With her luggage already beside her, Roselyn was stopped short when Aubrey hurried forward and seized her arm.
"Roselyn, Mrs. Warren is only upset right now," Aubrey said quickly, her grip gentle but urgent. "If you give in a little, things will settle down. There's no need for you to move out. Take a deep breath and don't let your temper push you into this."
A tight smile flickered across Roselyn's face, barely lifting her lips. "That's not what this is, Aubrey," she replied softly. "I already planned to live on my own when I came back to Radena. I only stayed here last night because I wanted to see Beth."
Roselyn wasn't making excuses, nor was this a spur-of-the-moment decision. Long before setting foot in Radena again, she had asked Abby to quietly help her secure a place to stay.
"Roselyn…" Aubrey hesitated, clearly ready to keep talking her out of it.
From the staircase behind them, Beth's sharp voice cut in, "Since she insists on leaving, don't stand in her way!"
Roselyn's fingers curled tighter around the handle of her suitcase. Turning back, she met Beth's gaze and found nothing there but sharp displeasure and open contempt.
Forcing herself to stay composed, Roselyn pressed her lips together. "Whenever I have a free moment, I'll come back and visit."
"I don't need your visits," Beth stated indifferently. "I'm doing just fine on my own." Her gaze cut downward, sharp and merciless. "Take one more step out that door, and don't you dare come back!"
"Mrs. Warren, please—this doesn't have to go this far…" Aubrey's voice shook with panic as she turned back to Roselyn. "Roselyn, just apologize. Hurry—say you're sorry to Mrs. Warren…"
With a quiet steadiness, Roselyn eased her arm free from Aubrey's grasp. "Please look after Beth for me," she said softly. "If anything happens, call me right away."
No apology crossed Roselyn's lips, and not a trace of retreat showed on her face. Ignoring Aubrey's frantic attempts to stop her, she tugged her suitcase behind her and walked out, never once glancing back.
Fury exploded behind Roselyn. Beth swept a cup off the table, porcelain shattering against the floor. "What a goddamn joke! Since she has the guts to leave, let her stay gone forever. I'd like to see what she can possibly become without this family's backing!"
...
By the time Roselyn dragged her suitcase into Vista Residences, Abby was already waiting for her.
Dressed in a sleek pencil skirt, Abby wore her hair in loose, deliberate waves, arms folded as she lounged against the doorframe with easy confidence.
"I've already set you up," Abby said with a satisfied tilt of her chin. "Furniture, daily necessities—the boring stuff's done. Well? Not a bad spot, right? You'll be living right across from me, so trust me, your nightlife is officially taken care of."
While sorting through her belongings, Roselyn flicked Abby a measured glance. "With everything we're about to deal with, do you honestly think you'll still have the energy for that so-called nightlife?"
Lifting one shoulder, Abby smiled. "You squeeze in fun wherever you can. Besides, shifting Apex Stream's assets back to Radena was never going to be a one-night job. There's no point rushing it."
After pushing her hair behind her ear, Abby dropped beside Roselyn. "But seriously—are you really not going to tell Kevin that you founded Apex Stream in Zoinbury? You're opening a Radena branch, and he could be genuinely useful."
Before Roselyn could answer, her phone began to ring.
Curious, Abby leaned in to peek at the screen. Kevin's name glowed against the display. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips as she remarked, "Well, would you look at that—speak of the devil. Kevin's calling. The timing couldn't be better. You might as well mention the Apex Stream branch while you're at it."
Roselyn shot Abby a warning look, a subtle shake of her head telling Abby to rein it in, before lifting the phone to answer.
"Roselyn." Kevin's mild, familiar voice drifted through the line, softened with concern. "My grandmother told me you've already moved out of the house?"
Roselyn lowered her gaze. So Beth had wasted no time dragging Kevin into it—proof enough that her anger hadn't cooled in the slightest.
Keeping her tone even, Roselyn responded, "That's right. The place is way too far out, and the commute back and forth is a hassle, so I decided to move out."
Kevin heard straight through the explanation and knew it for what it was—nothing more than a convenient excuse.
