At the Hale Corporation, Rhaegon Hale suddenly clutched his chest.
A sharp, unbearable ache tore through him—deep, familiar, devastating.
Secretary Jeila rushed to his side. "Sir—water!"
Rhaegon's hands shook as he took the glass.
I only felt this pain when I lost my parents, he thought grimly.
Why now? Who am I about to lose?
"No," he muttered hoarsely. "No…"
After a few moments, the pain eased.
"Are you okay, sir?" Jeila asked.
Rhaegon exhaled slowly. "I'm… fine."
But his heart disagreed.
Back at the hospital, Rose slipped back into unconsciousness, the sedative pulling her under.
Mr. Martin arrived in a panic, breathless.
"She's stable now," the doctor assured him. "Out of danger,but very weak. She needs rest."
Outside the room—
Sally slammed her fist against the wall.
"Damn it," she hissed. "Damn it!"
Calista rushed back inside, collapsing beside Rose's bed. She grabbed Rose's hand, tears streaming freely now.
"I knew you could do it," she sobbed. "I knew you'd fight."
When Demetrius heard Rose had woken,even briefly,he immediately bought flowers, rehearsing concern, ready to play the devoted lover.
Two hours later—
Rose stirred.
Her eyes fluttered open.
The first thing she saw was Calista asleep beside her bed, her hand still tightly holding Rose's.
Rose smiled weakly and gently brushed Calista's hair aside.
Calista stirred. "Stop—" she mumbled.
Rose touched her again.
Calista's eyes flew open.
"ROSE?!"
She screamed, then wrapped her arms around her tightly.
"How dare you scare me like that?" Calista cried. "Do you know how worried I was? Don't you ever do that again!"
Rose hugged her back weakly.
"I won't," she whispered. "Not again."
The doctor smiled gently.
"Your injuries are healing well. We'll run a few more tests to rule out internal bleeding. If all goes well, you'll be discharged soon."
Rose closed her eyes briefly.
I survived.
And this time—
She would never live in anyone's shadow
Demetrius arrived holding a bouquet of roses.
Calista stared at him with open disgust. She was just about to speak when Rose tightened her grip on Calista's hand, silently signaling her to stop.
Demetrius put on a show,his eyes reddened, his voice thick with fake concern, his face carefully arranged into grief. Rose saw through him immediately. Every movement was rehearsed. Every word hollow.
"I need to rest," Rose said calmly. "I'm still tired."
"Yes," Demetrius replied at once, nodding obediently.
But inside, his thoughts were far from gentle.
She's awake now. Once she fully recovers, the wedding can be pushed forward.
After he left, Calista exploded.
"Don't marry him," she said fiercely. "He's a jerk. A bastard. He never came,not once,while you were in a coma. He was always smiling, following Sally around like a puppet."
Rose said nothing. But she remembered everything,how he saved Sally instead of her.
A week later, after thorough examinations and repeated tests, the doctor finally announced that Rose was fit to be discharged.
Demetrius rushed to her side, playing the role of the devoted fiancé to perfection. But Rose already had a plan forming quietly in her mind.
The moment they left the hospital, Demetrius pulled out a ring.
"I almost lost you," he said urgently. "I can't wait anymore."
Calista frowned. "You're moving too fast. She just recovered."
"I'm scared of losing her again," Demetrius insisted.
Rose neither accepted nor rejected the ring.
"I want to go home first," she said.
Back at the Liu's mansion, Rose was led as always to the same small, colorless room.
She stood there, memories crashing into her all at once. Years of endurance. Years of silence. The insults. The beatings. Being called fake. Being treated like nothing.
No more.
After making sure Rose was settled, Calista explained she had to help her mother but promised to return later. Rose nodded, watching her leave.
Her gaze drifted back to the dull walls.
Outside, Demetrius was still hovering around Sally.
Rose laughed softly.
She opened her laptop.
No more waiting.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard with practiced ease. The AI application she had secretly developed,her true masterpiece was finally released.
The digital world exploded.
Comments flooded in within minutes.
The secret coder finally released it!
We've been waiting for this!
This AI is revolutionary!
This is amazing,how do you do it,teach me guru!!
Within twenty-four hours, the application went viral. Stocks surged. Investors scrambled.
Rose leaned back, calm.
She packed away her old, plain clothes.
She was a secret millionaire. Luxury meant nothing to her but she had once endured everything for the hope of parental love.
Not anymore.
She dressed elegantly no longer the invisible Rose.
She went shopping. Bought dresses. Jewelry. Shoes.
Then she returned, packed only what mattered, and prepared to leave. She had already purchased her own house. A new laptop. A private workspace.
A new life.
Sally saw her new appearance and froze.
"Take that dress off," Sally ordered, still speaking as if Rose were the same obedient shadow.
Rose stepped closer.
Sally instinctively backed away.
The slap landed sharp, clean, unforgiving.Sally stood frozen, dumbstruck by the slap that had just landed across her face.
Her mind went blank.
Never,not once had Rose ever raised a hand against her. Never had she dared.
Shock quickly twisted into rage and humiliation.
"Are you mad?!" Sally shrieked, clutching her burning cheek.
The next second, her voice pierced the mansion.
"Mom!"
She screamed at the top of her lungs, the sound sharp and desperate, as though calling for rescue because for the first time in her life, Sally felt truly threatened.
Sally screamed for Naomi.
Naomi rushed in and stopped short, stunned by Rose's appearance.
"Apologize," Naomi ordered, raising her hand.
Rose caught her wrist mid-air.
With one swift motion, she flung it aside.
"I'm changing rooms," Rose said coldly. "Or I'm moving out."Naomi froze when she truly looked at Rose.
This was not the plain, submissive girl she had always known. Rose stood tall, her presence calm yet sharp, her eyes carrying a confidence that unsettled her. Even her voice steady, fearless,it felt unfamiliar.
Rose had never talked back. Never dared.
Naomi's hand lifted instinctively, rage flashing across her face. For a moment, it seemed she would strike her again.
But she stopped herself.
There were bigger plans at stake.
Right now, her priority was Sally marrying her into power, into the richest family in Demanviel. Nothing else mattered.
Naomi lowered her hand and adjusted her expression, masking her fury with cold composure.
"Rose, I'm talking to Sally," she said flatly. "I don't have time for your nonsense."
Then she turned away, her tone decisive.
"I'm preparing Sally for her date with Rhaegon Hale. That is far more important."
She paused at the door and glanced back, eyes sharp with promise.
"I'll deal with you when I return."
"Mom!" Sally screamed. "Why is she acting like this?"
Rose picked up her things and walked into a larger room without another word.
Naomi told Sally to ignore her—but unease flickered across her face.
Trying to shift the mood, Naomi mentioned Sally's upcoming date with Rhaegon Hale.
Sally immediately brightened and rushed off Rose overheard Naomi and Sally's conversation. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and messaged her best friend.
Rose: Calista, do you know where Rhaegon Hale will be tonight?
Calista,who always had the latest gossip and info's—didn't even hesitate. She scrolled through her phone, fingers flying.
Calista: The Nitric Café.
A faint smile curved Rose's lips.
There was a brief pause on the other end.
Calista: Why do you want to know?
Rose had never been the type to chase rumors or pry into social circles. Calista noticed the change immediately.
Rose: It's nothing.
She slipped her phone into her bag