As stunned as she was feeling at that moment, Rose could only remain where she was for a few seconds, blinking compulsively. However, just when she even began to question whether she was delusional or needed to clean her glasses, as that was the last thing she expected from someone who looked as proud as Adele Vamcap, they both noticed that she was there and, with a gasp, they pulled away, staring at her with horrified faces.
Not understanding why they were reacting that way, since it was really surprising for her to know that they had a relationship, but it certainly wasn't the end of the world either, Rose raised both her hands, almost in a peace sign.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you." she explained, as Adele's previously horrified expression turned into a grimace of pure hatred "I don’t knew there was someone here..."
"You!" Aaron's grandmother roared, furious "You shouldn't be here!"
"Uh... I... I got lost on the way to the library."
“You know, if you have something to talk to me about, just say so.” Rose said, not even needing to turn around to know whose presence it was behind her, who had appeared while she was sitting at her bedroom desk, reading a book.“I… I'm sorry.” Jullian sighed, and finally she turned to him, realizing that her expression matched his troubled tone perfectly."What are you sorry for? For the way your boss treated me? Or your girlfriend?” Rose put the book aside, still a little irritated, though she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the man who was old enough to be her grandfather.“Both of those things… And a lot more, actually. You helped us by keeping it a secret, and there was nothing I could do to stop Adele and Aaron from offending you like that. Also, I should have trusted my gut when I got the distinct impression that you weren't what we'd imagined, but I still chose to treat you like a criminal rathe
Rose was trying hard to hold hope by the heels and prevent it from running away from there, but every day it was becoming more difficult.Sitting at one of the garden tables, her mind torn between hoping Alec was doing well on his math test and concentrating on what she was doing, Rose sighed as she stared at the many bills and expense and earnings projections before her. In fact, it was partly her fault for being so optimistic as to think she might be able to build her own business during her stay in this house, since as long as she had plans but no money, none of it would ever get off the ground. Especially not her childhood dream of opening a bakery, something she should have known she should have put behind her a long time ago. She needed to be realistic and focus on how she was going to find a place to live and a job for herself and Grace, when that torment finally came like this...But it was a little difficult to concentrate on that when the feeling of being wat
“Look at that, Rose! It’s you!" Alec spoke happily and, looking up from the fruit he was placing on top of the picnic blanket to see him standing before her, holding out a huge drawing right in front of her, which showed a small stick figure holding hands with another that appeared to be wearing a skirt and had big square glasses around her eyes, and long dark hair “And this is me!”“Oh, that turned out great, Alec! You are so talented!” she praised him as she patted his head, causing her to break into that contented smile that was more radiant than the sun itself."It's a gift!" he placed the drawing there on the side before sitting down next to her.“Thank you, I loved it! I'm going to ask Jullian for a picture frame so I can put it on my bedroom wall.” she promised, before handing Alec one of the peanut butter and banana sandwiches she had just prepared, “I hope you like it. Jullian said that if we're luck
“Alec?” for the third time since they had left the office, Rose called out to him, trying to get him to lift his head resting on her shoulder, but to no avail. “Is everything okay? Are you feeling sick? Please darling, talk to me. Or I can take you back to your brothers, in case you're feeling so bad about missing them...""No..." Alec finally reacted, with a soft whimper, looking almost apprehensive."Are you sure?" she persisted, as she paused for a moment to place her hand on his forehead and check his temperature "If you're feeling unwell, I think we'd better let Andrea and Aaron know...""I... I don't want to hear them saying they hate me..." he sobbed softly, tears starting to trickle down his cheeks."What? Have they ever said that to you?” Rose gasped, not just horrified but furious, feeling like she could have turned around and punched Aaron Vamcap in the face right then and there."No, but... I know everyone hates me..." was
Before Jullian had the chance to try to defend his boss and insist that he wasn't as bad as he looked, Rose left the room, walking through the mansion corridors until she reached the kitchen, relieved that there was no one around, as expected. After all, she already had a lot on her mind, after what she had heard from Jullian. Of course, she'd realized that the relationship she'd been building with Alec over the last few weeks was perhaps a little more special than just playmates, but... To be called a mother figure? It felt so Permanent.And if there was one thing that wasn't permanent, it was her presence in that house.So it would be terribly cruel to let Jullian, and especially Alec, start to have that image of her as someone who would last in his life. Especially because, she knew what it was like to have someone she could call her mother, but from whom she should never expect affection, presence or attention. And if it was to win a poor child's trust, only to have he
Upon reaching Alec's room, Rose immediately noticed that something was wrong. He still appeared to be lying in exactly the same position she'd left him in, although Jullian had left a sandwich and a note on the desk beside the bed, presumably advising him that he had to leave on Aaron's orders.Even without knowing exactly why she had that exasperating feeling when she saw his small sleeping body huddled between the sheets, Rose went to the door and opened the curtains a little, to let the last rays of afternoon sun light up the room a little more, figuring that a little light would help him get a little excited, when he woke up. Then she finally set the plateful of cookies down beside her, hoping the appetizing smell would also help wake him up, and sat down on the edge of Alec's bed, touching the part of the thick sheets that lay right over his arms. from him.“Hey, Alec. It's me, Rose. Guess what, I finally got permission to bake cookies.” she told him, in a gentle whisper,
“Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Vamcap. Alec has already been medicated and the fever is going down as expected. You two did really well to bring it up so quickly. A little longer and he could have a seizure, but it's under control now. Try to get some rest, yes?” the doctor smiled sympathetically at the two of them, and Rose had to contain a grimace at the way she was treating them as if they were a loving couple desperately concerned about their child.“Thank you, Dr. Ackerman.” she thanked him, knowing it wasn't the poor doctor's fault for not knowing that the only reason she and this man were putting up with each other at that moment was the little boy asleep in the bed next door, completely passed out after taking a few shots.“Do you have any idea what could have caused such a high fever, Doctor?” Sitting in the armchair directly across from Alec's bed, as far away as possible from the armchair Rose was sitting in, next to the headboard, Aaron asked, casting a sharp look in h
"What did you say?" Aaron opened his eyes, immediately putting himself in a fighting stance, as if just the mere sound of her voice triggered that behavior in him.“The things I heard you say on the phone had very noticeable accounting errors.” she explained, crossing her arms over her chest and keeping her gaze on his, to show that it wasn't a mere scowl that would startle her “Maybe it's not very obvious to anyone outside of this business, but if you get your accountant to review it, I'm sure...”“For your information, it was my personal accountant who I was talking to.” he revealed, staring at her like she should be ashamed of herself."Serious?" Rose blinked in disbelief "Well then, I'm sorry to break it to you, but you have the worst accountant in the world."“And on what basis do you say that about a professional who has been in the market for years?” Aaron rolled his eyes irritably.“With the foundation that three and a half years of college gave me.” she snort