Daniel walked back into the house, his steps slower than usual, his expression unreadable. Rose, who had been lounging in the sitting room, looked up and immediately noticed the shift in his demeanor. She smirked, folding her arms as she leaned against the couch.
"You look like a lost puppy," she teased, watching him collapse onto the couch with a heavy sigh. "So, do you have feelings for Stella?"
Daniel scoffed, shaking his head vigorously. "No!" he answered far too quickly, avoiding her gaze as he picked up the TV remote.
Rose chuckled knowingly. "Oh please, you're acting like a kid who got caught stealing cookies. Just admit it already."
"I don't!" he insisted, but his voice lacked conviction.
Rose raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. "Daniel, you do know you have a phone, right? You can still talk to her."
He exhaled, shoulders slumping. "It's different when she's actually here."
A triumphant grin spread across Rose's face. "Ah-ha! So you do like Stella!"
Daniel groaned, rubbing his face with his hands. "Why are you like this?"
She giggled before nudging his leg with her foot. "Did you tell her how you feel?"
"No," he muttered.
"You should have done it before she left." Her voice softened, sensing his mood. She didn't want to make him feel worse, so she decided to shift the topic. "Anyway, I need to go to the shopping mall later. Need some new clothes and a bag that won't fall apart after two weeks."
Daniel only hummed in response, lost in thought.
Later that day, Rose arrived at the shopping mall, scanning the stores for something affordable yet stylish. She weaved through racks of dresses and handbags, checking price tags with mild disappointment. She was about to move to another section when she heard a voice behind her.
"Excuse me, dear."
Rose turned around and found herself face-to-face with an older woman. Despite her age, the woman carried herself with striking energy, her sharp eyes scanning Rose with familiarity. Rose couldn't help but admire how lively and fit she looked.
"Have we met before?" the woman asked, tilting her head slightly.
Rose blinked, taken aback. She was the one being approached, yet this woman was asking such a question? "Um, no, I don't think so," she replied politely.
The woman, however, did not seem convinced. "No, no... I feel like I've seen you before. There's something familiar about you."
Rose hesitated. "I'm sorry, but I really don't think we've met."
The woman's eyes suddenly lit up with realization. "Katherine Elfo."
Rose's breath hitched. Her heart pounded in her chest at the mention of that name. The woman went on, her voice growing more certain. "Katherine Elfo... who married into the Moreau family."
Rose felt the blood drain from her face. She staggered back slightly, overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events. How did this woman know her mother's maiden name?
Quickly regaining her composure, she gestured toward a nearby seating area. "Please, let's talk."
The woman nodded, and together they moved toward the seats, the weight of unspoken revelations heavy in the air.