The Mask Of A Saint

Rose's POV

I flung the heavy oak doors of my father's mansion open. The place my father had built to be my palace was now flooded with my enemies. It was a ground of battlefield for me and I had to win. The air inside was so stiff, I found it too difficult to breathe.

I walked through the massive living room, my black heels clicking on the marble floor like it was a countdown sound. I could hear the hush whispers and gossips of my household staffs behind me. People my dad had employed that turned on me in my past life. This time, I would make sure their lives were a living hell. I curled my lower lips in a wicked smirk as I kept walking toward my dad's room.

"Honey! Wait up, please!"

The voice made my spine stiffen. It was my dirt bag husband.

I halted to a stop just in front of the staircase, my hand gripping the railing. I didn't turn immediately. I needed a second to steady my breathing and prepare myself of the shenanigans of Richard. "Act natural, bear it all for now." I said to myself.

When I finally turned, Richard was running toward me, like a child too excited to see his mum. Who would have thought a man always smiling like him was the dare devil. I forced a smile back as he got close to me. His tie was slightly loosened, and his dark hair just a bit messy. I was sure these his usual look was just to show the world how exhausted he was by his grief.

"Your dad's lawyers are already in the study, Rose. He sounded breathless, his voice full of fake urgency. "It's time for them to read out your father's will, and also you have papers to sign. You know you aren't exactly yourself now, so the company was wondering if you would do a temporary transfer for now to me. When you are okay, you could take it back."

I looked at him. I stepped closer to him and really looked at him. He was holding a pen in his hand. It was a golden pen. Same damn pen I had used to sign my death warrant in my past life.

"A temporary transfer?" I scoffed, folding my hands, my voice sounded dangerous. "My father was just buried, Richard. Why are the lawyers here? And again there is nothing wrong with me, as you can see I am totally fine. They should come next week, I will sign next week. Everyone knows I am the only heir of Hawthorne anyway."

Richard's eyes flickered. For a split second the worried awkward lover boy mask fell off, revealing his devil, cold greed nature. But he was so quick, he quickly adjusted his face that was almost frowning in hate. He beamed a fake smile instantly.

"You know how these things are, we have to do it now. I don't want you getting all wrapped up and stressed for now." he whispered, moving closer to my space. We were so close, I could feel his heat. His tall shadow covered mine, I was sure people couldn't even see my petite body from behind him.

"Everything I am doing is for us. For our future. For you." he added.

"Hahaha....." I let out a dry, rattling laugh. I was honestly trying to hold back that laughter for sometime. I laughed so loud, the whispers of my house workers died down.

"Damn..Richard, I am honestly so sorry for laughing like that." I was still giggling a little. Beads of hot tears streamed down my eyes one after the other. You know that kind of laughter you get, when you are so pained and fed up with everything. So you just have to laugh.

I reached out my fingers, wiping the tears of my face gently. I swallowed hard, controlling the remaining tears that gathered in my eyes.

Richard ignored how I just laughed, and reached his hand behind my neck, pulling me towards him. He reached his lips to mine for a kiss, as his lips came closer I recalled the face of the man who watched me die in his mistress hands. I quickly jerked my head back, twisting my body away. His lips missed my mouth, hanging on the air.

"Don't touch me," I snapped.

Richard froze. And then suddenly, it crumbled. His eyes turned red instantly. His chest heaving up and down like he had just witnessed something traumatizing. He suddenly started trembling, I mean shaking like a fish just out of water.

And then he went down on his knees, his head bent to the floor. Like a man who just got punished by his superiors.

"Rose...." he choked out, his voice trembling so much it sounded like it would collapse. "I promised your father I would take care of you. Please!" he raised his head up, his voice rising an octave, loud enough for my workers to understand. All eyes were fixed on us, even the lawyers came out and they were all watching.

He crawled on his knees, reaching me and holding the hem of my gown. "I love you, Rose. Let me be here for you! Let me help you!" He suddenly gripped my wrist tight enough to bruise me and the next thing...

"Thwack!" he slapped his cheek with my palm.

His eyes flooded with tears and I stood completely frozen.

"If you don't let me help you, then what's my purpose in life? Slap me all you want Rose, but I will still be here for you." he sobbed.

I still didn't move. I couldn't grasp my head around what was happening right now. This scene never happened in my past life. What was this new level of manipulation? My eyes went wide in terror.