Back in her bedroom, Roselyn freshened up before collapsing onto the bed, the mattress barely cushioning the weight of the day.

Everything that had happened on her first day back pressed down on her chest, leaving her wrung out and hollow.

With her eyes shut, her thoughts blurred and scattered, drifting in uneven waves as she shifted restlessly beneath the covers. Long minutes passed before exhaustion finally pulled her under, and sleep carried her straight into a dream.

In her dream, the scene rewound to when she was sixteen.

Sunlight blazed over the basketball court, where teenage boys ran and laughed, their movements loose, loud, and brimming with careless youth.

When halftime came, Roselyn hurried over with bottles of water for Kevin and the others.

Tilting her head slightly, she wiped the sweat from Kevin's forehead with a towel.

A voice rang out nearby, playful and teasing. "Kevin, take a look at Roselyn—sweet, obedient, and beautiful. Just make her your future wife."

Heat rushed to Roselyn's cheeks, the color blooming as she froze in place, her hands hanging awkwardly at her sides, unsure where to put them or how to respond.

Across from her, eighteen-year-old Kevin met her gaze with an open, luminous calm, the corners of his mouth lifting into a soft, unguarded smile. "Of course," he said lightly. "Then you'll have to wait for me, Roselyn. One day, I'll marry you."

Laughter erupted around them, his friends hooting and clapping without restraint.

Caught off guard, Roselyn felt her emotions swell all at once, crashing over her without warning.

Back then, at sixteen, the feelings she had carefully tucked away finally broke free—what had once been a vague, shapeless pull sharpened and spread, quietly but relentlessly taking over her thoughts.

The phrase "wait for me" had carved itself deep into Roselyn's memory since then, sharp and unforgettable. She had sworn to be good, to wait patiently, and to carry the weight of that moment with her for the rest of her life.

Out of nowhere, the dream lurched sideways. Every image fractured at once, collapsing into nothing, until only boundless darkness remained.

Fear surged through her chest, and before she could react, a powerful arm locked around her. She was dragged against a solid body and held fast in a crushing embrace.

Hot breath brushed her ear as a voice murmured with a dangerous, possessive edge, "Roselyn, don't even think about running away from me."

When she lifted her gaze, Wesley's devastatingly handsome face filled her vision.

Nothing about him had changed—he remained defiant and untamed, the kind of man who never released what he claimed. With relentless strength, he pinned her in place and thrust into her, leaving her breathless and powerless beneath him. "Sweetheart, moan for me."

Roselyn snapped awake, her heart slamming wildly against her ribs. She bolted upright, dragging a shaky hand across her forehead as if to clear the lingering heat.

Only then did it sink in—it wasn't real, just a dream. Yet inside that dream, every touch and shift had felt terrifyingly real, and Wesley had been just as reckless and unrestrained as always by the end.

Covering her face with both hands, Roselyn lay back, throat dry, restlessness humming through her like an aftershock. Dreaming something like that made her feel completely unhinged.

After her breathing finally evened out, she rose, washed up, and changed into fresh clothes.

When she went downstairs, the dining room came into view—and with it Beth, already seated at the table, calmly eating breakfast.

At seventy-eight, Beth's hair had gone half-white, yet her back remained straight and her bearing steady, refinement and authority settling around her like an old habit.

Roselyn approached and halted beside the table. She didn't dare sit; instead, she lowered her head and stood neatly, murmuring, "Good morning, Beth."

Without looking up, Beth kept eating, her attention firmly fixed on her plate.

A tight line formed at Roselyn's mouth as she remained quietly off to the side.

Not until the last bite was finished did Beth place her fork and knife down and finally lift her eyes. "You returned without saying a word," she remarked coolly. "It seems you've gotten bolder."

Keeping her gaze lowered, Roselyn said nothing, her silence heavy and deliberate.

A sharp, assessing stare pinned Roselyn in place before Beth demanded, her tone icy, "So when exactly do you plan to return to Zoinbury?"

After a brief hesitation, Roselyn answered quietly, "I… I'm staying in Radena."

Beth's temper flared at once, her words slicing through the air. "Don't be ridiculous. Kevin's about to get engaged. What reason do you have to stay here?"

Forcing herself to meet Beth's eyes, Roselyn replied hoarsely, "Why does his engagement mean I'm not allowed to come back?"

She swallowed and added, the question trembling out of her, "Isn't this my home too?"

She felt that in everyone's eyes, once Kevin became engaged, she was supposed to keep her distance and preferably not stay in the same nation.

Ignoring the question, Beth scrutinized Roselyn for a long, heavy moment before warning flatly, "You'd better know your place, Roselyn. If you dare cause another shameful mess like the one three years ago, don't blame me for cutting you off and throwing you out!"

Color drained from Roselyn's face, a sharp flicker of humiliation crossing her features. That incident three years earlier had left her wounded from beginning to end, yet in Beth's version of events, she had somehow become the instigator—the source of the scandal.

Casting one last indifferent glance at Roselyn, Beth rose from her chair and walked off without looking back.

Left standing alone, Roselyn felt an icy weight settle deep in her chest. She shut her eyes briefly, steadying herself. When she opened them again and slowly took in the house she had lived in for fifteen years, every corner felt strangely foreign. So this place had never truly been her home.

With her luggage already beside her, Roselyn was stopped short when Aubrey hurried forward and seized her arm.

"Roselyn, Mrs. Warren is only upset right now," Aubrey said quickly, her grip gentle but urgent. "If you give in a little, things will settle down. There's no need for you to move out. Take a deep breath and don't let your temper push you into this."

A tight smile flickered across Roselyn's face, barely lifting her lips. "That's not what this is, Aubrey," she replied softly. "I already planned to live on my own when I came back to Radena. I only stayed here last night because I wanted to see Beth."

Roselyn wasn't making excuses, nor was this a spur-of-the-moment decision. Long before setting foot in Radena again, she had asked Abby to quietly help her secure a place to stay.

"Roselyn…" Aubrey hesitated, clearly ready to keep talking her out of it.

From the staircase behind them, Beth's sharp voice cut in, "Since she insists on leaving, don't stand in her way!"

Roselyn's fingers curled tighter around the handle of her suitcase. Turning back, she met Beth's gaze and found nothing there but sharp displeasure and open contempt.

Forcing herself to stay composed, Roselyn pressed her lips together. "Whenever I have a free moment, I'll come back and visit."

"I don't need your visits," Beth stated indifferently. "I'm doing just fine on my own." Her gaze cut downward, sharp and merciless. "Take one more step out that door, and don't you dare come back!"

"Mrs. Warren, please—this doesn't have to go this far…" Aubrey's voice shook with panic as she turned back to Roselyn. "Roselyn, just apologize. Hurry—say you're sorry to Mrs. Warren…"

With a quiet steadiness, Roselyn eased her arm free from Aubrey's grasp. "Please look after Beth for me," she said softly. "If anything happens, call me right away."

No apology crossed Roselyn's lips, and not a trace of retreat showed on her face. Ignoring Aubrey's frantic attempts to stop her, she tugged her suitcase behind her and walked out, never once glancing back.

Fury exploded behind Roselyn. Beth swept a cup off the table, porcelain shattering against the floor. "What a goddamn joke! Since she has the guts to leave, let her stay gone forever. I'd like to see what she can possibly become without this family's backing!"

...

By the time Roselyn dragged her suitcase into Vista Residences, Abby was already waiting for her.

Dressed in a sleek pencil skirt, Abby wore her hair in loose, deliberate waves, arms folded as she lounged against the doorframe with easy confidence.

"I've already set you up," Abby said with a satisfied tilt of her chin. "Furniture, daily necessities—the boring stuff's done. Well? Not a bad spot, right? You'll be living right across from me, so trust me, your nightlife is officially taken care of."

While sorting through her belongings, Roselyn flicked Abby a measured glance. "With everything we're about to deal with, do you honestly think you'll still have the energy for that so-called nightlife?"

Lifting one shoulder, Abby smiled. "You squeeze in fun wherever you can. Besides, shifting Apex Stream's assets back to Radena was never going to be a one-night job. There's no point rushing it."

After pushing her hair behind her ear, Abby dropped beside Roselyn. "But seriously—are you really not going to tell Kevin that you founded Apex Stream in Zoinbury? You're opening a Radena branch, and he could be genuinely useful."

Before Roselyn could answer, her phone began to ring.

Curious, Abby leaned in to peek at the screen. Kevin's name glowed against the display. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips as she remarked, "Well, would you look at that—speak of the devil. Kevin's calling. The timing couldn't be better. You might as well mention the Apex Stream branch while you're at it."

Roselyn shot Abby a warning look, a subtle shake of her head telling Abby to rein it in, before lifting the phone to answer.

"Roselyn." Kevin's mild, familiar voice drifted through the line, softened with concern. "My grandmother told me you've already moved out of the house?"

Roselyn lowered her gaze. So Beth had wasted no time dragging Kevin into it—proof enough that her anger hadn't cooled in the slightest.

Keeping her tone even, Roselyn responded, "That's right. The place is way too far out, and the commute back and forth is a hassle, so I decided to move out."

Kevin heard straight through the explanation and knew it for what it was—nothing more than a convenient excuse.

Kevin paused, the line going quiet as he chose not to push any further. "My grandmother can be demanding," he said evenly, his tone softening. "But you're still the person she worries about most. When you get the chance, go back and spend some time with her."

"Alright," Roselyn answered after a pause.

Without giving her space to dwell on it, Kevin continued, "I've already taken care of the arrangements. You'll be returning to work at the Warren Group."

The sudden turn of the conversation left Roselyn momentarily disoriented. "I don't think that's..."

Before she could finish, Kevin interjected without hesitation, "You just came back, so take it easy for a few days. You'll head in to work in three days."

His voice remained steady as he added, "You've been overseas for three years. Putting you in a high position right away would stir up objections. For the time being, you'll stay by my side as my assistant."

Another refusal rose to Roselyn's lips, ready to spill out.

At that moment, Kevin's voice softened, the edge fading as a trace of guilt slipped through despite his control. "You went through a lot those past three years abroad, Roselyn. Now that you're back, you don't have to push yourself so hard anymore."

Roselyn fell silent, every argument dissolving before it could take shape. It turned out someone among the Warren family understood just how punishing those three years had been for her.

Following a short silence, Kevin inquired, "Where are you staying now? Let me have the address. I'll come get you this evening and make sure you get a proper welcome meal."

A welcome dinner held no appeal for Roselyn at all. She only wanted to slip back into Radena quietly, to exist on the edges without anyone realizing she had returned.

Kevin, however, refused to take no for an answer. With nowhere left to retreat, Roselyn sent him the address to Vista Residences once the call ended, her fingers lingering on the screen a moment longer than necessary.

Frustration exploded out of Abby as she slapped her thigh. "Roselyn, I told you to bring up the Apex Stream branch and get Kevin to back you," she snapped. "Instead of saying a word about it, you somehow let him rope you into being his assistant at the Warren Group? Are you seriously out of your damn mind?"

Her voice rose as she continued, incredulous, "You're the CEO of Apex Stream. If you were stepping in as the Warren Group's CFO, I wouldn't say a thing. But an assistant? That's beyond ridiculous."

Placing her phone aside, Roselyn answered calmly, her tone steady despite the tension, "I have no intention of letting the Warren family—or Kevin—know about Apex Stream. Once the Radena branch is established, you'll be the one standing out front as its public head."

Apex Stream was the company Roselyn had built from nothing in Zoinbury. It had begun as a modest investment firm, quietly accumulated capital, and then steadily branched into multiple industries as its reach widened. Over the years, its name had become familiar within the overseas business circle.

The company represented every sleepless night and calculated risk she had taken during her three years abroad.

Irritation flashed across Abby's face. "I have to admit that Kevin really is quite something. One careless promise he made as a teenager, and you waited for him for years because of it. Meanwhile, he went from one woman to the next. Then, when it was time for him to consider a neat, strategic marriage, you suddenly became an inconvenience. As for what happened three years ago… Humph. In the end, he shoved you overseas without hesitation. And now that you're back, a few soft words were all it took for him to pull you straight back into the Warren Group."

Abby's voice dropped, sharp with disbelief. "Roselyn, tell me—what are you actually getting out of this?"

What was she getting out of it? Light and shadow flickered through Roselyn's gaze as she spoke evenly. "The Warren family—and Kevin—were kind to me. I can't forget where I started."

A sharp laugh escaped Abby. "So their so-called kindness gives them a free pass to hurt you whenever it suits them? Don't kid yourself—I've watched how the Warren family have treated you all this time..."

"Alright, Abby. That's enough," Roselyn cut in, lifting a hand to halt her. "Kevin is hosting a welcome dinner for me tonight. You should come with me."

…

Night settled over Radena, and the city surged awake beneath a blaze of neon and headlights, restless and alive.

From the entrance of Vista Residences, a red Porsche 911 burst onto the road, sleek, defiant, and impossible to miss.

Kevin had arranged the welcome dinner at one of Radena's most exclusive private clubs. Behind its doors, fine dining, curated entertainment, and quiet indulgence blended seamlessly, with entry limited to a tightly guarded VIP list—only the truly rich or influential ever crossed its threshold.

In the passenger seat, Roselyn leaned back and watched the streets slide past, their outlines familiar yet strangely distant, her thoughts drifting far from the car. Three years of absence had quietly reshaped everything she once knew.

Breaking the silence as she drove, Abby said, "I've made some progress on what you asked me to dig into. Wasn't the emerald necklace—the one that mirrors your pendant—sold at an auction not too long ago? After pulling more favors than I care to admit, I finally tracked down the buyer. Do you honestly think that necklace has something to do with your origins?"