unknown person. Someone knocked briefly before leaving. Ro

ed. But now she wasn't sure what to do. No one spoke to her. She had been ig

a tray and left at her door

et out," Rose mut

de Rose more anxious. What if she ran into Letty or Nicole? Woul

artial arts training-but that was just a spo

da, her world had be

atteo coming through the front door. H

t going back to my room.

re." Matteo pa

owned.

honey

ed back toward the front door. Rose bli

ant to go on a honeymoo

he one wh

dn't want to

tracks. "Oh, so you

ld this be another one of Romilda's ridiculous demands? Was Romilda

Rose said. "I don't want

! I know exactly what

fell

da in Matteo's eyes? Glamorous? A

on the porch. Hesitantly, Rose got in from the passenger side, sitti

avanaugh estate, and Rose had

.

way, eventually leading to a quiet coastal area. The roa

here exactly?

and drove a few hundred meters before s

inked,

d his laptop bag from the back seat, a

you're really up to, Matte

nside, only to fre

y. A warm atmosphere filled the room-plush couches, a fireplace, a small but function

is laptop and focusing on his work. Rose a

ld I do?"

ged. "Whatev

ned the knob experimentally. It worked. Then she ope

e found a small vegetable garden. Rows of produce bloo

rvested a few potatoes, carrots, and tomatoe

re you

ped up, the vegetables slipping from

to make a stew. It's alm

are you trying to do? Play the innocent maid from

Wait... was Romilda once a m

t you mean, Matte

ct anymore. Hell, I should give you an award-higher than an Oscar

but Rose instinctively

back. "W

ad to marry me and share co

, but his clenched j

he worst thing I ever did to you

laying am

it to me now! What did I do to make you

ook his head in disbe

have the guts to

d you ju

nches separated them. His eyes bur

spilled with malice. "Did you really think I wouldn't know? That you were sneaking into his room at nigh

e f

Romilda's twisted past surfaced-

Romilda's cruel

y he wrote that ridiculous will. But you don't deserve t

." Rose s

love. You destroyed my mother. And now

teo,

cause you slept with her ex-husband and ru

houlders rising and falling with

eneath her. Kneeling in the

d now you expect me to change Matteo's mind, to fix

nawed at her heart as if she were responsible for all of Romilda's actions. She had onl

the back door and stared at R

barked, his voice s

grabbed her arm and pulled her to the edge of

to be naive, Romil

know what you'r

d shook his head in disbelief, his

o growled. "Just tell me how much you want! I'll pay you! B

teo,

say to defend herself? After all, it was true

o grabbed Rose

clothes," he

is hands away, clutching he

re my

ut

ll into your trap? That's what you want, isn't it? We sleep t

u talking ab

trick to convince e

ions. She was still a virgin, and hearing him a

let a doctor examine me?" Rose cha

I know y

ing open the buttons on her top. Rose screa

p!!" Rose

f you're sti

onto the bed and began to roughly undress her,

p it! Please!

eo suddenly stopped and stood at the edge of

Matteo

f with the torn remains of her

ving," Mat

f the cabin. Rose, still crying, struggled i

must I go for Romilda's sake? Bu