로그인The sharp crack of a slap rang out behind me.Before long, a video of Rosalie getting slapped at the airport went viral. Even the explicit videos she once worked so hard to bury got leaked, uncensored and in HD, and people couldn't stop talking about them.Meanwhile, every trace of the dark web livestream of me that everyone had been passing around was quietly wiped away, and people forgot all about it.With the entire internet in a frenzy over Rosalie, she could hardly take a step in Kingsbury without being recognized, leaving her no choice but to hide in her office.Casey brought the case of gold back untouched. "Ms. Kerr, no one's willing to take it."Rosalie smashed a liquor bottle on the floor with a crash. "They want me dead!"She stormed into that apartment and down into the dim basement, where she straddled Dorian, who was already half dead, and took out all her rage on him."You piece of trash! This is all your fault for seducing me! If it weren't for you, Gideon never
"Gideon?" Rosalie gasped.I gave her a careless smile. "Long time no see, Rosalie."Rosalie moved to rush at me, but my bodyguards surrounded her in an instant. "Gideon, where have you been all this time? I've been looking everywhere for you."Her voice was clearly choked up. She tried to push past the bodyguards, but it was no use.The smile never left my face. "Ms. Kerr, weren't you here to talk business?"Only then did it sink in for Rosalie. She looked me up and down again and again. "You're the new CEO of Halloran Corp?"The moment the words left her mouth, she shot the idea down herself. "That's impossible. You don't know anything about business. How could you be—"She stopped speaking halfway.I smirked. "Is that so?"Rosalie finally remembered that I was in the same class as her growing up, and that we always studied the same major. Whatever she knew, I knew too. Before the affair, Mom was grooming me to take over the family business, and I spent almost every summer an
Meanwhile, I woke up on the other side of the ocean.Winter came earlier here than it did back home, and snow was falling steadily outside the window. I was blankly counting the snowflakes when I noticed someone standing beside my bed.Eden Halloran laid another thick blanket over me, her tone not exactly gentle. "Rosalie's company is about to go under. I'm letting her live for now, and once you're better, you can deal with her yourself. The Hallorans have your back, so you don't need to be afraid."I turned to look at her. "How's your mom?"She frowned. "When she found out what happened to you and your dad, she had a heart attack. She's still in the ICU."I froze. Eden's mother had waited her whole life for Dad, only to hear that he was gone. I started to get up. "I need to see her."Eden pressed my hand down. "Stay put."I didn't have the strength to fight her, so I let her ease me back down."I'm sorry." My voice shook uncontrollably as I apologized over and over.Eden didn
Dorian looked confused. "Rosalie, what are you talking about?"Rosalie's eyes landed on the men standing off to the side, and menace rolled off her. "Get out."The three men finally realized something was wrong and rushed out, remembering to close the door behind them.Rosalie stared at Dorian. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"Dorian looked guilty, but he shook his head and kept up the denial. "Rosalie, what are you talking about? I don't get it."He hooked a finger into her skirt, his voice turning seductive. "Do you need to blow off some steam? How about we try it right here in the hospital?"The next moment, Rosalie's hand closed around his throat. Her eyes blazed. "This is your last chance. Talk! What did you do?"Dorian's eyes went wide with fear, and he was shaking like a leaf, but he still played innocent. "Rosalie, let go of me! My incision hurts! I don't know what you're talking about."Did Gideon say something to you? I really don't know anything. If Gideon ca
"What did you say?" Rosalie asked.Her head was buzzing, and she didn't know who to listen to first. As the bodyguard's face grew paler and paler, she grabbed him by the collar. "What are you talking about? What do you mean it's too late?"The bodyguard lowered his head and shakily handed her his phone. "It's a g-global livestream. Mr. Strand is—"Rosalie snatched the phone from him. Once she saw what was in the video, she could barely stay on her feet and staggered backward. She hurled the phone to the floor and shouted, "Who told you to do this? Didn't I make it clear in private that no one was to touch him?"Rosalie rarely lost her temper like this, and everyone held their breath, too scared to make a sound."Answer me!"The bodyguard had no choice but to go on. "It w-was Mr. Lisle. He said you told him we could go ahead right away."Rosalie's face turned vicious. "Dorian?"Once the bodyguard confirmed it, she stormed out. Casey followed close behind and finally got a single
When I woke up, Rosalie was sitting by my bed with a flicker of guilt in her eyes. She held my hand, her voice hoarse. "Gideon, your left kidney was too badly damaged, and the doctor said it had to be removed. Dorian didn't mean to. Please don't blame him."I yanked my hand away and stared at her in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"Rosalie lowered her head and couldn't meet my eyes.For a moment, my mind went blank, and my whole body started shaking. She knew Dorian was the one who hurt me, and she was still covering for him.Rosalie stood off to the side, watching me without knowing what to do, until the shrill ring of her phone broke the silence.She started explaining on instinct. "Gideon, the company—"I cut her off before she could finish. "Just go. I want to be alone."She set a bowl of soup on the bedside table. "Gideon, I'll come keep you company as soon as I'm done."Then she hurried out.Less than a minute later, Dorian strolled in as if nothing had happened







