When Rosalie entered the hotel, she went straight to the elevators. She wasn’t thinking about what she was about to do, she just waited patiently for her to get to François’s floor. Then, looking through the elegant corridors of the grand hotel, she searched for room 302. When she finally found it, the door was open, and the woman came in. Rosalie came across a beautiful bedroom, with large elegant red sofas, a beautiful chandelier on the ceiling. On a table there was a champagne on ice and two glasses. In the center of the room a huge bed with red silk sheets. Rosalie wore an overcoat on top, she took a deep breath and took it off, leaving it aside. Now she was only wearing black lingerie. There was no sign of François. Behind Rosalie, the man emerged from the other room of the luxurious bedroom. He paralyzed to see the woman with the lingerie standing with her back to him, looking at the bed. His waist was thin, and his body slender. His hair hung loose from his back like a c
Duncan looked at Rosalie, and the anguish in her face was palpable. She still begged to have her children back, and her words echoed in her mind. He felt even more confused in the face of this complex situation and full of conflicting emotions. "Why does she want her children back if she’s marrying my brother?" questioned himself internally, struggling to understand the reasons behind Rosalie’s actions. All that time, he really believed that she wanted only the free way to be with Louie, not caring about anything else. Thoughts ran over his mind, and he struggled to find an explanation for what he was witnessing. He did not understand why she was so desperate to get her children back, if she was willing to marry a man like Louie, who had done everything to destroy her. Duncan’s tumultuous thoughts were making him increasingly confused. When Rosalie saw François standing before her, staring at her with a gaze laden with mistrust and disdain, she felt a mixture of emotions take hol
When Duncan listened attentively to Rosalie’s entire story, he felt as if lightning had struck his heart in full, leaving him momentarily speechless. The guilt fell on him like a merciless avalanche, flooding him with the weight of his thoughts and gross attitudes toward her. Every word she uttered echoed in his mind, revealing a story of suffering and struggle he had never imagined. Now everything made sense, and he realized how wrong he had been in judging her without knowing the truth behind her actions. Duncan clenched his fists, feeling the anger and hatred seeping into his heart by everyone involved in putting Rosalie in this desperate situation. He felt an overwhelming mixture of emotions, but above all, the guilt eroded him inside, turning into a shadow that hung over his shoulders. However, he understood that now was not the time to show his strong emotions. Rosalie needed help, not her whining or guilt. He needed to be strong and support her, to be by her side in the midst
After the intense conversation, the mood in the bedroom became momentarily delicate. François rose from bed with kindness, giving Rosalie space to dress and process everything they had talked about. Still wrapped in the sheet, she watched him, feeling a mixture of emotions flutter inside her. Before he walked away, by an impulse she herself did not understand, Rosalie stood up and held her hand. Her looks met, and she could feel the connection between them strengthen herself every second. Without saying a word, he pulled her to himself, wrapping her in his big, strong arms like a welcoming bear. She could feel the strength of that moment. Rosalie surrendered to the embrace, sinking into her chest, where she could hear the beating of her heart, rhythmic and comforting. She felt safe, as if that moment of closeness was a refuge from all the storms she had faced. It was as if she had been on a run since she arrived at the hotel, running desperately, and at that moment, she had stopped
With Rosalie’s decision to trust François, she knew she needed to take drastic measures to protect her company and her family. That crucial morning, she addressed the company headquarters with a mixture of nervousness and determination. The meeting with the directors and shareholders was scheduled, and she was prepared to face the consequences of her decisions. Upon entering the meeting room, the mood was tense and full of expectation. Rosalie knew her words would be met with resistance and discontent. She was about to cede some contracts and commercial spaces, withdrawing from the war established by the Lecomte Group. The meeting would be a definitive test for his leadership and his determination to protect his family and find the truth about Duncan’s death. During the meeting, several directors stood up to present their ideas and strategies to respond to the provocation of the Lecomte Group. They were willing to fight with all available weapons, hoping to retaliate and convince cl
Rosalie no longer answered the calls of any director, letting chaos reign in the Empire. Every insistent ringing of the phone echoed in her mind, but she stood firm in her decision. She believed that the best strategy was to focus on her own thoughts, momentarily ignoring the discordant voices that insisted on disturbing her. Amid the whirlwind of thoughts, François appeared in his home, offering a silent and comforting support. Her bright green eyes were mirrors of hope, and Rosalie found some peace as she came across that welcoming look. Without needing many words, he conveyed confidence and understanding, as if he knew exactly what she was going through. He made sure that it would all end well. " The killer is part of the Empire Group, and that’s the only way to pressure him into revealing himself. After all, he won’t stand still while he believes the empire he killed Duncan for is sinking. Just don’t back down on your decision." said François. Rosalie nodded, she wanted to see
Rosalie woke up that anxious Saturday morning, her heart beating a little faster than usual. The night that was approaching promised to be special, because she had an appointment at the Hotel Alberi. Recognized as one of the most luxurious places in the whole city, the hotel had a daily rate that was worth almost a small fortune. Rosalie could not contain the expectation, but also felt a slight apprehension before the occasion so important. She would spend that night with François. With enthusiasm in the heights, Rosalie went to the wardrobe and took off all her clothes to decide what would be the perfect outfit for the occasion. Elegant dresses, impeccable skirts and sophisticated blouses all looked good, but none fully met their expectations. Anxiety began to mix with indecision, and she found herself lost amid the variety of options. And I had not even seen the jewels I would wear... At that moment, his daughter Angelika entered the room, and noticing the tension in her mother
Rosalie dressed hastily, still feeling her heart beating uncompressed inside her chest. She felt like she was slowly suffocating, drowned by that painful discovery. Walking in circles around the room, anger and disappointment consumed her, making her lose her breath. In a burst of fury and courage, Rosalie picked up the phone and dialed François’s number. His voice sounded on the other side of the line, but she did not greet him, gave no room for explanations or justifications. With a firm voice, she asked directly: "Are you François Lecomte, CEO of the Lecomte Group?" His confirmation left her even more shocked and heartbroken, and before François tried to explain herself, she slammed the phone into the hook hard. " Ah, damn it!" Rosalie muttered between her teeth, feeling the bitterness mingle with despair. Feeling powerless in the face of everything, she stood up in revolt and took a coat. As she crossed the room, Angelika was lying on the couch watching a movie. The daughter not
He lightly touched Rosalie’s face, and although she knew he felt guilty for what he had said, she had perfectly understood his feeling. Her fingers glided gently through her skin, tracing the outline of her cheeks, as if to erase all the words spoken under the weight of despair. Their looks met, revealing a deep and unbreakable connection forged in the trials they have faced together over the years.Rosalie, in turn, relived in her mind the moments when she felt alone and powerless, when Duncan walked away. Although she was a devoted mother, with children who depended on her, these moments of solitude had made her feel an inner weakness, a sense of emptiness that seemed to have no purpose. She had fought with determination, but could not deny the emotional scars that those separations had left.The woman looked at him for a few more seconds, her eyes reflecting a mixture of feelings. The words were about to flow from her lips, laden with meaning and forgiveness, when she finally said,
At that terrible moment, Duncan experienced a mind-blowing pain, an agony that seemed to transcend the limits of human understanding itself. The brutal impact against the wall was like an avalanche of suffering, a devastating force that stole his breath instantly. Even as his lungs struggled for air, his breath was denied, drowning him in a distressing silence.Yet amid the raging sea of overwhelming sensations, his only lingering thought was the distressing emptiness of his hands. In his mind, he relived the moment when he desperately tried to lift them towards Rose, a desperate attempt to protect her, to take part in the impact of the impending explosion and the dangerously approaching wall. But fate, capricious and ruthless, threw him towards the wall in a split second, separating him from the woman he loved. While his blurred vision and the world revolved around him, the only image left was that of his now empty and powerless hands.The reality that surrounded him was a nightmare
He could perceive in Rosalie’s gaze a mixture of emotions, including trauma and regret, and understood that the emotional scars of what had happened were deep. However, he did not allow himself to feel regret for his choices, for they had led them to that crucial moment in their lives.He watched closely as Rosalie averted her gaze to her own hands, as if to avoid facing him directly. It was in this gesture that he recognized a sign that she was dealing with internal issues, issues that had arisen since he had made decisions he had never imagined making.There was a darkness that had seeped into his soul, something he had faced along a tortuous journey full of dangers. He felt like someone sailing in a black sea, fighting terrifying and monstrous creatures, and now he understood that, in a way, he had become one of them. The choices he had made had taken their toll, and he could not turn back.When the woman looked at her own hands, he knew that Rosalie was avoiding facing him. She di
Rosalie saw everything around her happen so slowly that for a moment she believed she was the one getting shot. The scene unfolded before his eyes like a slow motion movie, and the feeling of imminent farewell hovered in the air.It was her from that world, and all she could think of was that it was just that her last vision was the face of the man she loved so hard. His heart seemed frozen in his chest as he faced what seemed to be the imminent end. She only regretted not being able to see the faces of the children one last time, but in those circumstances, it was a gift that they were not there, sparing them this scene of violence and danger.Then she fell back, her body being pulled by Louie, and they both hit hard against the cold, hard ground. The pain of his impact was like a shock to his body, but the adrenaline still pumped hard into his veins.Rosalie still felt Louie’s hands on her, her presence dominating her field of vision, and only when she heard Duncan’s voice did she r
Duncan’s gaze was red, and his body was filled with adrenaline when the man’s inert body fell noisily to the ground, flooding him with deep relief. Finally, the man who had orchestrated his death was now lifeless, his nefarious plan completely frustrated. However, this bitter victory was obscured by the anguish he felt over the uncertainty of Rosalie’s whereabouts.The news that she was no longer present at Victor’s house tore him apart, but Duncan was unwilling to surrender to hopelessness. The distant sound of gunfire echoed once again from the ground floor, indicating that the men loyal to Victor still resisted, as persistent obstacles in their path. Determined to rescue his beloved, he turned and went out into the corridor, accompanied by his loyal companions. Duncan kept his weapon firmly in hand, ready to face any obstacle in his path.When they reached the middle of the corridor, they were surprised by men loyal to Victor, and chaos broke out again, with shots being exchanged f
Rosalie was dragged with brutality to a room that looked more like a prison, where a constant coming and going of women came and went, as if they were participating in a sinister ritual. The environment, although spacious, conveyed a sense of oppression. The light walls, although beautiful, seemed to close on it, making the space even more claustrophobic. In the center of the room, a majestic canopy bed dominated the scene, and a large, luxurious mirror, reflecting the agony in Rosalie’s eyes, adorned one of the walls.In the corner of the room, strategically positioned as a sinister trophy, was a long wedding dress, a masterpiece of pure silk. The bust of the dress was precisely carved, a straight cut that unfolded elegantly in a long tail, which flowed like a river of satin.Rosalie needed no explanation to understand what was happening to her at that distressing time. While one of the women, with agile and ruthless hands, pulled her hair in attempts to create a hairstyle worthy of
Victor stared at his wife with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. The last time I saw her, she was trapped, inert in a bed, unable to offer any resistance. Now, here she was, standing, determined to escape her grasp. Victor stood in front of a small table, pouring himself a glass of wine, when the woman surprised him by entering his room unceremoniously.With tranquility, he continued to pour the red liquid into his glass, lifted it to his lips and drank, enjoying the sensation of the wine sliding down his throat.— I can’t say I’m surprised to see you here. Louie is notoriously incompetent when it comes to you - Victor uttered with a touch of cynicism. Rosalie, in turn, remained haughty, not yielding to the pressure that the situation imposed.— What is the purpose behind your kidnapping? After all, what use can I have for you now? Duncan will chase you to the ends of the earth to rescue me.A mocking smile danced on Victor’s lips.— Your suggestion is that I give it to him, so that
When the plane finally landed, Rosalie felt the weight of uncertainty on her shoulders. He was now in a foreign country, far from his homeland, and was unsure if Duncan had been able to track the plane’s path. The sense of helplessness consumed her, and she wondered what Victor planned for her destiny.Louie, the dark accomplice who had dragged her into this nightmare, held her by the arm, a continual reminder of the violence hanging over her. The image of the shot echoing in the aircraft and the woman falling inertly remained vivid in his mind. That woman had paid the ultimate price for being connected to Rosalie, and that responsibility weighed on her shoulders.With a glimmer of hope, Rosalie looked at the landing site, considering the possibility of sending a distress signal to anyone who could help her. However, before she could even formulate a strategy, Victor stood before her, holding her by the chin with a force that made her face him.His gaze was icy, and his words were a t
Duncan looked at his son with a mixture of gratitude and determination, lessening the distance that separated them. Bastien responded to his father’s gesture with a warm embrace, conveying support and confidence.- I will bring her back - Duncan said in a firm voice, his promise echoing with determination.Bastien, before releasing him, whispered in an emotional voice:- Come back to us too.Duncan nodded, understanding the importance of this mutual promise, and walked down the corridor outwards. His car was waiting, and at that moment, he dismissed his driver. He wanted to drive to the airport, feel the steering wheel in his hands as he made his way towards Tokyo.Duncan’s men were ready, in other cars just behind him, prepared to follow him on his rescue mission. He felt the engine gently purr to life and, with a twist in the ignition, left with determination.Duncan had anticipated the situation and had already booked a flight to Tokyo. His heart pounded with anxiety as he headed t