"Rose, how would you feel if someone from your past, someone you haven't seen in a long time, suddenly came back?" Miles asked, gazing up at the pitch-black sky.
"Someone from the past? Is this why he's drinking tonight? Could it be related to the secret he was hiding that day?" Rose mused.
She smiled faintly. "Is this person a dear friend of yours?"
Miles' eyes flickered with an indiscernible emotion. Over the past few days, he hadn't been able to track down the mysterious woman from the cemetery.
However, he had watched the surveillance footage countless times, growing more certain with each viewing that the woman was Harriette.
After the tragic accident all those years ago, everyone believed that Harriette had perished, but her body was never recovered. She was neither found alive nor confirmed dead.
"If it really is Harriette…" Miles thought as he stole a glance at Rose. He hesitated momentarily before deciding against mentioning Harriette.
"She's... someone closer than a friend."
"An ex-girlfriend?" The thought crossed Rose's mind almost instantaneously. It was apparent to her that Miles hadn't forgotten this former lover and was drowning his sorrows with alcohol.
She studied Miles, reflecting on the time they had spent together. Ever since she had known him, he had always been alone, never accompanied by any woman.
Perhaps if there was someone he loved, someone to share his life with, the depths of his loneliness wouldn't run so deep.
Rose made up her mind. "If it's someone closer than a friend, then of course I'd be happy. The connections we share with others can be truly mysterious.
"A second chance to meet again might just be fate's way of giving me an opportunity to mend past regrets." Each word she uttered was carefully chosen to guide the conversation with purpose.
"Mending past regrets…" Miles felt a sharp pang in his heart.
Harriette's supposed death was indeed one of his greatest regrets. But if that person was indeed Harriette, and she had returned, Miles couldn't help but wonder what would become of Jonathan and Rose and how Jonathan would choose if he was caught between Harriette and Rose.
These considerations consumed his mind. Gazing at Rose's radiant smile, Miles felt a peculiar sense of guilt.
"Rose..."
"Hm?" Rose held his gaze steadily.
However, when their eyes locked, Miles quickly looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. This reaction struck Rose as odd.
"You seem different tonight, Miles," she noted, brushing aside the odd feeling.
She gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. "Whatever you decide, whatever choices you make, just know I will always support you. I'll always be here for you."
Even if Miles didn't rekindle his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, there would be plenty of wonderful women who would adore him.
As his family, Rose would remain by his side, offering support and blessings until he found his true soulmate.
"I'll always be here for you."
Those words filled Miles with a comforting warmth. For the time being, he didn't want to dwell on the possible consequences of Harriette's return.
Miles reached over and playfully tousled Rose's hair, prompting a laugh-filled protest from her. The somber mood that had engulfed the rooftop earlier dissipated, replaced by the sound of their carefree laughter.
Empty bottles littered the ground as the alcohol's influence grew increasingly evident. Through the drunken fog, Rose heard Miles speak up beside her.
"Rose, no matter what happens, I will fulfill Grandpa's wishes. As his only blood relative, the entire Young legacy is rightfully yours.
"Just give me a little more time. I'll make sure everything is in place... and then… I'll hand it all over to you..." His speech was slurred, and his words were not entirely clear.
On the other end, a satisfied smile formed on Anastasia's lips, knowing she had Rose exactly where she wanted her. Rather than answering directly, she reiterated her invitation.
"Eight o'clock at the auction house. Don't be late." With that, she hung up. She was certain that Rose would show up.
As expected, Rose arrived at Mobius Auction House right on time at 8:00 p.m.
The charity auction dinner, held in honor of the late Oliver, had drawn many of Regalia's most distinguished figures. Every guest possessed an invitation, but Rose had only been invited verbally by Anastasia, leaving her without one.
As a result, she found herself barred at the entrance.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is. Can't get in, can you?" A biting voice pierced the air from behind her.
Rose didn't need to turn around to identify its owner. It was Yara. Rose had no intention of acknowledging her presence.
However, having spotted Rose, Yara wasn't about to miss the chance to vent her frustration. She sauntered up to Rose and taunted, "Ms. Shaffer? Why, it's you!"
Rose remained unresponsive, acting like she hadn't seen or heard Yara. This perceived indifference only served to aggravate Yara further.
She mocked, "Rose, I thought you were more capable than this, but you can't even get into the Young family's charity auction, huh? How laughable!
"It seems you only managed to acquire the title of 'the Young family's adopted granddaughter' by using some underhanded tactics. But in the end, a fake is a fake—it's just a meaningless title. Ultimately, you're a nobody!"
Her cold laughter was filled with malice. She wanted every word to inflict a deep wound and humiliate Rose.
To her astonishment, Rose merely smiled a smile laced with indifference and contempt, rendering Yara's verbal assault ineffective.
Yara's face darkened with anger. She couldn't believe that no matter how hard she tried to insult Rose, it seemed to have no effect.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Honey, You're a Billionaire?
Update more chapters...
But I like how Rose retaliates!...
Love this story, more chapters please but I hope there would be less scheme against Rose...
Hahaha! Karma at its fullest! Love this, thank you writer, great story....
Waiting...
Update more chapters please don't stop midway...
Update more chapters please...
Please update more chapters, please don't stop updating...