The next morning, Rose stepped out of her room to find Daniel and Addie engaged in conversation. She paused for a moment, watching them interact like a mother and her children before making her presence known. Their bond had grown quickly, and at this point, Rose could see Addie as a mother figure.
As they chatted, Rose mentioned that she would be heading to the shopping mall. Daniel, surprised, pointed out that she had planned to go yesterday. Rose explained that she had abandoned her shopping after meeting Addie. Understanding dawned on Daniel, and Addie apologized for delaying her. Rose reassured her that it was fine.
Just as Rose was about to leave, Aunt Addie suddenly stopped her. There was something she wanted to discuss with them once Rose returned. Noticing the urgency in Addie's voice, Rose suggested that Daniel give her a recorder to document whatever she remembered before she forgot. Daniel quickly fetched the recorder and handed it to Addie before Rose left for the mall.
After completing her shopping, Rose hailed a taxi to head home. The route back took her through a quiet, lonely road—one she was familiar with, as it was the only way to and from the mall. As they drove, a sleek black luxury car suddenly appeared, speeding toward them before slamming into the side of the taxi. The impact was not severe, but it was enough to shake both passengers. The taxi driver turned to Rose, asking if she was alright. She assured him she was fine, though her heart pounded from the sudden collision.
A man dressed in black stepped out of the luxury car and approached the taxi driver. He inquired about his condition, and the driver responded that he was fine. However, upon exiting the taxi to assess the damage, he saw that his vehicle's tire had been flattened, and the front was badly dented. He grumbled about the repair costs.
The man in black turned back to the luxury car, speaking to someone inside through the open window. A few moments later, the back door of the car opened, and a man dressed in white stepped out. He first exchanged words with his driver, surveying the situation before turning his gaze to the taxi driver. But then, his eyes landed on Rose as she stepped out of the taxi, carrying her shopping bags.
Rose froze as recognition struck her like a bolt of lightning. The man in white took a few steps toward her before speaking her name. Her breath caught.
"Rose."
It was her elder brother, Alexander.
She couldn't believe her eyes. She never expected to see any of them again.
Alexander approached her, his expression unreadable. "Come with me for lunch," he said, his tone carrying a mix of authority and something else—something almost like concern.
Rose shook her head, immediately rejecting the offer. "I'm in a hurry to get home," she lied. She had no interest in speaking to him. Not now, not ever.
Determined to leave, she grabbed her shopping bags and turned to walk away. Alexander's frustration boiled over.
"You're as stubborn as ever! You never listen! That's why you left home in the first place! And because of your pride, you refuse to come back!"
That made Rose snap. She stopped in her tracks and turned back to face him, her blue eyes blazing with fury.
"Pride? You think I left because of pride?" she hissed. "Tell me, Alexander, were you actually happy when Father remarried barely a month after our mother died? While we were still mourning?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the silence between them. "And don't you dare call yourself my brother. Father disowned me. That means you and I are nothing."
Alexander visibly tensed at her words. "Disowned...?"
Rose didn't wait for his response. She turned on her heels and stormed away, heading toward the main road where she could find another ride home. But before she could reach it, a black van suddenly pulled up beside her. The door slid open, and a masked man leaped out.
Before she could react, a cloth was pressed over her nose and mouth. A sickly-sweet scent filled her senses as she struggled against his grip, but darkness quickly swallowed her consciousness.
The van door slammed shut, and the vehicle sped away, leaving no trace of Rose behind.