Chapter 5. Assurance of Safety

Rose’s POV

“Rose, please…” Ana made a sad face, almost begging me.

“What do you want from me, Ana? I don’t need to be here anymore.”

“Rose, please… We have so much to catch up on. I can’t let you just leave. It’s not safe to go home by yourself at this time anyway,” she tried to reason with me, but my mind was made.

“You don’t need to worry about my safety. I am fully capable of looking after myself, just as I have done all this while.”

“Rose…”

“I have to go.” I turned and hurried away. Maybe when I started on my way back to California, and I had covered some distance between myself and all of this, I would finally be able to breathe again.

I just continued walking for a while, not so sure of where I was going. It was getting dark. I still had the card that the invitation letter had come in with. If any luck was on my side, there was still some money in it. I could buy a ticket back home.

I would probably not be able to make a booking this night, but I didn’t mind sleeping in the airport till tomorrow. Maybe by then, I would be able to get a ticket. Right now, I could only hope that a cab would come around and it could take me to the nearest airport.

I tried not to cry as I walked. I felt so alone.

My biggest wish had been granted, and I had finally met my sister. But I was too hurt to allow myself to enjoy the joy of seeing her again. A lot was bottled up inside of me.

Now that I was sure she was safe, I probably didn’t need to ever see her again. I could just continue with my life and she with hers.

I kept walking for a while. No cars were in sight. No houses even in sight. It seemed like the entire area was owned by one person… my sister and her new family.

After I had walked a bit more and my feet couldn’t take it anymore, I sat down on the road and took off my heels. My feet were hurting so much. I just needed to rest for a while and then continue on my way.

I hadn’t heard anything since I left the mansion. I hadn’t seen anyone else either. A familiar yet dreadful feeling started to creep into my heart… I realized I was really alone now. Again, tears started to well up in my eyes. I cried more from fear of not making it back home on time and from getting hurt than the realization that I was foolish to leave the mansion when my sister had offered me a room for the night.

At that moment, I heard something from behind. I listened carefully and realized it was a car that was approaching. I picked up my shoes and stood up, standing by the side of the road and looking ahead, waiting for the car to come into sight.

It wasn’t what I expected. I wasn’t sure the people here made use of G wagons as taxis, but if the rider could help get me to an airport, then I would gladly risk my safety. It wasn’t like I was any safer just walking on the road by myself as night was approaching.

The car got closer and closer, and it seemed to be pulling to a stop as it got close to where I was standing. I started to walk towards the side of the car as it slowed down. The car window slid down as I approached, and when I saw who it was, I stopped walking towards the car.

It was the man from the mansion.

“Your sister has sent me to get you.”

What?

“My… my sister?” I stuttered, not believing for a moment what he told me.

He didn’t say anything in response. He just kept looking at me. I was frozen under his gaze, my heart racing and my brain fighting to produce rational thoughts that I could act on.

“Are you going to get in, Miss?”

I shook my head. “I… I can’t go back.”

“Why is that?”

I suddenly started fighting back tears again. I couldn’t tell him that I didn’t want to go back because I was heartbroken.

Because my sister had left me for good some years back, and I couldn’t bring myself to forgive her and act like everything was okay.

Because seeing her made me both happy and sad at the same time, and I was confused.

“It’s fine. Get in. I’ll take you someplace else.”

I hesitated for a moment. Where else could he take me? Right now, I didn’t have anyone else offering to help me, so I didn’t have any other options. I slowly made my way to the other side of the car and opened the car door. I literally climbed in and closed the car door.

He started the engine and turned the car around. We drove for a while in silence before I gave in to the urge to make sure he wasn’t going against my wish.

“I don’t wish to go back to the mansion, sir,” I whispered, not wanting to sound offensive. “If that’s where we’re headed, and I would prefer to…”

“We’re not going to the mansion.”

I looked at him. I had never met this man before, but I felt like I could trust what he was saying to me.

“Well… where are we going then? Are you taking me to a hotel? I wouldn’t mind a bed to sleep in for the night no matter where it is.”

The man chuckled slightly. “We’re not going to a hotel either. We’re going to my penthouse.”

Goosebumps covered my entire body immediately, and I felt my fingers tremble.

His penthouse?!

“My name is Nathaniel, by the way. I can assure you of safety for the night at least, so you need not worry.”