Chapter 119 Illusion!

Chapter 119 Drunk!
|| Author POV ||

Rosa flinched at his sudden snap.

“Are you the one who fell in front of my car weeks ago? My brakes failed. That was you, right?”

Rosa’s pulse quickened. Memories going back to the night she escaped. She forced her gaze downward, refusing to meet his eyes.

“I’m sorry for what happened. Your life could have ended because of me. I never got the chance to apologize. You just ran away like you’ve seen a ghost. I tried calling but you were gone. At least I caught a glimpse of you in the dark, I recognized you. If I hadn’t turned the wheel that moment, things could’ve been worse.”

Rosa’s fingers tightened around the plastic cup. “It’s.. it’s okay.”

He leaned slightly forward, “No, really. I’m sorry. I’m responsible for the accident. My hand has broken too. Did you go to the hospital? I’m sure you must have been hurt. I’ll compensate you for everything.”

Rosa widened her eyes. “No. I’m fine.”

“No, it’s not fine. Just mention the amount.”

Rosa looked back and forth into his eyes. Her brows knitted. Judging by his old money shirt and expensive watch, she could tell he belonged to a wealthy family. Young man.

But what did he think of himself?

“I don’t need anything. I’m fine. Please, take your drink before the ice melts.”

He didn’t budge. “I’m Adrian.”

He offered a wide handsome smile.

Rosa placed the drink on the counter with a stiff nod, silently hoping he would just leave. But instead, he stayed, nodding once before pointing toward the coffee machine.

Rosa followed his finger confusedly. “The machine?”

Adrian chuckled softly. “Yeah. It’s flashing red. Seems like it needs a refill.”

Rosa blinked, realizing he was right. Quickly, she went to adjust it, embarrassed that she hadn’t noticed. Adrian leaned on the counter, watching her quietly.

“You really don’t want any compensation?” he asked again in a gentle tone. “I’d feel guilty if I just let it go.”

Rosa kept her back to him, refilling the machine with trembling hands. “I told you, I don’t need anything. Please, just forget about it. It was just a small scratch. It’s fine.”

Adrian looked away with a quiet sigh. “Then, can I at least get another drink? The most expensive one.”

Rosa hesitated. Her lips pressed tight but she gave a nod and went to prepare it. When she returned, his eyes were already on her. A smile tugged at his mouth. He stared at her beautiful eyes.

Baby purple.

“You’re so cute, you know?”

Rosa’s breath faltered. She froze in place. The cup started trembling in her hand and her brows knitted tight.

The unease crept up her spine until her body began to shake.

“Please, just take it.” Rosa whispered in a fragile voice, desperate to end the moment.

She moved forward to place the drink on the counter, but Adrian was quicker. He slid his card into the pay machine. The sharp beep cut through the tension.

“That’s for the cute girl.” he winked at Rosalie.

And before she could react, he was gone, leaving her breathless and shivering.

Rosa blankly stared at the exit. Her trembling eyes sweeped over the faces of the customers seated across the café. Suddenly every sound blurred into a hollow hum. Her head began to spin.

She placed the untouched drink on the counter with shaky hands, then slowly slid down behind it and pressed her back against the cold wood.

Her breaths came short and uneven. Rosa hugged her knees, trying to steady herself and stay invisible.

She doesn’t understand something...

Why? Why does every man try to pull her into their orbit?

Rosa pressed her palms over her ears but her own frantic heartbeat was louder than the chatter outside.

|| AT NIGHT ||

Aria pushed open the door to Rosa’s room. “Rosa?”

Rosa turned. Her weary eyes landed on her friend who was dressed up as if ready to step into the night. “Get ready.” Aria said, walking closer. “We’re going somewhere.”

“Where?”

“Don’t ask. Just trust me. Be downstairs in ten.”

Without another word, Aria turned and left.

Rosa sat frozen for a moment. But in the end, she rose quietly because she couldn’t say no to Aria.

Rosa slipped into a simple frock, slinging a small bag across her chest. When she walked downstairs, Aria was already waiting and together they stepped out of the house. Noah was standing by the car with his hands in his pockets.

They climbed in, Aria settled into the front seat with Noah while Rosa leaned against the window in the back. Her forehead almost pressed to the glass.

The city lights blurred past and only her reflection was staring back at her with hollow eyes.

The car slowed to a stop. Startled, Rosa straightened and blinked. They got out of the car.

Music pulsed faintly from within. Neon spilled across the pavement. A sleek sign glimmered above the doors.

The lavish club entrance loomed before them. People were slipping in and out, dressed in glitter and silk.

Aria linked their arms and tugged her gently. “Come on, let’s go inside. Don’t overthink. A club isn’t that bad.”

Noah followed the girls quietly and they found seats at the counter.

Rosa sat stiffly. Her gaze darted everywhere. The sharp smell of alcohol, the dizzying neon and the bass pounded through her chest. It all felt wrong. Alien.

She had never stepped into a place like this before.

A soft nudge broke her thoughts. Aria leaned close “Rosalie.”

Rosa turned her head at Aria.

“Happy birthday.” Aria whispered with a warm smile tugging at her lips.

Rosa’s heartbeat stopped for a moment.

Birthday.

It was her birthday and she didn’t even remember. She finally turned twenty-two. Time flies really fast.

Rosa swallowed hard and quickly gathered her scattered thoughts. “Thank you, Aria.” she murmured.

Aria’s smile softened. “I wanted to surprise you properly, but... things aren’t perfect. So I brought you here. There are plenty of drinks that can ease your mind, even if just for a moment. Order whatever you like, it’s on me.”

Rosa lowered her eyes. Her chest tightened. She wanted it.

Even if just for a fleeting moment, she wanted to escape the suffocation and feel a hint of peace amid the storm in her heart.

Noah waved at the bartender, quietly ordering a few light drinks. When the drinks arrived, Rosa’s hand trembled when she lifted the tiny glass.

Drinking wasn’t something good but tonight, she doesn’t care about anything.

The sharp taste hit her tongue and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her fingers tightened around the glass. Her throat burned slightly, yet she forced herself to swallow, slowly emptying it.

Aria chatted with Noah. Laughter rang in the background while Rosa drifted into her own quiet, uneasy world. The room was spinning just slightly around her.

The bartender kept refilling the tiny glasses, and Rosa forced each one down. The sensation was foreign and dizzying. She rested her forehead on the counter, staring blankly at the blur of couples laughing and chatting around her.

They looked happy. Free. Untouchable. Unlike her.

Her chest tightened and eyes stung. Another glass found its way to her lips. She choked it down. Soft gasps escaped, nausea clawed at her stomach and anxiety flooded her every nerve.

Rosalie glanced at Aria who was slumped against Noah while laughing carelessly in her drunkenness. Rosa’s body shuddered uncontrollably. Her senses started blurring.

Without a sound, she rose to her feet.

She mindlessly stumbled out of the club with unsteady steps. Her mind was completely foggy and disoriented.

She couldn’t recall why she came, what she had been doing, or where she was supposed to go. Because the drinks were too powerful for her.

Her feet carried her into a narrow alley. The shadows swallowed her trembling form. Whimpers escaped her lips. Amidst the haze clouding her mind, one image clung stubbornly—a pair of piercing blue eyes.

They were so vivid and haunting, it etched deep into her memory.

Tears ran unchecked down Rosa’s pale cheeks. She pressed one hand against the cold rough wall, trying to steady herself while hiccuping softly. But soon her body betrayed her.

“Mmhph!”

Rosa sank to the ground on her toes and curled inward for some small measure of comfort. Her palm still pressed against the wall.

Her sobs broke through her lips in uneven gasps. The alley was silent except for the sound of her despair.

Fragmented chaotic memories swirled in her mind–blue eyes, heavy nights and a heart that felt too fragile to bear it l all. She wept without restraint.

“Why.. Rosa feels like this? Rosa don’t want this.”

She leaned against the cold wall, rubbing her reddened puffy eyes. Her nose was pink and lips were quivering with each shaky breath.

Suddenly footsteps echoed through the alley.

Rosa blinked before tilting her head up. Through her blurry alcohol-clouded vision, she saw a tall imposing figure standing before her.

“Wh-who?”