UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT

Rhys pov.

I only reached the hospital to find someone had killed one of the men. That meant he knew something. He knew. I hadn’t even checked the cameras yet, because I already knew who could do this: Kian. 

He was the only one who could stand against me, my own blood, my enemy.

But I’d lost my last hope. Once more, I felt totally powerless, helpless. No clues. No other options.

Then I heard a cry as I passed the operating theatre. My feet stopped. Everything went silent. The only sound I could hear was my heartbeat and that cry sounded painfully familiar. My eyes filled with tears without me realizing it.

Through the glass of the closed door I could just make out a figure. She was crying while nurses tried to calm her.

I was about to push the door open when a doctor stepped in front of me.

“Sir, you can’t go inside,” she said. “Please try to understand.”

she know me. How could she not? I opened this hospital.

My voice was rough. “Who is she?”

The doctor hesitated, then spoke quietly. “Her name is Misthi. She has acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”

My chest tightened. I didn’t go in. I stood there, numb. Then I reached into my pocket, fumbling  not for a gun, but for something else. I took out a small unicorn teddy, the favorite toy of my Misthi. I didn’t know where she really was, but the thought of that toy in her hands eased something inside me.

“Take it,” I told the doctor, holding the teddy out. “don’t let her be hurt. Don’t let her feel pain.”

She nodded, took the toy, and went inside.

That girl with the weird name  I didn’t know what she did to me.

Whenever I came near her I felt my daughter’s presence: her scent, her eyes, her lips damn. But girls always ran from me.

Whenever I told her to come with me, she agreed  but I knew it was only for the money. I ordered the guards to find details about “Miss Huu.”

She had admitted her mother to the hospital; her mother had kidney failure and needed money.

Now I was going to make her mine so she could never escape me. 

I knew there was no real connection between her and my daughter, Angel, but still I felt she was the one who could lead me back to my child.

I was sure she knew something. I got in my car  this time with no security, no guards. Just her and me.

I knew her address. It wasn’t far. Her room was tiny, on a narrow street. I couldn’t wait to see her  to see what she had sent me, what she thought I wanted to see.



She came out wearing a heavy purple-and-silver gown. She hadn’t worn much makeup, and that made her breathtaking. She held her silver heels in her small, soft hand.

I hadn’t given her anything to wear around her neck because I wanted to see her collarbones clearly, but she wore a light locket.

Why did she cry every time I stepped out of the car in front of her? 

As always, she stepped back  and I reached for her hand, doing my best not to leave red marks on her soft skin.

“You look stunning, sugarcane,” I said.

She didn’t answer. A tear fell; I caught it with my thumb. I opened the car door for her and helped her into the seat, fastening her seatbelt for the heavy gown. I remembered the last time I had done that for anyone, my daughter, on that horrible night.

I started driving. As we approached the bridge, she placed  her hand on mine; her nails dug into my skin. Tears began to fall freely from her eyes. I stopped the car.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” 

I asked, holding both her hands to calm her. She began to sob, 

whispering, “N-not  there please the river-water bridge” She was terrified of water and heights.

“Don’t worry. Close your eyes. It won’t take long,” 

I said, and started to drive onto the bridge. But she screamed, “Nooo! Please stop! Please stop!”

I slammed on the brakes and stopped the car in the middle of the bridge.

“Okay, okay be calm,” 

I told her, 

studying her face. Her whole body trembled; her shoulders shook. She cried, holding my hand tightly.

I lifted her into my lap and held her against my chest. She buried her face into me and gripped me even tighter.

I reversed the car; I couldn’t force her forward. Seeing her broken like that was unbearable. I wouldn’t let her stay in that state.

I drove us to a large building nearby and parked. She stayed on my lap, silent and hiding her face against my chest. 

I carried her bridal-style, one of her heels still in my hand, and headed straight for the terrace where my private black helicopter was waiting.

A guard brought a glass of water. I gave it to her and held it close to her lips.

She drank, and when water dripped from her chin I wiped it away with my hand. I handed the glass back to the guard and gently rubbed her back.

“How do you feel now?” I asked.

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

I gently took the locket from around her neck and put it in my pocket and took out my handkerchief and gently wiped her face.

“Smile for me, sweetheart,” I said.

She had  the first real smile I’d seen from her. 

“Rosie,” she said softly.

“My name is Rosie, not Huu.”

“Exactly,” I replied. “It’s the perfect suit on you.”

We took our seats in the helicopter and lifted off, crossing the bridge in the air. After all that, she was quiet, looking out as we flew. We reached our destination in half an hour.

After that, we sat in the car again, and within fifteen minutes, we arrived. The entire place was surrounded by media  cameras flashing, reporters shouting, everyone waiting.

I stepped out first, holding her silver heels in my hand. As soon as I did, the flashes grew brighter. I opened the door for her.

Her delicate feet appeared first, stepping carefully out of the car.

I knelt down and gently slipped her silver heels onto her tiny feet. 

Then, standing up, I offered her my hand, the same hand that still bore faint red marks from her nails. She placed her hand in mine, and I helped her out.

I knew she could barely manage her heavy gown and high heels, so I kept a firm hold on her waist to steady her. She looked around with those wide, innocent eyes, trying to process what was happening.

As we began walking, I leaned close to her ear and whispered,

“If you ever feel like falling or losing your balance, you can  because I’ll always be here to catch you.

Don’t be afraid. 

No one here will make fun of you, judge you, or make you feel out of place. Understand?”

She nodded softly, a shy smile curving her lips, and kept walking beside me.

Every time I entered a room, people’s eyes were always on me.

But tonight my attention was stolen  by the woman walking beside me. She looked magnificent, almost unreal. Her beauty couldn’t be described in words.

As we moved through the crowd, my business partners and close friends approached to greet us. I introduced her to them; she just nodded politely, still unsure of what was happening.

Then, I led her toward the stage. She walked with me, confusion flickering in her eyes. The hall went silent as the wedding officiant picked up the microphone and spoke into it:

“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are gathered here to witness the grand engagement ceremony of the owner of fiv

e of the biggest companies  

and the most powerful man in the underground world......

Mr. Rhys rathore with Miss Rosie.”