"Today is my 18th birthday… and no one seems to know. Or maybe… no one cares."
The words slip out of my mouth as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The girl looking back at me doesn't look like someone celebrating anything. My uniform hangs too loosely. My hair falls messily around my shoulders. My eyes look… empty.
Downstairs, I hear laughter. It's Samantha's high-pitched giggle mixed with her brother Daniel's teasing voice.
I take a deep breath and force a smile that doesn't reach my eyes.
"Rose!" Beatrice's sharp voice cuts through the silence. "If you're done daydreaming, the driver is waiting! You're making Samantha and Daniel late again."
I swallow hard and whisper to myself, "Happy birthday, Rose." Then I grab my worn out bag and head downstairs.
Beatrice is seated on the couch in her silk robe, scrolling through her phone. Not even a glance in my direction.
"Good morning, Aunt Beatrice," I say softly.
She hums, not looking up. "Morning. Try not to embarrass us at school today."
"I'll try," I mumble.
Samantha appears from the hallway, her curls perfect, her perfume strong. "She'll find a way," she mutters to Daniel, who snickers.
"Stop," I say quietly. "I didn't do anything."
Daniel smirks. "Existing counts."
I feel my cheeks burn, but I bite my tongue. "Let's just go."
Beatrice waves a hand lazily. "Driver's waiting. Go before you make me regret taking you in."
I whisper a thank you, though it tastes like dust on my tongue, and hurry out to the car.
The black SUV gleams under the morning sun. Mr. Henry, the driver, opens the door with a kind smile.
"Good morning, Miss Rose."
"Good morning," I reply, grateful that someone at least speaks to me kindly.
Samantha and Daniel slide into the back seat beside me, the air instantly turning heavy.
As soon as the car pulls out of the driveway, Samantha leans forward, grinning. "So, Rose, have you heard about him?"
I glance at her. "Who?"
Daniel laughs under his breath. "You really don't know? Everyone's talking about Liam Valtieri."
The name sounds foreign, almost dangerous. "Who is that?"
Samantha's eyes light up like she's telling a ghost story. "He's not just anyone. He's Liam Valtieri. Richest young man in the city. Some say he owns half the business empire around here."
"Others say," Daniel adds, "he doesn't just own businesses… he owns people. The kind no one dares cross."
I blink. "You mean…?"
"Exactly," Samantha interrupts, lowering her voice dramatically. "He's Mafia. Cold. Powerful. And get this he hates women."
I stare at her. "That can't be true."
She shrugs. "Believe what you want. Every girl who's ever tried to get close to him ends up ruined or disappears. No one knows why."
Daniel chuckles. "He's probably allergic to drama. Or women in general."
"That's not funny," I whisper.
Samantha leans closer, her perfume suffocating. "Don't act like you're not curious. Every girl in the city talks about him. He's dangerous… but gorgeous."
"I don't care," I say firmly. "Dangerous people don't interest me."
Samantha smirks. "They always say that before they fall."
When the car stops at school, Samantha and Daniel step out first, heads held high. I follow quietly, trying to ignore the whispers.
"There she is Rose Carter"
"The orphan from the Alberts' mansion."
"Poor thing. It must be hard living with them."
My fingers tighten around my bag. The gossip never ends as long as I am here. They always say terrible things about me.
The bell rings, echoing through the corridor. I entered the classroom together with other students.
The teacher, Mrs. Bennett, enters with her usual smile. "Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, ma'am," the class echoes.
Her eyes land on me. "Rose, happy eighteenth birthday, dear."
A few students glance my way. Samantha rolls her eyes from across the room.
"Thank you, ma'am," I say softly.
My head snapped in surprise.
At least someone remembered.
During lunch, I sit under the old oak tree, eating in silence. Emma, the only real friend that never monks me , walks over with her tray.
"Mind if I sit?"
"Please do," I say with a smile.
She sat down beside me, lowering her voice. "So… you heard about the new rumors?"
I laugh weakly. "Which one? This school runs on them."
"About Liam Valtieri," she says, eyes wide. "People say he was at the hotel downtown last night. Someone took a picture of just his shadow but everyone's going crazy. He's supposed to be in Italy, but now they think he's back."
I blink. "Back? Here?"
Emma nods. "Yeah. And you know what's weird? Your uncle's company apparently has some connection to his business empire. My dad mentioned it at dinner."
"What?" I whisper.
She shrugs. "He didn't say much. Just that Carter's & Sons are trying to impress the Valtieri group for some contract or partnership."
A cold feeling spreads through me. "Carter & Sons… my father's old company."
"Wait, what?" Clara frowns. "I thought that company's always been your uncle's?"
"No," I say quietly. "It was my dad's. Before… before the accident."
Clara blinks. "Rose, that's… odd. My dad said something about the board being changed right after your parents died."
The bell rings before I can answer. I stand there frozen.
That evening, the drive home was silent. Samantha scrolls through her phone, humming softly, while Daniel leans his head back, pretending to sleep.
Halfway through the ride, Samantha says, "Dad's meeting someone important tonight. Mom said it's about the company again."
"Who?" Daniel asks.
"Someone from the Valtieri group," she says. "If the deal works out, Dad says we'll finally have everything in control."
My stomach twists.
Everything is in control.
I glance at Samantha. "What does that mean?"
She smirks. "Nothing you need to worry about, cousin. It's business."
Daniel chuckles. "Yeah, just don't mess it up by being curious."
I force a small laugh, but my chest feels tight.
Mr. Collins glances at me through the mirror, sympathy flickering in his eyes. But he stays silent.
Night falls heavy over the mansion. I head upstairs, exhausted, but as I pass the study, I hear voices.
I should keep walking.
But my name stops me.
"…we can't let Rose find out," Beatrice is saying sharply. "If she discovers what Albert did, everything will fall apart."
My heart skips.
"She's eighteen now," Uncle Albert's deep voice replies. "The inheritance clause could expose everything if she ever gets her hands on those papers."
Papers.
Inheritance.
My chest tightens.
Beatrice scoffs. "Don't worry. That girl can barely look us in the eye. She'll never find out the company was meant for her."
My blood runs cold.
The company was meant for me?
I take a step back too fast. The wooden floor creaks under my shoe.
Silence.
"Did you hear that?" Beatrice whispers.
I freeze, holding my breath.
Footsteps approach the door.
My heart thunders.
I turn and run quietly but fast up the stairs, down the hall, into my room. I shut the door, lean against it, gasping.
For a long time, I just sit there in the dark, staring at nothing.
My father's company. My inheritance. Their lies.
And suddenly, I know… nothing in this mansion is what it seems.
I glance out the window at the night sky, and whisper, "Dad… what did they do to you