"Are you sure you want to meet the master in his office, Miss?"
Rose decided against pouring maple syrup into a small jar. She had already prepared several slices of pancakes in a lunch box, including fresh fruit to complement her husband's breakfast. Rose smiled faintly at the middle-aged woman who was faithfully waiting. "Of course, Beatrace. Theo must remember that he has stomach problems. Can't accidentally miss getting food into his stomach just because he's so busy." Only then did Rose return to busying herself with the bottle in hand. "I know Theo loves pancakes. He won't be able to refuse food from me." Rose set aside the maple syrup to fill the tube nestled between the cracks of the lunch box. Tidying everything up, until there was nothing left for Rose to do. "The master says you're not well, doesn't he, Miss?" Beatrace's question momentarily froze Rose. It wasn't entirely true. However, occasionally Rose still felt the dizziness coming on.Right in front of Theo's office. In the space between the glass doors, a beautiful, dexterous woman rose to bow respectfully to Rose. "Good morning, Mrs. Witson." Rose's eyebrows knitted deeply. She smiled stiffly, then looked at Lion uncomprehendingly. "Why does she know me?" asked Rose in a half-whisper. As far back as Rose could remember, Theo had never introduced her to anyone else. Even looking back, when they were at the altar only certain people were able to get Rose's attention—not including the woman who was her husband's secretary, Sonya. "Mr. Witson is receiving guests, ma'am. Would you perhaps like to wait or leave something?" "I feel old being called that. Just call me Rose, it sounds better." Rose tucked a few loose strands of hair forward. The look in Sonya's eyes was too formal, Rose wasn't used to it. She looked down for a moment to compose herself. "I'll just wait here." Rose said very quietly, never expecting to say anything untowar
Unfortunately, the truth came out and almost completely destroyed Rose. The lunch box packed in the small bag in Rose's hand came loose and hit the floor, pulling Rose's ability to struggle. The surge of Rose's breath came roaring out. That face... was currently helpless before her. Scared and looking down, the only thing Rose could find in the man she had been searching for. George .... The heat of Rose's mind overflowed. She clenched her fingers, then a storm of anger gathered in a dynamic centered on one main axis. Nimble and uncontrollable as Rose was, she pulled the cloth collar on the body of the man who had done nothing. Silent, occasionally glancing at Theo. "I got you." Rose really couldn't help herself until she lunged into the gap of George's legs and shook the man's body violently many times. What a pleasant coincidence. Rose's voice was shrill as the commotion erupted. Rose had been quite patient so far, for that matter she was so eager to weaken
"Don't let him go." Rose woke up to the rest of the painful memories, instantly paired with a pair of gray beads that struck her face sharply. She didn't know how Theo had come to rest on the arm of the sofa—not on top of her, but trapping Rose between a large body covered in a long shirt rolled up above the man's elbows. "Where's George? I have to get him!" Once Rose attempted to rise, she was confronted with the solid, firm surface of his chest as a shield. Rose's breath caught, running out of ways to deal with whatever she had to accept. Should Rose blame herself for the stupidity of letting George Keneddy get away without a sliver of hope that she could hold on to him. "I want to see George." Rose's brown eyes blinked for the umpteenth time. She wanted to go back in time to just a few moments ago. Such a terrible failure had led her to a similar dream. "I want to see George." Rose mumbled under Theo's watchful eye. Her husband watched silentl
Theo was not foolish to attribute the qualified truth to the worst, and he chose not to know anything. Except this time George Keneddy's involvement seemed to reopen the case that Theo had deliberately suppressed. The murder and the tattoos Rose had mentioned. Especially the scalp tattoo that Theo had never seen. He began to think the two were connected. "So you sought me out to take the life of your parents' murderer?" Sharp and hissing, that was the kind of thing that made Rose have to hold her breath. For the sake of her sanity Rose couldn't stay silent, letting things get more complicated. "I want to meet George. Find out who the leader is and yes, you have to kill them for me." Rose's consistency was still the same. Slightly fiery said that wish while clutching the shirt tightly to her husband's chest. "What price will you offer?" She began to dare to negotiate. In front of Rose, Theo's eyebrows were raised high. "How much will I offer? Can I make i
"Why are you taking me back to your mansion?" Along the way Rose had been plagued with confusion. Her question was only asked when the car was parked in the grounds of a large, towering building. "He's inside." Briefly. Theo opened the car door taking Rose with him. Instead of entering the main gate, they went to the right wing where a door opened that led them into a dark hallway. "Where are we going, Theo?" asked Rose, squeezing tightly the fingers that were joined and clasped between her knuckles. "The basement." It came as a surprise to Rose, as she had never known such a room existed while living with her husband. "How come George is here?" "I commissioned Lion to get him while you were unconscious." So .... Rose wanted to speak up again, but in front of her was the helplessness of George Keneddy who had been completely paralyzed. Rose glanced at Theo as the man knelt beside George Keneddy. The gag forcibly pulled aw
"You're just going to waste your time here. There's no point. Now we'd better go." So worthless in Theo's eyes. He didn't know that Rose had spent most of her life searching. Just because of one man's point of view in an instant all Rose's struggles were gone. Theo had destroyed all the hard work that had been fruitless until this moment. Without George Keneddy where should Rose start again. Rose's position is no longer what it was before she knew Theo. Just as Canada and Italy contained different stories. "What are you waiting for, Sugar. Let's go." Rose brushed away the fingers that almost touched her arm. She looked down deeply followed by lips that thinned uneasily. She did her best not to spit out the water that was racing down her memory lane, making her eyes glaze over. "You have no idea what kind of effort I've put in just for this one person. Sacrificing everything. My time and thoughts, even my pride." Rose's tone was
"Castrate him now." Theo's absolute command drew the attention of those under one leadership. Some stared in disbelief, others looked down in resignation. Theo didn't care what they thought. Focused on reducing the anger and sharpening the helpless man on the bed. After dealing with Rose's rage in the basement, Theo proceeded with the rest of the decision by hiding George Keneddy in an unnoticed warehouse, in the dirtiest of positions. He was still sane enough to take the life of Verassco's trusted man, knowing exactly where to weaken the enemy's consciousness the most. Theo was deliberate, thus Rose believed in the hope of the forcefully murdered. Meanwhile, he did everything in her own slick, untouchable way. The common thread had unraveled. Discovering the fact that George Keneddy was his wife's former client was worse than Rose's fiery rant. Theo thought the punishment he had mentioned would be an appropriate deterrent to Verasco's right-hand man
The piercing gaze that proved Rose's disappointment was still lingering. She brushed away Theo's fingers that touched the big jailen's fur, saying nothing more than asking Theo to step aside. Rose stepped aside to find her own way out. Out of Theo's reach while hugging her big bear tightly. "I'm talking to you, Sugar."Not once did Rose care. Nor did she care how Theo stayed where the man loomed. A step or two and Rose was already widening the distance away from her husband. Going straight, then veering off to the left. Beatrace's bedroom was Rose's main destination. Tonight, or perhaps until later, she didn't want to be in bed with Theo. As the door swung open the middle-aged woman was startled by the presence of Rose with a damp, droopy face. "What are you doing here, miss?" Beatrace's tone was entirely concerned. Rose shook her head vaguely to calm her down. "You don't mind me sleeping with you, in your room, Beatrace?" she hesitated. Rose thought a
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
"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." "