Novels by ROSE

[ARIA’S POV] I slumped against the wall, the vibration of the slamming door still rattling through my spine.Then came the silence. It was heavy, thick with the smell of dust and damp stone.The first tear was hot against my cheek, and then the floodgates just broke. I curled my knees to my chest, my shoulders shaking with sobs I couldn't hold back anymore. This was it. This was my life now… a cage, a shadow, a mistake.But as I sat there, a sharper pain started to cut through the fear.I could almost see my sister’s face. She’d be out there right now, probably tucked under a warm blanket or laughing at some joke, completely untouched by this nightmare. She was breathing clean air and living a life that didn't involve bruises or iron bars.She was free, and I was rotting.A jagged, pathetic laugh scratched its way out of my throat. It sounded hollow in the empty cell."How?" I whispered, my voice cracking in the dark. "How did it come to this?"I squeezed my eyes shut, hugging my ar

[ARIA’S POV]I watched his boots stop right in front of me. I looked up, but the man I barely knew wasn't there anymore. His eyes were just empty, dark pits."Don’t," I whispered. My body was already locking up.He didn't hesitate.He reached down, caught a fistful of my hair, and yanked. My head snapped back, and a sharp, jagged scream tore out of my throat as my knees hit the hardwood. He didn't slow down. He started walking, dragging me across the floor like I was nothing but a heavy bag. I clawed at the floorboards, my nails scraping and catching on the wood, but he didn't even feel it.The cold floor bit into my knees, but the sting was nothing compared to the way Luca’s other fingers dug into my arm. He didn’t just hold me; he gripped me like I was something he intended to break."Maybe you’ll learn to listen now," he growled. He wasn't yelling. He sounded bored."Please," I choked out, the word splintering against the lump in my throat. Tears were streaming down my face n

[ ARIA’S POV ]The next morning came far too fast. I hadn't really rested; my mind was stuck on a loop, replaying every look that happened between me and Luca, how he pressed me to the wall demanding for wifely duty then later tell me how disgusting I am and how he would never touch a strand of my hair. I sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes, just breathing, trying to get my head straight. This place wasn't going to wait for me to catch up. I had to learn how it worked, and I had to do it now.A soft knock at the door broke the silence."Come in," I said.The same woman from yesterday walked in with her usual calm expression. "Good morning, madam."I gave a small nod. "Good morning.""There are things you should know," she said, stepping further into the room.I turned to face her fully. "Like what?"She hesitated, seemingly weighing her words. "About the house. It has routines. Breakfast and dinner are at fixed times, and you’re expected to be there." She paused, her eyes dar

[ ARIA’S POV ]The car ride after the wedding was heavy. I sat by the window, twisting my hands in my lap as the city lights blurred past. Luca sat next to me, still and cold, acting like the whole day was nothing more than a task to finish. I didn't look at him because I didn't want to see that same expression he wore at the altar.When the car finally stopped, he just said, "We're here". I stepped out into the cold air and looked up at the house. It was tall and distant, feeling less like a home and more like a place people are sent to against their will.Inside, the place was too perfect. It had clean lines, quiet walls, and dim lighting that provided no warmth. The staff bowed their heads as Luca walked by, but nobody really looked at me. I followed him through endless, polished hallways until he stopped at a door."This is your room," he said. It wasn't ours. The space was large and neat, but it felt empty, like no one had ever actually lived there.Before leaving, Luca laid out

[ ARIA’S POV ]The house was quiet, but it did not feel peaceful. The air was heavy, as if something had already gone wrong and everyone was just waiting for it to settle. I stood in the middle of the room with my hands clenched, trying to understand how we had reached this point. Asking myself if there is any love left for me."You will have to marry him," my mother said. Her voice was final, leaving no room for arguments.Across the room, my sister, Lyra, sat by the window. She was casually eating an apple, the sound of each bite clear in the silence. She did not look up or react. To her, this had nothing to do with her."But the Devereaux family asked for Lyra," I said slowly. "Not me."Lyra took another bite, completely uninterested. I looked at her, hoping she would say something, but she stayed silent."How can you ask me to take her place?" I asked, my voice rising. "You know how dangerous that family is."My mother did not flinch. "Your sister is still young," she said sharp