Chapter 3 Chapter 5-6

"Where are you staying now?" The window was lowered, and Darrin's handsome face was revealed.

"The hotel ... for now," Rose replied.

"Get in, and I'll give you a lift." Darrin's voice was gentle, but there was a touch of firmness.

Rose hesitated for a moment, and at the same time, crowds of people who had been working late came out of the building.

She was worried about being seen by others, so she got in hastily.

"Being in this line of work is hardWe often have to work day and night." He handed a can of drink to Rose.

She took it and was surprised to find it was warm milk.

"It's nothingI've experienced it before," Rose smiled.

"You're rightYou are the most gifted journalist I have ever met," Darrin smiled. "In Aurrerland seven years ago, we..."

"Darrin!" Rose interrupted him suddenly.

He seemed dejected for a moment.

"He never knew, did he?" Darrin gradually clenched the steering wheel with his fingers. "The sacrifice you made..."

"It's all over now," she whispered. "Thank you for keeping my secret, Darrin."

She had told herself long ago that love was not kindness, nor charity, nor coercion.

She didn't blame anyone for getting to where she was with Judson.

There was silence in the car.

She turned on her phone and saw dozens of missed calls.

The calls were all blocked.

There was a text as well

Though the sender was without a remark, Rose was familiar with the number.

"You better never answer the phone again, Rose."

It was from Judson.

She thought about it and then blocked his messages, too.

Instead of asking where she was staying, Darrin sent her straight to a five-star hotel.

She took a look at the hotel and smiled, "Darrin, this is too high classLet's go to another one."

She couldn't afford a hotel like this right now.

"You'll be reimbursedGet down." His gentle voice was still mixed with dominance.

He helped her check-in, gave her the room card, and waved. "You may go upGet some restYou have two days off."

He turned around and pulled a long face.

Rose had no luggage.

She left the Roach's place empty-handedHe knew her, and he knew that she wouldn't take a penny.

He thought, "Good for you, Judson, for being a complete heartless rascal!"

***

Rose was woken up by the ringtone.

It was a call from Lakisha.

"Come over now! Judson issued a lawyer's letter!"

Rose hurried to check out

The receptionist smiled sweetly, "Young lady, you can stay in your room at any time for a monthSomeone has paid for you."

Rose refused it and checked outShe transferred the refund to Darrin.

"Darrin, I owe you the room rate, and I'll give it to you when I receive my salary."

She rushed to Flourish Media, and Lakisha's swearing could be heard on the floor.

"He was the one choosing the diamond and putting on clothes for her in the eveningThis is conclusive evidence of their hidden relationship for seven years yet they sued us for defaming them."

Seeing Rose running in, Lakisha stuffed the lawyer's letter into her arms. "Here, this one is yours!"

Rose looked down to read it.

And she almost swore. "Why am I the main defendant?"

"Because they thought you were a pushover!" Lakisha shrugged. "Our department and even our company have become the defendants, but you were paid special attention to."

"It must be because of Rose's article

It went viral onlineRose, you'll surely receive a bonus this month." Tommie even had the mood to tease Rose.

But the others nodded to echo him. "I think Rose has exposed Judson's weakness, so he went mad."

"That's rightHe must have gone crazy because what Rose wrote was the truth."

Rose raised her head and looked at Lakisha. "Lakisha, you said that this matter wasn't likely to be turned around."

Lakisha spat out the lollipop in her mouth out of anger.

"Screw the Roach family!"

Just as she was swearing, someone from the Law Department came over.

He asked for Rose's ID.

Judson sued Flourish Media for an article and its writer.

In the article, there was detailed information about his relationship with Lillian.

It was the article Rose spent a whole night writing.

But he claimed it to be a rumor.

Rose used her penname, so the Law Department had to confirm her real identity to cope with the lawsuit.

Judson was determined, so a lawsuit would be inevitable.

Rose just took out her ID when someone reached out to push her hand back into her pocket and took the lawyer's letter.

And that person tore it apart.

"Let him." Darrin's face went cold. "He has to bear the criticism since he has the guts to do that."

No one in this world deserved better than Rose to accuse Judson of his ruthlessness.

"But..." Darrin was always gentle, so when seeing him in fury, the man from the Law Department felt anxious.

"We'll accept the lawsuit if he dares to initiate one

We don't have to worry about it," said Darrin coldly.

"But..." the man spoke again.

Darrin's expression became utterly cold. "We are such a big companyHow could we not even be able to protect an employee?"

He would not let Rose meet Judson at the court.

Judson didn't deserve it!

***

"MrRoach, we haven't found Rose."

In the president's office on the top floor of the Roawards Group, Isidro Bowen felt uneasy.

Judson had been keeping a long face ever since he returned to the Imperial Garden last night.

Isidro was Judson's assistantHis father worked for the Roach family, and he had been by Judson's side for more than ten yearsIt had been long since he saw Judson so furious.

Rose disappeared.

Judson closed his eyes and pressed his temple. "Check the transaction record."

In front of him was a phone whose screen had been cracked and a bank card that had been broken into two halves.

Isidro recalled the scene of Judson smashing the phone when he couldn't connect Rose and his hysteria when he saw the bank card on the nightstand.

He still felt lingering fear.

"I've checked it

MsEdwards didn't buy anything."

Judson still had his eyes closed, and he pinched his nose. "Accommodation record."

"I've looked into that as well but found no clues."

There was a deathly silence.

Isidro didn't dare to breathe.

After a long time, Judson opened his scarlet eyes. "How did Flourish Media react?"

Isidro was on the verge of tears. "Flourish Media refused to delete the article and said that they would be there if you insisted on a lawsuit..."

Bang!

Judson kicked over the table in front of himGlass was shattered and scattered all over the ground after the loud sound.

Isidro was almost scared to death.

Judson hadn't slept for two days.

If he continued to be so hysterical, Isidro might die before him.

"MrRoach." The special assistant Keenan Bright came in and looked at Isidro with sympathy. "Your flight is ready."

Judson stood up and walked out while tidying up his sleeve buttons with a gloomy face.

Isidro wanted to say something, but Keenan shook his head.

Judson wouldn't cancel his trip even if his parents died.

Let alone Rose who he hated...

Judson was obsessed with his work.

"Call the police and check all the surveillance footage," Judson said to Isidro before leaving.

"Mr

Roach, MrsRoach called..." Isidro reported to Judson before they boarded the plane. "She asked if you and MsStewart..."

Judson looked away from the laptop screen and gloomily raised his eyes.

Isidro handed over the new phone and the new bank card. "MrRoach, I've called the policeWe may find something soon."

Judson didn't say anything againHe leaned against the cushion in the private plane and looked out of the window at the receding airstrip.

“Rose, you’ll be done if I catch you!”