Novel & Cerita Little Briar Rose Story

How strange is it that I prefer to stay in the cage rather than leave it? "Why are we going there?" Fiore looks straight into my eyes in that moment, a sly smile stretching her lips. "To introduce you to our world, Ellie," she begins. "To let everyone know that you are now a Black Rose." Shit. He's making a move this soon? I inhale sharply. This is it. There's no way out now. "Scared?" Fiore cocks up a brow smugly, looking like she's won a battle.

Blood roses. Rafael’s hand tightened around the fragile flower, crushing it slowly between his fingers. A symbol. A secret. Not grief. Not loss. Love. Defiance. War. His lips curled into a dangerous smile. "So," he said softly, almost lovingly. "The game has only just begun." He tossed the crushed rose onto the floor, grinding it under his boot. "Bring me Matteo," Rafael ordered, his voice sharp as a whip. "And this time... bring the girl too."

"Mickey, you're finally here. I was so scared. I had another nightmare. Tell me—tell me I escaped. Tell me I wasn't violated, right?" She clutched at him, desperate for reassurance. Her doe-like eyes shimmered with fear. Mickey wrapped her in his arms and gently stroked her back. "You got away. No one laid a finger on you. Don't be afraid, Rose. I'm here." Rose? Mickey, the woman in your arms—do you really believe she's your beloved Rose? Don't you know Rose is already dead? You killed her. My eyes stung as I watched another woman take my name and identity. And I could do nothing.

“Yeah. I just moved to Vargo—really, it’s my first week in the big city. I—you startled me, but I’m okay.” “Good to hear,” Bri murmured, taking a careful step closer, her eyes flickering with intent—and something unmistakably like lust. They stood like that for a beat too long—stillness thick with heat and something unspoken. The memory of pain still clung to the edges of Bri’s mind, but it no longer owned the space. Something else had moved in. Warmer. Riskier. The woman smiled, shy. “I’m Claire.” Bri’s lips twitched upward. “Bai Ryeong. But most people call me Bri.”

The room tilted, and yet I stayed rooted—watching my own happiness collapse. “C-Celine—” Adrian stammered, shoving Marielle off as though it made a difference. “How long?” My voice was a whisper, fragile and sharp all at once. “Wait, let me explain,” he begged, his hand reaching toward me. Marielle smirked faintly, her dress slipping from her shoulder. “Maybe you shouldn’t marry a man you can’t keep, sister.” The words sliced deeper than any blade. I laughed—a broken, bitter sound. “Explain? No. You already have.” My trembling fingers tugged off the engagement ring. The diamond that once blinded me now mocked me

"I am allergic to rose oil! Dad knows about it! And Avril was the one who told the maids to smother my bed in rose oil! Dad was the one who found out about it…" Layla exclaimed, crying pitifully as she nursed her stinging cheek. "You're still trying to lie about it!" Eric roared, suddenly stepping forward and grabbing her by her collar. He tightened his hold on her, lifting her up. And since he was very tall, Layla was almost lifted off the ground.

That night, Marcus jumped from the old Leedon Tower. The next morning, the headlines were filled with news of his suicide. Cecilia didn’t dare look at the gruesome photos. Lucas handled Marcus’s funeral arrangements. Across the entire city, every headline reported Marcus’s death. But there was one reason no one else knew. When Marcus died, he was still holding a vivid red rose in his hand. And Cecilia suddenly remembered something from when she was fifteen. “Marcus, what kind of flower do you think I’m like?” The girl leaned close, and the boy looked up at her, the corners of his eyes curving slightly.

A drop of tear landed on the back of my hand. I ignored it and made a rose appear out of thin air just like a magician. "When we first started dating, you were nothing but a bouncer. The owner's enemies came looking for trouble. On Valentin's Day, you were severely injured and covered in blood. I was worried sick. I cried helplessly as I looked at your wounds. But what did you do? You pulled out a rose that you had been hiding, and it was covered in blood." Thomas chuckled as he took the rose from me.

** As the time approached for Old Madam Brielle's appointment, everyone began to gather their things. "Well, now," Old Madam Brielle announced, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she looked between Tyler and Kennedy. "Since Tyler's mother and I have so much catching up to do, and I simply must tell her about the new rose bushes in the garden, why don't you two go ahead? Kennedy, dear, you can drive Tyler's car. He's always complaining about the traffic, and you're such a good driver."

It moved farther and farther from the cemetery on the hillside, and farther away from all the love and hatred buried beneath Sicily's soil. Daisy leaned against Caleb's shoulder and looked out the window. The hillsides were covered in blooming irises. The warm breeze never felt better. Her new life had only just begun.