Pure happiness.

The only two words that could possibly describe Rose's face after she looked at her ring-and kept looking at her every passing second until we reached my pent house. "I love it," she would remark over and over, making my widening grin widen even more.

"You earned it," I told her and she'd sigh, and drop her head or lift her hand and look at it even more.

She was sleeping calmly in my room while I gathered her things that Aurden's group brought me in a neat pile on top of the small circular coffee table in the living room. I roamed the place, checking for an oblivion aimlessly until my eyelids became heavy and a yawn forced itself out of my lips.

I pulled two cushions for the bed and tossed them to the makeshift bed I built on the floor next to my bed. Sleeping next to Rose would tremendously boost up her confidence of having me under her hold, something I really don't want, especially after my 'very cute' proposal at the store.

At least it made her happy, nothing would balance with the smile I created. Nothing in the whole damn world.

"He proposed, mom," her voice came out muffled and incoherent at first. "Today, I wear a ring around my finger."

"Rose?" I lifted my head too high to check her, but I was only met with soft snores and a roll of her body across the mattress, pulling all the sheets to roll around her like a wrap.

●●●

I wake up hours after from a loud scream that echoed throughout the empty house. "Not him!" she'd yell multiple times and I found myself crawling on top of the bed next to her in a matter of seconds.

"Rose," I shook her shoulders gently to awake her and she turned her head to the side sharply, breathing very heavily, her chest rising with every deep inhale.

"Rose, wake up," I shook her again and swept her sweat matted hair from over her face. She coughed and moved away from me and rubbed her face with her face roughly.

"Rose," I pulled her against the headboard and cupped her cheeks with my hands. Her eyes slowly opened to my simple gesture and she exhaled sharply the moment her eyes met mine. Her hands covered mine quickly and she closed her eyes again and rested her face against our coupled hands.

"We need to talk about something," she breathed then opened her eyes and rested my hands and hers in her lap.

I nodded, not wanting to break the silence that stretches every time he clasps her lips closed.

"I lied," she started. "I talked to my father today and yesterday."

Silence.

"He told me he'd enroll me inside his gang again, forcefully this time, if I didn't help him. He said he'd kill you whatsoever and my life would go in that deal if I didn't consciously agree to his terms."

"And you did?"

"That's not the point, Ethen, I—"

"Did you agree or not, Rose?!" my temper was getting the best of me, snaking to my mind and controlling it with its poison.

"Yes," she said, but was quick to defend herself. "But that's only because I want him to trust you."

"What about my trust?"

"I know myself. I wouldn't do anything to harm you, ever."

I shook my head, backing away from her and taking my hand from around her shaking fingers.

"Did you really want to protect me today?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I care for you, Ethen," the words fell out of her mouth like she had them practiced for a long time.

"Why?"

"Because I don't have anyone else to care for."

"So you'd sell me to your father's dogs if I wasn't the only one in your life?"

"No."

"You just said that, Rose."

"I can't think straight."

"What happened after you enrolled?"

"This," she pulled the strap of her shirt to the side to reveal her shoulder. Her finger pointed to the highly visible beaming spot underneath her skin, glowing with every move she makes. "Tracking system."

"He knew you told me?"

"No," she shook her head and pulled back her thick strap after one last glance. "I told him I was with you though."

"He's okay with it, isn't he," I replied, more of a statement.

"Of course," she grimaced. "Anything that he thinks would harm you is welcomed."

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Grace and I are going out. My dad postponed the wedding after her request."

"He postponed it?"

"You didn't know?"

"You never told me."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm the groom," I rolled my eyes. "Plus, all the paperwork—"

"Is done by my father, you already signed a lot."

"We need to work on our communication."

"What?"

"Don't hide anything from me."

"I'm not."

I nodded solidly. "Go back to sleep."

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, Rosabella. You didn't."

●●●

It wasn't a calm morning when I woke up in an empty room with a tidied bed and a missing Rose, and it was sure as hell wasn't magical when I drove my car to her damned father's mansion.

Anger at that time wasn't just a word to describe my state of mind, neither was it to name the fury in my names, but I was anger myself. My heart beating insanely fast in my chest and my blood cruising through my veins in a speed that I could feel made me push past the first guards on the door and I recognized one of them as the one I fought with last time I stepped inside the property.

"You can't come in," one of the new guards, well at least I never saw him, stepped in front of me, blocking Jonathan's office.

"I never asked for your permission," I tried lowering his extended hand but it never budged, and neither did he.

"He's in an important meeting right now."

I rolled my eyes then looked back at him. "Are you going to let me in or are you giving up on life altogether?"

"Sir—"

"Move," I stepped closer to him, towering over him.

"Orders are orders—"

"And don't give a shit," was the last thing I said before I bent his arm from the elbow and pulled it behind his back in one swift move then locked the other arm with my hand as I pressed him to the closed door, his back now facing me. "Tell your master that you're coming in."

"No."

With his hair fisted with my hand, I slammed his head against the wall and saw him as his bulky body loosened and as he slowly slid down the wall and lay like a dead body on the floor.

My fingers curled around the handle but I chose not to open it after seconds of thinking.

"...do this?" his recognizable voice came out like a whisper.

"Yes, and I'm pretty sure the money you're affording would be a push in that direction."

"Excellent. And do you think his assistant would agree on the same rules as you?" Jonathan asked. I knew that other voice, but I couldn't defiantly put my finger on its holder.

"No, I don't think so. He's really dedicated to him and I guess if you ever proposed such an idea, you'd be in the spotlight in no time."

"Alright, I think you're enough to do that job for now anyways. We should wish Hendrix good luck with trying to keep with me."

"He won't believe his own ears," that very familiar voice giggled.

"You chose the best," he said and I heard shifting. "Everything you need, you come to me. And hey, buy something black for his funeral."

With that being said, I pushed open the door with all my power. Not only did the mention of my potential funeral shake my nerves, but my urge to find out who the hell was he talking to, overtook and controlled my actions. His face came into view first, blocking away every other thing I might have looked at.

The shock wasn't evident on his face; nothing was expressed on his wrinkled skin. Nothing except the tiniest of a smug smirk that curved the sides of his thin lips.

"Speak of the devil," he announced loudly, opening his arms to the side like he's performing his statement in every possible way.

Disbelieve was next to rule my senses as I turned away from him and to the other person.

"And look who we have here!" I yelled, my voice booming inside the small office. "Miss Amanda White in the flesh, my trusted secretary!"

"Mr. Hendrix, I—"

"You shut the fuck up, Amanda!" I yelled again then snapped my head back to Jonathan. "Is this your plan? To turn everyone against me?!"

He shook his head dismissing me in the most degrading manner and I fought the growing urge to slam his body against the wall and break his fucking skull.

"I don't want to see your face again," I looked over to Amanda, not believing she'd ever turn on me that quickly...for money. "Never."

"I can defend myself—"

"Shut up!" I yelled again, irritated by her voice. "You were one of the highly paid secretaries in this state, and yet you need more?! You should've told me, but go to him?!"

I could feel blood rush to my face from anger, slowly changing its color.

"Mr.Ethen, please—"

"One more word, and I'll snap your neck!" I threatened her and she took a step back, like my words had physically hit her. "I said I don't want to hear your voice!"

"You're going to pay for this," I motioned with my finger to his office, nodding my head at every word. "All of this!"

"Show me what you're going to do, Hendrix," he smirked and I walked backwards towards the door.

"I can do a lot, Smith," my hands found the handles and I pushed the door open. "Countdown your days from now."

"Hilarious," his laugh filled the room in a suffocating sound that disturbed me.

"I'm warning you, Jonathan. I swear in the name of God that I'm going to make you pay for everything you're doing. Step back from trying to destruct me, because this ain't happening! I won't fucking allow it!" I turned my head slowly to Amanda, my nerves so tight beneath my skin, slowing my motion. "And you're fired."