ANMELDEN**CHAPTER 018**"Who the fuck are you!" I screamed as I thrashed under his grip.I used both hands to push against his chest, trying to get my mouth free, trying to get enough space to do something — scream, run, anything.But he was strong. His grip was tight and I found tears coming out from the sides of my eyes due to lack of breath."Stop fighting," he murmured, tightening his grip. "I'm not going to hurt you."*Not going to hurt me?* I drove my elbow back hard — he grunted — his hand slipped just enough and I sucked in half a breath before he covered my mouth again.The shower was still running behind us, steam filling the bathroom, everything hot and close and suffocating.*Think Rosa. THINK.*That's when it hit me.I went completely still. Just long enough that his grip loosened slightly."Thank goodness," he said, probably thinking I had passed out — and that's when I took the chance. I bit down on his palm as hard as I could."Argh!" he screamed, hand jerking back, and I seiz
**CHAPTER 017**I placed the album back on the desk carefully with both hands, making sure it was exactly where I'd found it.Then I turned to face him."Mr. Cross, I know how this looks, but I promise I wasn't trying to—""I don't want to hear it."He seemed so angry, but still he didn't yell."Please, just let me explain. The door was already open and I just walked in. I got curious and I know I shouldn't have touched your things, but—""Rosa."I stopped.He looked at me the way someone looks at something they've already made a decision about. Calm. Final. Like the conversation was already over and I just hadn't caught up yet."Leave my study.""But—""Now."I pressed my lips together hard, swallowed everything else I wanted to say, and walked towards the door. He stepped aside and I passed him without looking up, chin down, heart hammering, the embarrassment sitting hot and heavy on my face.When I finally came out, the hallway swallowed me up.I stood there for a second, back agai
*CHAPTER 016*I turned around and looked at him.He stood in the center of the room staring at me, eyes misty and a little red, jaw set, and the album was still in my hands. I was still in his study, and there was absolutely no version of this that looked good.What do I even say, I thought, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. What on earth do I even—“Mr. Cross, I… I can explain. The door was already open and I just—”But he wasn’t listening—he crossed the room and his hand closed around my wrist before the sentence finished leaving my mouth. The album slipped from my hand and hit the floor.“Mr. Cross, wha… Mr. Cross please, please it’s not what you think—” I pulled back, trying to slow him down, trying to make him stop and look at me and just listen for one second. “Please, I wasn’t trying to go through your things. I just saw the light and I got curious and—”“Shut the fuck up.” He turned and stared at me, and I could see the anger in those hazel eyes of his. “I don’t want t
CHAPTER 015The hallway stretched out in front of me, long and filled with portraits of Mr. Perfect and what possibly looked like his ancestors.I stood there for a second, arms folded, wondering why I even left the room in the first place. Don't go anywhere — yeah, I remembered very well, but I wasn't a child, was I? I could do as I wished.Also, Marie didn't ask me if I was hungry before she left, and the answer was no, so technically the whole food trip was unnecessary, and her instructions were based on a false premise, and—Ugh, okay, that's a stretch, Rosa, and you know it.I heaved a heavy sigh and continued walking.I actually felt fine. Completely fine. A little tired, maybe, but physically? Fine. The baby was okay; the hospital had already confirmed that, so what exactly was a whole prenatal checkup going to tell me that I didn't already know? I didn't even want to go. I was lazy, I felt okay, and sitting in a doctor's office being poked and examined was the last thing I wan
**CHAPTER 014***CASSIAN'S POV*Two days.She'd been back two days and I could already feel it coming. Like standing outside in the middle of summer and watching the sky turn that specific shade of gray that means the storm isn't a maybe anymore — it's a when.My mother didn't say anything. That was the problem.She didn't ask questions. Didn't comment. Just... watched. With those sharp quiet eyes that missed absolutely nothing and stored everything away somewhere I couldn't reach.Dinner on the first night. She'd called across the table — *"Rosa, sweetheart, do you remember that restaurant we went to before the wedding? The one with the terrible wine but the most amazing lamb?"*I'd tried to warn Isolde, whispering*"no"* but she didn't notice.Rather she looked up from her plate and smiled. "Of course."My mother had smiled back.But her eyes hadn't.Because Rosa had never been to that restaurant. I'd made up the story on the spot when I told it to my mother months ago — a lie to mak
**CHAPTER 013**Michael Cross?.I almost choked.He stood at the door in that same dark suit, hands relaxed at his sides, looking completely unbothered — his usual expression.My hand gripped the door frame."I — you—" I blinked. "I thought you left.""I did," he said. "but I came back."I stared at him. "Why?, and why didn't you answer when I asked who it was?""First this is my house, I didn't even need to knock before I push open I just felt like giving you privacy and some respect since....since you're pregnant." Also Hhis eyes moved briefly to the door. "The doors in this house are a specific kind of soundproof," he said. "Sound from inside the room doesn't travel out. Sound from outside travels in."Oh.(blinked)*Oh.*So the whole time I'd been calling out *who is it* from inside — he hadn't heard a single word. But every knock he made had landed perfectly clearly on my end.*Pfft.* Of course this man's house worked like that.I opened my mouth to respond but his eyes had alrea
**CHAPTER 012**Marie's hand closed around my arm.I yanked it off."Rosa—""Don't." I pulled away from her grip and spun back around to face Helen. My heart was slamming against my ribs. My hands were shaking. But my feet were planted. "What the hell did you just say?"Helen didn't even flinch. Ju
**CHAPTER 011**I…I wanted to speak but didn't.What was there to say? *I'm sorry?* — pfft it felt too small. *It won't happen again* felt like a promise I wasn't sure I could keep. And *it wasn't entirely my fault* felt like exactly the kind of excuse that would make things worse with this man.S
**CHAPTER 010** **6:25 AM** I stared at the red numbers glowing on the clock face. What… what… how was this even possible? I asked myself. No. No, no, no, no. I threw off the covers and stumbled out of bed, my legs tangling in the sheets for a moment before I caught myself against the nightstand
**CHAPTER 009** I heaved a heavy sigh as I remembered what the doctor at the hospital had told me. *"Living with him might be difficult. He has strict routines, strict rules about how his home is kept. He's not cruel, but he's not flexible either. Everything must be perfect, controlled, organized.







