Ss tightened his arms around her as he spoke as if fearing she might escape him.


    A warm blush crept up Rose''s chest, a pleasant tingle settling in her heart. Her voice dipped to a


    yful whisper, more of a tease than a scold. "Well, at least you know you''re being sneaky."


    "Rosie." Ss couldn''t tear his gaze away. A captivating blush painted Rose''s pale face as he


    murmured, "Well, you''re just as cunning. You''re the sneak who''s stolen my heart."


    Rose found herself at a loss for words.


    She remembered listening to Alyssa chatter about her family and Ss. He had such a handsome face.


    Yet, he was so dense and cheesy that it raised concerns for him.


    It seemed Alyssa was right.


    Ss noticed her sudden silence and fell into a surge of panic. He turned her to face him. "Are you still


    upset with me?"


    "Ss Taylor."


    Ss'' panic intensified at the sound of Rose addressing him by his full name. Unconsciously, he


    swallowed hard.


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    "I am an illegitimate daughter of the Emerson family. I am a disgrace. Even the Emersons woulde


    to me and cause trouble. I have no peace. I don''t deserve you. It''ll only be harder for you if you stay by


    my side."


    It felt as though she was tearing a piece of her heart away with each word uttered. "You deserve


    better."


    Rose continued, "There are plenty of reasons why you might feel this way about me, and perhaps one


    of them is because your emotions stem from a desire to protect me—a misced sense of sympathy.


    "But once the initial rush fades, you''ll see what I see—love is fleeting and nothing but trouble. You


    come from a good ce, and even if you don''t need someone of equal standing, you deserve a well-


    educated woman with a respectable family background.


    "My life... it''s forever marked. Today was just a glimpse, a mere whisper of the darkness I carry."


    Beneath the icy veneer of a renowned designer, Rose harbored a wellspring of bitterness and


    insecurity. Her extravagant creations were a carefully crafted facade, a shield to deflect from the


    vulnerability beneath.


    Despite her prestigious Emerson name, Rose felt adrift, a life without roots. She could never bring


    herself to proim her lineage.


    Though she wasn''t blind to Ss'' good qualities or the depth of his love, a relentless sense of


    unworthiness gnawed at her.


    rity, however painful, was necessary. She couldn''t bear the thought of a future where Ss'' feelings


    waned or a future where their love faced an insurmountable societal bacsh.


    To avoid the inevitable heartbreak, she would rather not start it at all.


    "I''ve known about your background for quite some time."


    Her avoidance stung, but he pressed on, "So what, Rose? It doesn''t change a thing. I see you, all of


    you. And I still want you in my life."


    A tremor ran through Rose, shattering herposure. "Ss, is this some kind of prosecutorial


    harassment? You''ve investigated me?"


    "I just wanted to know the real you!" Ss panicked and held her shoulders forcefully.


    "Rose, do you honestly think I have nothing better to do than pry into your life? It was about getting


    closer to you, truly. All of this with the hope of winning your heart and earning a ce by your side!


    "I understand your concerns, but they''re unfounded. You''re Lyse''s best friend. She''s incessantly


    badgered me about making you her sister-inw.


    "And as for my family and father, you have nothing to fear. Their eptance knows no bounds. My


    father even embraced my brother''s sexuality wholeheartedly. He even weed Jasper despite his


    past transgressions with Lyse. So why wouldn''t he extend the same warmth to you? Why couldn''t he?"


    A fresh wave of ache washed over Rose, constricting her heart. Squeezing her eyes shut, she shook


    her head. Her hands pressed against his chest, forcefully pushing him away.


    "Dr. Lovce is the second in line to helm the Lovce Group, and Jasper is the president of the


    Beckett Group. They''re royaltypared to me. There''s a world of difference. Don''t waste your time on


    me anymore."


    Rose was truly obstinate, and she was getting on Ss'' nerves.


    Frustration flickered across Ss'' face, reddening his face. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his


    composure.


    Rose averted her gaze and turned to leave as she said, "My assistant mentioned you were here to


    collect Dr. Lovce''s suit. You''re here on Lyse''s order because she is upied, right? My assistant is


    packing it now. You can head home after that. I''m exhausted and in need of some rest."


    "That''s not all. There''s one more thing." Ss'' voice, now icy, came from behind her. "You still have my


    badge, don''t you? I have an important meeting to attend, and everyone is required to wear their


    badges. Please return it to me."