From Terrorist Cell to Diamond Prison

Chapter 28

Rosalie sat by Luke's hospital bed, guilt weighing heavily on her heart. Her voice was soft, tinged with regret as she spoke. "If it hadn't been for my reckless idea, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Luke didn't answer right away. He tilted his head, his piercing gaze studying her, like he could see right through her. Finally, he asked, "So that's why you didn't want my people following you?"

She nodded, avoiding his eyes. "Your people… they watch too closely."

His expression softened, a mix of pride and pain in his gaze. "You've really grown up," he said, his tone carrying a bittersweet edge.

Rosalie managed a small smile, her words warm despite the heavy moment. "Don't worry, Mr. Williams. I'll take care of you until your hand heals."

Luke raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "As compensation?"

She nodded, then turned to leave, feeling the weight of his gaze lingering on her as she walked out. Luke leaned back against the pillows, staring at the door she'd just closed. Something had shifted in her. The warmth, the affection in her eyes when she looked at him, gone. What was left was guilt and obligation. And for the first time, Luke truly felt the weight of what he'd lost.

A few days later, Mr. Fitzgerald came for a visit. He didn't waste time beating around the bush. "I know I don't have the right to meddle in Rosalie's future, but this is her home. Her roots are here. Eventually, you'll have to go back to Florida."

Luke said nothing, his face unreadable.

Mr. Fitzgerald continued, pressing on. "Here, she can chase her dreams and stay close to her grandfather. Even if you were willing to give up everything to stay with her, can you really give her the happiness she deserves?"

Luke didn't take kindly to lectures, but this time, he listened in silence. It wasn't the words themselves that hit him; it was the genuine concern behind them. He looked out the hospital window and sighed softly.

"I know," he said finally, his voice low. "The moment she walked away, I knew I'd lost her. She's the Rosalie I raised. Like roses, she doesn't tolerate being mistreated."

Days passed in a quiet rhythm. Rosalie visited him daily. At first, their conversations were stiff and formal, but soon, they felt more like the early days of their relationship. She took him to places she loved as a child, hidden corners of the town filled with bittersweet memories. She brought him local treats, playfully urging him to try them. One afternoon, she even convinced him to go to the amusement park with her.

In the past, Luke might've found these outings childish, a waste of time. But now, he went along willingly. Every moment with her felt fleeting, precious. He watched her laugh, saw the joy in her eyes as she pointed out her favorite rides, and found himself smiling despite the ache in his chest.

Their relationship felt like an old, familiar song, warm and nostalgic, but with a new melody. And each day, as he watched her leave the hospital, the feeling that she was slipping further away from him became harder to ignore.

Eventually, the police summoned everyone to give formal statements. Rosalie's heart sank when she saw Fiona sitting in a holding cell. Fiona looked eerily calm now, but the defiance in her eyes burned just as fiercely as before. When Fiona spotted Rosalie, she sneered.

"I can't believe I was fooled by a girl like you all these years," Fiona spat. "Do you think locking me up changes anything? You still don't have the evidence to convict us. Once my brother is out, Mitchell Enterprises will be his, and you'll have nothing! Nothing!"

Rosalie's fists clenched, her anger simmering. She stepped closer to the bars, her voice trembling with emotion. "What did my mother ever do to deserve your hatred? She loved you. She was kind to you. How could you do this to her?"

Fiona's sneer deepened, her voice sharp with bitterness. "Oh, your mother was perfect, wasn't she? Gentle, kind, the ideal older sister, always in the spotlight. Do you know what it's like to live in someone's shadow? To be invisible while everyone worshipped her?"

Rosalie stared at her, stunned. Fiona's words dripped with venom, years of pent-up resentment spilling out unchecked.

"My father wouldn't even let me take his surname!" Fiona's voice cracked, raw with emotion. "In the end, I was completely left out of the company shares! Tell me, why? What did I lack compared to her? Why was I never enough?"

Rosalie shook her head, her voice steady and firm. "Because you weren't his daughter."