ログインRoseline's pov…
“We can at least have breakfast.”
“There would be no need for that.”
“Come on, don't tell me you aren't tired after last night.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
“Actually no… I am not tired,” I lied. I was tired, and my body was aching. I could kill for a shower and some breakfast.
“I can't be with someone who scalps for leases at a discount," I added.
Even though that was a low blow, I had to get him off my tail.
Pain grossed his features, it wasn't my fault he couldn't afford a place like this in the real sense.
He stepped back, allowing me to pass.
Well, that was it. Another night with a stranger.
I didn't even get his name at least.
Fuck!
I had called my driver earlier to come pick me up, I was grateful that he didn't waste time, as I exited the apartment he was already out front.
I slipped into the back of the car, no words exchanged, just a slight nod of his head.
I swiped my keycard across the door.
“Access denied.” The Security alarm sounded.
I tried again, same response, I kept trying and it was the same thing.
I dialed the security manager for my house.
“I am trying to get into my apartment, but there's a glitch with your new security system because it keeps denying me access.”
“No ma’am it's not a glitch in the system.”
“What do you mean by ‘it's not a glitch’?”
"It's your father ma’am.”
“My father?”
“Yes, he asked that we restrict your access to your apartment.”
“The fuck! Why?” The tone of my voice increased, reflecting how pissed I was.
After a long night, all I need is rest and I can't even have that?
“I don't know ma'am you would have to ask him yourself.” The security manager responded, still maintaining his polite tone.
I ended the call and got back into the car.
I would deal with this later, for now what I wanted is to freshen up and rest.
“Please take me to the nearest luxury hotel.”
The driver started the car.
“Good day ma'am would you be taking your regular penthouse suite?” The hotel attendant asked with a wide smile.
I could only manage a nod as I handed my black card to him to process my payment.
He swiped it, but his face morphed into a frown.
He cleared his throat, “Ma'am the card isn't processing the payment.”
“Really?” I brought out my second one, “Try this.”
He swiped the second one, “Same thing ma'am.”
“That can't be–”
My father.
I left the hotel fuming mad.
When I arrived at my father's mansion, my chest tightened as I walked in confused and angry.
I had never felt these emotions while coming here, it had always been excitement and surprise.
“Is my Dad around?” I asked the head butler who stood by the door.
“This way,” He directed me towards the study.” He's expecting you.” He added, almost like a warning or heads up.
“Thank you.”
“Dad?” I asked, announcing my presence in his large study.
“Roseline.” Okay, I was in a lot of trouble, he only called me Roseline whenever he was upset with me.
I suddenly felt aware of my not-so-decent outfit and I probably reeked of alcohol and sweat as well.
But it wasn't my fault that I couldn't freshen up before showing up.
“I am not able to access my apartment or any of my accounts, and I learnt it has something to do with you.”
“Where were you last night Roseline?” He questioned, maintaining a stern expression.
“What does that have to do with anything I just said?”
“Answer the question.” He barked, causing me to flinch a bit.
“I stayed over at a friend's,” I folded my arms across my chest to at least cover up the indecent part of my dress.
“A friend,” he scoffed.
“Yes Dad, a friend,” I stressed on the last word to show my annoyance.
“Does this friend happen to be a male?”
“I don't see how the gender is relevant to this discussion.”
“That's your problem Roseline, you don't see the wrong in the things you do.”
I took a step back. He never raised his voice at me before.
”Dad are you alright?” I asked genuinely concerned.
He shifted in his seat, “Of course I am fine, what I am not fine with is your lifestyle.”
“My lifestyle?”
“You don't work, you go out every night drinking and sleeping with half of the city.”
“You didn't seem to have a problem with my lifestyle for the past years,” I made air quotes emphasizing lifestyle.
“You are no longer a teenager, you are an adult act like one.”
“It's high time you lived like someone with real responsibilities.”
“What are you saying?”
“Until I see a change in your lifestyle, you are not to contact me or use anything that belongs to my company or me.”
“Are you cutting me off?”
“At least you can catch on fast.”
“Where do you expect re to stay?”
“That's your Cup of tea to figure out.”
The throat tightened squeezing the air out of lungs, “You can't do this,” my voice croaked.
“I can and I would.”
“No! At least give me a week” I sobbed.
“I have given you all that you need and more, it's time to draw the line, Roseline.” His face was still stern, my tears didn't even move him.
"This is not the father I know, what happened?”
“And you are not the daughter I raised….”
“I am Dad.” I pleaded.
“Your mother would be disappointed to see what you have become.”
And then just like that something snapped in me, I felt my heart shatter.
He left after speaking but his words kept ringing in my ear.
FLORIAN’S POVWe stayed frozen for several long, tense seconds, watching the faint light move slowly across the grounds, before it finally disappeared around the far side of the property, swallowed up by darkness once again.“Security patrol,” Gabriel whispered finally, releasing a slow breath. “Automated, probably on a timer. Didn’t seem like anyone reacted to us.”“Are you sure?” Roseline whispered, her grip still tight around my hand.“If they’d spotted us, we wouldn’t still be standing here,” Gabriel said quietly. “Come on, quickly, before another patrol comes through.”We moved carefully through the smaller gate, slipping into the shadows along the outer wall of the main house. Gabriel’s men worked quickly, disabling a small side door’s lock with practiced efficiency, and within moments, we slipped quietly inside.The interior of the house felt strangely cold despite its elegance, dim lights casting long shadows across expensive furniture covered in thin layers of dust, like the
FLORIAN’S POVI stared at Roseline for a long moment, her eyes fierce and unwavering despite the fear still trembling beneath the surface. Everything in me screamed to keep her far away from the danger waiting for us, yet another part of me, the part that had watched her break down in hospital hallways and hide fear behind forced smiles too many times already, understood exactly what she meant.“I’m done being left behind,” she said again, quieter this time, though no less firm. “I’m done sitting at home, waiting for a phone call that tells me whether you’re alive or not. If something happens tonight, I want to be there. Not stuck somewhere else, imagining the worst.”I reached up slowly, cupping her face gently in my hands, my thumb brushing softly against her cheek. “You scare me more than Adrian does sometimes,” I admitted quietly.“Good,” she said, a small, fierce smile tugging at her lips despite everything. “Then you know exactly how I feel every single time you walk out that do
FLORIAN’S POVGabriel drove fast, weaving quickly through the late-night streets while Roseline and I sat tensely in the back seat, neither of us saying much, the earlier warmth between us replaced completely now by cold, gripping fear.“Where was he found?” I asked, breaking the silence.“An alley, a few blocks from the old part of town,” Gabriel said, his eyes fixed firmly on the road. “One of my men was doing a routine patrol, spotted him barely conscious, badly beaten. He’s already at the hospital now.”“How bad is it?” Roseline asked quietly from beside me, her hand gripping mine tightly.“Bad enough,” Gabriel admitted grimly. “But he’s alive. That’s what matters right now.”We arrived at the hospital quickly, rushing through the entrance, Gabriel leading us straight toward the emergency wing where Fredrick had been taken. A nurse stopped us just outside his room, her expression cautious.“He’s stable for now,” she said, “but he’s suffered severe trauma. Broken ribs, a concussion
ROSELINE’S POVFlorian had barely slept in days. I watched him from the kitchen doorway, hunched over his laptop at the dining table, papers scattered everywhere around him, his eyes red-rimmed and heavy with exhaustion. Between the board meeting, the case against Adrian, Fredrick still missing, and my father fading more each day, I could see him slowly breaking apart at the seams, though he refused to admit it out loud.“You need to rest,” I said gently, walking over to stand beside him.“I can’t,” he muttered, not even looking up from the screen, his fingers moving quickly across the keyboard. “The board meeting is in two days, Roseline. I need to have everything prepared, every answer ready, or they’ll vote me out completely.”“Florian,” I said softly, placing my hand gently on his shoulder. “You’ve been at this for hours. You barely slept last night either. You’re going to burn yourself out.”“I don’t have a choice,” he snapped, shrugging my hand off sharply, his voice sharper tha
FLORIAN’S POVDiane called back early the next morning, earlier than I expected, her voice tired but resolute over the phone.“I talked to the detective,” she said. “We’ve decided to move forward and file what we have tonight.”Relief flooded through me instantly, though her tone still carried a note of caution that kept me from fully relaxing.“But Florian,” she continued, “I need you to understand something first. Without Fredrick’s testimony, this case is weaker than it should be. Everything we have, the bank records, the photographs, your father’s letter, it’s strong circumstantial evidence, but it’s not the same as having a living witness who can place Adrian directly at the planning stages of the fire.”“I understand,” I said. “But we don’t have Fredrick right now. We have to work with what we’ve got.”“I agree,” Diane said. “I just want you prepared. Adrian’s lawyers, if he has good ones, and I’m sure he does, will attack every gap in this case relentlessly. It might not be eno
FLORIAN’S POVThe bang echoed again, sharp and violent against the glass, jolting both of us fully upright, the warmth from moments earlier vanishing instantly, replaced by cold, immediate fear.“What was that?” Roseline whispered, her voice trembling as she clutched the blanket tightly against her chest.“Stay here,” I said quickly, already pulling on a pair of sweatpants, my heart pounding as I moved cautiously toward the window.“Florian, don’t,” she said, fear clear in her voice.“I need to see what it is,” I said firmly, though my own pulse raced uncomfortably as I approached the curtain.I grabbed the edge carefully, pulling it back slowly, my eyes scanning the darkness outside. At first, I saw nothing unusual, just the quiet night settling over our property. Then my gaze dropped slightly, and my stomach turned violently at what I saw.A dead bird hung nailed directly to the outside window frame, its wings spread unnaturally wide, dark blood smeared thickly beneath it, staining







