Little Rosie immediately closed the storybook she was starting to read and glared at her so-called godmother. Hmph. No wonder she was giving her all these storybooks that might take her weeks if not months to finish. She wants her forgiveness.
“Is that why you gave me these books? Because you want me to forgive you? That's so artless, Aunt Ruby,” Rosie scoffed.“Ahh…no. That's not true,” Ruby scratched her head and started driving.”I bought the books because I knew you loved books. You know, it's my responsibility as your godmother.”“I don't believe you one bit, aunt. That's what you always say. Every time you do the same thing and buy me gifts. I don't want them. You can take your books back.”“No..no, I swear this is going to be the last time. The story books are for you. What will happen to them if you don't take them? Please forgive me one last time. I promise it won't happen again,” pleaded Ruby as she kept her eyes on the road but her sole attention was on the cute little princess.Little Rosie stared at the books on the backseat before averting her gaze and bringing her eyes back to her godmother who was side-winking at her.“Hmm, I'll think about it then.”“Thank you, Cutie. I promise I won't take your mother’s full attention again,” she smiled. That was her only offense. Always taking Izabelle’s attention whenever she was around.Little Rosie cast her a last cold look and returned her gaze to her new storybook as she tried to hide her smile. Well, it was fun watching her aunt plead for her forgiveness. She never liked this aunty or godmother whatever of hers.Yes, she always pampers her and buys her goodies whenever she comes visiting but each time she is around, she takes her mum’s attention away from her and her mum would totally forget about her.Aunt Ruby normally visits them twice in six months in the other country. She would come in with bags filled with goodies and gifts for her but the thing was that she was bribing her with the gifts in exchange for her mum's attention and whenever she comes, she becomes a forgotten child.The last time she visited, little Rosie drew a line and lashed out at her before slamming the door on her, leaving her mother and aunt in shock. Even though she got scolded, she doesn't regret doing that.Ruby turned her head to stare at the quiet Izabelle and wondered what made her silent. She was staring into space with her nails slightly in her mouth.“What's wrong, Izabelle?” She asked, breaking her away from her thoughts. She quickly organized herself and shook her head.“Nothing. I was just thinking about my new studio here. Who knows if it will do as great here in the United States as where it was before,” Izabelle lied. She knew Ruby and Little Rosie just fought about something a few minutes back but she didn't hear anything they said as her mind was somewhere else. May she say, someone else?Seeing Marcel at the airport today was a huge shock on her part and that thought was surely going to occupy her mind for the rest of the week. She couldn't help but keep thinking about him after all, her heart once sang for him and maybe still sings for him.Seeing him today, sparked all memories and emotions that she has tried so hard to hide. He looked like a whole different person. More mature looking, his cheekbone was broader now and his jet black hair was now longer, and in all, he was looking more handsome and colder than she had remembered him to be.Perhaps he still has a grudge against her after these years and was more cold to her. There was no softness in his eyes anymore.The first time they had met, she was just seventeen and he was nineteen. The first time she saw him, her heart had sung loudly. He was introduced as her cousin’s best friend and from then, they had been close.Not once did she profess her love to him even though she knew he already found out but still treated her like before. Like his little sister, buying her gifts and chocolates.She could still remember those days vividly. Those days when he hit those who bullied her and drove the bad guys away from her. Those days when he takes care of her even more than her brother ever did. How did those sweet days suddenly become bitter memories?“This is the United States, remember? And you're the best celebrity photographer in the world. Your studio would soon be filled with those spoiled sons and daughters of elite families. It's just about time. Cheer up and stop looking as if you're under-confident,” Ruby encouraged.“You're right.”“Girlllll. It's so good you're here. I have lots of news and gist for you. I can't wait for you to settle down in the city properly so we can go out together and have proper talks.”Little Rosie’s eyes raised slowly from her book to stare at Ruby but she didn't say anything. She simply returned her gaze to her book.“I know it's probably about those guys chasing you and the new clothes on the internet.”“Well, I don’t date anymore. Guys are scum. I’m taking a leave from dating. I’ll just focus on you and my goddaughter. Whenever I’m horny, I’ll just go into a club and grab anyone.”“Ruby. Don’t say such things in front of my daughter.”“Sorry…sorry. It just slipped. But really, I can’t wait for us to see each other often.“Aunt Ruby,” Little Rosie called.“Yes, Sie.”“Didn’t you just apologize? Now you’re going back to planning on doing the same thing. You better don’t if not, this time I’m not going to forgive you no matter how long you beg.”“Ohh, Izabelle. Your daughter is getting scarier every passing day,” Ruby lamented. “Only to you,” Izabelle flicked Little Rosie on her forehead causing her to flinch and frown.They laughed. “Sorry Sie Sie, it was a slip of the tongue, hmm? I won’t take your mummy anywhere, okay?”“En.”Ruby swallowed and turned to Izabelle. She felt scared to ask her what she wanted to ask. If she did, the little girl was going to get angry. Ahh, such an obstacle to their friendship. They would always have to get Rosie sleeping if they want to do something or go somewhere. She mustered up her courage and asked. “Where should I take you guys? Would you like to spend some time in my apartment?” “No. You can just drop us at a hotel. I don’t want to bother you. Besides, I know you’re with your parents nowadays.”“It’s fine. I can stay because of you. You’re my bestie after all. I’m not bothered at all.”“It’s okay. We’ll just spend the night at a hotel. You’ve done enough for me already and I’m so gr
“Wowwww, this place is so pretty, Mommy. Is it a palace? Like the ones in those Disney books? Are there princesses inside?” Little Rosie exclaimed with her mouth wide open as she climbed down the car and stared at the white building in front of her. The building was so huge and beautiful that she resisted the urge to run into it immediately. “It's not a palace, Sie Sie and there are no princesses inside either. It's just a normal family house.” They were standing before a huge mansion with the name ‘Rossaddor’s Residence’ written in gold at the top of the wall. This place was just as she remembered it to be. It was the same after all these years. Nothing has changed. The cold walls, the piercing atmosphere, and the graveyard silence of the mansion. Nothing changed at all. Perhaps the people in it never changed and that was the reason why nothing changed in the Rosaddor’s Mansion. She could still remember her memories here. They used to be fulfilling. Her silent days here until ever
“Rosie Mae Rossasor,” Izabelle muttered. “Rosie Mae Rossador. Good choice of name,” Grandfather Rossador repeated, staring at the little girl beside her mother who was peering at him with her big round eyes wide open. Perhaps she was wondering who he was. “Come, little girl. Come greet your great grandfather,” he gestured with his arms wide open. “Great grandfather,” little Rosie pondered. Her mother had once taught her the meaning of these titles. Izabelle bent to her height and whispered something into her ears causing her eyes to widen. Rosie slowly and hesitantly climbed down the couch and walked to the grandfather’s side. He embraced her before carrying her to sit beside him. “I’m mommy’s grandfather. Mommy used to run around this mansion when she was younger.”“Mommy used to stay here?”The grandfather nodded. “Want me to show you Mommy’s pictures?” At Rosie’s approval, the grandfather clapped his hands and two maids came rushing into the hall at the same time. He ordered
Little Rosie’s eyes raised from her meal to stare at the person who just reprimanded her. She gazed at the person in confusion wondering if she was referring to her. But she was the only kid in the room. Did she perhaps do something wrong?“She’s a little shy, Aunt Danny,” Izabelle said. “Shy or poorly educated? What did I even expect? She's a b*astard child that you got before marriage. Surely she's poorly educated, after all, she grew up to this stage without a father,” Aunt Danny’s words came out extremely harsh but like always, no one challenged her in the dining hall and they all pretended as if they didn't hear that. Izabelle slightly tightened her lips and put her spoon down. There was an unspoken rule in the Rossador family. At dinner, if the grandfather doesn't start eating, then no one could and if he doesn't leave the dining hall, no one could either. But the little girl had started eating before anyone else, causing the family members’ anger to skyrocket. “She’s just a
Two weeks passed by swiftly and Izabelle already moved to a comfortable condo with her daughter and had recently finished the project for her studio. It was a replica of her previous studio. Big and classic and she was sure that soon, she would have a hall of celebrities and children from the elite society coming in. They were already booked but due to her busy schedule this week, she had postponed her work. Coming out of the new studio, Izabelle entered her car and drove towards little Rosie’s new school. Yep. Little Rosie now attended a new school in the city and she seems to kind of like her new school. She always talked about her new friends and how beautiful they were. She also mentioned that the teachers were nice to her. Her school was just a few miles away from the studio and one of the best in the city. Well, Grandfather Rossador had insisted that his great-granddaughter attend the best school in the city and not any low-grade school. She was a Rossador and must be treated
The window behind was slowly lowered revealing a strikingly handsome face she hasn’t seen in a while. He pulled his glasses and his eyes met with hers. “Do you want to take a ride?” Marcel raised his eyebrow and looked at her with a cold smile. He was handsome under the afternoon sun and his cold smile carried a hint of cold evil. The smile that always carried away a woman’s heart and pulled the strings. Those smiles that no one could see beneath it. Izabelle held the toy she bought for little Rosie and looked at him as if he were a stranger. Perhaps he was because the Marcel staring at her here was not the Marcel she used to know. He was a stranger to her. Suddenly appearing in front of her. Who knows what he was up to?Little Rosie’s school must have closed by now and she must be waiting for her with her teacher. She doesn’t want to keep her waiting for long. Izabelle only paused for a moment before she left without looking back as if she hadn't seen him or heard him speak and no
In the ambulance was her little daughter lying on a stretcher and the nurses placing oxygen on her to help her breathe. Before the ambulance door closed, she held it and rushed in followed by the teacher. “Rosie? Sie Sie, mummy is here, say something,” her hands moved to Rosie’s shoulder and she shook her as the ambulance started moving. Little Rosie lay on a stretcher without moving or saying a word. Her eyes were closed and her mother’s cries did nothing to help her. Izabelle’s tears flowed and she abruptly turned to the teacher who was sitting together with the nurses at the side. “Ho..how? What happened?” She yelled. “I don't know. S…she was just right beside me one moment and in the next, she was gone. When we f..found her, she was in the garden unconscious and there was smoke there. I don't know how it happened really, I'm sorry.”Izabelle’s tears dropped the more the teacher talked and she slumped on the chair beside the stretcher and covered her face with her palms. Her w
Izabelle’s eyes raised from the doll to the person who just called her. Her eyes were puffy and her sight was almost blurry. She blinked to get a better view of the person, no people that were rushing toward her. Just as she recognized them, she stood up from the bench and waited till they got to her. “Izabelle are you alright? How’s your daughter?” Jared asked as he got to her. His hands were on her shoulder. She was looking so weak like a leaf and he feared that if he let go of her, she was going to fall. “Izabelle, say something.” Beside Jared was his wife Kathie and they both stared at Izabelle in worry. “Rosie...Rosie, she..” Izabelle couldn’t complete her statement because the tears that she had fought so hard to stop started streaming down her cheek again and her dry throat made it hard for her to speak. Her tears streamed as she stared at her brother and pointed at the emergency room. “It’s alright, Rosie. It’s going to be fine, okay? Rosie is going to be fine.”Izabelle s