her half-empty net stared straight ahead. She shou
Rose's eyes narrowed sharply. Taking a cautious stance when she heard the sound of keys being turned from outside. She got up, the sight of Theo's shoulder making her step quickly. "Open the door. I want out!" Rose pushed the big body out of the way. Repeatedly pressing the door knob like she did moments ago. Damn! Theo had acted out of her control first. "The keys are here." The jingling of two or three keys caught Rose's attention. She approached Theo with anger in her eyes. Rose's arms were outstretched, reaching for the impossible. Theo would never let her go so easily. "Give it to me!" Rose said coldly. "You can't keep me here. Forget that stupid bet. I want nothing more to do with you!" Rose thinned her lips. Looking for the slightest way to trick Theo beside her. Maybe a little weakness could help Rose break free from the man's forced confinement. "N
The worst part of the rest of the chaos wasn't over yet. Just a short step away from the guest room, Rose was confronted by the woman who stood proudly. Both of their noses were crossed-Rose looked in the mirror as the blonde hair directly in front of her was deliberately brushed back, spreading arrogance as soon as the line of lips broke into a sardonic grin. "You haven't left yet, slut? Don't you have any sense of shame? I've already cleared out your junk. Please leave if you have no business being here." Magdalena folded her arms across her chest. One eyebrow was raised high, curious about Rose's relaxed demeanor. "Ignorant bitch. Do I have to call you a bitch now?" she asked half sarcastically. Instead of being angry. Rose bowed, placing her walking stick on the marble. "You shouldn't have bothered. Did all my clothes get your hands dirty? I hope not, because they were given to me by Theo. One more thing, I'm leaving
Magdalena looked at herself in front of the cracked mirror. She screamed at the half-reflected face that looked like a mess. The thick makeup on her eyes was smudged, leaving black patches running downward. "Shit!" She threw the glass bottle again, causing the shards to scatter in several places. "That woman will pay dearly for what I feel!" screamed Magdalena out of control. She wiped the wet marks on her face roughly. Her laughter erupted, followed by a faint chuckle. "I know T still loves me," she murmured almost in a whisper. "He's just angry and disappointed. The rest of the time he still loves me. He really still loves me!" Magdalena tossed her long hair back in a slow motion. "I can't lose." Her dark eyes sharpened with ambition. She was at least one step ahead without anyone knowing. Theo would not be able to fight her in court, even if the man wanted to appeal when the
Theo's arms slowly slipped behind Rose's body, searching for the bra clasp that was nowhere to be found-only the lacy part that felt rough against the mesh fabric. "Why isn't there a clasp?" Such a ridiculous question made Rose barely contain herself. Theo was still trying to find the impossible by hugging Rose's body that was chained to both wrists and legs. "Her bra clasp is missing. That means she won't let you touch me. Remember that contract, Theo!" "I can't help myself anymore. It's been too long, Sugar. You're serving your sentence anyway." Theo pulled away. Returned to crushing Rose's flushed lips, occasionally biting down hard. "Where's the hook?" A deep frown took place on the forehead line. Theo shifted the position of his hands to the front, beginning to find the opening to the missed meal.
Lion looked down. Not daring to look at Theo's gray eyes when the door that separated them opened. The limping steps slowly approached Lion who seemed hesitant to hand over the walking stick to his master. "You must stop Lady Magdalena, sir," Lion said almost inaudibly. One of Theo's eyebrows rose high. Forced to accept the crutches presented before him "What did Magdalena do?" He asked as he closed the door to the room. "Madame beat Afilia, sir." Theo's face turned away quickly, not understanding what Lion was saying. What was Magdalena's problem with Afilia, to disrespect Beatrace's position as an old woman and mother with great responsibility? "She hasn't been here for a day and her sanity is already diminished. Why is she beating up that teenage girl?" "Forgive me if I'm presumptuous, sir. But you're the subject of what's going on. We'd better get over there. They're in the kitchen."
Zever's sudden departure made quite an impression on Rose. At that moment she and Travis silently watched the backs of two people who were moving away. Rose didn't dare say anything as she herself realized Travis was leaving her behind—Travis looked down and Rose hoped he was okay, then followed with careful steps carrying her triplet into the mansion building. Two hours after the incident in the back garden, and after putting the children to bed, Rose soon caught up with Zever's whereabouts. Through the messages given to Lion, Rose certainly monitored whatever was happening outside. This included asking how Travis was doing. The man was behaving as before, but there was one problem. Zever in the living room with a ripple face so cold and gray eyes that stared half-empty arranged miniature joints on the table. Rose repeatedly took a breath just to steady herself sitting next to her husband. "Zever," Rose called out, wanting to make sure he would respond or not. Z
"I'm done, Theo. Now it's your turn—" Rose thought, after stepping out of the bathroom and changing there. She would find Theo keeping all three of their babies in their proper positions, but that big body—in his sideways sleep—seemed to be deeper than the three babies who were snoozing peacefully. Exhausted. That's how Rose interpreted it, because these days Theo was often busy in the middle of the night—looking after their babies, while Rose was forced to rest. Rose smiled slightly as she rubbed the top of Theo's head. It was only for a moment that she turned to her triplets to transfer them to the trolley. Rose would take them for a walk in the back garden. Finished with the transfer she returned to Theo simply covering her husband's body with a thick blanket. "We're leaving first." Rose briefly kissed the corner of Theo's face. She pushed the trolley carefully towards the elevator. Rose already knew where the elevator was, it was quite hidden—and Theo had no
"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