(Rosalie Gaston POV)

My dark eyes caught Leonardo Ricardo off guard, his voice rough when he whispered, “Did he force you to choose another major?”

I let out a shaky breath, answering with hesitation. “Yes. I wanted to study medicine. But he refused. He forced me into something else.”

I confessed a secret only my brother and his wife knew. A secret I had buried long ago, because I had already let go of that dream.

“Don’t worry about me,” I added quickly. “I moved on. My new dream made me forget why I ever cared about medicine.”

He kept studying my face, as if searching for more. “And what’s your new dream, little one?”

I stared at the ceiling, distracted. “I don’t want you to know. I’m not sure I can make it happen anyway.”

He sighed deeply. “I won’t force you.”

I lowered my gaze to him, comforted by his tone, ready to bring back the previous topic. But he cut me off, sliding both hands into his pockets.

“I’ve decided to talk to the principal tomorrow. I’ll cover half the tuition fees for all the students, not just you.”

My lips pressed together in burning embarrassment. I asked nervously, “Weren’t you planning to pay my tuition only because you pitied me?”

He hummed in agreement at first, then his voice turned serious. “You’re not pitiful, Rosalie. You’re just beautiful.”

A smile broke free before I could stop it. He smiled back, soft but sure. “Even if I wanted to pay everything for you each month, if you said no, I’d stop immediately.”

His words soothed me, pulling me into a daze. “Thank you for everything, Mr. Leonardo.”

Later, after he left the house, I watched him from the round attic window. He noticed me looking, and I had no choice but to wave. He gave me a noble smile before walking away.

I managed to convince Damon I hadn’t embarrassed him in front of Mr. Leonardo about the makeup. He only clenched my jaw hard and shot me his ugliest glare before leaving me to exhale in relief.

---

On Tuesday morning, after leaving school, I walked with a skip in my step, counting the cash in my hand. I had been saving it for a wedding dress magazine.

“Fifty euros should be enough, right?”

I tried to remember the price but failed. Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a neurologist. But because my brother refused, that dream turned into something else organizing weddings.

I adored decoration designs and gowns, especially those long white dresses that spread across the floor like a fairytale princess.

I drifted into that sweet fantasy as I recounted the money. Then a motorbike sped past, and the thief snatched my cash in a blink. “Give it back, you thief!”

I yanked my backpack tight against my chest and ran after him like a fool, as if I could actually catch him. Pain shot through me when I tripped hard on my knees. My jeans tore, my skin bleeding fast. “Damn my rotten luck.”

People passed by, whispering, mocking, laughing. That’s when something caught my eye. A white car blocked the motorbike’s path. My breath hitched. “Am I dreaming?”

I squinted. A man stepped out. Familiar. Too familiar.

“Mr. Leonardo?”

I tried to push myself up, grimacing. As he came closer, the picture grew clear. He had grabbed the thief, ripping the money from his hand, and now he was punching him hard. Rage burned in every hit.

“Stop! You’ll kill him!”

I rushed forward, clutching his arm, then his elbow. He turned to me, eyes blazing with a fury so raw it froze me in place. For the first time, I understood what real fear felt like.

“He crossed the line with you, Rosalie. How could you expect me to let him go without punishment?”

My fingers tightened on his arm. My voice trembled. His hot breath hit my skin like fire. “That’s enough, Mr. Leonardo. Look at him—his face is swollen already. If you keep going, it’ll only get worse. Please… stop. I’m begging you.”

His gaze softened suddenly. “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to me, little one.”

He shoved the man carelessly, then jabbed a finger at him in warning, his sharp eyes burning. “Don’t you ever think of touching what belongs to her again. Do you understand?”

The thief scrambled to his feet, nodding again and again. “I won’t. Never again, sir.”

Leonardo’s grip tightened on my shoulder. His voice was ice. “Apologize to her. Right now. Or die.”

The thief bent at a ninety-degree bow without hesitation. “I’m sorry, miss.”

The way Leonardo’s hand pressed down on me sent a shiver through my entire body. Words caught in my throat.

“It’s fine. You can go,” I finally whispered.

Leonardo flicked his eyes toward him, and the man bolted. Then he turned back, shoving the money into my hands. “Here. Take it.”

I accepted it nervously while his furious eyes burned into me. “Next time, count your money inside your room!”

I nodded quickly, but the throbbing in my knee betrayed me. He noticed right away, his eyes narrowing on the blood.

“Shit.”

I gasped as he suddenly bent down and swept me up in his arms. One hand pressed against the back of my thigh, the other wrapped firm around my waist. I clung to his neck in panic, afraid of falling. But then I remembered he was unshakable. Even the wind couldn’t move him.

“I deserve all this pain,” I muttered bitterly.

He held me tighter, voice low and rough in my ear. “No. You deserve care. Mine, and mine alone, little one.”

He opened the car door with one hand and set me gently on the seat. When he leaned back, his nose brushed mine. That tiny touch sent a spark, a strange chemistry I couldn’t ignore, pulling me deep into a trance.

“Pain doesn’t last forever,” he whispered. “But I promise you this I’ll make sure I’m the one who lasts for eternity.”