Author's POV
Rose woke up and got ready for the day, she knew she had to face things she has never imagined before.
She took a deep breath and embraced herself to face everything.
She walked towards the dinning table and isabella came there at the same time. Damian was already sitting there. Isabella walked ahead of rose and sat beside damian where rose used to sit.
Rose's heart clenched in pain. Isabella was slowly taking her place in Damian's life. She was well aware of the fact that she slept in damian's room yesterday.
Rose walked towards the table and sat beside Ashton. Everyone was sitting their quietly, no one dared to speak anything. Everything was deadly silent. Damian looked at rose and noticed her red eyes, the faint dark circles around her eyes was enough to tell him how much sleep she got last night, he was in the same situation like her.
Isabella broke the silence and introduced herself to everyone, everyone greeted her back but with fake smiles, they were feeling bad for rose specially Ashton.
After finishing their breakfast rose head towards the library to save herself from the questions she don't know how to answer. Damian didn't stop her and head towards his office.
Rose was trying to read the book but she wasn't able to focus, her mind was on something else.
"Wow! It's so beautiful..."
Rose eyes snapped towards the voice and she saw isabella admiring the Library.
"Ohh! You are here and I was looking for you in the whole mansion..."
She said and sat beside rose. Rose didn't replied her, she kept quiet.
"Arie, what happened? Why are you not talking to me."
Bella asked sadly and rose sighed.
"It's not you bella, I have always been like this. I don't like to talk much, I am sorry if you felt like that..."
Rose answered and bella smiled.
"Yeah you were always like this since childhood, quite..."
Bella said and rose gave her a small nod.
"How did you become his bodyguard. Where were you and why didn't you came back home..."
Bella asked more like a complaint.
"It's nothing bella leave it, tell me about yourself. What did they do to you, what happened while I was gone."
Rose asked her.
"When mother told me that you are dead, we stayed with the knights for two years. Me and dami were used to spend the whole day together, we were so happy but then father learned about my heart problem. I had several surgeries and after that he never let me out because I was weak, he said that I am a weakling and he don't want to show everyone his weakness."
Her eyes went glossy and rose looked away from her, she can understand what she has gone through, the hate for her family was getting stronger by Bella's words. 'how can they treat her like this...' she thought.
Bella wiped her tears and smiled.
"But I don't want to think about it anymore, dami said he will always protect me. I know he won't let anyone touch me and now I have you too."
She looked at rose with hope filled eyes.
"I know you care about me Arie, I don't have to care about anything anymore because I have you people now..."
Rose's looked down guiltily, how can she tell her that she is the one who broke her trust. She is in love with her dami.
"Rose?... You do love me right?..."
Bella held her hand and asked again.
"Yes, I love you bella. You are my sister afterall..."
Rose gave her a forced smile.
****
It was evening and rose was sitting outside in the corridor.
looking at the dark sky which reflected the same darkness as her life.
Damian saw rose sitting there, she looked so lost. He walked towards her and sat beside her.
"Are you ok rose?..."
He asked softly looking at the sky.
"Perfectly fine..."
She mumbled not taking her eyes off the sky. Both of them were avoiding to look into each other's eyes.
"I know it's hard for you but I have to protect bella, I can't leave her alone. I don't want to do anything which will hurt her."
He explained and she nodded.
"I have got her back after so many years, all these year's I have been mourning for her. I have to take care of her rose, I can't loose her again."
"Do you love her?..."
Rose asked coldly and damian stayed silent. Yes he was in love with her before but he is not sure if he loves her anymore or not. Reaching to any conclusion now was too soon for him.
Rose took his silence as an answer and smiled bitterly.
"You always want to take care of everyone damian, you never took care of yourself..."
He looked at her.
"Because I know you will take care of me ."
"Why do you expect from me that I would stay here and watch you loving my sister in front of my eyes. I am a human damian I do feel things and it hurts me too."
She replied dryly.
Damian looked at her broken state and looked away guiltily.
"I have no choice, I know you will understand me..."
Rose chuckled.
"Yeah, that's what I have been doing since childhood, Comprising in everything. Don't worry damian do as you desire I won't stop you, I know you belong to isabella not me. Do whatever you want just don't put me in any situation which will make my condition worst..."
"Do you care about isabella?"
He asked.
"I do, she is my sister."
She replied.
"Then we will do this for the person we both love... I can't see you in pain rose it's hurting me. I need you in this..."
He pleaded and she gave him a small nod.
Damian sighed and stood up, he was about to leave but he heard Isabella's voice.
"Arie, I was looking for you everywhere..."
She stopped when she saw damian and looked at them confused.
"What were you guys doing here?..."
Damian and rose looked at each other not sure what to say.
"We were talking about business, she is my bodyguard bella. I have many reasons to talk with her."
He explained and bella nodded in understanding.
"Why were you looking for me?..."
Rose asked standing up.
"Ohh, actually I needed some clothes I don't have any but when I went to your room you were not there but I found this t-shirt there... Damian is this your shirt I mean it looked like your size, that's why I asked."
Damian looked at the t-shirt and yes it was his.
Rose looked at him and bella tensed.
"Actually that's my shirt..."
Three of them turned towards the voice and damian clenched his jaw looking at him.
"Thank god, this is my favourite one I was looking for this everywhere..."
Jackson said overdramatically.
"Yours? What was it doing in her bedroom?..."
She asked and damian rolled his eyes at her questions which he didn't like her asking at all.
Bella looked at rose confused and smiled after that.
"Oh my god how stupid am I. I am sorry Jackson. Arie Why didn't you tell me that Jackson is your boyfriend, ofcourse it's his shirt. I don't know why I thought that it belonged to damian."
All of them looked at her in shock.
Jackson was quick to compose himself.
"Yeah, you are right. She is my girlfriend isn't it obvious..."
He smiled at her.
Damian balled his fist and stepped towards him but rose interrupted.
"Yes, he is my boyfriend..."
Damian glared at her and she glared back, warning him not to do anything stupid.
"Bella I'll order new clothes for you, don't worry... Go to your room I need to talk with them about important things"
Damian told her and she left leaving them alone.
"What the fuck were you thinking while saying this shit..."
He growled at Jackson.
"What? I saved you guys..."
He shrugged.
"We could have thought something else, who told you to butt in..."
Damian spat angrily.
"Enough both of you..."
Rose scolded them and stood between them as Damian was ready to kill Jackson anytime now.
"So what, you want rose to stay away from you until you sort this out right, then it's a perfect idea, I will keep her away from you..."
Jackson smirked.
"Right rose?"
He gave her a teasing look and she stood there with her blank face.
Rose looked at damian and he exhaled deeply.
"Get your priorities clear man. First decide what you want and what not..."
Jackson mocked.
"You stay the fuck..."
Before damian completed his sentence Jackson cut him in.
"I won't stay away from this Mr. Knight. Rose is my friend and I care for her just like you do for isabella. I won't let her hurt anymore, clear your mind first. Choose one and then claim your right on her... can't you see how much you are hurting her, if she is not saying anything then it doesn't mean she don't feel anything..."
Damian glared at Jackson but somewhere he knew that he was right. He was hurting rose in all this mess.
Damian looked at rose and she looked away.
"I think you understood what I said..."
Jackson said. He held Rose's hand and lead her towards her bedroom away from damian.
"Why did you do that Jackson?..."
She asked.
"I just want to give him the taste of his own medicine. If you are suffering then I will make him suffer too."
Jackson replied.
Rose looked at him in disbelief. She was about to protest but he stopped her.
"Ahh... You don't have a say in this, do as I am telling you to. He needs to realise what he actually wants..."
Jackson clenched his jaw while talking about Damian.