로그인The necklace Rose was wearing revealed its pendant: her engagement ring. She had hung the ring on a chain necklace during the journey so it wouldn’t get lost. The small, sparkling object caught the sunlight filtering through the leaves, like a warning signal glowing brightly.
Matteo’s mind drifted back to before, to a promise he had made with Aaron. “Whoever finds Rose first, the other must s
The necklace Rose was wearing revealed its pendant: her engagement ring. She had hung the ring on a chain necklace during the journey so it wouldn’t get lost. The small, sparkling object caught the sunlight filtering through the leaves, like a warning signal glowing brightly.Matteo’s mind drifted back to before, to a promise he had made with Aaron. “Whoever finds Rose first, the other must step back.”And Aaron was the one who found Rose first and proposed to her, and Rose accepted Aaron’s proposal without a second thought.What was I thinking? Matteo snapped back to reality.He quickly pulled his hand back, clenching it at his side. Matteo swallowed, the taste bitter in his
Rose shook her head. “No need, Aaron will send bodyguards for me. They’ll catch up as soon as possible.”“Okay, up to you. Let’s head to the hotel now.”They walked toward the hotel in question, and it turned out to be the nicest one in the area. Rose was about to protest, wanting to experience a “true pilgrimage,” but the thought of a hot shower and a soft bed was too tempting, especially after walking around 22 kilometers.When Rose was about to pay for her room, Matteo was already ahead of her. He made a gesture that he would cover everything. It made Rose feel uneasy again.After receiving their keys, they climbed the stairs in silence. The warm atmosphere they had shared on the trail earlier suddenly vanished. Both of them felt awkward as they stopped in front of their neighboring rooms.Just the two of them, in a hotel, far from home… and damn it, the memory of being trapped together in a storm before lingered in Rose’s mind. A chill crept up her neck.“Today… was nice,” Matteo
Photos from the latest surveillance by the private detective team Aaron hired were spread across the table. Jerry Baxter’s face appeared in every shot. In some, he was chatting in front of a club, in another at a roadside hot dog stand, and in several other locations.Aaron exhaled after learning that Jerry was working under a mafia boss named Rocco. “Oh God, just like Rose feared. Her father is still involved with people like this.”Aaron rubbed his throbbing temple. Even though he had never dealt with underground figures before, the private investigator’s report was crystal clear. Rocco was a legend in the city, known as “The Butcher.”The mafia boss controlled the port and smuggling operations and owned a fairly popular club. It wasn’t wise to start a war with Rocco. He could make witnesses disappear or permanently silence them.The threat to Rose was no longer empty. This was a war Aaron couldn’t win in a courtroom. It would be difficult to find grounds to put Jerry behind bars.J
The morning fog still blanketed the old town of Sarria; the scent of dew, damp earth, and the faint smell of cow manure from nearby farms filled Rose’s senses. On the uphill cobblestone streets, dozens of peregrinos, or pilgrims, began stepping out of their lodgings. The sound of hiking poles tapping against the stones created a rhythmic tap-tap-tap.Rose stood at the entrance of the albergue where she had stayed the night before. She tightened her jacket and adjusted the strap on her shoulder. A puff of white vapor escaped her lips as she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.“Buen Camino!” greeted an elderly local woman sweeping her yard.Rose smiled. “Buen Camino!”It was the first day of her long journey to Santiago de Compostela, and the trail stretched for hundreds of kilometers ahead. Rose began walking while pulling out her folded map, making sure of the route she would take. When she lowered the map, her gaze landed on a tall figure leaning casually against a stone bridge pi
Rose sat in a seat by the train window, staring at the Barcelona landscape slowly retreating from her view. She put in her earbuds and played a song that soothed her heart. It was her first experience, and she would never forget it. The train ride itself would take around nine hours, with a transfer in Madrid, then another train to Sarria. That long journey was enough to make Rose reflect on everything happening within her, even before she arrived in Sarria. Rose picked up the map resting on her lap and checked the route she would take. A small smile formed on her lips; she felt both excited and emotional to finally be able to take this spiritual journey. Back then, Rose had always wanted to go there with her mother. Mom, you’re with me, right? We’re doing this journey together, you and me, Rose thought. Rose didn’t realize that three cars behind her, a man in an expensive suit who now looked completely out of place was sitting in his seat. Matteo’s breathing was
As soon as she got off the plane, Rose was escorted by two bodyguards with full security. It made Rose feel truly suffocated. However, it was already her agreement with Aaron.Just as she entered the lobby, Rose saw one of the bodyguards clutching his stomach. The man’s face had turned pale, beads of sweat forming on his temples and forehead.“Hey, are you okay?” Mark asked.“It started hurting last night. It’s getting worse.” Shane let out a long breath. “I’m fine, let’s keep going.”“Shouldn’t we go to a clinic? I’m worried something’s wrong,” Rose said.Mark shook his head. “Miss Rose, we have to prioritize your objective. Don’t worry.”Before Rose could respond, Shane suddenly groaned and dropped to his knees. That immediately caused panic among the airport staff and them. An ambulance was called right away, and they were forced to head to the hospital.On her very first day in Barcelona, Rose had already encountered an incident that caused quite a panic.A few hours later, Rose w







