Rose’s POVI approached the bed with shaky legs and slumped on it after Jian left. I couldn’t believe he’d said those words to me. It was like a rude awakening to the danger I’d truly dragged him into out of my selfishness. At the same time, I saw the truth for what it was, that we could never be together.Greta’s words from earlier flashed into my head. She thought he was in love with me, but little did she know. He felt nothing for me. Everything he did for me was out of the kindness of his heart, not because of love. In the end, I was still the girl he’d bought to be his plaything, to fulfill his sexual fantasies and that title would never go over my head. I was no match for him. He was better off with an elegant woman of Ling’s status, not myself. I had nothing to offer, and even the feelings I’d harbored for him were one-sided. He’d never return them, and we can’t work out, as long as he continues to see me as his lowly submissive, whose life and body he owns. I was merely a prop

Rose’s POV:Long after Jian was gone, I remained on the floor of the bedroom, feeling hopeless and helpless. I didn’t know what to do and I had no idea what his next line of action would be now that the truth was out. He could decide to kick me to the curb or even take me back home to suffer my fate and I deserved that. But how was I going to cope?Williams would kick me out of his home too. Where would I be with my mom in the nursing home? I had no one to fend for me. And again, Jian has confirmed that Sam was truly in the custody of the drug lord. Tears gathered in my eyes and trailed down my cheeks as these thoughts floated around my head. Everything I’d been working so hard to keep from the public’s eye was in the open. The video of what happened at the club that night might not have been leaked but I saw it coming soon.What was the motive of this blackmailer? I gave them what they wanted. Was this a sort of warning for not acting on time? My eyes darted to the nightstand just

Rose’s POV…I ran through the field, with my arms wide, and the cool evening breeze ruffling my hair. A bright smile was on my face, and I could see Jian at the end waiting for me, with an equally charming smile etched on his face. He beckoned on me to get closer, and I increased my speed, still smiling radiantly. The feelings of peace that coursed through me at that moment were next to none. My life was perfect. Nothing was bothering me and I wasn’t running from anyone anymore. I was free to explore the world and to be with the man I loved.On my way to him, I slowed to a stop, reached for a sunflower that was in my path, and plucked it. It looked so beautiful and radiant that it matched my mood. I inserted it into the side of my hair and twirled around. My eyes caught on Jian, who suddenly had a camera out and was taking my picture, while still smiling. I was so excited that I gave him more poses, and even laid on the field to get more pictures. I closed my eyes to revel in the f

Jian’s POVIt’s been twenty-four hours since I sent that text to Don Torelli and it’s been forty-eight hours since Rosie left. I’ve not heard anything from either of them and it was driving me crazy. I was trying to be patient with the Don, while also trying to save my head. I knew not to bother him too much and I was hoping with time he’d eventually get back to me, and fast enough for me to be able to find Rosie but on the other hand, I couldn’t push off the thoughts that he had her in his custody already, hence his lack of interest in whatever I had to say. I’d contacted the private investigator to help me confirm if Rosie was with the Don but he’d said his source confirmed that the only girl in the Don’s custody was Samantha Davis, Rosie’s best friend. I sat in my home office, dressed in sweatpants as I kept staring at the second email I’d sent to the done just moments ago. I’d managed to get his personal email address from the private investigator and had sent a follow-up messag

Jian’s POV The next evening saw me at Phantom, the nightclub where Don Torelli had asked to meet. I’d arrived ten minutes earlier than the scheduled time and was in my car at the parking lot, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man but I saw nothing in all of the ten minutes I was outside. I had no idea what he looked like but I expected an entourage to show up when he arrived. Yet, all I saw was regular sleek cars, belonging to both the well-known socialites, and the college students. There was nothing special that drew my attention to his supposed arrival. I sat in my car until the time hit 9 p.m., the appointed time. For the fear of missing him, I decided to head in, believing that I may have missed his entrance, or that he’d arrive late. So, I stepped out of my car and headed into the building, after passing the bouncer at the entrance. I dressed down in jeans, and a t-shirt, just to fit into my environment. Although I knew it’d be rowdy inside, I didn’t prepare myself for the loud