Fanny's eyes remained on him, unmoving as she looked at him.

"There's something you didn't tell me, right?" She asked softly.


Her tone was not accusing at all. Instead, it brings with it more anxiety. Unable to keep up with the charade, Michel sighed and let his shoulders drop, nodding.

"Can't you tell me?"

He shook his head.


Fanny continued to watch him for a few more seconds before she reached out and caressed the side of his face affectionately. "Do I need to know?"

Michel gulped, wondering how Fanny would react if she knew that Rosabella had killed one of their greatest enemies. But that's not where he told her this.


And technically, there isn't any urgency that she really needs to know this. So he shook his head, allowing her to step closer and look deeper into his eyes.

"Okay. I believe you, Michel."

Leaning down, he pressed his lips gently against hers as his hands wrapped around her body.

"Let's go have breakfast."

---

Rosabella seems to have changed.

At least she's not acting like her usual self, Fanny thought.

Looking at her best friend at the breakfast table, Fanny saw her pushing fruit around her plate as she stared straight ahead with empty eyes.

Fanny wonders what the reason might be and if it's because their friendship has somehow changed over the past few months since she's been living with the members of the Black Roses.

Not only is it clear that Rosabella wants nothing more than to leave, and go back to her old life again, but just dealing with the situation is absolutely certain to have had some effect on her.

While Fanny enjoys the company of calmer family members like Audrey and Andy, Rosabella is more comfortable with more vocal personalities like Kaylin and Carlos.

Fanny also began to notice that Charles frequently appeared wherever Rosabella went.

She doesn't know exactly what that means if Michel can order him to do so for security reasons, though it all still seems odd to her. And then there was Rosabella's excessive irritation with him.

On more than one occasion, she complained about the second-in-command, rolled her eyes at him, and even came up with nicknames that mocked him like 'modern old man' and 'mister prada loafers'.

However, from past experience, Fanny knew that Rosabella had only ever done it with men she was interested in.

Fanny specifically recalls how she did the same to her last boyfriend right before they officially started dating.

Is that true? Is it because Rosabella has started to like Charles that she is acting so strange now?

Looking at her, Fanny felt this couldn't be the reason. Rosabella appears rather closed and aloof. Not infatuated or infatuated.

So when everyone started to come out of the room, ready to start the day, she went to Rosabella's side and asked Rosabella to join her in her room instead of going to the infirmary.

She can see that Rosabella is hesitant to accept, despite Fanny's insistence, and eventually convinces her.

At first, Fanny just wanted to spend time with Rosabella, keeping the conversation light and easy.

But soon, she could clearly see that Rosabella wasn't really paying much attention to what she was saying as Rosabella continued to have that absent-minded expression on her face.

Hoping to get Rosabella's attention, she then branched out into a more serious topic that really speaks to what she's been up to Rosabella for a while.

"Rosabella?"

"Huh?" Rosabella turned her head to look at Fanny, half-heartedly doing what she was saying.

Fanny took a breath and braced herself for a reaction when she said those words. "I think I'll stay, Rosabella. I mean here."

As Rosabella just continued to stare blankly at Fanny without any change in her expression, the confused Fanny continued.

"I know... Michel and I were just... I mean..."

"I calculate that much."

"You do?"

Rosabella nodded.

Fanny felt even more confused about this.

Rosabella has no idea about this. Isn't she sad? Isn't she disappointed that this means they'll have to break up when Rosabella decides to go back into her life?

Unless...

Suddenly, Fanny was filled with the urge to at least ask Rosabella if she would consider staying with her.

It's great that she has this closeness and safety, especially after her father is killed.

"You stay, okay?" Fanny blurted out before she followed that thought in her head.

"What?"

"Please hear me out first. I know you want to leave as soon as this with Mr. Aiden has been sorted out, but will you stay? I mean, I know it's not the same, but by the way. somehow you can still be a nurse here and well, I'm here too and I really miss you, you know?"

Rosabella tried to hold back her tears as she looked down at her thighs. "Sure, I'll think about it." She mumbled, avoiding direct eye contact.

Fanny, not knowing what was going on with her best friend, immediately lit up internally.

"Oh, my god. Really?" Fanny couldn't believe how easily she got the desired answer.

Swallowing, Rosabella nodded. Because what else does she want to say?

She couldn't exactly admit that she had to stay anyway because she needed protection more than ever and couldn't take off with the Phoenix member who watched her kill Archibald and Mr. Aiden most likely also knows about this by now.

No, for Rosabella, the situation changed overnight.

As if on cue, Michel suddenly walked through the door, surprised to find Fanny not alone in their room but with Rosabella.

"I just came to inquire about your situation." He started, looking at Rosabella as she looked up at him from where she was sitting.

Michel quickly took the opportunity to tell her you were okay, to which she curtly replied with a nod.

The exchange was so subtle and quick that Fanny didn't notice it, but was just busy getting up and walking towards him.

"What's up?"

Michel turned to her and licked his lips. "Mr. Aiden replied, Eddie and Carlos left to see him an hour ago. If this goes well, they'll bring him in soon."