Chapter 10 - Wreckage

Five years ago

Rose's POV

My legs got weak as I stared at the message in daze.

'I will be home soon. When will you be back? I miss you so much. See you soon. Love you.'

I scrolled up to the old messages with shaking hands. My heart was pounding. I gasped in shock and covered my mouth with my hand while tears ran down my cheeks.

'London is a nightmare without you. Every breath burns my throat when I can't see your beautiful eyes. But as soon as I come back, we will be together, and no one can get between our love and us.'

'My love! It is unbearable not to see you. I miss being in your arms.'

'I will hold you in my arms and never let you go. And sleep well till I come back because when I am back, I will not let you sleep a wink. I have mind-blowing plans for you!'

'I hope so. Now I am so curious about them. It will be more torturous after your promise. I can't wait to fall asleep while listening to your heartbeats.'

'I love you, my Juliet. Miss you terribly. We will be together again. And I will not let you leave my arms again.'

'I look forward to seeing you again too, my love. I love you so much.'

I ruffled my hair while crying and closed my eyes as I couldn't read their messages anymore. The other messages were worse than the others. It broke my heart again and again reading their love messages to each other. It was obvious that they were in love. At least, the poor girl. Meanwhile, the other one was a talented actor. He was lying to his girlfriend as well as me.

Sienna. The bastard used her name while saving her number on his phone. Not sweetheart, my love or something else. Probably, he didn't want his other victims to find out about his girlfriend while he cheated on her, but he didn't think to delete the old messages, or he didn't think I could find about them.

I wiped my tears off my cheeks with the back of my hand and placed his phone on the bedside table.

I breathed deeply, trying to calm down, and picked up my clothes quickly. Then I grabbed my suitcase and packed it as fast as possible while the liar was taking a shower.

It seems it is time to go back to Rome, Rose. The dream ended. Now it is time to wake up. I muttered mockingly while tears ran down my cheeks.

I grabbed my suitcase and bag and left after looking behind me one more time. Meanwhile, our memories here shattered my heart.

Troy's POV

I wrapped a towel around my waist as I walked out of the shower. I dried my hair with another towel and went back to the bedroom.

"Rose?" I called as I didn't see her in the bedroom, but there was no response. I checked the other rooms, calling her, but she wasn't in the suite.

Where did she go without telling me? Did something bad happen?

I rushed into the bedroom and grabbed my phone. I called her quickly and ran my hand through my hair nervously, but her phone was turned off.

Damn it!

Where are you Rose?

I threw my phone onto the bed and walked towards the closet. My heart tightened as I didn't see her clothes here.

I put on a blue shirt and black denim jeans quickly and rushed out after grabbing my phone and jacket.

I parked my car in front of her apartment building and got out of the car. I saw a middle aged woman walking into the building.

"Miss!" I called her as I ran towards her.

"Yes?"

"I am sorry. I need to see my girlfriend. She lives here, but I don't know which flat is hers. Her name is Rose." I said hurriedly.

"Rose? There is no one named Rose living here." The woman stated.

"What?" I mumbled, puzzled, running my hand through my hair. "Maybe, you have moved recently. So you didn't meet her. She is a student. She has brown eyes and black hair." I informed. "I will show you her photo." I added hopefully as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and showed Rose's photo to the woman.

"No, I have lived here all my life. There is no Rose living in this building. And I didn't see this girl here either. I am sorry." She said and walked in, closing the door behind her. I stared at the door, dumbfounded.

Five years later

New York, USA

After the cafe, I went to my penthouse. I poured some whiskey into my glass and drank it absently. Then I took off my jacket and threw it onto the couch before going to the bathroom.

I unbuttoned my shirt and took off it, staring at myself in the mirror. Sadness crossed my features as I ran my fingertip over my rose tattoo on the right side of my chest gently. I got this tattoo five years ago.

"Rose..." I mumbled, closing my eyes, and placed my hands on the sink counter, leaning my head down slightly.

I searched for her desperately after she had left the suite, but she was nowhere. I had even hired a private detective to find her, but he couldn't find her either.

He sent me the photos of all girls named Rose who were studying at universities in London, but none of them was my Rose. I asked him to look for her in New York as well, but he didn't find anything about her here either. It felt like she disappeared, leaving behind her unforgettable memories and one broken heart as well as nightmares which haunted me all these years.

I sighed and took off my left clothes. Then I went to the shower cabin and turned on the water. I closed my eyes under the water, thinking about what happened at the cafe.

Was she really Rose?

****

I closed the file, exhaling loudly, and checked the time. Then I stared at my engagement ring on my finger and trailed my fingertip over it, lost in my thoughts.

My fiancee, Kate and I got engaged three months ago. We met through work.

Two years ago, her father, Steven Allen, helped our company with a problem on one of our projects. He was a successful attorney. Then we started working with his firm.

I met Kate when she took care of the legal documents of our new hotel project. She was a lawyer as well. Then we started to meet up outside of work too and became friends.

She was kind, easygoing, intelligent and beautiful. She had hazel eyes and black hair. Yes, there weren't any sparks flying between us, but we got along well. Actually, I didn't wait for anything more after Rose; I knew that I couldn't feel the same special feelings with anyone else again. It happened once and it would not repeat.

Our families approved our relationship. I got along well with her father, despite the fact that he was a strict, intimidating and difficult man.

After picking up Kate, we went to the restaurant. Actually, I wasn't in the mood. Moreover, I felt so tired. Last night, I couldn't sleep properly because of my nightmares. It happened more frequently after I saw the girl who looked like Rose. However, I couldn't cancel our plans again. I didn't want to offend her because I promised her that I wouldn't change our date this evening.

"Are you okay? It feels like you are somewhere else." She asked, interrupting my thoughts, and took a sip from her white wine as we finished eating.

I cleared my throat and took a sip from my wine. "I am just tired."

"You work so much. You need to take care of yourself. I am worried about you." She said, concerned as she placed her hand on top of mine.

"I am fine. Don't worry." I forced a smile and took a sip from my wine. "If you don't mind, can we leave? I have a meeting tomorrow morning." I said, giving her an apologetic look.

"Umm...Fine." She muttered and forced a smile.

"Good night." I said, turning my head towards Kate as I parked my car in front of her house.

"Would you like to drink some coffee? My parents are abroad." She asked, giving me a hopeful look.

"I am sorry, but I am really tired. Moreover, I don't think your father will be happy if he hears that I came to the mansion when they weren't home." I stated and stroked her hair. "I don't want to break your father's rules. He warned me to keep my hands to myself till marriage. Especially in his house. So I don't want to be on his blacklist." I winked at her. She chuckled, shaking her head.

"I am sorry. Sometimes, my father becomes....so strict and controlling. Actually, most of the time." She sighed, shaking her head. "And he is so conservative about it. So..." She shrugged her shoulders and gave me an apologetic look. "But he really likes you." She added, giving me a warm smile.

"Don't worry. It is fine." I gave her a reassuring smile and kissed her cheek. "Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams." She smiled and got out of the car.