Rose's breath came in ragged gasps. She stepped carefully along the edge of the pool, thinking about Bridgette's few sentences, which made her feelings race uncertainly. Rose didn't try to believe it. However, the fact about Xelle 'being such a bastard' would never be forgotten by Rose. She still remembered Bridgette's words on the phone this morning, 'Xelle's nature changes rapidly over a period of time. Not as controllable as Xelle had been, even outside of his mental health issues'. Maybe it was none of Rose's business, but what if Xelle hurt Bridgette in a way that couldn't even be analogized?
"Sugar." Rose's body jumped at the call from the balcony, second floor. She looked up, but no faster than the body that had disappeared. "What are you doing there, Sugar?" Again. Rose gasped, turning to stare at Theo in disbelief. That fast Theo had caught up with her?"You can leave now." Verasco's stern tone left a crease on the forehead of Theo, who could only stare at the monitor screen. Despite being out of reach of face-to-face meetings, Theo did not miss the opportunity to participate in the cooperative meeting by becoming a virtual member. Strangely, at the end of the closure he felt that Verasco had targeted him. Or Verasco should have been the first to leave the meeting room, but the man lingered. Fixing Theo's face with an unblinking gaze. "Long time no see, Son. You look happy." Theo's gray eyes were half squinted, taking in every gesture of the middle-aged man in front of him from the screen. He had never received such a warm greeting. Moreover, it was not Verasco's habit to simply comment on what he was feeling and what he was not. "Do I owe you something?" Theo answered with a question. "I don't like small talk. What do you want?" he continued. However, t
The night was getting late, which Rose expected would bring the man back. It shouldn't have taken long for Theo to leave in a fit of rage. 'He' should have been in Rose's presence, as was his habit of never letting go of his crazy antics. Yet, until the waves roared loudly. Roaring with an auditory tingling propagation. At no point did Theo show himself. Rose's breath came in rough gasps, staring at the translucent view through the glass wall. The sea water was a representation of Rose's feelings. Tossed around by the elements. Theo knew Rose was afraid of being alone in an unfamiliar place in the middle of the night. Even stepping into the small distance to close the curtains, she had to grip the edge of the bed tightly. Dark shadows seemed to haunt the inside of her head. Rose couldn't say anything about how badly she wanted to go looking for Theo. Unfortunately, her body was frozen. She didn't move. Unmoving. Just hoping that the door to the room would open to rev
Two suitcases were already neatly arranged. The last remained, containing Theo's clothes, after the first suitcase was filled with lingeri and the second, medium-sized, was neatly organized with the man's 'personal' interests - some in the form of firearms, the rest small, expensive-looking tools. However, Rose had no idea what they were and how they were used. She didn't try to find out. Didn't want to fill her head with things she couldn't possibly know. Theo was used to holding such weapons, what else did Rose need to ask, other than the fact that could not be denied. Theo was dangerous. And it was true. Rose's breath hitched. Occasionally looking back. Theo was still lost in a sleep that Rose couldn't tell. The night is a sea of unconsciousness, bringing back dreams - nightmares. The same name. The pain is not much different. Constantly calling out amongst the chaos and the violent rebellion of the body. Thankfully, Rose took control of the situation, bringing Th
Not everything can be clearly understood. Rose bit her lip, trying to break free from the ambiguous words, which were crushing the contents of her head. "It depends on the context," Rose replied thoughtfully. She watched in more detail the face that was becoming more and more still. Theo seemed about to speak up again. "I might not have minded that old fart's foolishness in the past. But it was different when I was about to have a little family. He knows my name, still calls me something else. Am I not that important? We're obviously different, why should he equate something that's right in front of him with something that's not." The disappointed tone didn't go unnoticed by Rose. She didn't know how to react. Theo should not have said his initial sentence with those words. "Old fart... it's very rude of you to call him that. He's still your father." Rose whispered softly. In fact, Theo still closed his eyes indifferent
"I got you." Rose pulled herself back after getting something, which rarely ended up as an opportunity for her. Making Theo the object of a picture. That was definitely an impossibility when Theo was in a state of alert. The 'kitty pa' T-shirt, which fit perfectly on the body, seemed to match the striking expression, which was unfortunately still so handsome. Rose's smile widened in satisfaction. Theo's face seemed to be filled with vengeance as he looked at her. "Delete the picture, Sugar!" "No. No, no, no. I didn't. In your dreams," Rose replied half-mockingly. She took a quick look at her phone. A rare picture of Theo, she didn't know where to put it. Rose wasn't sure it would last long if she left it buried in the gallery. Spreading it to one of her social media accounts might not be a bad idea. "Delete the photo!" A tone full of warning would not have been able to criticize Rose. Rat
"It's late, Sugar. Hurry up and go to bed." "Later," Rose said indifferently. In the midst of the dim bedroom light and the glow of her cell phone on her face. She wrote down the same email address and password repeatedly. The result was nil. Rose could not log back into her instag*am account after being automatically logged out, which was the first time she had experienced login problems. Rose sighed. In an instant, she was in a bad mood, just changing her body position. All she could do was sit pensively, regretting that the account had vanished into thin air. She had tried hard, but the reality before her made her feel sick. If Theo wasn't beside her, maybe Rose would have cried a little more about it. "What were you thinking, Sugar? Sleep!" There was no answer. Rose had no intention of replying or saying a single word. Her account could go back to normal, that's what she wanted. However, for thi
Milan, Italy. . . . It was a night of self-doubt for Rose as she stood next to a handsome man in a black tuxedo. The masculine scent became more and more pronounced as the large fingers touched the surface of her skin. Still overcome by tension, Rose could only steady herself staring straight ahead. The backless dress with small straps crossing the back gave a seductive impression, especially the beige color that seemed to blend with her white skin. The back of the seat began to warm up. Not knowing why Rose felt that the car Theo was driving was moving so slowly. Perhaps she was too haunted by fear, so waiting for the clock to turn seemed like something she shouldn't do. "Look at me, Sugar." Theo's words interrupted Rose's reverie. "Looks like your mind's not at ease." The man was still trying to bring Rose back to reality. Th
Rose found nothing else but shock in Theo's ash bead as the man directly heard his name being called by someone, who had been likening himself to a different man-Zever. However, it was only for a moment. The rest of the time Theo acted nonchalantly, as if Verasco's anger didn't matter. "I don't know what you're so upset about. But I was invited here for dinner. So let me and my wife enjoy the meal in front of us first." If only Theo could have made the other purpose of his visit clear in front of Rose. The woman beside Mr. Alejandro might not have looked at him so expectantly. Theo turned to Rose's side. "Are you okay, Sugar?" he asked softly. Knowing full well the effects of Verasco's earlier actions. Rose's face was pale. It was true. And when he touched Rose's fingers squeezing the thin fabric on the woman's own body. The warmth that was once there, became unexpectedly cold. One of Theo's eyebrows rose high. Verasco w
Rose had to admit that Theo was quite different by remaining silent when their position was intact. The last sentence from her was ignored, the man was busy sniffing Rose's body scent. Deeply nuzzling the surface of her flat stomach. "Take a shower." Rose played with the black hair warmly. She smiled as Theo looked up at her. "Take a bath with me?" The ash bead drowned Rose deep in the warm ocean. She pursed her lips as she pulled Theo's facial skin wide to the side. "I'm old enough to bathe by myself. Hurry up...." A faint shake of Rose's head brought her to fall on her back on the bed. Theo's thirsty face and the man's large fingers began to dig into a t-shirt depicting a black bear, just like Theo who was currently resting on top of her. "I told you to take a shower, Theo. Not—" Rose was silenced by the tongue thrusting into her mouth. The sound of a wet sniffle trails off—a greeting of desire igni
Slowly Rose's eyelids slipped from their valves. The same Theo stared, silhouetted against each other in the mirror—Rose was lost in the seduction of the locking gray bead. "I was thinking of Oracle. He knows I don't like wearing earrings. Deliberately gifted me earrings so I'd wear them," Rose replied, successfully drawing one of Theo's eyebrows up high. "He's here, isn't he? Why don't you go straight to him." Theo's baritone voice whispered softly. Comparable to the smile on Rose's lips that curved again-this time briefly and too faintly. "He's back home ...." "Home?" Rose's body was slightly freed as Theo moved his face away from the crook of her neck. "Yes. Axe came to pick him up earlier." One step away she found Theo moving backwards. "Strange. Oracle came home because he was afraid of me, right? Did I hurt him too much?"Theo's quiet tone disturbed Rose's mind. She scrutinized the few times Theo's expre
Rose didn't care how the swaying bed jerked like a violent swinging shock. She maximized each powerful gallop like a giant crashing into the earth. Theo's body was a soft target for her feet. The man moaned in a submerged voice. Yet, also with pleasure... sometimes asking Rose to move from one spot to another. "Up again, Sugar. Up to the shoulders." Rose chuckled, still doing everything Theo wanted. One foot stomped even harder on her husband's hot, sexy shoulders. "That's it," Rose said. One leap ended the earthquake on the surface of Theo's body. She flung herself down beside the sleeping man. "You said you will give me back my gift box!" "I need to know. Who gave you the gift?" "Oracle. Here, give it back quickly." Rose's arms extended to pull the red velvet box in Theo's grasp. Their positions were in sync, both using their arms as a fulcrum to lift their chests. "Let me open it." Theo's large fingers separa
"No, you don't. You had your fill of acting like a baby last night." Rose ruffled the remaining strands of hair that still dangled over half of Theo's face. She looked down, searching for the most comfortable spot to strike. "Ouh, Sugar ...." A contrived hiss. Rose knew that no matter how much she clenched her teeth, it wouldn't give Theo much leverage. "Let go. I have to meet, Axe." "You son of bitch. I hope you don't leave before I get back." The chances of escape were slim in the conditions Rose had to face. She wasn't going to waste it, deliberately hunting her nimble footsteps leaving Theo alone lost on the bed. Rose reached for the doorframe. The hinges clicked after she positioned herself facing the man who had been calling impatiently. "You're taking so long." The stifled protest from the owner of the deep, raspy voice uploaded a barely perceptible smile on Rose's lips. "Sorry, Axe. I h
"Open your eyes, Theo." The throbbing was still as loud as it had been the first time Theo had spoken. Rose's heart and head were fighting each other. Each fighting for the space that overlapped the boundaries she had created for herself. In between came a strange feeling, which Rose could not organize into a symphony. She was a jumbled mess of randomness. Should have reconsidered Xelle's sentence a moment ago, was it true that Rose was trying to stay with someone who made her get lost in her own feelings? .... No, she wasn't. Rose didn't want to be confused by all that reality. As far as possible, she separated the things that shouldn't be lodged in the deepest corner of her heart. Towards a kind of choice which is the most appropriate to win Rose's sanity. She didn't want to be conquered. "Wake up. Get up, Theo!" Rose squeezed the clay muscles in her husband's arm. Turning the curled up body to face the ceiling of the main room. "T
"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
"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
"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
"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