Roseline's POV
"Sister, I have heard that we are going to be homeless," one of the kids asked, concern etched on his face.
He is a teenager so he understands things better than other kids in this orphanage. The others gathered around, their innocent eyes filled with worry.
"Is this true, sister?"
"Where will we go then?"
"This is our home."
The kids asked in their broken voices.
"This is our home and we will stay here only. Nothing is going to happen like that," I assured them.
Emma was standing silently, as she still didn't think that we would be able to save this orphanage. But I am confident that today we are going to win the competition.
"It is a very important day for me and your sister Emma, Wish us luck."
The children huddled around me, their small arms embracing me, showering me with their innocent love and wish for success. Their sweet voices filled the air with encouragement and hope.
After smiling from ear to ear, I stood up. All I want is for these kids to stay happy.
As we made our way towards the exit, we found Liam standing at the exit.
"I would have accompanied you, but you know I didn't get the leave," he apologized, regret tugging in his voice.
"It's ok, Liam." I nodded, understanding his predicament. "And your job is also important until our startup takes off."
The idea of the startup was mine, as I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and serve society at the same time. Emma and Liam are helping me with it.
"All the best," he smiled, his voice filled with goodwill and his eyes radiating with honesty. "But remember, whatever the result, maybe you are not going to bend in front of that man. We are into this together and we will surely find some way out of it."
I just thanked him again, ignoring the last request.
"Liam, I am also going with her," Emma said, looking slightly pissed off.
"All the best to you too, Emma."
"Thanks," she said, rolling her eyes. She doesn't like it whenever Liam talks to me.
Our conversation was cut short as the cab arrived. Without wasting any time, we just hoped in, as we didn't want to get late. I kept rubbing my palms together anxiously, attempting to calm the nerves that threatened to overwhelm me.
It is a very important day for us, as hundreds of lives are dependent on the result. The weight of responsibility pressed on my shoulder, urging me forward.
The car came to a halt with a screech. I saw a massive building standing proudly in front of us. We didn't have much time so we just walked inside instead of appreciating its beauty.
We did the entry and all the formalities before the volunteer assigned us seats. Out of all the ventures, only 5 have been selected and now only one is going to be lucky enough to get the investment.
The room burst with anticipation as the program commenced and the host took the stage, his words blending into a blur as my nerves took center stage.
"And now let us welcome our esteemed chief guest, the investor behind the winning project, Mr. Vincenzo De' Luca."
The room erupted in applause, everyone rising to their feet as the host announced his name My world stopped the moment I heard his name. My eyes are wide and my jaw has dropped. Shock and disbelief coursed through me.
Why, God, why?
Why has it to be him?
How didn't I know the investor in this project?
The air suddenly became thick as he walked on the stage. As usual, his face was stoic and his presence exhaled power and authority.
Standing in the middle of the stage, his eyes scanned the audience and stopped on me, as I was the only one who didn't stand up in his respect.
"Wow! He is so handsome."
"More gorgeous than he looks in magazines and interviews."
I could hear girls mumbling among themselves, appreciating his striking looks. But they don't know that, as much as he is attractive from the outside, his heart is black.
One of his eyebrows was raised, indicating that he was also surprised to see me there. Emma noticed it and she nudged me to react. With a sudden jolt, I stood up, and everyone else took their seat.
Emma pulled me down and my cheeks turned crimson red, overwhelmed by the embarrassment of drawing attention to myself.
I could feel the weight of his gaze, amusement dancing in his eyes. The intensity of his presence sent shivers down my spine, fueling a fierce desire to scratch off his face.
Ignoring the growing tension in the room, he shoved his hand in his pocket and walked to the podium.
The room hushed as he reached the podium, his commanding presence casting a shadow over the audience. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of fear and defiance surging within me. I refused to let his intimidating aura break my resolve.
With a calculated pause, his eyes scanned the crowd once again and lingered on mine. The silence was suffocating.
He finally took hold of the mic, and the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. The room held its breath as anticipation mingled with trepidation.
"I am glad to see such strong participation in this program. But only the best is going to emerge as the winner and I hope my team has performed its task diligently." His eyes moved around, this time intentionally avoiding my gaze.
He looked down to check the name of the winner.
I know he does not speak much so he is not going to waste time announcing the winner. I just hope that he doesn't do me injustice. He would respect the talent and not bring personal grudges in between.
Subconsciously, my palms came together and my fingers intertwined, while my brain was continuously chanting God's name.
Please, God! Please, it has to be us! Please.
Suddenly his gaze lifted, meeting mine with a flicker of devilishness gleaming in his eyes. He didn't care that the rest of the audience noticed him staring at me.
For the first time, I caught a glimpse of a twisted smile, a hint of mockery and a challenge that danced at the corner of his lips. The suspense thickened, threatening to consume me entirely.
The anticipation hung in the air like a heavy fog, choking my every breath, my heart drumming on the edge of an explosion. I know he was dragging the moment intentionally.
And then, in a moment that felt both eternal and fleeting, his lips parted to reveal the long-awaited verdict. My eyes squeezed shut with anticipation as his voice cut through the silence like a sharp blade.
"And the winner is..."
Roseline's POV"And the winner is..."My eyes snapped open as he held on to a moment of silence. His lips parted with his gaze fixated on me as he announced the winner, as if he were waiting for me to open my eyes."None!""Huh?""What?""How is this possible?"I could hear the murmurings of the audience, which was as surprised as me. My body froze in its place, drained of energy. I can't even move my finger; my eyes are locked on him.Now, I am 100 percent sure that the winner was our venture and he has done this on purpose. He wants me to bend to his will and this seems the only way for him."Though the competition was fierce, none of the ventures were deemed worthy of the investment," he announced, disappointment lingering in the air. "But do not be disheartened. If you aspire to achieve something great in your life, you must learn to embrace failure as well. I encourage you to participate again and come up with even better ideas. Best of luck."With his final words, he walked off
Roseline's POVIt was sunset time, and sunlight was casting warm hues across the area.Colorful toys were scattered around the garden as children of various ages were engrossed in their games. Their laughter fills the air, creating an atmosphere of innocent happiness.My eyes moved toward the two kids who were engaged in an imaginative adventure with a toy pirate ship. They laugh as they mimic the sound of crashing waves and engage in a pretend sword fight, their young minds filled with wonder and imagination.Nothing is new here; after taking an afternoon nap and completing their homework, kids play together. It must be another usual day for them, but they don't know that havoc is waiting for them.Today is the day when the devil promised to ruin everything. As it is Sunday, Liam is also here. I have been spending time with kids to distract my mind and forget what he said, but it seems impossible to me."Rose, the stress is visible on your face. Don't worry so much. You will fall ill.
Roseline's POVAnd just like that, I was married!I never thought, even in my wildest dreams, that I would get married in this way. Though I didn't want a big, fat wedding party, the least I was expecting was to marry a man of my choice at a small gathering at our orphanage in the presence of all the lovely kids with the blessing of my sister Mary.But I am not surprised because life has never given me what I wanted.I have always tried to stay optimistic but now all I can see is darkness because of the man sitting beside me, who is now my husband in the eyes of the law but I won't ever be able to accept anything from him with my heart.The screeching of the car abruptly jolted me from my thoughts as it came to a halt. I turned my gaze towards him, awaiting his words, though my heart braced itself for disappointment."Listen to me." His words caught my attention.I just tilted my head in his direction instead of answering anything."As much as my grandfather was excited to meet you, h
As I don't want to create any issues, I did what he wanted for now. He gestured something to one of the female house helpers. Reluctantly, I followed him into the room, and my curiosity piqued.We passed through many rooms before he finally stopped in front of one. He typed the passcode and the door to the room opened. I guess the room is his. As the door swung open, my eyes widened, taking in the breathtaking sight before me.The room exuded an aura of romance and passion. The bed, adorned with delicate red flowers, was a centerpiece of beauty, complemented by drapes cascading gracefully and heart-shaped red pillows placed meticulously. The air was filled with the scent of scented candles, adding to the ambiance.Now my nervousness has taken its toll. Is he going to do all this? Did he ask his servants to do this?My nerves tingled with anticipation, unsure of what lay ahead. I tried to steady my racing heart, reminding myself that this was merely a charade, a façade we had to mainta
Roseline's POVAs he leaned in closer, my instincts kicked in, and I instinctively took a step back to create some distance between us. But to my dismay, this didn't stop him; he also moved forward, closing the distance between us.In my attempt to retreat, I stumbled and collided with an object behind me, which I hadn't noticed before. My surroundings had been a blur, and I hadn't taken the time to properly observe his room.My hands were still on my back and I was still breathing heavily. I curved myself as much as I could and he kept on leaning over me.Now, he was so close that his hot breath caressed my face, his intense gaze fixated on my numb lips, and the contrast of his cold body sent shivers down my spine.Confusion overwhelmed me. This was the first time I had ever been in such proximity to a man, and I couldn't comprehend the sensations coursing through me.He enveloped me in his arms, and I involuntarily held my breath, afraid that any intake of air would bring our bodies
Roseline's POVThankfully, the dress I found happened to be a knee-length midi dress, which was a relief.When I came out, he was nowhere to be found. Has he gone somewhere?Why do I care about his whereabouts? Perhaps there was a lingering sense of curiosity or concern, despite my earlier frustrations.Shrugging off those thoughts, I decided to sit down on the bed. To my surprise, the mattress felt incredibly soft and comfortable. The temptation to lie down and indulge in a deep sleep washed over me, but I hesitated. After all, it wasn't my home, and I didn't want to embarrass myself further in front of the person I referred to as a devil.My eyes were moving around when they abruptly stopped at a chocolate box. I found myself drawn to it. Unable to resist, I walked towards it.The anticipation built up as I opened the box, revealing a treasure trove of caramel cubes, each delicately wrapped in golden paper. The sight made my mouth water, and my craving for caramel took hold. It was
Roseline's POV"I want caramel."I moved my hand up to give him the caramel I was holding."From your lips."His eyes darkened as he stared deeply at the corners of my lips, which were smeared by my fingers.No!"That you stole from me," he added.I can see the desire flickering in his eyes, an ominous hunger that both terrifies and intrigues me.Then, without any warning, his hand moved up and his fingers reached out to me, his fingertips brushing against my lips. A jolt of electricity courses through my veins, sending shivers cascading down my spine. My breath catches in my throat as my skin prickles with anticipation.My eyes widened, and my senses heightened as I felt his touch. It's as if a current of energy passes between us, an invisible connection that defies explanation. I struggled to maintain my composure, my heart pounding in her chest.It was the first time he had touched me and I was already melting under him.I can't let him control my body.His touch lingers, his thumb
Roseline's POVI was standing in front of my small wooden house, engulfed in merciless flames.Smoke billows from shattered windows, obscuring my view and making it difficult for me to scream. Fear clenches my heart as I call out for my parents, and in reverting, I could hear nothing else but their agonizing screams.I know they are burning inside and I wanted to help them, to rescue them but I was held back by two strong arms who are behind this fire.I wiggled, screamed, thrashed, and did everything in my power to make myself free from his clutches, but nothing worked.I could see my parents hugging each other, barely visible amidst the engulfing blaze."Let me go!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.I just wanted to run to my parents to save them or to get myself burned along with them, as I don't have anyone else in this world than them. And I can't stay without them; they are my life, my everything."No! Rose, no! Don't come here," I heard my mother shouting in between her painfu