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Driving through Northern Queensland was peaceful, with all the windows down, the refreshing cool breeze, and the breathtaking sight. Rosalie felt relaxed with her legs bent and elbow resting on the window as she peacefully tried to capture every passing moment. 

Melody was in love. She fell in love with the familiar yet different presence of Rosalie. She was so much like her father that it scared Melody. She always thought that Rosalie would be a tough cookie to crumble, which she was to other people, but Melody knew and raised her other half, making it effortless to read Rosalie. 

Rosalie is a quiet person, but her curiosity overpowers her. She was attentive and observant, something that the Gracias were gifted with, reading people and situations was a skillful trait of the family. She was cunning and sly like her father and grandfather but had a sassy and defensive personality that reminded Melody of her best friend and Rosalie's mother. 

Cassandra, Rosalie's grandmother, and Melody's best friend were very protective of her family and blunt and honest, the opposite of Melody. 

Cassie would've loved Rosalie. Melody thought as she subconsciously grabbed her locket necklace thinking back to when they would discuss Javon and Aaliyah having babies and them becoming grandparents. Cassandra was feverish at the thought, but unfortunately, she didn't live to see that moment causing Melody to sigh. 

"Queensland is stunning," Rosalie commented as Melody glanced at her with a smile, "It is, but I bet Arizona was just as beautiful," she said as Rosalie shrugged "I bet it is," she replied as Melody looked at her with a frown, "What do you mean?" Melody asked causing Rosalie to bite her lip, "I wasn't the extrovert type, I often felt out of place, and if it weren't for my parents, I would've probably gone insane, which is why I'm glad that grandpa took me in," Rosalie said as Melody grabbed her hand. 

"There was nothing that was going to stop your grandfather from taking you in, Rosalie, and I'm glad that you feel at home here in Queensland," she said as Rosalie looked at her with a blank expression, "I don't, with my parents gone, I'll never feel comfortable settling anywhere that they're not in," she said as Melody grew concerned, "Then how do you feel?" She asked as Rosalie stared off into the peaceful sight, "Contented with the fact that I still have a piece of them to hold onto, this place, their home, and I'm happy to be here, but my true home is with my parents," she replied as Melody nodded, "You know, your grandmother was devastated when your father had left, especially James," she said as Rosalie frowned, "Why did my parents leave and who's James?" Rosalie asked as Melody sighed, "There were many reasons, but the one that drove them through was the fact that they began to feel unwanted by the people around them," Melody explained as Rosalie stared off into space thinking.

"You mean my mother's parents?" She asked as Melody nodded, "They were one of the many people that began despising your parents' relationship," she replied as Rosalie scoffed, "But why? Their relationship has nothing to do with anyone?" She asked as Melody smiled sadly, "Your mother's parents wanted her to marry a young man named Marcus, back then, his family was well known in the community, his father was like the mayor, very favored among the people," she said as Rosalie frowned in disgust.

"So what, she didn't want to be with some stuck-up asswipe," she said as Melody giggled, "Well he wasn't just stuck up, but also arrogant and cocky, and it also made the decision a lot easier for Aaliyah's parents because her father hated Benjamin," she said causing Rosalie to raise an eyebrow, "Why?" She asked as Melody sighed, "Because Louis had loved your grandmother and wanted to be with her from the beginning even before he met Aaliyah's mother, but Cassie fell in love with Benjamin first," she explained earning a furrow from Melody as she thought about his name.

"Is that his name?" She asked as Melody nodded, "Mhm, Louis and Marilyn, nasty people, I sometimes wonder how they made Aaliyah, she's so different from them," Melody said while Rosalie was lost in thought.

"I'd like to meet them," she suddenly blurted out causing Melody to look at her with worried eyes, "I don't think that's a good idea, Rosalie," she said but Rosalie shook her head, "No, I need to do this, I need an explanation, my mother would've appreciated that," she said, Melody sighing in defeat, "How about I take you tomorrow?" She asked earning a nod while Rosalie looked at her, "Thank you," she said as Melody nodded, "But I must warn you, Benjamin wouldn't be happy about this," she said causing Rosalie to sigh, "I know and I don't expect him to be, but I have to do this," she said earning a nod before the car stopped causing Rosalie to look at Melody, "Whatever you say, my dear," she said while shutting off the engine.

"We're here," Rosalie looked before glancing back at Melody, "This is it?" She asked as Melody took off her seatbelt, "Yes, why do you look so pale?" She asked as Rosalie shrugged, "I don't know, it looks busy," she said before getting out of the car, "Just stay close to me," Melody said before they made their way through the market.

And it was just like she said. Busy. Claustrophobic. And Hot.

Rosalie was extremely uncomfortable as she and Melody walked through people on their way, and as they did, all eyes were on her with mixed emotions flashing through them. Shock. Confusion. Guilt. Anguish. Betrayal. And Disgust. 

It all made Rosalie feel small and insecure, but she pushed all those feelings aside and kept her head down while holding onto Melody's hand. Melody could feel the uncomfortableness radiating off Rosalie as she squeezed her hand, "Maybe this was a bad idea," she thought as she tried to fasten her pace.

"Excuse me!" she said politely trying to shove people out of the way before she was suddenly stopped by a man, who wore a sly grin, "Melody? Pleasant surprise to see you not behind your booth busy whipping up your witchy potions," he said as Melody rolled her eyes while Rosalie sheltered behind her listening closely to the cocky man that she already disliked. 

"Sebastian? you should come with a warning label," she said as the man known as Sebastian, face fell before clearing his throat, "Who- who's your friend?" He stuttered, causing Melody to step closer to Rosalie, who squeezed her hand, "I'm sorry, Sebastian, I'm quite appalled, I didn't know that anything concerning me would be any of your business," she said causing Sebastian to quickly open his mouth to quickly close it back. 

"Excuse me," Melody mumbled before dragging Rosalie as they passed the gaping man. 

"Who was that?" Rosalie asked once they arrived at Melody's booth that was closed, "Just some nuisance, a cockroach that refuses to stay dead," she said as Rosalie smirked, “I think he has a crush on you,” she said as Melody rolled her eyes, “Please, what are we, seven?” She asked as Rosalie shrugged, “Besides, isn’t my ring big enough for people to understand that I’m married,” she said as Rosalie laughed before looking around, “Apparently not, but about that art booth you were telling me about?” She asked as Melody walked from behind the booth.

“Oh, Cleo’s booth sells stuff like that, it's just three booths down from mine," Melody said as Rosalie nodded before walking away. As she walked, politely asking for clearance, she soon found a booth that had all kinds of paintings and projects that made her face lit up. 

Walking to the booth, Rosalie stood admiring the painting unaware of the pair of eyes that was studying her, "Can I help you?" A soft voice asked, causing Rosalie to look up, meeting dark brown pupils, "Hey, I'm looking for art supplies, I'm almost out," she said as the young girl Rosalie realized smiled faintly. 

"I'm Cleo, my grandfather and I sell any art-related supplies, you've come to the right place," she said as Rosalie grinned, "Your paintings are beautiful," she complimented as the young girl smiled, "Thank you, it was my mother's, I can't paint like her," she said before sighing as Rosalie's eyebrows furrowed, "Do you paint?" She asked while watching Rosalie as she filled her basket with art supplies.

"Yes, it's my favorite thing to do," she replied as Cleo frowned, "Your parents are Javon and Aaliyah Gracia, right?" She asked as Rosalie looked at her feeling uncomfortable all of a sudden, "Yes, but how did you-

"I'm sorry, but you can't shop here," A giant man said as his deep voice boomed causing Rosalie and Cleo to flinch before Rosalie cleared her throat, "You don't have to worry, sir, I'm paying for everything," Rosalie tried to reassure causing the man to stomp towards her before snatching the basket out of her hand, "I don't want your money, now leave and stay away from my booth and granddaughter," he said as Rosalie's eyes widened in shock. 

Now people around were beginning to look as Rosalie nervously glanced at the corners of her eyes before looking at Cleo, who avoid anyone's contact, "Sir, I-

"LEAVE! YOUR FAMILY IS NOT WELCOME HERE!" He suddenly began to yell causing Rosalie to step back as tears welled up in her eyes, while the man's face frowned in disgust, "Especially the filthy offspring of those bastards," he muttered loud enough for Rosalie to hear as a single tear to roll down her face before Melody pulled her into her arms once she appeared from the crowd that formed.

"What's your problem, Atticus, she did nothing but wanted to buy some art supplies?!" Melody yelled as the man named Atticus scoffed, "Your wretched family is not welcome here, Melody, especially that little bastard, her veins carry cursed genes, and I don't want it around my shop or my granddaughter," he said as Rosalie silently cried before Melody dragged her away.

As they pushed through the sea of people, they all looked at Rosalie with more mixed emotions as all Rosalie wanted to do was dig a hole and hide inside. Once they were free, Melody wasted no time as she pulled Rosalie into her arms as she cried loudly on her shoulder.

"What did they do?" She cried as Melody rubbed her back, "What did they do to receive such cruel words and rejection?" She continues to ask until Melody pulled back and held her face, "They did nothing but fight for what was right," she said as Rosalie sobbed before hugging Melody right back. As she calmed down and opened her eyes, she saw a group of people, staring at her with blank expressions.

"Who are they?" She asked as Melody pulled back to look, "Who?" She asked as she saw no one, causing Rosalie to frown.

"They were right, there."

…

"He's right there," Genesis said as he and Benjamin entered the Barn's underground bunker that he left Giovanni chained up in, "Good, we have to move quickly now, the ladies may be back any minute," he said as Genesis nodded before looking at his brother, who growled at him, "What do I do?" He asked as Benjamin pointed at the corner.

"Over there, there's sliver restricts that would hold him, every cuff and shackle has mini spears that would be pierced through his limbs, which would help hold and weaken him," he explained as Genesis forcefully swallowed before doing what he was told.

Giovanni's roars echoed throughout the bunker as his brother restrained him, and although he was angrier than ever, he was also getting weaker making it safer than having a wild beast out in the open.

As Genesis stepped away from his brother, who growled weakly, he turned to Benjamin, who held a clear bottle filled with a white substance, "What's that?" He asked as Benjamin opened the bottle giving Genesis a whiff of it as he turned sickly pale, "Mistletoe, put it around him, not too close, we just want him to be able to smell it," he said while handing him the bottle as Genesis nodded before turning to his brother as he roared trying to get away but there was no use.

"You'll be fine, Gio, I promise," Genesis reassured as sweat trickled down the side of his face while pouring the substance a good distance around his brother. 

"Okay, that's enough, come on, he needs isolation," Benjamin said as Genesis looked at his brother before slowly backing away Benjamin wheeled ahead ignoring Giovanni's pleas until he was left alone in the lonely darkness. 

"How long will he stay there?" Genesis asked as Benjamin sighs, "Not long, just until his heat is over, he'll be fine, Genesis, I did this to Javon until he was mated," he said, earning a nod before Genesis cleared his throat.

"There's something else, it's Rosalie, she's acting pretty weird, I found a painting of hers that I recognize from last night when I came over under her bed with claw marks on it, she had bruising around her ankle as if someone was dragging her, and that turtleneck, I call it bullshit, Ben," Genesis said earning a sigh from the older man.

"I knew something was off, she's stubborn like her father," he said as Genesis shook her head, "Whatever, whoever was the cause of her acting that way was intending on causing more damage than just a few bruises, Benjamin, people are beginning to know who she is, and it'll get messy very soon," he explained as Benjamin stared at him with concern in his eyes.

"I'm afraid that it's already begun to get messy."