Chapter 67 Accident!
|| Author POV ||
Rosa pouted as the bell rang. And her cold boyfriend, Killian? He hadn’t shown up today. She missed him during the class.
As the classroom emptied for lunch break, Rosa stayed seated. Her fingers lazily doodled on her notebook. She didn’t feel like eating. Aria skipped her class, probably with Noah.
Across the room, Nora, the bully’s sharp gaze locked on the quiet girl. Her jaw clenched. She hadn’t forgotten the embarrassment she’d faced because of Aria and Max.
“What are you staring at, Nora?” one of her friend asked, following her gaze.
Nora smirked. “She’s all by herself.” she said coolly, pushing off from the desk. “Time for a little fun, right girls?”
The group giggled behind her as Nora stalked toward Rosa with a cruel spark in her eyes.
Rosalie noticed them approaching. Her fingers tightened around her pen. Maybe if she kept her head low, they’d walk past. She thought that but they didn’t pass by.
Instead, Nora reached down and yanked the pen from Rosa’s hand. Rosa flinched startledly. Her eyes lifted hesitantly to meet Nora’s. With a bitter smile curling her lips, Nora twirled the pen in her fingers.
“How’s daddy’s little pet doing?” she asked sweetly.
Rosa’s throat tightened. She shook her head faintly, unable to find her voice. Nora leaned in closer. Her perfume was cloying, suffocating. Rosa instinctively lowered her head. She felt scared under their dirty gaze.
Nora gritted her teeth and gripped Rosa’s jaw, her fingers digging in. “Why don’t you speak, huh?” Nora sneered poisonously. “Tell us too. What does your daddy do? Who’s he?”
Rosa whimpered softly. Her hands rose to push Nora’s away. “S-stop.”
But Nora yanked her face closer, forcing her to look up. Her cruel eyes bore into Rosa’s.
“I just want to know because I’m curious. Nothing m–”
Her sentence was sliced in half by a sudden voice behind them.
“Get your hands off her!”
Max.
His voice was furious. In the next second, he shoved Nora’s hand off Rosa’s face.
“Ack!” Nora let out a sharp gasp of pain as Max shoved her hand away but he didn’t spare her a glance. His jaw was clenched, eyes blazing before he gripped Rosa’s wrist and pulled her out of the circle.
“I’ll see you later.” Max muttered coldly to Nora without looking back.
Rosa tried to pull her hand free but Max didn’t let go until they reached the far end of the hallway, away from prying eyes. Finally, he released her.
“Rosalie.” he uttered “How long are you going to keep avoiding me?”
Rosa didn’t respond. Her brows knitted faintly and heart pounded from fear. Max stepped closer. His voice cracked into a pleading. “I love you, okay? I’ve told you before and I’m saying it again. I love you. Don’t ignore me like this. Please!”
Rosa’s lips parted but she hesitated. “I have a boyfriend.” her voice came out soft.
Max froze.
His expression blanked for a moment. But then his entire face fell. Something in him broke.
“What?” he breathed.
But Rosa couldn’t look at him. She didn’t want anyone to feel hurt because of her but she can’t do anything.
Her eyes dropped to the floor. “Y-yes,”
“Who’s he?”
Rosa looked away. She can’t tell him, or anyone. “Thanks for helping me.” she murmured softly, turning back to walk away.
Her steps were soft but each one felt like it crushed Max’s chest deeper. He stood there frozen with his broken heart.
\----
Killian sat in silence while leaning into the plush leather of his office chair. The golden sunlight streamed across the marble floor of his private cabin of his official building.
A knock tapped against the heavy door.
“Enter.” he permitted.
One of his men stepped in, delivered a file, received his signature and exited just as silently. The door clicked shut. Killian exhaled sharply through his nose.
It’s been three days since she told him about her parents death. He couldn’t shake the thought. Her voice was trembling when she spoke of the crash, of her parents and the snow.
Killian tried to let the thought go. Tried not to try to find out the truth but then again, curiosity tugged in. He needed to know the truth to bring peace in his mind.
His hand reached for his phone. He couldn’t jerk the negativity away. He dialed a number without needing to glance at it.
The call connected instantly.
“I want a full report on a car accident that occurred on Hillcross highway in winter. Thirteen years ago.” Killian muttered coldly. “Every single detail. Victims. Their names and Cause. I want it all!”
\------
|| At Night ||
In the grand mansion, Albert sighed heavily as he sat in his wheelchair. “Elara.. is she in her room?” he asked the man standing by the door. The man nodded silently.
“Send her here. Tell her I want to see her.” Albert ordered in a calm voice. The man left without hesitation.
Albert’s eyes drifted to the window. He had noticed the changes in Elara since Killian brought Rosalie. She stopped eating, locked herself away in her room. Albert knew something was wrong with her.
“May I come in, Grandpa?” Elara’s voice broke the silence as she stood hesitantly in the doorway.
“Come here, dear.” Albert said gently.
Elara nodded and stepped inside. “The caretaker said you wanted to see me.” she murmured. Her voice was heavy with a quiet gloom.
Albert studied her carefully. Elara slowly knelt before him.
“What is it, Grandpa?”
Albert’s eyes softened. “Is something troubling you, Elara? I’ve noticed you’ve stopped eating, locking yourself away. Don’t keep it from me.”
Elara avoided his gaze before whispering, “Nothing, Grandpa.”
“Don’t hide from me, Elara. You’ve been so distant.” Albert’s voice deepened, wearied by concern. “Tell me, my child. I’ve cared for you since my son died and your cowardly mother abandoned you.”
Tears welled in Elara’s eyes as she turned her head away. “Is this about Killian?” Albert asked firmly this time.
Elara’s composure shattered. She turned to him and buried her face against his knee. “Grandpa–” her voice cracked “I love him. I love Killian, grandpa!”
She broke into tears.
Albert’s brows furrowed. The confession struck deeper than he expected. He had no idea about this.