From Terrorist Cell to Diamond Prison

Chapter 17

No wonder she was willing to give up everything for this place, Luke thought, gripping his phone. He sensed that this journey might not go as smoothly as he had hoped.

As the car sped down the main road, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, bringing them to a screeching halt in the middle of traffic. Calmly, Luke glanced outside as the window rolled down.

"Sir, Mr. Robert Mitchell invites you to join him."

Luke had dealt with the Mitchells remotely for years, but he had never met them face-to-face. Now, he was finally about to confront them.

Only Harold Mitchell, Rosalie's uncle, arrived to greet him. But from his attitude, he hardly seemed deserving of any respect. Ever since Rosalie's grandfather had publicly announced his "death," Harold had tried repeatedly to contact Rosalie, pressuring her to return home. Every time, Luke had intervened, even striking a deal with the Mitchells to keep them away from her.

From the start, Luke had known these men didn't have Rosalie's best interests at heart.

"Sir, we apologize for not giving you a proper welcome," Harold sneered, his tone far from apologetic. His rough demeanor made it hard to believe he was the heir to the Mitchell family.

"I only have one reason for meeting with you," Harold continued. "I have one sister, Fiona. Since you're here, why not finalize the marriage arrangements with her?"

Luke replied, "We only have a contract, and I still have the written agreement."

Harold chuckled dismissively, clearly undeterred. "Contracts don't mean much when there's mutual interest involved. Fiona likes you, so you marry her. Or could it be that you have feelings for my family's Rosalie?"

Luke's eyes flashed, but he kept his voice calm. "You'd be wise to stay away from Rosalie."

Harold blocked his path, grinning. "Didn't you mention contracts? Well, ours hasn't expired, so you're still my brother-in-law."

Luke didn't even acknowledge the comment. Without a word, he brushed past Harold and left, not sparing him a second glance.

Meanwhile, Rosalie had returned to Mr. Fitzgerald's home. The melancholy she had carried earlier transformed into a sense of calm purpose and a renewed spark.

"Professor, if I wanted to, "

Before she could finish, Mr. Fitzgerald gave her a warm, confident smile.

"I support any decision you make, and I'll do everything in my power to help you achieve whatever it is you want."

In that moment, Rosalie felt a deep sense of comfort, knowing she wasn't alone.

Since she'd come of age, her every wish and plan had revolved around Luke, every dream shaped with him at the center. She had poured herself into those dreams, only to watch them fall apart. This time, she was determined not to let anyone else dictate her path. This time, she would rely solely on herself.

Over the next few days, Rosalie immersed herself in school applications, investigating the truth about her parents' deaths, and catching up on everything that had changed in her home country over the past decade. She visited her grandfather often, filling her days to the brim until thoughts of Luke faded into the background. Occasionally, when she looked up at the stars from her window, the ten years with Luke seemed like a distant, vivid dream.

One afternoon, while visiting her grandfather, she found him staring intently at a picture of a ruby necklace in an auction catalog. His gaze was fixed on the image as if it held some secret.

Rosalie had spent years with Luke, surrounded by rare gems and priceless jewels, but she couldn't see what was so special about this simple, timeworn necklace. She leaned in closer, wondering what mysteries it might be hiding within its understated design.