LOGINNight had already settled deeply over the King Mansion. The massive estate remained quiet and dimly lit while most of the servants had already retired for the evening. Only a few lights remained on across the mansion halls, creating a calm atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the chaos that had
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside King Corporation that morning was noticeably worse than usual. Employees moved carefully throughout the executive floor, barely daring to breathe too loudly whenever Alex passed by. Even senior managers who normally handled pressure well found themselves unusually n
After making the calls to reassure everyone, she found herself with nothing urgent to do for the first time in a while. Without Emma hovering nearby with schedules, without meetings, family politics, or company documents demanding her attention, Rose suddenly felt oddly unoccupied. At first, she st
The soft knock on the bedroom door came not long after Alex left. Rose had only just finished sitting quietly on the edge of the enormous bed when several maids entered the room respectfully. “Good morning, Madam,” one of them greeted gently. Rose blinked slightly at the synchronized greeting bef
The room gradually settled back into silence after Rose’s embarrassing outburst. Morning sunlight continued pouring softly through the curtains while the faint scent of fresh linen and medicine lingered quietly in the air. Rose sat against the bed, still trying to recover from the emotional damage
Morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains of the large bedroom, casting a warm glow across the quiet space. Rose stirred faintly beneath the blanket, her brows furrowing slightly as consciousness slowly returned to her. For several long seconds, her mind felt completely blank. Her bod
The next day. It was still early in the school day, just before the second bell. The halls buzzed faintly with the murmur of students heading to first period, but Victoria wasn't in class. She excused herself with the calm assurance of someone used to moving unnoticed—just a quiet nod and a vague
When Rose stepped back into the classroom, the weight of her discovery still clung to her. Kehlani glanced up from her desk, her eyes sharp. “You look like someone who just clawed something out of a grave,” she murmured. Rose slid into her seat with a sigh. “I might have.” Kehlani leaned closer,
Inside the office, Lopez shut the door with a sharp click, crossing to her desk. “Jesse,” she said, folding her hands, “I’m going to ask this once—who told you to start those rumors?” Jesse’s breath hitched. “I… I don’t know what you’re—” “Stop,” Lopez interrupted, her voice slicing clean through.
The halls were quieter after lunch, the chatter reduced to a low hum as students moved between classes. But Rose wasn’t heading back just yet. She slipped down the side corridor that led to the faculty offices near the gym, her steps quiet but deliberate. She had already checked the schedule and kn







