When Rose heard about Alison's disappearance, it felt as if her entire world had crumbled beneath her. Her breath quickened, and she clawed at the top buttons of her shirt, desperate to loosen the suffocating grip of the air around her. The room seemed to close in, pressing against her chest.

How could this happen now? Not when I’m so close...

The thought of Wilson's smirk flashed in her mind, his mocking voice slicing through her thoughts: I told you...

“No!” Rose hissed, shaking her head as she gripped her phone tightly. I won’t let him be right. I can’t lose everything—not now.

Her face hardened as resolve overtook the panic. The bright light from the lamp cast sharp angles on her features, illuminating the steely determination that burned in her eyes. It was as if the real demon inside her had just broken free.

A sudden ring shattered the silence, the sound stabbing into her ears like a blade. Without glancing at the screen, she snatched the phone and barked, "What is it?"

"I'm sorry, Rose."

Adam’s tone sent a jolt of irritation through her. Sorry? He might as well have said nothing at all.

"Adam," she hissed, her voice as sharp as broken glass. "What exactly are you sorry for? Your inability to do the one job I gave you?"

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He sighed on the other end—a soft, infuriating sound that ignited her already-frayed nerves.

"She’s probably hiding out of fear of being arrested. You’ve backed her into a corner, Rose. Don’t underestimate the power of desperation."

Rose’s free hand curled into a fist. She hated how calm he sounded, how logical he always tried to be. Logic wouldn’t save her plans.

"And what are you doing about it?" she snapped.

"I’ll make sure her face is plastered everywhere. She won’t stay hidden long."

Rose closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe. His words were practical, but they felt hollow. She wanted guarantees, not reassurances.

For a moment, Rose let the words sink in. Her shoulders dropped slightly as she exhaled, the tension in her chest easing just enough to speak.

"Fine," she muttered before hanging up. She tossed the phone onto a nearby chair and sank into another, her head falling back.

"Fine," she muttered before hanging up. Tossing the phone onto the chair, she sank into it with a heavy sigh. Her body sagged, but her mind refused to quiet.

Her stomach churned, the unease twisting tighter inside her. It wasn’t just Alison. Something else gnawed at her thoughts.

Alena...

The name hung in her mind like a storm cloud. What if Alena had something to do with Alison’s disappearance? The possibility crawled under her skin. Wilson’s warning replayed in her head, an incessant whisper she couldn’t ignore.

Recalling her tense confrontation with Alena in the study, Rose's eyes narrowed, her mind churning. A sudden, electrifying thought struck her: What if she’s regained her memories? Was Alena truly being rebellious, or was Rose simply overthinking it?

The thought struck her hard, her breath catching. A chill ran down her spine as the weight of that possibility settled over her. It wasn’t just Alison missing—it was control slipping through her fingers.

For a moment, Rose’s façade cracked. A flicker of fear passed through her eyes, raw and unguarded. But just as quickly, she straightened, her lips pressing into a thin, resolute line.

No. She couldn’t afford to fall apart. Not now. Not when everything depended on her.

Her hand rested on the edge of the chair, nails digging into the fabric. If Alena has betrayed me… I’ll deal with her. The thought was ice-cold, devoid of hesitation. Rose had sacrificed too much to let anyone stand in her way now.