LOVE? NEVER | ✓

Chapter Thirty - One Rose's POV

"When everything in your life revolves around his happiness, you're no longer happy yourself." - Raghad

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"He's here," one of my friends, Michelle, nudged me, nodding her head towards the increasing audience.

"Who's he?"

"Your prince charming," she smiled and I looked to where she was pointing. My heart skipped a beat and I dropped my head to stare at my formal outfit, suddenly becoming insecure with how my body looked in the tight blazer and the knee-length pencil skirt.

I should have worn a dress.

"Relax alright?" she lowered herself so that her eyes met mine. "We don't want the ambulance to come today."

"Okay," I breathed, glancing at him once again for what I felt like reassurance. "Okay."

"I'll go now, wish me luck."

I straightened in my seat, facing the audience that couldn't practically see me from behind the curtain. I don't know what had happened, but he sure looked outstanding in casual outwear. The navy blue shirt hung around his muscular chest and the black coat he was still wearing made him look even more...less Ethen, but more hot. His fingers ran through his hair before his eyes slowly started to roam to scene, looking for me? I don't know.

"I came."

My phone beeped with his message and my eyes lit at the simple words. "I know." I replied with a smile.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen," Michelle's voice boomed from the multiple speakers around the hall, but I couldn't care what she said, for looking at Ethen was all that mattered.

My phone beeped again but it wasn't Ethen who sent the message.

"Good thing he came."

I reread the message over and over until it occurred to me that it's Dad who sent to this-or one of his whipped men. I set the phone to the side and stood up, my heart beating frantically in my chest. Suddenly feeling like all the oxygen was pulled away, I pulled off the suffocating blazer and settked it next to my phone. Walking through the dimmed backstage was like a game, trying to find the stairs to the main hall. To where Ethen was.

I pulled open the first door that I saw but it didn't budge. Five minutes, I heard, was all what my dad needed to slowly kill him by the soft drink he would offer to Ethen indirectly.

"Shit," I cursed when the next door was locked too.

I rushed towards another hallway, not knowing where I was. The weak light emitted from behind closed doors was the only thing that made me at least able to see my steps as they lead me to an already opened door.

With an unnecessary slam, I fisted my hair in my hand when I saw it was only a storage room.

My vision blurred for a second too long and I knew it was all because of my nervousness. The dim light no longer helped me as I searched with my hands for the wall to steady myself. Breathe, I told myself, but couldn't properly oblige to my own orders.

My eyes closed but it didn't make a difference, calling for help now wasn't going to bring anyone. This was all so stupid; me trying to save him from the person I know wouldn't crack under pressure.

I was stupid to think I would face him.

"Rose!" I heard my name from afar, getting louder with every call.

"Rosabella!" he called again.

I stood up, almost immediately when I recognized the sound of the caller.