Another boring day in the Barricks home with Rosaline doing nothing but, staring out the window.

It's boring in the summer when you have no friends and have nothing to do. Looking out the window is the only thing she can do without ever getting bored. She wishes she could go outside and lay on the grass while looking up at the sky or climb up a tree and sit on a thick tree branch, swinging her feet back and forth, while watching mother nature take its course.

Rosaline sighs as she stares out the window knowing that she won't be allowed to do either of those things. She's not allowed to go outside unless it's for school or a doctor's appointment. The sound of a bird chirping brings Rosaline's attention to a tree right outside her window. On a branch is a nest, where a red cardinal gently rubs its head against an egg, a soft chirping sound coming from its beak. The scene makes Rosaline smile until, there's a knock on her door and her smile disappears.

"What is it," she asks her body stiff wondering why someone would knock on her door.

"Mr. and Mrs.Barrick would like to see you in Mr.Barrick's study," a soft voice says, most likely belonging to a maid.

Rosaline nods, then stops realizing that the woman can't see her.

"Okay," she says and waits until the footsteps retreat to move towards the door, slowly opening it and makes her way to her father's office.

Why would they call me, she wonders? She ate her breakfast and did her daily exercises and she doesn't have any appointments today.

It doesn't take her long until, she's standing in front of her father's office door. Taking a deep breath, Rosaline reaches out and tentatively knocks on the door.

"Come in."

Grabbing the doorknob, Rosaline slowly twists it and opens the door to see her mother and father and... Mr.Garonna. Confused, she shuts the door behind her, forgetting her manners.

"Mother, father, why is Mr.Garonna here," she asks, and her father sends her a glare.

"Good afternoon, Rosaline," her mother says coolly ignoring her question.

Rosaline realizes how rude she came off and blushes out of shame and embarrassment.

"Good afternoon, Mother, Father, Mr.Garonna," she greets bowing her head slightly in their direction.

"I apologize for my rudeness and lack of manners Mr.Garonna," she adds and feels her father's glare searing into the side of her head lessen.

"It's okay Rosaline," Mr.Garonna replies with a small smile and Rosaline swoons.

Such a kind man, she thinks and waits until her father gestures for her to sit down, to sit in a chair next to Mr.Garonna much to her delight.

Holding in the smile that wants to stretch across her face, Rosaline scoots herself to the edge of the chair, careful to keep her dress from rising beyond her knees. She sneaks a peak over at Mr.Garonna only to find him already staring at her. Jerking her gaze away, she blushes. Her father clears his throat and all eyes are on her, making her squirm slightly, uncomfortable with the attention.

"Rosaline," her father starts. "Your mother, Mr.Garonna and I have decided that from now on you are to stay with Mr.Garonna...permanently."

She blinks. Once. Twice. A third time as the words sink in.

"WHAT!"

She jumps up from the chair looking at all three of them waiting for one of them to tell her it was a joke.

"Rosaline, your mother and I can no longer take care- So you're giving me away to your associate," she interrupts with shriek and her father sends her another glare.

She ignores it. She doesn't care how angry her father is. They're really giving her away to a total stranger.

"Rosaline I-." She doesn't hear her father out.

Instead, she slams open the door and runs out the room. How could they? Tears begin to run down her cheeks. She did everything they asked of her for 12 years and they still didn't think that was enough. Her vision blurs as more tears escape. She tries to brush them away, but they just keep coming. Focusing so much on her parent's betrayal she doesn't notice her being in front of a staircase until her foot misses the first stair. Her feet leave the ground and her world tilts sideways.

Panic fill her, her heart pounding as she tries to grab the railing but, it's too late. Screaming she falls down the stairs and pain explodes in her leg. She keeps trying to grab onto something, anything to stop her fall but she hits her head on a stair and everything goes black.

↔️ ⚜️ ↔️

When Rosaline wakes up, it's to darkness. For a split-second, she panics, thinking she's become blind but, a turn of the head shows her an open window telling her that it's just dark outside.

Sighing in relief she turns on her side and snuggles deeper into the pillow. It takes her a moment for everything that had happened to come back to her, and she sits up. Looking around she tries to see where she is but, everything is pitch black. Her hands run itself over the covers, causing her to frown. These aren't hers. She runs her hands over it again. The covers are soft and smooth and feel good on her skin. The covers in her bedroom were soft yes but they weren't smooth and often made her skin itch. She yanks off the covers and hurriedly swings her feet over the bed, crying out in surprise when she falls off and lands on the floor with a thud.

Groaning she rolls onto her back and tries to stand up. Rosaline gets to all fours when a sharp pain shoots up her leg causing her to freeze. It only increases when she moves her right foot that feels oddly heavy. Rosaline stands to her full height with a pain filled grunt and extends her arms before, limping around trying to find a wall. When she does she slowly follows the wall, hoping to find a light switch.

It takes a while to find the switch and when she does, she immediately flicks it on and gasps. Her eyes widen and her lips part in awe as she looks at her surroundings.

The only word to describe the room is pink. Bubblegum pink wall, baby pink four-poster bed that's so high it's no wonder she fell off the bed. Even the floor is pink though it's so light it's almost beige. Looking around she sees a pair of dark pink double doors along with a pair of crutches leaning against it.

Wondering what's behind the double doors and about the crutches, Rosaline steps towards them only for her leg to throb in protest. Looking down she notices a cast is around her leg. Why do I have a cast, she wonders but it's quickly answered when the memory of her falling down the stairs flashes through her mind and she winces.

At least now she knows what the crutches are for but, why were they so far away? She limps over to the double doors, before grabbing the crutches and places them under her armpits, sighing in relief when it takes the pressure off her leg.

Rosaline moves in front of the double doors and she releases a crutch. Wrapping her hands around the handles of the heavy looking double doors she gathers all her strength and pulls. The doors swing back and slams into the wall, no doubt putting a hole in the wall. Rosaline freezes. For a few moments she's a still as a statue, waiting for whoever put her here to come and get her. Nothing.

Relaxing, she looks inside and gasps.

"Wow," she whispers.

Inside the double doors is a closet loaded with tons of clothes, shoes and accessories. She can't help but, let her jaw drop at the sight.

"What are you doing up?"

Her heart stops and she screams, whirling around to see Mr.Garonna standing in the doorway arms crossed over his chest.

Putting a hand over her heart she slightly bends over and focuses on calming her heart while taking a deep breath.

"Mr.Garonna," she says breathlessly, ignoring the way her insides melt at the sight of him.

"What are you doing up," he asks again and Rosaline frowns, pushing down her girly feelings and focusing on the anger that's starting to bubble up.

"I should be asking the question," she snaps and Mr.Garonna raises a brow, amused.

"O, and what questions do you have?" The teasing tone in his voice makes her only angrier.

"Where am I and why am I here," She demands.

"You are at my place and this is your new room," he says leaning against the door frame. "The reason you aren't with the Barricks is because, they are no longer you parents. I am."

She shakes her head in denial.

"No, you're not."

Mr.Garonna takes a step closer causing her to take a step back wincing at the pain in her leg. His eyes darken and in the next moment, she's in his arms.

"L-let me go," she shrieks squirming in his arms.

He tosses her on the bed, and she yelps as she bounces once before settling. He comes closer and she puts her hands up as if that would stop him.

"D-don't touch me you, you....you pedophile."

He stops and the color drains from Rosaline's face. She seriously just call him that?

A few moments pass and neither one of them move or say a word until Mr.Garonna burst out laughing, so hard he has to hold in his stomach.

It takes him a while to calm down and all the while Rosaline slowly edges herself to the side of the bed. As she moves the bed lets out an audible creak and Mr.Garonna's laughter stops and he takes long strides to her side. She tries to push him away, but he grabs her wrist and pin her on her stomach while using the other hand to grab the covers and pull them up to her chin. He kisses her on the forehead causing her to blush and bury her face into the pillows in embarrassment.

"Go to sleep, little one, I don't want to have to punish you." He says mischievously

He lets go of Rosaline's hands and after a few seconds turns away and walks towards the door.

"Goodnight little one," he says before turning off the light and closing the door, leaving Rosaline in darkness.