Found Obsession

Chapter 82: 20 Whips

November 6, 2005

Rose hurriedly got dressed, her movements sharp and efficient. She pulled on a pair of jeans, fresh undergarments, and sturdy shoes. Over a long-sleeve shirt, she shrugged into her brown leather jacket, its familiar weight grounding her just slightly.

Her eyes darted to the television screen as she tied her hair back, the news blaring across every channel. The media was in a frenzy, and the streets outside seemed alive with unrest. The videos Arina had uploaded were everywhere, spreading like wildfire.

Arina had posted them on her Facebook, accompanied by a public apology. She admitted to being too young and too scared to act at the time, but claimed she couldn't live with the guilt anymore. Her message had struck a chord, shared and reshared across platforms until it reached almost every corner of the country.

But now, Arina was missing.

Rose swallowed hard, her unease growing as she read the words on the screen. The evidence had been turned over to the police, triggering outrage and indignation nationwide. The videos exposed secrets the Thorns had kept hidden, highlighting their wealth and influence in ways that enraged the general public. Protests were brewing, voices demanding justice growing louder with every passing hour.

Rose's stomach churned as she scrolled through the comments online. Words like corruption, justice, and down with the Thorns peppered every thread along with the men that had damaged Crystal. Videos of angered civilians filled her feed, people calling for accountability from the powerful elite.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away. It was a message from Jonathan: My men are on their way. Stay put.

Rose set the phone down, her palms clammy. She paced the room, her mind racing. The country was erupting in anger, and now, with Arina missing, everything felt dangerously unstable. 

Rose couldn't shake her worry for Arina. The situation had been far too dangerous for her to face alone. Someone should have gone with her, Rose thought bitterly, guilt gnawing at her. It shouldn't have been Arina.

By the time Rose reached her floor, she spotted Jonathan waiting for her. His posture was tense, his face etched with concern. Just beyond him, Riley, Teresa, Lucas, and Raven were gathered in the meeting room. As soon as they saw her, they hurried out to meet her.

"Are you alright?" Raven asked, his worry evident in the way his eyes scanned her.

"I'm fine," Rose said quickly. "I just... overslept."

Raven swallowed, his expression conflicted as if he wanted to say more but held back.

"Your father?" Lucas asked cautiously.

"I—I don't know," Rose stammered. "The maids told me he left around 1 in the morning."

The group exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing further.

"Guys, give me some time, alright?" Rose said firmly. "I need to check a few things."

They nodded reluctantly, stepping aside as Rose hurried to Jonathan. Together, they entered the private room. Inside, Sasha and Mark stood, their expressions immediately shifting to relief when they saw her. They rose to their feet, but Jonathan held up a hand.

"Wait," he said sharply. The group quickly began scanning their phones and the room for any hidden microphones or listening devices. When the room was deemed clear, Sasha and Mark immediately embraced Rose, their relief palpable.

"We can't find Arina," Sasha said, her voice trembling with concern.

"This was a bad idea," Mark added, his tone heavy with guilt. "We never should've let her go alone."