Standing on the balcony with a glass of wine in hand, Rose gazed down at the assembly of houses, their exteriors illuminated by white bulbs against the dark sky. She had been there for hours, an overcoat draped loosely around her shoulders. When the door finally creaked open and the sound of footsteps reached her ears, Rose’s lips curved into a sly smile.

“It’s finally happened, Olive. Am I right?” she asked, turning to the young man.

“Yes, though not entirely,” Olive replied flatly.

Under the radiant glow of the balcony lights, Rose took in his appearance. He was a striking man, dressed in a sophisticated blue suit tailored perfectly to his tall, athletic frame. His short black hair was slicked back into a neat ponytail, but the mask obscuring his face added an air of mystery. Even so, his piercing blue eyes remained visible—sharp and intelligent, glinting with a knowing wit. His upright posture exuded effortless elegance, commanding attention with an unspoken authority that marked him as someone of importance.

“Not entirely?” Rose squinted, her tone laced with curiosity. “What do you mean? She isn’t dead?”

“No,” Olive informed her calmly. “She’s fallen into a coma. The doctors can’t say whether she’ll survive.”

Rose sneered, turning her gaze back to the houses below.

“Jeff?” she asked tersely.

“Yes, of course,” Olive replied, his eyes following hers. “He tried to save her.”

“Jeff...” Rose murmured, smirking to herself.

.........

“What has she been up to lately?” Rose questioned as she tossed a file onto the table in front of Jeff and fixed him with a pointed stare.

“Nothing significant, ma’am,” Jeff replied grimly. “If there’s anything you need to know, I’ll inform you immediately.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Really?” Rose leaned back in her chair, a sly smile creeping across her face. “It’s been months now since you’ve provided me with anything other than meaningless updates about Alicia.” She paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. “I hear you’ve fallen in love with her.” Tilting her head, she asked, “Is it true?”

Jeff chuckled. “I must say, someone’s given you false information.”

“I’m relieved to hear that,” Rose said smoothly, standing up and approaching him. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she leaned in and whispered, “Then let’s end this once and for all, Jeff. I want you to get rid of her.”

Jeff’s head snapped up, his face paling to an icy white as he stared at her in shock.

“Happy?” Rose laughed, her tone mocking.

“Not now,” Jeff responded quickly, his voice taut with tension.

“Don’t you want your freedom?” Rose asked, sashaying back to her chair. With her back to him, she continued, “You’ve been yearning to be free, to go wherever you please with your sister. And all of that is thanks to me, Jeff.” She spread her arms theatrically, turning to meet his gaze. “You have the entire Anderson fortune in your grasp. Your twin brother is dead, and no one can challenge your position. Trust me, Jeff—I’ll handle any threat to your standing.”

Settling back into her chair, she added, “This is your chance to live the life you’ve always wanted.”

A tense silence filled the room as Jeff stared at Rose, his jaw tightening, his fists clenching behind his back.

Freedom? He snorted inwardly, his mind racing.

Rose studied his hardened expression, a smirk playing on her lips as she noticed the slight twitch of his jaw.

“It’s one month until White’s birthday party,” she said, her voice turning cold. “You have until then to take care of Alicia. If she’s still alive by that time, I’ll deal with her myself. And you know what happens when I do things myself, don’t you?” She raised an eyebrow, her tone heavy with unspoken menace.

Jeff's jaw tautened as he stared at Rose, a storm of emotions flickering behind his eyes—anger, fear, and something dangerously close to defiance. For a moment, he hesitated, his mind racing with the weight of her demand. Finally, he forced himself to respond, his voice low and strained, “I won’t let you down.” But the words tasted bitter, each syllable a reluctant surrender to her control.

Rose smiled faintly. “I hope not, Jeff.”

.........

“Not only did he let me down,” Rose sneered, “he dared to defy me. What is he thinking? Does he believe he can save himself?”

“What should I do, Mother?” Olive asked, his voice measured but eager.

“You know what to do,” Rose said, her icy gaze bore into him. “Make your decision. It’s up to you.” With that, she turned and strode away, her overcoat billowing slightly behind her.

Left alone, Olive gazed down at the houses below, pulled out his phone and dialled a number.

“Hello...”