ROSE 69

Posted by AdminHHAdmin, ? Views, Released on May 1, 2025

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Chapter 69

Aria’s POV

Dominic was still gone while I was chained to my bed to be taken care of and given dinner in bed.

Note, not meals that I liked at all.

I groaned, staring at the ceiling, the weight of boredom pressing against my chest.

For days, it had been the same routine–eat, rest, take my medication, be monitored like some fragile porcelain doll. Like I was going to break at any second.

I wasn’t a damn handicap.

I had survived being kidnapped, beaten, and almost sold off to the highest bidder.

I could walk.

I could breathe.

So, I was done being babied.

With a sharp exhale, I tossed the blankets off me and swung my legs over the bed. The room spun slightly, but I ignored it, planting my feet firmly on the ground.

The moment I stood up, the door creaked open.

Two maids, their faces immediately shifting from neutral to concerned.

“Miss Montel,” one of them, the younger one–Ana, I think–stepped forward, her hands clasped. “You shouldn’t be up-”

I raised a brow. “Shouldn’t I? Do you expect me to be dead?”

The older maid, Sofia, pressed her lips together. “Mr. De Luca gave strict orders that you should rest-”

I sighed dramatically. “And what, exactly, does he expect me to do? Lay in bed all evening like I’m on my deathbed?”

Ana opened her mouth, then shut it.

I took a step forward, my body still slightly weak, but I ignored it.

The fresh air was calling me.

“I just want to go to the garden,” I said smoothly. “You know, get some sunlight. I’ve been locked up in this damn room like some caged animal.”

Ana hesitated. “But-”

I smiled. “I promise I won’t do anything reckless.”

Sofia’s brows furrowed.

I could tell she wanted to argue.

But then-

She exhaled.

“Fine,” she muttered. “But if anything happens to you-”

I grinned. “Nothing will happen.”

The two maids exchanged looks before finally relenting.

Ana rushed forward, taking my arm gently to assist me, but I shook my head. “I can walk.”

She hesitated, but nodded.

And just like that-

I escaped my prison.

The evening sun was warm against my skin, the scent of freshly cut grass filling my lungs.

For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe without Dom’s suffocating presence or the stale air of the hospital or being reminded of the blood and gore.

Successfully unlocked!

The mansion’s garden was huge, full of differer. types us to res, and flowers I couldn’t even name. A stone pathway led around a beautiful marble fountain in the center, its water sparkling under the sun.

And I was smiling.

Actually smiling.

1/5

Chapter 69

I closed my eyes tilting my nead word the sky, soaking in the sunlight, the peace, the silence.

Until-

“Miss Montel,” Ana’s voice broke through.

I sighed. “What now?”

She looked…. nervous.

Like she wasn’t sure if she should be saying anything.

I frowned. “What?”

Sofia stepped forward, holding out a small black envelope. “This came for you.”

My stomach dropped.

I stared at it.

Something about it felt…. wrong.

Like just touching it would poison me.

I swallowed, reaching for it slowly.

My fingers brushed against the smooth paper, the scent of something faint–cologne–wafting up from it…

A scent that made my blood run cold.

I opened it.

And when I read the words inside-

I felt sick.

Aria,

You are a pretty little problem, aren’t you?

Tell Dominic to tread carefully. The next shipment I take won’t be one of his business deals-

It’ll be you. And yes I do not mind taking the same product twice. You are already dying, I might as well make it faster for you love.

-Mikael

I dropped the letter.

My breathing turned shallow, my hands shaking.

Mikael.

Fuck.

It wasn’t a threat. It was a promise. He was promising to kill me. Oh my God. When would these men realize I mean absolute nothing to Dominic apart from a fuck toy and they want to ruin me too?

I stumbled back, my heart pounding so loud it was all I could hear.

The world spun.

I needed to sit. I needed to think.

But before I could react-

A loud, furious voice rang out from the mansion.

“Where is she?”

My heart stopped.

I knew that voice.

Dominic.

And he sounded pissed.

I turned just as the doors to the mansion burst open, his figure appearing at the top of the steps.

His gaze locked onto me immediately, dark and furious.

His posture was rigid, his fists clenched at hips sides, his entire presence radiating pure rage.

The maids beside me stiffened.

Sofia took a step back.

2/5

Chapter

Ana looked like she wanted to n

But 17

1 stood my ground

Even as my heart raced

Even as is long, purposeful strides closed the distance between us in seconds.

“Aria, he snapped, his voice sharp, deadly

I barely had time to blink before his hands gripped my shoulders.

Tight Too tight.

“What the fuck are you doing out here? His voice was raw, frantic. “Did I not tell you to stay inside?

I swallowed, ‘Dominic-

He shook me, just slightly, his grip tightening “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?

1 flinched. “I was just in the garden, Dominic?

His nostrils flared “And if Mikael had sent his men instead of a letter?

I stiffened

Because he was fight

As much as I wanted to argue, I couldn’t.

I knew the risk.

I just didn’t think-

He exhaled sharply, then-

Before I could react-

His arms wrapped around me.

Tightly.

Possessively,

Like he had almost lost me

Like he wasn’t even thinking about what he was doing–just acting on pure instinct.

I froze.

Because Dominic never hugged me.

Not like this.

Not this desperately

His breath was warm against my hair, his heartbeat rapid against my ear

I swallowed, my own hands hovering awkwardly before, hesitantly-

I let myself sink into his embrace.

For just a second.

Just long enough to feel the way his muscles were tensed, like he was barely holding himself together

Then, just as fast-

He pulled away.

His hands found my face, his fingers brushing over my cheek, my jaw–like he was checking that I was still here. Sull his

Then, his dark eyes flicked downward.

To the letter.

His jaw ticked

He didn’t even ask what it said.

He just bent down, snatched it up, and reached into his pocket.

A familar metallic click

Then-

A flame.

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Chapter 9

My breath caught as his aghterte, the small fire casting sharp shadows over his features.

His eyes never left mine as he pressed the flame to the paper, watching as the edges curled, blackened, and turned to ash

in his hands.

The embers flickered, glowing in the evening light.

Then, in a voice that was quiet–too quiet–he said,

He won’t touch you.”

The fire danced between his fingers.

T1 burn his world to the ground first.”

I swallowed, watching the last of the letter crumble into ash in his hand.

He was serious.

Dead serious

The way his voice dropped to that lethal, quiet tone–the kind that promised destruction–sent a shiver down my spine.

Dominic De Luca wasn’t just making a statement.

He was making a vow to protect me. It’s romantic right?

Not

I should have felt reassured.

But I didn’t.

Because I knew what that meant.

More violence. More blood.

More death.

“Dominic-

He turned to me, his expression unreadable. “I told you to stay inside.”

I frowned. “I needed some air.”

His jaw tightened. “And if someone had taken you?”

I sighed. “I can’t live my life in a cage.”

His nostrils flared. “You’re safer in that cage.”

I took a step closer, my voice quieter now. “And what if I don’t want to be safe? I have such little time left. Shouldn’t I enjoy?” His gaze darkened.