In the imposing mansion, located a considerable distance from the capital, the distinguished elders of the powerful and influential Valois family were gathered. In the spacious room, a tense atmosphere enveloped everyone, while a photograph printed in the newspaper of Duncan’s widow lay on the table. That mysterious image, which captured Rosalie in the arms of an unknown man, triggered a heated discussion among those present. Among the members of the Valois lineage, one of them dared to rise, his voice resonating with an intensity that eclipsed the others. It was Victor Valois, whose statement echoed through the room, echoing the indignation that pervaded the atmosphere. He was Duncan’s uncle. " The widow is staining the holy name of the Valois! Duncan left this world recently, and she allows herself to be seen publicly, wrapped in the arms of a stranger!" Victor’s words echoed like thunder, winning the attention of all present, as he proceeded with his defamatory speech against Ros
Everyone was waiting for Ambrosina’s answer, but someone else stood up at the table. The mood was tense, while Rosalie could hear the beats of her heart, however, no way she could deliver François that way. I knew the Valois could hurt him, because for them, all that mattered was the image of the Valois. At that moment, Louie Valois said: " We reached a terrible impasse then, Rosalie. Yet I am willing to sacrifice myself for the good of the family!" All pairs of eyes turned to Louie, including Rosalie’s. " What are you suggesting, Louie?" asked the elder. Louie turned her gaze to Rosalie, and she saw a gleam of triumph in those biting eyes. " I will marry Rosalie, and put an end to rumors. The family will remain strong, and everything will still belong to the Valois. We won’t risk her giving anything to some random man!" Rosalie stood up, feeling outraged at Louie’s totally unreasonable proposal. "Damn! I was planning this from the beginning!" Rosalie watched helplessly as
Rosalie felt disgusted, as Louie smiled triumphantly. But she knew that was the only way to preserve her power, and she needed that power to go after Duncan’s killer. She and Louie were taken to a parlor, where all the wedding details were settled. Including the date. Rosalie was again taken to another place, and then she saw makeup artists, hairdressers entering the huge room to which she was put. Suddenly, she saw what was to come. Her hair was carefully combed and cared for, and a dark blue dress prepared for her. When everything was ready, she was led by bodyguards to the main room, where the reception with the press would take place. Their engagement would be announced on the same day. "Oh God, if Duncan were here" The whole room was prepared for the arrival of journalists, there were vases of white and red flowers everywhere, numerous chairs distributed in rows. And in the center, two huge mahogany armchairs, quilted in wine color. One of them looked like a throne, a
A wave of terror swept through Rosalie’s body, leaving her paralyzed by François’s puzzling question. Her arms lifted, holding her wrists firmly, holding her captive in bed. Her intense and penetrating gaze enveloped her completely, leaving her with a sense of impotence and uncertainty. As she tried to process the situation, she asked herself, "Has he always been this domineering?"The question echoed incessantly in his mind, confusing his thoughts and increasing the tension that hung in the air. Amid the heavy silence, François insisted, repeating the question. At this time, Rosalie found the courage to face the situation. She gathered forces and finally let her voice manifest, breaking the momentary blockade that prevented her from expressing herself.With a mixture of apprehension and determination, she asked:" What are you doing here? " Your voice sounded trembling.When he did not answer her question, but still kept her in bed, Rosalie felt like she was sinking into an abyss. "
Upon hearing Rosalie’s answer, Duncan was surprised and perplexed. She felt as if she had been hit hard, as if she had been used all that time she was by her side. The coldness with which she spoke about the need to have a man by her side to support her in business caused a feeling of betrayal and disappointment to invade him. The reality that Rosalie was willing to marry her late husband’s brother, knowing all the atrocities Louie had committed, shook Duncan to the core. It was as if the ground opened beneath his feet, leaving him aimless and without understanding Rosalie’s true motivations. Feeling used and deceived, Duncan struggled to find words, while a mixture of anger and sadness flooded his being. The woman he thought was the woman of his life, the one for whom he was willing to face any challenge, seemed to have a dark and selfish side that he did not know. The heavy silence hovered between them, leaving a growing emptiness and mistrust. Duncan found himself questioning th
A few days later, Rosalie woke up with the phone ringing repeatedly. She felt her whole body aching, she had not been able to sleep well at night, and ended up drinking some wine. When she answered the call, her voice was deep and hoarse. " Hello?" She felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Eleanor’s voice across the line was urgent. " Mrs. Valois, you need to come to the company immediately." Rosalie sat immediately on the bed, feeling her whole body be on alert. " What is happening Leonor?" " Madam, come to the company immediately." The line went mute and Rosalie stood up immediately. She got ready quickly and went to the company. When Rosalie entered her room, Leonor entered then several phones were ringing. She looked at her assistant and asked: " What is happening Leonor? "" Ma'am, the Lecomte Group attacked the Empire Group. They began to make absurd deals with several of our clients. Their prices are so cheap that it is impossible to be refused! Several of our customer
Rosalie was immersed in her thoughts, meticulously listing all strategies that could be adopted to reverse the situation of the Empire Group, which continued to lose customers. While concentrating on the solutions, his gaze for a moment turned to the clock on the wall, revealing that time was advancing, and it was past ten o'clock. "I have to go home, spending the night here planning won’t do any good." "I just can’t understand why the Lecomte Group is doing that. They will not profit by selling their products at a price as absurdly low as these, it seems that it is only to sink us, regardless if they go together in the process" At that moment, she noticed that Louie had dragged her chair closer to her, creating an uncomfortable closeness. The uncomfortable sensation caused Rosalie to walk away, gently rebuking him: " You don’t have to get that close. " His voice had undeniable firmness, marking a clear border between them. It wasn’t because she had asked for your help that she
Rosalie looked at the man in front of her, her eyes finding François’s. At that moment, she could clearly perceive the indignation stamped on her face in response to her decision to marry Duncan’s brother Louie. But there was something more to François' expression, something other than mere feelings of indignation. He seemed genuinely angry that Louie belonged to Duncan’s family. As a heavy sigh escaped from Rosalie’s lips, the complications of the situation weighed on her mind. She could not simply ignore the fact that there was an imminent threat to François' life. If he knew the whole truth, if she told him about the sinister plans of the Valois family elders, what could he do? Would he be able to face the powerful influence of that ancestral lineage, which spanned generations and had much influence? This uncertainty led Rosalie to reflect on the difficult choices before her. "Everything seems so difficult since Duncan’s death, I cannot simply allow François who protected me all