Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
If Rose hadn’t been burdened by her mother’s criminal past, George wouldn’t have treated her with such coldness and distance. Rose might have even married into the prestigious Dalton family from Northuis instead of Jamie.
As Rose approached Lydia and Jamie, each step felt as heavy as lead.
Upon reaching the bottom, her gaze fell upon Silas, seated with an air of effortless elegance. His charming eyes captivated her, causing her heart to flutter uncontrollably, just as it always did in his presence. Yet, despite her undeniable attraction, Rose knew she could never act upon her feelings.
The arrival of Lydia and Jamie felt like the striking of midnight, a cruel reminder for Rose to awaken from her Cinderella dream.
Despite her deep affection for Silas, Rose harbored a secret hope that he would find a more suitable partner for himself¡ªone without the burdensome background, family, and past that plagued her.
Lydia’s eyes burned with hatred as she observed Rose’s remarkable success. Her anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over.
“Lydia, I am working right now. We can talk after work,” Rose uttered, her voice strained with forced composure.
Silas remained a silent observer on the sidelines, rendering Rose unable to unleash her pent-up frustrations on Lydia and Jamie. She grappled with the thought of revealing her family’s inner turmoil, especially considering how it might affect her standing in Silas and Alyssa’s eyes.
Rose had fought tooth and nail to rise from the depths of the slums to her current position, and she was determined never to return to square one and endure the scorn of others.
Silas noticed the grim look on Rose’s face. Yet, he remained calm.
Lydia, however, was seething with outrage. Finally laying eyes on Rose, she spewed forth a venomous tirade. “Rose, you may be a renowned designer now, but your arrogance and temper have worsened over time.
“You have changed. You used to try to appease us when you and your mother were still living with the Emersons.”
“Lydia, while it may have been my assistant’s oversight not to recognize you, we treat all clients equally and have no intention of causing any inconvenience,” Rose retorted, her body stiffening with tension. “Let’s continue this discussion in my office.”
Lydia crossed her arms, her tone icy. “You may have forgotten your roots and denied your identity as an Emerson, but you can never erase where you came from. No matter how high you climb, remember that your success today is all thanks to the Emerson family’s efforts.”
“Mom, you’re saying it in such a roundabout way. Does Rose even understand? Let me make it clear to her,” Jamie interjected, her tone dripping with malice as she glanced at Silas, igniting a sense of malicious competitiveness within her.
She inched closer to Rose. “Rose, you have to always remember that you are an illegitimate daughter of the Emerson family.”
Silas, holding a cup, tightened his grip as his heart panged with ache. Sensing Rose’s discomfort, he averted his burning gaze, fearful of adding to her distress.
“Why should we speak in your office? Are you ashamed of who you are, Rose?” Jamie taunted, seizing the opportunity to strike. “We come to see you once in a blue moon, yet you find every excuse to avoid us. Now that we’ve raised the issue, your guard dog is ready to pounce.”
The assistant seethed with humiliation, but understanding their relationship with Rose, she bit back her anger.
Each insult pierced Rose’s heart like a knife, particularly in front of the man she loved. It was a brutal assault on her most vulnerable side.
Silas remained silent.
Rose couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze, her heart aching with an intensity that made her wish for it to cease beating altogether.
No one would be able to accept her, even someone as understanding and perceptive as Silas.
After an agonizing stretch of tense silence, Rose summoned the strength to plaster a strained smile on her face.
“Yes, I am the illegitimate daughter, the product of George’s affair. Our family is a complete mess, our drama both entertaining and scandalous!”
She turned her attention to Jamie, her voice tinged with defiance. “Jamie, you’re on the verge of marrying into the Dalton family, aren’t you? When I meet my new brother-in-law, rest assured I’ll enlighten him about the Emerson family’s true colors. Perhaps then, we can find common ground.”
Lydia and Jamie were left dumbfounded by Rose’s audacity. With each forced laugh, their fury only intensified.
Rose had made everything worse!
“Tell me, what brings you to visit this illegitimate daughter you seldom acknowledge?” Rose’s tone dripped with sarcasm as she arrogantly checked her watch. “Hurry up, my time is valuable.”
Lydia ground her teeth, struggling to contain her anger. “Jamie is about to become engaged. Your father expects you to create two gowns for her.”
“I’m sorry, but my schedule is fully booked for the next few months. I simply don’t have the time.”
Lydia’s icy glare bore into Rose. “Rose, are you going against your father’s orders?”
Rose fearlessly replied, “It doesn’t matter. Even if the president comes, I won’t do it.”
Jamie was livid. “You!”
“Lydia, do you take me for a fool?”
Rose, towering over Lydia, regarded her with a mixture of disdain and defiance. “You and your daughter humiliated me just seconds ago, and mere seconds later, you dare to ask me for a favor? I can’t believe the extent of your shamelessness.”
“You disrespectful wretch! You’ve crossed the line!”
Lydia was unable to contain her rage any longer. With eyes reddened with fury, she raised her arm intending to deliver a slap across Rose’s face.
Rose’s muscles tensed, ready to defend herself, when a sharp gust of wind suddenly sliced through the air. Then, a sharp, echoing smack reverberated throughout the space.
“Ah! It hurts!” Lydia cried out in pain, her forehead glistening with sweat as she clutched her throbbing wrist.
The sound of something shattering echoed through the room as a cup fell to the ground after it thwarted Lydia’s attempt to strike Rose.
“Mom, are you okay?” Jamie was scared out of her wits.
Lydia’s hand trembled in pain. “Who did this?”
“Me.”
A voice, firm and unwavering, rang out.
Rose looked up abruptly. Her heart felt heavy as tears swirled in her eyes.
Silas, without a moment’s hesitation, stepped forward and approached Rose. His intense gaze, filled with concern and compassion, locked onto her pitiful, reddened eyes.
There was no disgust or disdain in his eyes, only genuine concern for her well-being.
As Jamie watched Silas’ intense gaze fixed upon Rose, whom she considered to be an eyesore, a pang of jealousy twisted her stomach.
She thought they didn’t know each other. But the intensity of the man’s gaze on Rose was undeniable. His eyes seemed to be fixed on her with an unwavering focus, as if he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her for even a moment.
“Did you just hit me? Who do you think you are?” Lydia’s voice trembled with anger and fear as she confronted the intimidating Silas.
“Then, who do you think you are to strike her?”
Silas met Lydia’s reddened face with a cold gaze and remarked, “Do you believe your facelift and Botox will absolve you of your actions?”
Rose stood behind Silas, her heart initially unsettled. Her lips were pressed thinly together.
However, she nearly broke into a smile after hearing Silas’ remark.
Silas possessed a formidable ability to dismantle a convict in court and ruthlessly exploit someone’s vulnerabilities with his words.
“Nonsense! I’ve never had my face done!” Lydia retorted, hastily covering her stiffened face, a mix of shame, anger, and guilt consuming her.
Silas shook his head. “It’s not your fault for aging, but it’s not right to run around scaring people off with that face either.”
Lydia seethed with outrage, feeling her blood boil at his audacity.
“Who are you to Rose?” Jamie interjected, clinging to her mother and demanding an answer.
“Who am I to Rose?” Silas mused, touching the inside of his cheek with his tongue before turning to Rose with a serious expression. “Ms. Emerson, she wants to know my role in your life.”
Rose met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest.
“If you don’t say anything, then I’ll take the liberty of calling myself your boyfriend,” Silas announced with a wide smile, a gentle glint in his eyes.
“What?” Lydia’s and Jamie’s jaws dropped.
How could this sophisticated man be Rose’s boyfriend?
Rose’s cheeks flushed instantly. She looked down shyly, afraid to look at him.
Silas’ expression softened as he reached for her cold hand, intertwining his fingers with hers.
“I didn’t intervene when you were bullying Rosie earlier because I wanted to witness the extent of your cruelty and shamelessness. I wanted to see just how low you could stoop,” Silas remarked coolly, his demeanor exuding a chilling presence.
“And you didn’t disappoint me. It’s truly eye-opening to see both of you devils in action,” he added, his eyes narrowing slightly.