The gentle murmur of cartoons filled the room until the sharp ring of the doorbell broke the calm. Rose hardly noticed, her eyes fixed on the TV as her favorite character dove into another silly argunt.
But then—
A loud smack echoed from the front entrance.
The muffled sound of soone hitting the floor made Rose sit up straighter.
"What was that...?" she mumbled, frowning.
At the entrance, the maid lay stunned, holding her cheek in disbelief as Grandma Bria stord inside, her sharp eyes sweeping the house with disapproval.
Behind her, Sienna followed closely, a smug smile curling on her lips as she crossed her arms, watching the scene unfold like it was the entertainnt of the day.
"How dare you!" Grandma Bria hissed, glancing briefly at the maid crumpled on the floor. "I am Sebastian’s grandmother! How could you not recognize ? Foolish girl."
The maid trembled, lowering her head in apology, but Grandma Bria had already dismissed her. Her cane tapped against the marble floors as she marched further inside, her sharp gaze scanning the living room.
"ROSE!"
Rose flinched hard, eyes widening at the sudden shout of her na.
"ROSE!"
The voice shouted louder, and Rose quickly scrambled up from the couch, clutching the edge of her blanket like it might sohow protect her.
Oh no... why is she here?
Grandma Bria’s eyes landed on her, narrowing imdiately. Rose felt like she was being judged from head to toe.
Her hair was slightly ssy from lounging, the oversized blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and the cartoon still blaring on the TV didn’t help. Rose followed Grandma Bria’s gaze as it flicked between the screen and her unladylike appearance.
Sienna’s smirk deepened as she leaned against the wall, watching the drama unfold.
Grandma Bria’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Look at you," she said coldly, her eyes flashing with disapproval. "Lounging around like a child. Watching cartoons?"
Rose flushed deeply, gripping the blanket tighter.
"You’ve grown up, Rose," Grandma Bria snapped, stepping closer, her cane tapping with every step. "What are you doing acting like this? Where is your sense of grace?"
Rose’s heart pounded. She had been so comfortable here, so happy and free. But under Grandma Bria’s sharp gaze, she felt small again, like the scolded little girl she used to be.
"I-I was just..." Rose stamred, but Grandma Bria cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"No excuses," she said firmly. "You’re coming ho with . This... this nonsense ends now."
Rose’s eyes widened in panic.
"What?" she blurted. "No! I don’t want to go back there!"
Sienna stepped forward with a fake pout. "Oh, co on, Rose. Grandma just wants what’s best for you," she said sweetly, though the glint in her eyes betrayed her.
Rose took a step back, shaking her head. "Brother won’t allow it," she mumbled, barely loud enough to hear.
Grandma Bria’s gaze hardened. "Sebastian doesn’t get to decide everything."
Rose’s grip on the blanket tightened as Grandma Bria approached, each step echoing like a drumbeat in her ears. The soft tapping of the cane against the marble floor felt heavier than it should have—like the sound of chains dragging closer.
Her heart pounded.
It wasn’t just Grandma Bria standing there. To Rose, it felt like a shadow from her nightmares had taken form.
She shrank further into the couch, pressing herself against the cushions as if they could sohow swallow her whole.
The warmth and safety she had felt monts ago while watching cartoons had vanished. The room suddenly felt cold.
"Stand up, Rose," Grandma Bria’s voice snapped, cutting through the air like ice. "Don’t make repeat myself."
Rose’s legs trembled beneath the blanket.
No... I don’t want to go.
Her lips parted, but no sound ca out.
"Grandma..." Rose whispered, barely able to et her gaze.
But Grandma Bria’s sharp eyes narrowed, piercing through her like she was nothing but a disobedient child.
"Stop acting like a scared little girl," Bria said, her tone softening just enough to sound more condescending than comforting. "You are a Carter. It’s ti to act like one."
Rose’s heart raced.
Her breathing quickened as Grandma Bria’s shadow stretched over her.
From behind, Sienna’s smirk widened, arms crossed as if she were enjoying the show.
Rose’s chest tightened.
The cartoons kept playing on the TV, but the cheerful voices seed distant, slipping away under the heavy presence of Grandma Bria.
I don’t want to go back... I can’t.
"Brother won’t..." Rose tried to speak, but her voice shook.
"Your brother isn’t here," Grandma Bria interrupted coldly.
Tears welled up in Rose’s eyes, but she forced them back. She didn’t want to cry, not in front of her.
Her fingers gripped the edges of the blanket tighter.
"Co, Rose," Grandma Bria said, reaching out her hand. "Let’s go ho."
But to Rose...
That hand felt like a chain, ready to drag her back into the cold, suffocating house she thought she’d escaped from.
***
Lilith’s heart pounded in her chest, but her face remained calm and unreadable. Sebastian’s words echoed in her mind, staying with her far longer than she expected.
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
His eyes stayed on her, soft yet intense, like he was waiting for the world to stop spinning until she gave him an answer.
But instead of leaning into his embrace, Lilith straightened, placing her hand against his chest and gently pushing him away.
Sebastian’s arms loosened as she stepped back. His eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sudden distance.
For the first ti, she saw a flicker of uncertainty cross his face.
"Lili—" he began, but her sharp gaze cut him off.
Her eyes, piercing and unreadable, locked onto his. The wind tugged violently at her hair, whipping it across her face, but she didn’t move to fix it.
"Are you sure about that?" Lilith asked, her tone dropping into sothing colder—sothing distant.
Sebastian stiffened.
He had never heard her speak to him like this before.
The teasing glint in her eye was missing, and the smile she usually carried had faded.
Still, his eyes never left hers, holding her firmly in his gaze.
"I’ve never been more sure of anything," Sebastian said firmly.
His sincerity bled through every word.
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