Found Obsession

Chapter 74: Lieutenant General Leader of the Elite Group

Rose took a deep breath, steadying herself before opening the bathroom door. Lucas and Raven were sitting on the couch, their gazes instantly locking onto her as she stepped out.

"Wanna call your doctors?" Lucas asked, his tone surprisingly genuine, his expression one of concern.

Rose hesitated before sitting on the edge of the couch, running a hand through her hair. "I'll be fine," she muttered.

"I managed to keep the head guard from reporting them to your father and mother before he was dismissed," Lucas added, his voice calm but firm.

Rose glanced at him, briefly catching the seriousness in his eyes. She nodded, grateful but unsure how to respond.

"Your friends from yesterday," Raven spoke up cautiously, "they were doctors?"

"Yeah," Rose said quickly, leaning into the story she'd built. "While I was away, they checked up on me."

Rose kept the lie.

Raven raised an eyebrow, but Lucas remained quiet, listening.

"They were at a convention on a cruise," Rose continued, her voice steady despite the weight of her lie. "I started feeling bad, and they came to my aid."

Lucas mouthed an oh, though his eyes lingered on her, his expression unreadable.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room. The weight of unspoken questions hung thick in the air as Raven and Lucas exchanged a glance, as if debating whether to say something.

After a long silence, Rose reached for the remote and turned on the television.

It didn't take long for the screen to fill with the grim coverage of the murders. Every channel seemed to be discussing them, listing names of those who had been identified. The story was everywhere.

"We would like the Model and Detective Roselyn Hansley to provide any updates, at least I only trust her." one anchor announced as a clip played of a civilian being questioned on the street.

"What do you think about all this?" a reporter asked the man.

"She left for months, but people still admire her," he replied. "She's always been upfront, donated to the community, and kept people calm when things were tough."

Rose frowned, realizing why her mother had been so insistent about salvaging her public image. Even after I left... they still think I'm the voice of reason.

The screen shifted to a clip of her short interview from the day before. The sight of herself caught her off guard-she looked pale and tired, the hangover etched into her face.

The two news hosts began discussing her.

"Gosh, it must be horrible to have your home filled with so many bodies," one said sympathetically. "I can see why she requested time."

"Yes, definitely," the other agreed. "She's doing her best to keep calm under the circumstances."

Calm? Rose nearly laughed. I'm anything but calm.

"We're looking forward to what Roselyn Hansley has to say to her fans and the public," one of the hosts continued. "Some are curious to know why she left, and depending on her explanation, they'll decide whether to hate her... or forgive her."

"What do you think, Kim?" the other host asked. "Why do you think she left?"

"I'm not sure, Tom," she replied, "but if you look at her, she does seem a bit sick, doesn't she?"

Rose's stomach twisted as they replayed the interview again. Sick? she thought bitterly. I looked sick because of the damn hangover.

"Do you think she left because of her health?" Tom asked.