As their eyes met, Rose's pulse pounded rapidly and her mind scrambled to grasp the seriousness of the situation. His piercing look tugged at her with a mix of need and want as she felt conflicting emotions. He seemed to be attempting to close the gap that had opened up between them, and the authority in his voice left little space for  her to compromise.As he drew her in, a feeling of fear swept over her. She wasn't ready for his quick move, and her brain couldn't handle the flurry of feelings. His firm touch and seeming commitment frightened her while enthralling her. She grappled with the want to assert her own needs and boundaries while still wanting to submit and resist. Her desire to succumb to the strength of their unspoken link, though, came from a different place.She experienced a variety of feelings she had never felt before as his hands combed over her shivering body, flowing from her hands down to her waist, held her tightly. &nbs

  She couldn't help but wonder what might be going through his head as she left the house as she couldn't stop contemplating that. She wasn't interested, but there was a tiny part of her that wanted to know more about him. She ignored those ideas, telling herself it wasn't her place to eavesdrop on his thoughts and feelings. She agreed to his request with a nod but made the decision to go on without him. The void between them seemed to be mirrored in the hallways echoing silence. She was on the verge of extending a hand that in reality would make her more vulnerable, when she finally decided against it after a brief hesitation. He obviously wanted some distance, when it was her who was supposed to need distance, so the least she could do was respect his boundaries, he was her husband after all, there was nothing she could do.As she stepped outside, the fresh breeze touched her face and briefly took her mind off her internal conf

 Rose slowly regained consciousness, her eyes fluttering open as the clean, fluorescent lights of the hospital room pierced through her grogginess. She found herself lying on a crisp white bed, surrounded by the clinical aura of medical equipment and the faint scent of antiseptic. The room was structured with pale blue walls, adorned with framed prints of tranquil landscapes, in an attempt to provide a sense of serenity amidst the unsettling environment.As Rose attempted to move, an uncomfortable sensation rippled through her body, causing a sharp pang of pain to shoot through her limbs, down to her stomach. She winced and quickly realized that her entire body felt heavy and achy, as if it had been battered and bruised. The memory of the incident inside her office,with Hilda flashed in her mind, and she could still vividly recall the overwhelming surge of pain that she felt and the sight of blood.Rose shifted slightly and noticed the various tubes

 As the sleek, black limousine cruised gracefully to a gradual and steady halt, Samuel gingerly stepped out from the vehicle's luxurious interior, carefully collecting the  wheelchair from the trunk. With utmost care, he extended his hand to assist Rose, gracefully guiding her as she pulled away  from the plush seats to what was now the  comforting embrace of the wheelchair."Here you go, ma'am," Samuel uttered softly, his voice carrying a gentle warmth as he ensured Rose settled comfortably into the wheelchair. A soft smile danced upon her lips as she looked up at Samuel, with obvious gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you," she said, her words laced with sincere appreciation.A momentary wince flickered across Rose's features as the intense sunlight pierced through the cloudless sky, sending an unwelcome pang coursing through her head. Sensing her discomfort, Samuel's concern mirrored in his eyes as he inquired, "Are you okay, ma'am?"

  Rose sat still  as her mother's words echoed in her head. She had always struggled with a strained relationship with Maya, and prisca's presence only added to her discomfort, and she wasn't ready for another awkward atmosphere. She wanted so badly to be inside her room, somewhere where it was just her, and no one else, to recollect and go through all the happenings that day. Somewhere that she could escape the complexities of familial dealings.Suppressing her frustration, Rose mustered a weak smile and replied, with her eyes narrowed and not looking directly at them "Thank you, Mother. I appreciate your kind words prisca, but I'm feeling a bit tired. I think I'll head up to my room now." And without  waiting for a response from either of them, Rose mustered up the strength to push her wheelchair forward, as she was determined to distance herself from the uncomfortable atmosphere. she reached for the handles and, withou