LOGINRosie returned to her bed and lay there in silence.She picked up her phone and began scrolling through an old album she had kept tucked away. It was filled with photographs of little Sebastian, most of them taken when she had been around eight to ten years old herself.A fond smile tugged at her lips as she continued scrolling."Ah, he was so cute when he was little. I still remember how he used to follow me around like a duckling."She stopped when one particular photograph caught her eye.It showed eight-year-old Sebastian celebrating Rosie's birthday. He was beaming from ear to ear, his little teeth on full display as he proudly held a birthday cake he had supposedly 'made' with the cooks as a present for his Big Sis Rosie.Someone had helped him write her name in cream across the top.Unfortunately, he’d spelt it wrong.Instead of Rosie, the cake proudly read:ROSEE.Rosie couldn’t help smiling at the memory.She could still hear his little voice from all those years ago.—"Happ
"Rosie?" Sebastian called her name, trying to bring her back to herself, but she barely seemed to hear him.He watched as her chest rose and fell rapidly, the colour in her cheeks deepening with every passing second. His concern grew, and he reached out to shake her gently by the shoulders."Rosie. Rosie, get a hold of yourself."At last, Rosie lifted her gaze and looked at him. Sebastian was staring at her as though she were the one in danger.But Rosie knew better.Sebastian was the one in grave danger now that he'd declared his intention to stand against his Big Brother.She gripped his arms desperately."Sebastian, please don't say you're going to challenge Charles. You're going to suffer. You'll lose everything if you fight him!"Sebastian was stung by her words, especially coming from the woman he loved. Yet he understood what lay beneath them.Trauma.Rosie had suffered too much. To her, the very idea of going against Charles was terrifying—something that should never have been
"Rosie..." His voice broke. "My Rosie..." Sebastian murmured. "I... I don’t know how I’m supposed to live without you. You’re my guiding light. Even through the darkest times, you’re the only person I can think about..."Rosie heard him murmuring something, but his words were muffled because his face was buried in her lap. He was crying so hard that she could feel the dampness of his tears soaking into her skirt.I wonder what he's murmuring about.Rosie shrugged the thought aside and gently caressed his head."Big guy, why are you crying?"Sebastian lifted his face and stared up at her, his cheeks wet with tears and his nose running. The sight transformed the usually handsome and intimidating man into something else entirely—a lost child who had finally found his way back to the person who made him feel safe."I'm—"Snort!"—not crying!" Sebastian insisted, hurriedly trying to sniff the mucus back into his nose.Rosie couldn't help but giggle.She pulled out a few tissues and careful
Rosie stood outside the CEO's office, staring at the closed door as she tried to summon enough courage to face Sebastian again.This is torture... she thought miserably. I don't want to argue with him. I don't want to get hurt...Desiree noticed her homegirl standing there with a strained expression. She swivelled her chair to face her."What’s wrong, gurl?""Ah—Desiree, it’s... nothing.""Oh, come on. Do we really need to do this again?" Desiree rolled her eyes. "Just tell me what’s wrong, gurl. You know I’m always here to help you."After a moment’s hesitation, Rosie finally admitted, "Um... it’s about Sebastian.""And what did he do this time?"Desiree was already prepared to throw hands if her boss had hurt her best friend again. She didn’t know what the hell was wrong with that bloke, but whenever he opened his mouth to speak to Rosie, he somehow managed to say exactly the wrong thing and leave her hurting."H-He didn’t do anything. But... he said he wants to talk to me." Rosie s
It took Rosie nearly two hours to finish the grocery shopping.She had spent most of that time carefully considering what to buy, particularly with Sebastian and Izzie's eating habits in mind. Neither of them was particularly fussy—as long as Rosie was the one cooking—but they certainly had their favourites.Sebastian, especially, had an impressive list of brands he refused to touch.By the time Rosie returned to the flat, she unpacked everything and arranged the groceries neatly in the fridge before getting started on lunch.She finished cooking at half past eleven, just in time for midday.As usual, she packed everything up and drove to Sebastian's office to deliver his lunch.It was tiring, but Rosie was strangely content.At least she had something to do now. At least she felt as though she had a place in someone's life.It was so different from her marriage to Charles.She could have spent hours preparing the most delicious meal imaginable, only for Charles to throw it back in he
Rosie drove to the supermarket where she planned to do her grocery shopping for the day, since Sebastian had forbidden her from going to her usual haunt, Borough Market.She pushed a trolley slowly through the aisles, picking up whatever caught her eye without bothering to check the labels or look for discounts—something she would normally have done without fail.Today, however, she barely had the energy to care.She let out a long, defeated sigh as her thoughts returned to Maria."Meeting her was such a mistake," Rosie murmured beneath her breath. "I should've just ignored her completely."Now she wasn't sure what to make of any of it, particularly after the older woman had brought up Izzie's relationship with the Sterling family.Rosie could tolerate being called a slut or anything else by Charles's family. She had never benefited from their wealth, after all. She had never lived a life of luxury because of Charles.If anything, all she'd received from her marriage was years of rele
Rosie scarcely realised she had begun to run until the corridor stretched before her like something endless, her heels striking sharply against the marble as though urging her forward. Tears blurred her vision, spilling freely now, unchecked and unwelcome.This family… they’re all monsters.The tho
Her fingers trembled as she dialled his number.He picked up almost immediately.“Yes?”“Where is my daughter?” Rosie demanded.A soft chuckle. “You mean our daughter?”Her jaw tightened. “Don’t play games with me, Charles.”“She’s fine,” he said casually. “We’re at the toy store. She’s picking wha
Rosie sat at the dining table, the candlelight flickering softly against untouched plates. The roasted chicken—Isabella’s favourite—had long since gone cold.She glanced at the clock.Nine o’clock.Charles Sterling was not home.He had promised. He had promised their daughter he would return before
Rosie reacted at once, catching hold of her daughter’s arm and gently but firmly pulling her aside.“I’m so sorry, Sebastian,” she said quickly. “P–Please don’t be upset with Izzie. She’s only a child, I—”“Tch. It’s fine,” he cut in, dismissive. “Just make me the same smoothie. And from now on, yo







