[Rose's POV]
"You're awake?"
A cold voice spoke.
It wasn't the man from last night.
My head throbbed like it was splitting open.
My body felt like it had been run over.
Every bone hurt.
The light was too bright.
I squinted and saw a man standing by the window.
He was wearing a sharp suit, facing away from me.
That outline...
My heart dropped.
It was him.
Alistair Black.
My biological father.
He left me with my mom when I was seven.
We hadn't seen each other since.
I had only seen him on the financial news—always untouchable, high above.
What was he doing here?
"Your clothes are on the sofa. Get dressed and come out."
He said it, then walked out.
I sat there, frozen.
I had no idea what was going on.
I pushed my aching body to sit up.
Sharp pain shot through me from down there.
That pain reminded me—
Everything from last night really happened.
I looked down, stiff.
Warm, sticky liquid ran down my thighs.
There was a bloody smell.
The white sheet had a bright red stain.
Watermarks were everywhere.
My stomach turned.
I wanted to throw up.
I felt sick, ashamed, and furious.
I couldn't breathe.
My body shook as I climbed out of bed and dragged myself into the bathroom.
The girl in the mirror didn't look like me.
My face was pale.
My hair was a mess.
My neck, collarbone, and shoulders were all covered in bruises and hickeys.
Anyone could tell what happened.
I turned on the hot water and scrubbed my body.
The skin turned red, but I didn't stop.
I wanted to wash it all off—what happened, what I remembered.
But it didn't work.
The more I washed, the colder I felt.
The more awake I became, the more hopeless it felt.
I put on the dress from the sofa.
It fits perfectly.
Of course, it did.
Everything had been arranged.
Alistair was sitting on the couch when I came out.
He didn't even look up.
"Sit," he said, nodding at the sofa across from him.
I didn't move.
I stared straight at him.
He gave me a scornful look.
"The man from last night is someone way out of your league," he said coldly.
"He thought you were Lilith. Do you know what you've done? Your disgusting behavior ruined your sister's reputation."
My head buzzed.
So it was true.
"But don't worry," he said.
"To protect the Black family name, Lilith will take the fall for you. People will think it was her last night."
I laughed.
What a great father.
What a lovely sister.
From the bar to this hotel room, I remembered nothing.
But I didn't need to.
It was obvious who did this.
"It was you," I said in a hoarse voice.
"You brought me here. What do you want from me?"
His eyes shifted.
I hit a nerve.
"Don't talk nonsense," he said.
"I just got back from overseas. I came here to clean up your mess."
He looked annoyed, like I had embarrassed him.
"Why can't you be more like your sister? Why must you always cause trouble?"
Something inside me snapped.
Did I feel wronged?
No.
That ended a long time ago.
All I felt now was cold, deep hatred.
All these years, the only thing he gave us was a laughable bit of child support.
It was Mom who raised me—working multiple jobs to get us by.
I started working when I was still a teenager.
We barely made it.
So why did he think he had the right to talk to me like that?
To judge me like I was nothing?
My mind had never been so clear.
"I don't care what you say," I stared at him and said slowly.
"You got something out of this, didn't you?"
"Then pay me."
He laughed like it was a joke.
"You think you're in any position to ask me for money?"
"I can find him," I said, stepping closer.
My voice was calm.
My eyes didn't flinch.
"You said he's powerful. There aren't many like him in this city. I'll find him."
"I'll tell him he slept with Rose, not Lilith."
I paused and watched his face freeze.
"I'll also tell him it was all you did. What do you think he'll do to you?"
His fake confidence shattered in an instant.
He was scared.
"Don't you dare!" he shouted.
I gave a cold smile.
"Try me."
I pulled out my phone.
I opened my banking app and showed him the screen.
"Pay me. One million. Or I will go to him right now."
"I don't care what happens to me. I've got nothing to lose."
He hesitated.
I could see him struggling.
My heart was pounding, but I stood my ground.
I didn't step back.
A few seconds later, he gave in.
He lowered his head and started typing.
Ding—
The notification came in.
I saw the amount.
I gave a cold smile, put away my phone, and walked toward the door.
At the door, I stopped.
I didn't turn around.
"I hope we never meet again," I said.
"And by the way, my name is Rose Lang."
"I'm Celeste Lang's daughter."
Then I walked out without looking back.
I never wanted to see that disgusting place again.