ROSALINE’S POV:“Fancy seeing you here,” said a familiar voice. I turned around to come face-to-face with Derrick, and he shot me that cheeky grin that left me smiling.I had just finished my meeting with the contractor and given Peace the check for her sister. I was just about to head up to the palace when I bumped into him. Unlike the last time we met, I got a better look at him now that it was daytime.He had everything a regular gardener would have: big rubber boots, green overall, and dirt mixed with sweat on his face. I noticed that he was panting; had he been running? As though he was able to read my mind, he said,“I saw you from afar and had to jog to catch up to you. I did not want to yell since I did not know your name, and servants are not allowed to make much noise,” he explained with a nervous chuckle. His hand found his nape as his eyes took me in from head to toe. “Wow, you look so nice—really nice. If this is what one of Luna's maids dressed like, I bet I won't be ab

ROSALINE’S POV:I did not know how to feel about this. Maybe that was why I was feeling everything at the same time. Happy, sad, disappointed, yet proud.I was happy because I had finally gotten to spend a calm and peaceful night with my partner in what felt like forever. but I was sad because, to do that, my daughter had to spend it alone and on the cold floor. I was disappointed in myself for allowing my child to be the one to bring us together, yet I am so proud of her. She put our love over her comfort.She is the greatest blessing the moon goddess has given us.Silently, Damien picked up her sleeping form and laid her on the bed. He placed a swift kiss on her forehead before pressing his against hers. For a moment, he said and did nothing; it looked like he was silently telling her something.He rose to his feet and shot me a glance before leaving the room without saying another word. Seriously? I followed after him and shut the door to Ariana’s room silently.“Where are you goi

ROSALINE’S POV: Was I sure about this? No. Was a part of me screaming at me to tell him to forget about all that I said and let us stay here because I felt safest when we were around him? Yes.  But would my pride let me? no. Ariana had tears streaming down her eyes like a waterfall and snot leaking out of her nose. Her eyes held so much anger and pain that it only worsened my feelings about all of this. “But I do not want to leave! I want to stay here with Daddy!" She screamed, stomping her feet on the floor and gaining the attention of a few of the servants who passed by with our luggage; they too had sad expressions on their faces. “Ariana, you won’t understand, but this is for the best; we are not safe here,” I said gently, trying to get her to understand, but I knew it was pointless. “But it was out there that Aunty Gwen got attacked by those men! And

ROSALINE’S POV:The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a pair of feral silver ones. They stared directly at me with so much intensity that it had me sinking even deeper into the bed. I summoned the courage to sit up slowly, and I looked around. We were back at the palace—his room, to be precise. It was a lot colder than usual, yet I could feel the heat of his rage from here. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but that was when everything came flooding in.I cried.I let it all out; I did not hold anything back. I did not care how miserable and ugly I looked at that moment. I did not care about anything; all I wanted was my daughter. I wanted to know if she was safe or scared. Who are the men who took her, and were they maltreating her?My shoulders trembled, and more tears slipped past my eyes like a river. It felt like my body could not take it anymore.Damien did nothing. He only watched me; I was not even sure if he was blinking. Even through the tears in my eyes, I coul

DAMIEN’S POV: I am not in the least surprised. I knew my father was a monster the moment I looked into his eyes as a child. I see my mother and Rosaline’s faces twist with disgust and horror, but mine does not even flinch. “How could you?” My mother asked, and I could not deny that I hated seeing her like this—so heartbroken and hurt.  She looked at my father like she was looking at some sort of demon. And he was, but only I knew that. My gaze shifted to my wife, and even though she had a disgusted look, she did not look even a bit surprised. Why was that? Was she too angry to be surprised? Or was there a possibility she knew about this? “What could I have done? She could have ruined my image, and you would have left me!” My father snapped, but I would like to believe I was mistaken when I heard a hint of fear in his tone. But certainly, I was mistaken. My father feared nothing, not even l