LOGINCharles pressed the intercom, summoning his secretary. A few minutes later, Miranda knocked and entered without much ceremony.
“What is it, Charles?” she asked casually.
There was no need for formalities between them. Whatever professional boundary once existed had long since dissolved. If anything, Miranda felt he should be the embarrassed one—not her. She had been waiting for that ring he kept postponing, and her patience was thinning.
“We’re heading to my brother’s off
Rosie was sitting stiffly on the sofa outside of Sebastian's office. She was scared when she heard the sound of furniture being destroyed inside the office. She imagined Sebastian unleashing his rage as he was thinking about that woman in his heart.Rosie should be scared— of course, she was still scared whenever she heard him yelling and smashing something to appease his anger.But, she pitied him at the same time.She knew how painful it was to love someone so deeply, yet that person betrayed your trust and dragged you down to hell.'I even had a child with that monster…' Rosie thought.She always loved Izzie, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel pain in her heart whenever she saw Izzie smiling at her. Because it always reminded Rosie of the time when Charles also smiled at her. They were father and daughter, after all, so they had similar facial features.Rosie leaned back weakly against the sofa, her fingers twis
Rosie sat quietly outside the CEO office, her palms resting on her lap while she tried calming her racing heartbeat. Even now, the loud bang from Sebastian slamming his desk still echoed inside her ears.Her chest tightened.“Why is he angry again…?” Rosie whispered weakly.One moment he had looked almost gentle inside the Velvet room, touching her hair softly and speaking in that low voice that made her heart tremble strangely.Then the next moment—He exploded again.Just like always.Rosie lowered her head, trying to organize the mess inside her thoughts.Maybe she had said something wrong.But she genuinely thought Sebastian only viewed those words as part of the atmosphere. Pillow talk. Something people casually said during intimate moments.There was no way Sebastian Edward Sterling would ever fall in love with her.Not when he hated her this much.Not when he constantl
Sebastian raised a brow as he casually rubbed Rosie's hip while she was still frozen on the velvet bed.“You went quiet so suddenly,” he teased. “Was that slap really that shocking?” A mischievous grin spread across his face. “I still remember you smacking my butt once when I was a kid, sister-in-law. Guess this is payback.”He laughed carelessly. “But my payback is a hundred times worse.”Rosie’s cheeks immediately burned. Of course, she remembered. Little Sebastian had once destroyed her assignment out of jealousy because she spent an entire day studying with Charles instead of paying attention to him. Back then, she lightly smacked him like an older sister disciplining a spoiled child.But now—The roles were completely reversed. And it made her unbelievably embarrassed.Before Rosie could recover properly, Sebastian suddenly pushed her gently backward onto the velvet bed.
Sebastian raised a brow as he casually rubbed Rosie's hip while she was still frozen on the velvet bed.“You went quiet so suddenly,” he teased. “Was that slap really that shocking?”A mischievous grin spread across his face.“I still remember you smacking my butt once when I was a kid, sister-in-law. Guess this is payback.”He laughed carelessly.“But my payback is a hundred times worse.”Rosie’s cheeks immediately burned.Of course she remembered.Little Sebastian had once destroyed her assignment out of jealousy because she spent an entire day studying with Charles instead of paying attention to him.Back then, she lightly smacked him like an older sister disciplining a spoiled child.But now—The roles were completely reversed.And it made her unbelievably embarrassed.Before Rosie could recover properly, Sebastian suddenly pushed
Desiree and Rosie quickly separated from each other the moment Sebastian’s cold voice echoed through the hallway.Rosie immediately straightened her posture and bowed her head politely toward the closed office door.“Good morning, Mr. Edward Sterling,” she greeted softly. “Yes, I’ll come to your office in ten minutes.”Then she tilted her head slightly and asked carefully,“Do you want me to bring anything? Or… do you want me to bring the banana milk from the fridge?”Silence.Then suddenly—“W-WHY WOULD YOU MENTION BANANA MILK?!”Sebastian’s irritated voice exploded from inside the office.“Just come in, damn it!”SLAM!The office door shut violently afterward.For a brief moment, the hallway became completely silent.Then—Rosie let out a small laugh.“It’s cute how he gets flustered whenever someone mentions banana milk.”Desiree stared at her in disbelief.“Cute
Rosie swallowed nervously under Sebastian’s sharp stare.Cold sweat formed on the back of her neck almost instantly.She genuinely had no bad intention when she told Izzie that Uncle Sebastian wasn’t always scary.Last night, Izzie had complained endlessly that she “hated” Uncle Sebastian because he was always angry, always yelling, and always making Mummy cry.Rosie knew that kind of thinking wasn’t good for a little child.Especially not for someone as feisty and confrontational as Izzie.If her daughter kept seeing Sebastian as some kind of monster, she might eventually say something reckless to his face.And Rosie knew better than anyone how dangerous Sebastian’s temper could be.So she had tried to soften Izzie’s perspective.She told her daughter that Uncle Sebastian could smile too.That he actually looked handsome when he laughed.That he wasn’t always
Rosie stormed out of the Sterling Enterprises building, her heels striking sharply against the pavement, each step fuelled by humiliation and rage.“I may be desperate,” she snapped aloud, heedless of the curious glances cast her way, “but I did not come here to be treated like a common prostitute.
The journey back was a quiet one.Rosie sat by the window, her arm wrapped protectively around Isabella as the city lights blurred past in streaks of gold and white. Beside her, her daughter hummed softly, swinging her legs in idle contentment, blissfully unaware of the storm gathering within her m
“Good evening, Sister-in-law.”Sebastian’s voice slipped through the receiver like velvet—smooth, assured, and laced with something far more dangerous beneath its surface. The faint amusement in his tone made Rosie’s stomach tighten.He already knew.Of course he did.“I assume you’re calling about
Rosie sat quietly for several minutes, her gaze drifting about the room with cautious curiosity.The office was vast—sleek and sophisticated, yet touched with something unexpectedly personal. Modern art lined the walls, each piece no doubt worth more than she cared to imagine, while a series of scu







