Rosalie Gaston POV

Leonardo Riccardo was sitting on the couch, his face steady, his sharp features glowing with impossible beauty. His fingers were laced tightly together, his chin tilted down in deep focus.

“My sister just got back from high school. Come say hello to Mr. Leonardo before you go upstairs.”

I swallowed hard, terror burning my throat when Damon’s eyes cut into me. He noticed my lips still red and the long, dark lashes I had stolen with mascara.

“You’re dead tonight. Just wait.”

He hissed the words against my ear while digging his fingers into my arm from behind. At the same time, my eyes collided with Mr. Leonardo’s. I tried to hide the pain in my face, desperate not to let him see. Thankfully, he didn’t notice he just gave me a soft smile.

“Welcome, Mr. Leonardo.”

I bowed politely the moment Damon finally released my arm. Leonardo’s deep, calm voice came at once.

“How are you?”

He asked with warmth, but his gaze carried weight. I rushed to answer. “I’m fine.”

Damon jumped in with fake cheer. Leonardo and I were lost in each other’s faces, though he was the only one who never broke his stare.

“He came here to check how I’m doing with my new job.”

Embarrassment burned me alive. Damon’s greed always humiliated me, and now it was right in front of Leonardo. I lowered my eyes, wishing the floor would swallow me.

“I made time just to meet you today, Mr. Damon.”

I almost smiled almost but I squeezed my fingers so hard it hurt. If Damon noticed, I’d pay for it later, after Leonardo left.

“As you can see, I’m still trying to recover from the lack of sleep last night. I’ll get my energy back soon. I know I’m capable of it.”

Leonardo’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. His reply came out cold. “How energetic you are.”

I looked at my brother. He motioned for me to go upstairs without a word. I obeyed, though I hesitated. I wanted a chance to thank Leonardo alone. He had helped my brother, and I owed him that.

How stupid of me—I forgot to thank him!

I shut the door with reluctance and turned toward the stairs. My heart dropped when I realized something was missing. My makeup. Gone.

“I remember putting it right here this morning.”

I tore through my things, dumping my bag on the bed, burying my face in my clothes with growing panic. That’s when Jennifer walked in, carrying her stuff.

“Looking for these, thief?”

My stomach turned. She would tell her husband everything. She always did. Damon was already angry with me—he’d explode when he found out the makeup was hers.

“I’m not a thief. I only took them without asking because you’d never have agreed anyway.”

Her hateful stare locked on me as she stepped closer. Her angry breaths came fast, too close.

“Of course I’d never agree to give my things to a filthy girl like you. Your ugly little face doesn’t deserve my lipstick or my mascara.”

My voice rose, shaky but defiant, as I rubbed the lipstick across my mouth in frustration. “I’m sick of your insults. Stop it.”

My eyes darted to the door when Leonardo suddenly appeared inside my miserable little room.

“Is there a problem?”

His voice was sharp with suspicion as he looked at my brother’s wife. She forced a polite smile, trying to hide what she had been doing.

“We were just talking.”

She clutched her things too tightly. Leonardo’s eyes lingered on her nervous face, but Damon’s voice called from downstairs.

“Mr. Leonardo wants to talk to you alone about the money we’ll have to pay next year when you start college.”

I blinked in confusion, glancing at Leonardo at the same time. Jennifer slipped out, bowing her head with fake respect. “I’ll leave you to talk, Mr. Leonardo.”

He adjusted his tie and walked toward me slowly. His eyes shifted toward my mouth, and I blurted without thinking, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

His hand came up, rough against my cheek, brushing over my lips and the corners of my mouth.

“You look like a clown, little one.”

Shame crushed me. I had forgotten how I’d smeared the lipstick everywhere when I lost control with Jennifer.

“I’ll wipe it off myself.”

I raised my fingers to my lips, but he pushed them away lightly, his gaze fixed and commanding.

“I’m almost done. Be patient.”

Oh God, my face must be redder than a tomato.

“You looked pretty, Rosalie. Why ruin it?”

I froze, staring at his perfect face so close to mine. I hadn’t expected him to notice I was wearing makeup. Even Daniel hadn’t realized.

“Because it’s not mine. It belongs to my brother’s wife.”

He tilted his head, still focused on carefully wiping the mess from my skin. I lifted my chin to meet him, while he bent his neck lower and lower.

“It’s fine.”

Damon’s words about money rushed back to me, and I whispered quickly. His eyes slid up, slow and deliberate, locking on mine.

“Will you really pay my college fees, Mr. Leonardo?”

I waited for an answer. But instead of replying, he asked quietly, “Don’t you want me to?”

The moment he stopped wiping, I stumbled back, shaking my head without thinking.

“Of course not. That would be humiliating. You know how greedy my brother is. Don’t pretend you don’t. He’s using me.”

Leonardo rubbed his forehead slowly, while I kept talking, my words tumbling out fast, my pride aching.

“He forced me to give up my dreams. How can you expect him to be happy for me happy enough to let you pay for college?”