Chapter 32 My First Counterattack Against the Rosewood Family
The Harrington family had its own charitable foundation. Nicholas sponsored Daisy through legitimate channels, completely above board.
Daisy successfully went abroad. Before leaving, she made me a copy of that evidence.
"Miss, if I don't make it back, please—you have to get this evidence to someone trustworthy."
I promised her I would.
I'd actually asked her once why she didn't expose them the first time they came after her. Daisy said:
"The world is more complicated than I thought. When I first went to college out of town, I tried contacting some of Mom's former colleagues based on the information she left. Most had died in the line of duty. The rest kept testing me, trying to figure out if I had anything left behind. After that, I never dared trust anyone easily again. If I hadn't desperately needed money, I never would've taken such a risk."
That's when I learned Daisy had been using all the money she earned online for charity work. I was deeply moved. Turns out there's more than one way to live.
I'd died so quietly, so unremarkably, forced by the Rosewood family to save Sabrina. I couldn't accept that fate. How much more unbearable must it be for people like them, carrying such heavy burdens?
---
After handling Daisy's situation, I started monitoring the Rosewood family. The next day, Melissa brought me updates.
"Cate, what a shame—they didn't end up in jail. I checked the announcement. Said they hadn't caused any major harm, so they couldn't prosecute. Just three days detention as a warning."
Even that detention was thanks to Nicholas working behind the scenes. Everything was exactly as I'd expected.
I reassured Melissa. "Don't worry. The first gift I'm sending them hasn't even arrived yet!"
Melissa perked up. "Oh? Give me details."
I told her my next move. Melissa clapped her hands in approval. "Brilliant! I've got friends who run gossip accounts. Send me the posts when you're ready."
"Will do!"
That evening over dinner with Nicholas, I filled him in.
"Good plan. I'll arrange for paparazzi to stake them out. Guarantee you'll be satisfied." Nicholas praised the idea while handling the logistics.
I felt a bit embarrassed. "Nicholas, you've helped me so much. I don't even know how to thank you anymore."
The moment those words left my mouth, I regretted them. What if he asked me to repay him with my body?
Nicholas had done so much for me. Was it wrong to keep rejecting him? But did I... actually like him?
While I was overthinking, Nicholas suddenly scoffed. "Catherine, do you even consider me a friend?"
"Huh?"
I looked at him, confused.
Nicholas set down his utensils, looking ready to have it out with me. "You've cut ties with the Rosewood family. Blake and I are your friends. Every time we help you, you try to find ways to pay us back, to keep your distance. And with Daisy's situation—could you have handled that yourself? Do you have any idea how dangerous those people are?"
I stared at him blankly. In all the time I'd known him, this was the first time I'd heard Nicholas say so much in one go. I'd really pissed him off.
I quickly apologized and promised to make him lots of nice meals as compensation. Only then did Nicholas settle down. The dark cloud over my heart quickly dispersed.
Three days later, all four Rosewood brothers left the police station. They'd barely set foot back home when news exploded across social media.
#Rosewood Group Medical Equipment Quality Fraud, CEO Andrew Cooperating with Police Investigation
#Cardiovascular Specialist James May Face Medical Malpractice Suits
#Genius Painter Michael's Talent Running Dry, Caught in Legal Trouble
#Rising Photography Star Jason Faces Career Crisis
All four brothers had made names for themselves in their respective circles—just not the way they'd hoped. Sharp-eyed netizens quickly connected the dots that they were all family.
I scrolled through my tablet, clicking on a trending thread.
"Oh my god! What did the Rosewood family do? How did all four of them end up at the police station?"
"I've got insider info. Heard Andrew was working with some boss who wanted him and his three brothers. Obviously Andrew refused. Then things got heated..."
"No, no, that's wrong. Michael was dating someone and his boyfriend wanted all of them."
"You're all spreading fake news. I heard they assaulted underage girls!"
Well-meaning netizens spread wild rumors enthusiastically. Melissa's friends kept the momentum going. I watched with immense satisfaction, though honestly, simple rumors seemed too mild a punishment for the Rosewood family.
Besides, this whole storm hadn't touched Sabrina at all.
Nicholas came back from outside with fresh news. "A lot of Rosewood Group's partners heard about this and are demanding to terminate their contracts."
"What about DI?"
Nicholas shook his head. "The Rosewood Group's collaboration with DI wasn't that significant. That promotional video we released didn't make much of a splash anyway."
I understood what he meant. The Rosewood Group dealt in medical equipment, after all. Hard to connect that to DI no matter how hard you tried.
"But there's good news. Rosewood Group stock crashed hard. I took the opportunity to buy up some shares." Nicholas smiled craftily.
He suddenly leaned in, one hand braced on the couch behind me, lowering his center of gravity to look directly at me. "Catherine, do you want to take back the Rosewood Group?"
Staring at his impossibly handsome face so close to mine, my mind wandered. Nicholas alone was better looking than all four Rosewood brothers combined.
He reached up and pinched my cheek, asking again, "What are you thinking about?"
"Huh?" I snapped back to reality. My cheeks and ears burned bright red.
I swatted his hand away, forcibly creating distance. "If you're gonna talk, just talk. Why so close?"
Nicholas chuckled softly and straightened up. "Well? Do you want it?"
His low voice seemed to carry some kind of hypnotic power.
"Can I... really?"
"Of course. Your last name is Rosewood too. Why shouldn't you?"
A spark of ambition suddenly ignited in me. "One step at a time."
Nicholas hummed in agreement and called me to dinner.
The Rosewood family completely exploded over the public opinion crisis. I went to work at DI as usual. When it was time to leave, Blake suddenly asked me to wait for him.
"You need to tell me something?"
Once we were alone in the elevator, I asked.
Blake nodded. "Michael and Jason came to the office looking for you today. I had the front desk turn them away. Not sure if they've left yet. We'll go out together."
When we got downstairs, the targets were nowhere in sight. Blake personally escorted me to Nicholas before leaving, satisfied.
But I had this inexplicable feeling. I was definitely going to run into them today.
Sure enough, Nicholas and I had barely stepped out of the building elevator when we came face to face with Michael and Jason.
"Catherine, let's see you try to run now!" Michael cursed under his breath.
He moved to grab me, but someone's hand clamped down hard on his shoulder. Jason was similarly immobilized.
Nicholas gave them a cold glance. "Whatever you have to say, say it to my security."