Rose's eyes remained fixed on the prisoner, her thoughts swirling with unresolved inquiries. Why did he appear so composed, as if he possessed a secret that no one else did? Why did he conceal her secret before when James had claimed she was dishonest? Before she had a chance to speak, the captive's hoarse voice shattered the stillness."You won't receive anything from me," he scoffed, his gaze fixed on James with challenge. He then directed his attention to Rose, a grin tugging at his chapped lips. "Not even if you sent this young woman to entice the truth from me." “Good effort, but it’s not going to succeed.”Rose tensed at his words, feelings of guilt and unease rising to the surface. James’s intense stare shifted to her, his eyes tightening a bit as though he were scrutinizing every motion, every inhale."I don't require her to uncover the truth," James declared icily, advancing. His presence hovered over the captive like a shadow, his voice cutting like steel. "Once I’m finished
Rose gasped for breath in short, uneven bursts as she struggled against the unseen force pinning her. Her heart raced intensely in her chest, the room's darkness appearing to encroach upon her."Let me out!" she attempted to yell, but no noise came from her mouth.The voice murmured once more, threatening and frigid. "You can’t get away from me." “You will never attain freedom.”Rose spun and writhed, her energy fading as terror seized her. Then abruptly, a flash of light dazzled her, piercing the heavy darkness.“Rose!” a recognizable voice shouted, affectionate and caring.She sprang awake, her body shaking as she blinked at the light. Penelope stood above her, her expression marked by concern."Are you alright?" Penelope inquired softly, placing it on the nightstand. "You were shouting and flailing during your sleep."Rose's chest lifted as she sat up straight, her gaze scanning the room. She brushed her fingers through her wet hair, still sensing the lingering presence of the man
Rose quickly got to her feet, ignoring the ache in her leg, and reached down to help Cole up. Before she could manage much, James stepped forward, his expression softening as he saw her struggle.“You’re going to hurt yourself,” he said quietly, moving to her side.Rose glanced at him in surprise as he carefully draped Cole’s arm over his shoulder. They led Cole out of the kitchen and upstairs to his bedroom. In his inebriated condition, Cole slurred a lackluster apology, but James and Rose hardly noticed.After placing him on the bed, Rose went to get a glass of water, walking with a slight limp. Upon her return, Cole was sound asleep, with his chest rhythmically rising and falling.“Seems he’ll be gone for the evening,” James remarked, taking a step back and signaling for Rose to come with him outside the room.They departed silently, and Rose, still unsettled, meandered into the hallway. She pushed open a large window and stepped out onto the veranda, feeling the cool night breeze
The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting gentle beams throughout the mansion. Penelope, holding a breakfast tray, walked toward James's room. She tapped gently at first, then again, more forcefully this time. As there was no reply, she carefully opened the door. To her astonishment, the room was devoid of occupants, the bed perfectly arranged as if it hadn’t been used.A surge of bewilderment engulfed her. It was unlike James to vanish without saying anything. She placed the tray on a close table and promptly started looking through the adjacent rooms, shouting his name. "James!" "Where are you located?" Her voice resonated in the expansive halls, yet there was no response.Her nervousness increased as she ventured outdoors, wishing to see him in the garden. Upon stepping onto the lawn, she noticed Cole coming out of his room, his hair messy and his shirt hanging out. He appeared as though he hadn't rested well, his face looking drowsy as he yawned and stretched.“P
James opened his mouth to respond, his expression softening as if he was about to let his guard down. But just as the first word left his lips, a sharp knock on the door interrupted them. Both of them turned toward the door, startled.“James, you have a visitor,” Penelope’s voice rang through the quiet. She pushed the door open slightly, stepping into the room before pausing to take in the scene. James stood frozen near Rose, their proximity unmistakable. Rose, still perched on the edge of the bed, quickly averted her gaze, pretending to adjust her blanket.James straightened, his usual composure slipping back into place. He turned to Penelope, trying to mask the moment that had just been disrupted. “Who is it?” he asked, his voice steady but with a hint of irritation.Penelope’s sharp eyes flickered between the two of them, but she chose not to comment. Instead, she answered, “It’s Cole. He said it’s urgent, the weapon men are around.”James hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering
James perched on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, as he raked a hand through his hair. Cole’s voice resonated in his thoughts, unwilling to be dismissed."You’re simply too afraid to acknowledge it."James muttered in disbelief. Afraid? He had encountered death, treachery, and the death of his brother—what was left to fear? And still, whenever he considered Rose, a feeling within him contorted. It felt strange, disconcerting.He had to clear his thoughts.Just as he was getting up, someone knocked on his door. He let out a quick breath before saying, “Come in.”The door groaned as it opened, and to his astonishment, Rose walked in. She paused at the entrance, her fingers clutching the material of her gown. Her face was inscrutable, yet James observed how her eyes shimmered with doubt.“What is that?” James inquired, maintaining a neutral tone.Rose moved ahead one step, then another, before ultimately finding the courage to talk. “I overheard you and Cole conversing,” she con
James remained still on the edge of his bed, gazing at the ground. Cole's voice reverberated in his thoughts, with every word penetrating further into the aspect of himself he had desperately attempted to hide. You will regret not accepting it. He chuckled quietly, ruffling his hair with his hand. Remorse? No. James didn’t permit himself to experience regret. He had conditioned himself to be detached, to conceal his feelings under layers of obligation and revenge. Yet somehow, Rose started to break through that armor, causing him to experience emotions he wasn’t prepared to confront. A rap on the door brought him back to reality. He already recognized who it was before he had a chance to glance up. “Enter, Cole,” James stated bluntly. The door groaned as it opened, and Cole entered with his arms folded. He examined James for a moment prior to speaking. "Are you really going to continue acting like you don’t care about her?" James breathed out forcefully, his jaw tightening. “I do
The air in the holding room was thick with tension. Dust floated through the narrow stream of daylight filtering in from a small window high above, illuminating the face of the captive. He sat there, hands still bound, his lips curved in an infuriating smirk as he watched Rose.She, on the other hand, was unraveling.Her sister. Chain. The lies. The truth she didn’t know yet but desperately needed. It all swirled together, a storm of emotions she couldn't control. She shouldn't have forgotten, shouldn't have allowed herself to be so distracted by James and everything he made her feel. But now, it was time to fix it.She stepped forward, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Tell me everything you know about Chain."The captive exhaled slowly, tilting his head. "We’ve been over this, sweetheart. I don’t talk for free."Her jaw tightened. "This isn’t a game.""Of course, it is." His smirk deepened. "And right now, you're playing blind."Rose’s fingers twitched. She wanted to hit him. Wa
The drive back to the mansion was quiet. The tension from the fight still lingered in the air, but the reality of what had just happened weighed heaviest on Rose. She sat in the backseat between James and Cole, her fingers intertwined tightly as she stared at them.James noticed the way her hands trembled. He reached over, covering her fingers with his own. "You okay?"She hesitated before answering. "I don’t know," she admitted. "I feel… different."Cole, who sat on her other side, exhaled. "That’s because you are different now, Rose," he said. "Taking a life changes you. Whether you like it or not."Rose turned to him, searching his face for some kind of reassurance. "How do you deal with it?"Cole smirked slightly but there was no humor in his eyes. "You don’t. You just learn to live with it."James squeezed her hand. "You saved my life, Rose. You saved us. That doesn’t make you a monster."She nodded slowly, but her mind was still spinning. The image of Kane falling to the ground,
The atmosphere inside James’s mansion was thick with urgency. Cole stood at the center, his sharp eyes scanning his men as they loaded weapons and prepared for war. The weight of his confession still hung in the air, but there was no time for regrets. James and Rose needed him.Penelope grabbed his arm again, her eyes pleading. "Cole, I need you to think this through. This isn’t just some street fight. Kane has been planning this for years."Cole sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I know. And that’s why I have to go."She shook her head. "You can’t just walk into a trap. There has to be a plan."A man in the room, Logan, one of James’s most trusted allies, spoke up. "She’s right, boss. We need to be smart about this."Cole exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. What do we know?"The man who had escaped the ambush stepped forward. "I overheard some of Kane’s men talking. They took them to an abandoned warehouse on the east side of town."Logan nodded. "That makes se
James groaned as he drifted back to consciousness. His head throbbed painfully, and for a moment, everything was a blur. His body felt heavy, his movements sluggish.As his vision cleared, he realized he was in an unfamiliar room. The walls were concrete, the air damp and cold. His wrists were bound to the chair he was sitting on, thick ropes digging into his skin.Damn it...He tried to move, but his muscles ached. How long had he been out?Then, the memories hit him. The shopping trip. The ambush. The fight.Rose.His head snapped up as he scanned the room. She wasn’t there. His heart pounded against his ribs. Where was she? Was she safe?The sound of footsteps echoed from outside. The heavy door creaked open, and a figure stepped in.The same man who had confronted him outside the store.James clenched his jaw as the man walked closer, a smirk plastered on his face."Finally awake, are we?" he taunted. "You put up a good fight, but even you have your limits."James ignored the pain
James sat on the balcony, still deep in conversation with Cole. They had spent the last half hour discussing their strategy for the upcoming housewarming event. Though it was meant to be a joyous occasion, they both knew it could turn into a battlefield at any moment.James exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face. "I hate that we have to think this way. I should be looking forward to this party, not planning for a potential bloodbath."Cole leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "That’s the life we have, James. We don’t get to have normal celebrations. Not when we have enemies lurking in every shadow."James nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. A nagging feeling crept into his chest, and he found himself glancing toward the stairs."Rose didn’t look good when she went up," he murmured.Cole followed his gaze. "You should check on her."James didn’t need to be told twice. He placed his glass on the table and rose to his feet. "I’ll be back."Upstairs, Rose lay unconsciou
The celebration in James’ mansion continued late into the night. The clinking of glasses, soft laughter, and warm conversations filled the air. Rose and Penelope sat together, admiring the diamond ring on Rose’s finger.“It’s beautiful,” Penelope murmured, turning Rose’s hand under the dim glow of the chandelier. “James really went all out.”Rose smiled, but there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.Penelope caught it immediately. “What’s wrong?”Rose exhaled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Nothing… it’s just… James surprises me more and more every day. I thought I knew everything about him, but I keep realizing there’s so much I don’t.”Penelope smirked. “Welcome to James’ world. He’s full of secrets, but when he loves, he loves deeply. And he loves you, Rose.”Rose’s heart squeezed at those words. Did James really love her? Could he? With everything going on, did he even have space for love?Meanwhile, James and Cole sat across the room, discussing their next m
The grand estate of Mr. David stood under the dimming evening sky, a fortress of wealth and power. Inside, the tension was palpable. Mr. David sat on his luxurious leather couch, his fingers tapping impatiently on the armrest. His sharp eyes followed his son, Bruno, as he sparred with one of the trainers in the courtyard. Beside him, his wife, Greta, watched with pride, clapping excitedly every time Bruno landed a decent hit.“That's my son! You’re doing great, Bruno,” she cheered, smiling at him.Bruno tried to stay focused, but his father’s expressionless face unsettled him. He threw a final punch, stepping back to catch his breath, before looking toward his father, searching for approval. But all he saw was disappointment.Mr. David exhaled sharply and shook his head. “I’m sick and tired of your son, Greta,” he muttered. “He’s been learning the same thing for weeks, yet there’s no improvement. I don’t have time for this nonsense.”Greta’s smile faltered, and Bruno’s grip on his glo
Later that evening, Rose found herself standing in front of Penelope’s door. Taking a deep breath, she knocked lightly before pushing the door open.Penelope looked up from where she was seated on the bed, her expression softening when she saw Rose. “Hey, Rose. Come in.”Rose walked in hesitantly, her fingers fidgeting at her side. She felt restless, confused, and above all, uneasy.“You look like you have a lot on your mind,” Penelope observed.Rose sighed, sitting beside her. “It’s James. He’s been acting so strangely.”Penelope chuckled. “That’s not new. He has his moments.”“No,” Rose insisted. “It’s different this time. Earlier, I saw him sketching. He was completely lost in it, like he had done it for years.”Penelope’s smile faded, her brows furrowing slightly. “James? Sketching?”“Yes.” Rose nodded. “I don’t think so, he doesn’t know how to sketch. I know his twin brother was an artist”. Penelope said as she held Rose's hand. “But what I saw today… James was too good. He was
James sat in the darkness of his room, his thoughts drowning him. The ghosts of his past had never left him, they lingered in the corners of his mind, whispering memories he tried to forget.He stared blankly at the shattered vase on the floor, his breathing still uneven from the outburst he had moments ago. His fingers curled into a fist. He had lost control again.Standing up, he ran a hand through his hair and walked toward the far end of his room. The bookshelf there looked ordinary, but it was more than just a piece of furniture, it was a doorway. With a simple press against the wooden panel, a soft click sounded, and the hidden door slid open, revealing a narrow hallway leading into another room.His sanctuary.James stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The dim light cast long shadows over the walls, which were lined with sketches, paintings, and unfinished pieces, each one holding fragments of his life.A drawing board stood in the center of the room. He picked up a fre
The car rolled to a stop in front of a massive, grand estate. Towering iron gates loomed before them, opening smoothly as if welcoming them into another world. Rose’s breath hitched the moment she stepped out of the car, after James removed her blindfold. The sheer size of the mansion left her speechless.It was something straight out of a movie, luxurious, imposing, the kind of place that looked like it belonged to a country’s president rather than two men who had spent their lives navigating the shadows.Rose blinked rapidly, shaking her head. This can’t be real.She turned to James, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Tell me I’m dreaming.”James chuckled, stepping beside her. He gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but warm. “No, Rose, It’s very real.”As the other men moved inside, taking their positions to secure the area, Rose found herself still staring in awe.James glanced at her, a hint of pride in his voice as he said, “Cole and I built this place afte