The Italian's secret Love Child

CHAPTER ONE

Rose's POV

(6 years ago)

I had just arrived from university when I entered the front door of my mother and stepfather's house. It was awfully quiet I don't remember my mother mentioning anything about her and Arthur going out today over the phone. It was Friday afternoon and they normally do attend business-related functions but she wouldn't have forgotten to tell me especially since I told her I'll visit them for the summer holidays.

"Is anyone home?"

I wait for a few seconds and after no reply, I head up the stairs.

This is strange there isn't even a single maid in sight... they always treat me to home-baked chocolate chip cookies as soon as I walk through the door. When I reach my mother's bedroom just as I was about to turn the doorknob I heard faint whispers coming from inside the room. It sounded like Mom and Arthur were in the middle of a very heated argument.

It was about me?

I try to hear what they saying. I can't remember doing anything wrong... except for being a little hangover in class this morning I place my ear against the door to hear better.

"You have to make Rosalie understand how important this is for us especially for the company. This is our last hope, Marilyn."

What's wrong with the business and why wasn't I informed about any of this?

I want to open the door and demand to know what they are talking about but then I hear mom's voice she sounds upsets.

"How can you expect that from me you're asking for too much Arthur?"

"They are a nice family they'll surely take good care of Rosalie don't you trust me, dear? I'm trying to do what's best for our family and this is the only solution left."

"There has to be another way we can't do this to her. It should be her decision to make not ours!"

Are they trying to get me married but why the sudden urge to do so? We aren't living in the olden days anymore and how can I marrying into a nice family be the only solution?

The only solution to what?

Mom, you have to do something or say something I can't get married I've just started university. I press my ear more firmly to the door.

"How can you expect that much from me she's my only daughter?"

"They're offering to pay us fifty million upfront for your daughter's hand in marriage and they are willing to merge with our company. I think it's a win-win either way we look at it. Where else would we get an offer like this in such a short amount of time again?"

I almost choked on my saliva when I heard how much I'm worth. I didn't know whether to feel honored or disappointed...

How can they even put a price tag on someone's life like that?

"She's only eighteen and just went to university. Rose still has her whole life ahead of her. How can you expect me to tell my daughter, my ONLY daughter, to just give her freedom away like that and for money just to save a company?"