Lillian Winter stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with calculation. “You don’t have a choice. If Alex still wants you, that’s our only hope.” Her lips curled into a cruel smirk.
“If he tries to take you to bed, then let him. In fact, I’m hoping he does.” Rose stiffened, her breath catching in her throat.
“M-mom, you’re not serious, are you?!” Rose asked in disbelief, her mother… her mother was suggesting it.
Lillian snorted. “What’s the problem? That’d mean he still has feelings for you.” She crossed her arms, her gaze sharp.
“As long as you can get him back on your hook, we can recover.” Her voice lowered to a near-whisper, but every word cut like a blade. “It’s either that, or you can start getting used to being poor again.”
Rose trembled, her fists clenching so tightly her nails dug into her palms. She had spent years living in luxury. Wearing designer clothes. Driving luxury cars. Living in a mansion.
She couldn’t go back to a normal life. She refused to. She wanted to resist, to fight back. But her mother’s words had already planted fear deep in her heart.
She knew what she had to do. Even if it meant humiliating herself. Even if it meant swallowing her pride.
She had to make Alex forgive her. Or else… Her life of luxury would be over. Forever.
….
Not far away, Ethan Carter had been listening in on Harold Winter and Lillian’s conversation with Rose.
And the more he heard… The wider his eyes became, his expression shifting from shock to utter disbelief.
“What the hell is this?” His mind raced. “Are these people insane?! They’re actually forcing her to go back to Alex?! Not just that—they’re even hoping he’ll… sleep with her?” Ethan felt his blood boiling, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“No! I won’t let this happen! How could they even think of sacrificing someone as perfect as her?! She’s mine! The one destined to stand by my side!” His body tensed, instinctively ready to rush forward and pull her away.
But just as he was about to move… He forced himself to stop. Reality slapped him hard. The humiliation he had suffered earlier in the banquet hall was still fresh in everyone’s minds.
The moment he had been exposed as a fraud. The way people mocked and dismissed him. The fact that Harold and Lillian no longer trusted him.
If he tried to step in now, what would happen? They’d just humiliate him again. No… he couldn’t afford to be humiliated again. He had to be smart about this.
Instead of acting recklessly. He reached for his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen for only a second before he dialed a number.
The call connected almost immediately. A woman’s voice answered.
Smooth. Cool. Unreadable.
“Ethan? You haven’t called me in a while.” Ethan’s grip on the phone tightened.
His tone was serious, urgent. “Lily… I need your help.” The person on the other end? Lily. A woman currently studying abroad. A woman with a special connection to Alex Reid. Because she was his half-sister.
And Ethan was about to use her to turn the tables.
….
Back at the Winter residence. Harold Winter stood beside his car, his eyes locked on Rose, his expression grim and unwavering.
Rose, however, was far from composed. She was seething with frustration, her emotions a chaotic mix of anger, humiliation, and panic.
But most of all… Fear. Fear of losing everything. Her pride screamed at her to resist, to refuse, to throw a tantrum and demand things go back to how they were.
But her survival instincts? They forced her into silence. Because she knew— Without Alex, her luxurious life was over.
Harold’s voice was sharp, cold, and absolute. “Remember this, Rose… our family’s future rests on your shoulders. You must make Alex forgive you.”
“NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.” His stern gaze bore into her, leaving no room for argument.
Then— With a harsh press of the gas pedal, he sped off, leaving her standing alone outside Alex’s private neighborhood.
She was on her own. She took a deep breath. Slowly, she reached into her purse, pulling out a compact mirror. She checked her reflection, quickly adjusting her makeup, ensuring that she looked as flawless and delicate as ever.
Because if she was going to manipulate Alex again. She needed to be perfect. Taking one final breath to steady herself… She walked toward the gated entrance.
But then… Something unexpected happened. She was stopped.
“Excuse me, miss.” A uniformed security guard stepped forward, his stance professional yet firm.
“This is a private residence. No unauthorized visitors are allowed entry.” Rose blinked, momentarily stunned. Her brows furrowed in irritation.
“Do you even know who I am?” she scoffed, flipping her hair back in an attempt to regain control of the situation.
“I’m Rose Winter. The girlfriend of Alex Reid, the CEO of Reid Industries!” She folded her arms, looking at the guard with thinly veiled arrogance.
“Now, step aside. I don’t have time for this nonsense.” The guard, however, remained completely unfazed.
Instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly, as if evaluating whether to even bother entertaining her words. Then, with a calm, measured tone, he responded—
“Miss Winter… is it?” He glanced at a clipboard in his hand, as if double-checking something.
Then, he sighed. “I’m sorry, but CEO Reid has given specific instructions. Anyone by the name of ‘Rose Winter’—is to be permanently denied entry into the estate.” The guard said blocking the way and in the end he added.
“Under all circumstances.”
Rose’s entire body went rigid. Her mind blanked for a second as the words sank in. Then… Her ears started ringing.
“W-What…?” She barely managed to choke out the words.
“You’re saying… Alex banned me?” The guard nodded without hesitation.
“That’s correct, Miss Winter. CEO Reid was very clear about this. You are not to be allowed inside, no matter what you say or do.”
Rose staggered slightly, her breath hitching as she struggled to comprehend what she had just heard.
“He… he actually banned me?!” Her eyes darted around frantically, as if searching for some kind of explanation.
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Bonus Chapters on: 300, 500, 700 Power Stones.
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(A/N: Soon! Some Golden tickets guys!!!)
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