The wailing sirens faded into the distance as the police vehicles disappeared down the winding driveway. Olivia and Dominic Moreau were finally out of the picture—escorted under flashing lights and cold steel, their legacy of chaos momentarily silenced. The environment became quiet again, drenched in tension and disbelief, the echo of the recent storm still fresh in the air.
Rose remained frozen in place, her heart still racing, her hands still trembling at her sides. The gunshot still rang in her ears, even though no bullet had hit anyone. Her blue eyes trailed to the tall figure of Julian Carter, who stood a few feet away, still composed, one hand disappearing behind his back.
She noticed it again—the glint of cold metal. A gun.
Her breath hitched slightly as her eyes slowly lifted to meet his.
Julian caught her gaze, and a knowing smirk crept up the edge of his lips. "No questions," he said smoothly, brushing the cuff of his sleeve with an almost lazy elegance. "I'm a famous man, Rose. You know that. Owning a firearm isn't just paranoia—it's survival."
But Rose's eyes narrowed, her curiosity not sated. Famous or not, Julian Carter was clearly more than the rumors said. There was something darker beneath that polished charm. Something unpredictable. Dangerous.
She said nothing. Her silence said everything.
Julian turned slowly to face her fully. His eyes softened slightly, but not enough to lose that glint of mischief and steel. In one calculated step, he closed the distance between them, towering over her petite frame. Her breath caught as he leaned just slightly forward, dipping his head until his lips were a whisper away from hers. Their faces were so close she could feel the heat radiating from him.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. She thought—for a breathless second—he might kiss her.
But instead, his lips brushed against her ear, his voice a silken whisper cloaked in warning and wicked charm.
"Don't worry, dolcezza," he murmured. "I'd never use it on you... unless you give me no choice."
It was terrifying and intoxicating. A threat veiled in desire. A warning delivered like a lover's promise.
Then he straightened with ease, his expression unreadable as he turned on his heel and strolled into the house as though he hadn't just left her on the verge of collapsing from adrenaline and confusion.
Rose blinked, stunned, heat still burning on her cheeks. What kind of man said something like that and walked away as if he hadn't just set her soul on fire?
Daniel, who'd been watching from a short distance, couldn't help but whistle low. "That guy is cool," he muttered. "Creepy? Yes. Mysterious? Definitely. But cool."
Rose turned her head toward her brother, her brows furrowing. "You're just going to ignore the fact that he walks around armed like he's in some crime movie?"
Daniel shrugged, running a hand through his messy hair. "I'm just saying. He looks like the kind of guy who's always ten steps ahead. Still... walking around with a loaded gun? He's asking to be arrested. It's just a matter of time."
He offered her a small, tired smile and headed back inside the house, leaving the door open for her.
Rose didn't follow immediately.
She stood still for a moment, her eyes scanning the empty street, letting the night air wash over her.A hollow ache settled in her chest. Why? Why had her own father been willing to trade her off like she was a pawn on a chessboard?
The man who raised her—who once held her when she cried, who kissed her forehead goodnight—had chosen power and image over his daughter. Even when she was drowning in despair, he had remained unmoved. Cold.
Did he ever love me at all? she wondered bitterly. Her thoughts were a mess. Why had her father tried to force her into marrying someone she didn't love anymore? Why did he still try to control her life when he'd never truly cared?
It wasn't just betrayal. It was heartbreak. The kind that sits at the bottom of your soul, too deep for tears.
When the wind turned cold, she finally exhaled, brushed her hair from her face, and stepped back inside the house.
She stepped inside the house, shutting the door quietly behind her.
But the silence didn't last long.
"Yes, I'll work for you," Daniel said, his voice loud and clear from the living room.
Rose stopped in her tracks, frowning. What?
She found Daniel seated comfortably on the edge of the couch, looking completely relaxed, as Julian stood across from him, slipping a hand into his trouser pocket.
"You'll what?" Rose asked, bewildered.
Daniel looked over his shoulder at her. "He offered me a position. One of his lawyers. And I accepted."
"What?" she gasped, stepping forward. "Why?"
Daniel shrugged nonchalantly and offered a cheeky wink. "Good pay. Exciting life. Can't say no."
He got up and strolled off toward the hallway, leaving Rose reeling.
Her gaze snapped back to Julian.
"Why?" she asked, arms folded tightly. "Why ask my brother to work for you? This isn't out of pity, is it?"
Julian chuckled, his voice deep and amused. "Pity?" He stepped forward, the same magnetic pull in his every move. "Rose, I don't do pity. Your brother's good. Sharp. Loyal. I hire people who are useful, not helpless. And you—" he paused, eyeing her carefully, "—you're more than useful."
She didn't know whether to be flattered or insulted.
"Besides," he added, glancing over at the nearby sofa where his suit jacket rested, "It's not a crime to employ good people. Even if they come with... family baggage."
Her jaw tightened slightly, but she didn't argue.
Julian reached for his suit, brushing off invisible dust as he slid it on with graceful ease. "I'll be taking my leave now," he said, straightening his collar. "Don't return to the mansion."
Rose looked up quickly. "um?"
"I'll send a driver to pick you and Daniel up."
"Alright?" she said indifferent.
He smiled—slow, calculated, and devilishly confident. "see you soon Rose."
And with that, he turned and exited, leaving nothing but the faint scent of expensive cologne and the quiet thud of the closing door behind him.
Rose stared at the door long after he was gone.
Something about him was shifting—like shadows that danced just out of reach. Charming and dangerous. Gentle and cruel. She couldn't tell which side of him was real.
And that terrified her.
But maybe... just maybe... it also thrilled her.
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