"I-I can protect myself, Axe. You don't have to go to all this trouble."
"If it's true. You won't have anything bad happen. I don't know why you had to fall into that bastard's hands. If I wasn't madly in love with Bridgette. I would have made you my wife." Xelle's statement amazingly made Rose pause, then laugh following the deep, husky voice that broke the awkward situation between the two. "Bridgette is very lucky to have your love." Rose stopped the sentence for a moment. Tracing each of Xelle's expressions, not missing the attention to the hazel and ash color of each iris before her. "But you're serious about not betraying Bridgette, right?" asked Rose thoughtfully, simply interfering in Xelle and Bridgette's domestic affairs. "Nah. She just misunderstood. Women and their pregnHalf an hour of forced speed amidst the hustle and bustle of vehicles didn't make Xelle arrive on time. He swore repeatedly at the apartment door. Bridgette was one step ahead of him and had probably already met someone inside. "You were looking for me?" A soft voice carried right behind Xelle. The towering body turned to find Bridgette folding her arms across her chest. "Why are you here?" There was relief laced in the heterochromia eyes Bridgette found. It should have been from the first time until she barged inside. However, Bridgette took into account Xelle's steps which turned out to be true following. Bridgette's loose arm dangled at the side of the body. "I just wanted to see what kind of surprise my husband would give me." Bridgette shrugged indifferently. Her flat face passed Xelle and reached for the apartment door grill.
Rose's mind wandered over the piece of paper—the sonography results of a recent pregnancy. Her fragile heart was forced to fight... to revive something that had dimmed. Rose's fingers slowly rubbed the thermal material in front of her. Neither a bitter smile nor an acquiescence lingered on Rose's face. She felt so empty. There was no completeness that could bring Rose out of the abyss. She didn't know when the pain would subside. Little by little Rose began to learn to let go when it was not right to hold on to something that did not belong to her. "Sugar." Rose gasped, staring at the hotel room door. Theo's head was half raised and his bruised face half visible. Reflexively Rose quickly hid the black and white picture behind her body. Taking a straighter position on the back of the bed. "I brought you some fruit ice." Rose slowly shifted to give Theo room to sit near her. Rose's attention was drawn to
"You took too long." "I asked you to be patient, didn't I?" Theo's whisper was full of low-pitched persuasion. "Until when, Theo?" "You don't understand what it was like to be intimidated back then. I didn't even know what sex my baby was and your father was so willing to end it chance at life." "Patience. Once I'm done with one thing. I promise everything you want will be rewarded. Now just calm down ...." "Liar, Theo. You don't understand what it's like." Hugging Theo's big arms was the only action Rose could muster. She almost lost control. "I know, not completely. But what you don't realize is that I've always hoped our child would look like you, no matter what the gender." "She or he just can't be like me. I'm a monster. I admit I'm selfish. I have my own desires to fulfill, Sugar. After that I'll think about how to teach my father
Everything Xelle said, in its entirety was a bombshell. It started with the man getting drunk and ended with him fucking her. Bridgette really couldn't believe that Xelle wasn't sober. She didn't know what kind of solution could compensate for the complexity between them. About the whereabouts of Lucette and Acampeliaz. After all, the girl was innocent, not even asking to be present in the world because of a mistake. But Lucette... Bridgette really couldn't divide her husband. She forced herself to look at each other with those heterochromia eyes. "I consider that your stupidity in the past. Now tell me why you still keep Lucette in the apartment, if you don't have any other relationship?" There was no answer yet. Only the occasional sound of a car coming out of the parking lot. The expression on Xelle's face hesitated to reveal the truth to Bridgette. "I don't have time to wait for you too long. Oracle will be home soon."
After yesterday .... After putting the broken sonography paper back together in Theo's hands. Today and Italy were two things Rose didn't want to savor for too long. The long trip from Canada wasn't something Rose would remember all the time either. On the big bed she lay on her side with one arm as a head cushion. Rose closed her eyes. Repeatedly dismissing Theo's words that still lingered. In a few moments he would be gone. She didn't want to think about it too much .... Rose's breath was free in the air. It felt like the faint breeze would carry Rose to sleep. However, she was held back by the warm embrace of her arms. She froze with a look that became a sharp glare. A masculine scent wafted out... successfully sidelining Rose's thinking function. "Don't go to sleep yet, Sugar." A gentle peck brushed the crook of Rose's neck.
Two weeks seemed long enough. Each day's set of moments contained an electric storm that brought Rose to the edge of her seat. She went through a wide range of emotions. Some were influenced by Theo's departure, others by a minor procedure that Rose had to undergo with Travis and Penelope, Travis' colleague. However, a different specialist or one Rose didn't know about... Penelope is a gynecologist. A doctor who specializes in the science of bodily functions and diseases specific to women. Rose had asked Travis many questions. She always got the same answer, 'for the sake of complete healing and recovery'. Rose's attention swept across the room. A few minutes ago Rose had just received an injection. While Travis in front of her was busy writing a notebook. The handsome face was too focused. "Travis, can I go? There's nothing else to do, right?" asked Rose when Travis accidentally looked at her.
A part of Travis's identifying function seemed to lift away. He was silent for a long time thinking about the mistake he had made. Dealing with the situation head-on wasn't something that was easy just to be aggressive about. Especially since Travis knew the doctor who was treating Rose at the hospital was quite famous, which made Travis trust him completely. Travis moved quickly to reach for the cell phone in the desk drawer. He faintly cursed to get the same result. Theo couldn't be reached. "Why?" asked Penelope, not understanding Travis' attitude. The man didn't answer. Finally Penelopa took a slow breath. "But this could just be a misdiagnosis. My colleague did it once and the patient's family protested." *** Bridgette watched his every move carefully. The two weeks she had requested were well spent considering today's decision. Acampeliaz was on the
A swipe of lipstick from tip to tip on Rose's half-pale lips was the last of the make-up that was smeared on her face. Rose tidied up her thick wavy blonde hair at the bottom. A mini black dress with strappy sleeves and a small cross-body bag were ready to take her out into the world. She glanced at the bracelet Xelle had given her. Rose couldn't wear it for the time being. She could be tracked and she didn't want Xelle involved. With a faint smile on her face, Rose unhooked the bracelet, storing it safely under her pillow. Rose was going to show that Theo wasn't the only one who could do something of an outrageous nature. Theo must reap what the man sowed. Rose would pay cash with her decision this time. She moved out of the room. Approaching Lion in front of the exit gate. "Borrow me your car key, Lion." Rose stood right next to the man who looked at her in surprise. "Where
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