His dangerous lover

Chapter 3: The Dead Seeking Revenge

As Joseph continued to stare at Rose’s tear-filled yet determined eyes, he couldn't help but remember the bright smile of the girl she used to be—the one shown in the photo that was attached to the documents he was looking at earlier.

"I can help you," he found himself saying, his manner strange.

But as soon as the words were out of his mouth, he felt a little annoyed at himself. He had planned to wait for Rose to ask for his help herself before intervening with the Sommers Group’s affairs. He felt that it was a little too early to play his cards now.

Rose was shocked after hearing Joseph offer his help. However, after blinking steadily in confusion while also drying her eyes absently, she suddenly burst into laughter.

Her elegant smile was reminiscent of the sunshine-like one in her photo, devoid of any trace of adversity. It was like a beam of light that softened Joseph's cold and hard eyes.

"Thank you, Joseph,” Rose replied. “I gladly and shamelessly accept your help. The Sommers Group must not fall into the hands of that despicable man. Even if I have to destroy the company myself, I will not let my uncle and his b***h wife have what my father had painstakingly built.”

She paused and grew more serious as she met Joseph’s eyes. “You won’t have to do this for nothing either. If I can take back the Sommers Group, I will give you all my shares. Or if that’s not enough, I’ll give you anything else you ask. Just please, Joseph—help me."

As he gazed into Rose's earnest eyes, Joseph couldn't help but feel a little lost.

He had climbed the corporate ladder all alone after his parents had passed away in a car accident when he was still young. He had then fought hard to be able to inherit the Morgan Group, to outdo his opponents, and to eventually suppress the board of directors.

Along the way, he had learned to rely only on himself and not seek help from others. He became more tenacious and desperate than anyone else, and he trusted no one but himself. In the end, after all those years of hardship, he got to where he was today.

This young woman who was going through something similar… he felt that it would be a little unfair if she got what she was after too easily.

"I can help you…” Joseph finally replied with a subtle glint in his eyes. “But you have to prove yourself first."

…

"We are now reporting live from the Sommers’ mansion in XX City, where a memorial service for Rose Sommers is currently taking place.

“Of late, the Sommers Group has been dominating the news for all the wrong reasons. Tragedy after tragedy seemed to be striking this prominent family, and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight.

“After Sean Sommers, the late CEO of the Sommers Group, died in a car accident a month ago, his wife Natalie also passed away soon after, reportedly from complications due to being in the same accident.

“And now, two days ago, their daughter was also reported to have accidentally fallen into the sea. Rose Sommers was not able to be rescued, and though her body is yet to be recovered, her death has been confirmed today.

“For now, the cause of her death has been ruled to be undetermined, but due to the reported state of her mental health, many people speculate that it was self-inflicted."

Along with many others, the female reporter was speaking inside the entrance hall of Richard Sommers’ mansion, located in the heart of the country’s capital city.

As this was as far as the media was allowed to go in, they were crowded in the hall, just doing their business while waiting for something new to happen.

At that moment, this reporter’s wish and that of her other colleagues was granted—a faint commotion seemed to have started at the door.

Instead of subsiding, the noise only increased until it turned into a frenzy, catching the attention even of the people further inside the house, who were presently gathered for Rose Sommers’ memorial service.

Even if this was only a formality as they had no actual body to mourn over, the Sommers family was still owed some respect at such a time. The reporter thus wondered why so many people were making a scene during this solemn occasion.

But soon, the reporter was unable to think of anything else, much less continue her interrupted broadcast. Her eyes shone with that keen light that reporters possess, and she became as excited as a cat that had just seen a fish lying around.

Gradually, the shouts at the door had changed from chaos to a chorus.

"Rose is not dead?"

"Rose is back!"

…

The voices raised in excitement, doubt, shock, and curiosity echoed across the hall.

A young woman named Melissa, who was standing near the adjoining door to the entrance hall, was one of the first people attending the memorial service who heard the shouts from outside.

Just before this, she had been looking at Rose's black-and-white photos that were displayed near the door, mocking them in her heart.

Now, she was freaking out. "Rose is not dead? What the f**k? Did she fake her own death?"

She had just been looking at the photos of a supposedly dead woman, and now the person in question was here? Alive?

Despite herself, she couldn’t help but feel so guilty that she couldn’t even breathe properly.

Further inside the room where the memorial service was being held, a middle-aged man furrowed his brow as he turned to look at his wife beside him.

Rose was somewhat well-known in this city. It was impossible for so many people to mistake someone else for her.

There was only one possibility, then: the little b***h had had luck on her side and didn't actually die!

But throwing blame around for this botched job of killing her wouldn’t be of any use now.

They had to act.

"Will she spill the beans?" Amber whispered to her husband.

"Let's see what’s going on first," Richard replied, feeling uneasy.

At their own invitation, many reporters and guests had come today. Even if they threw the weight of the Sommers' power and name around, it would still not be easy to cover up the scandal this could generate.

With a serious expression, Richard whispered coldly, "It doesn’t matter if she’s back. Whatever she spews out, we can just claim she’s gone out of her mind like we’ve been doing all this time. Also… if we can kill her once, we can kill her a second time."

After thinking it over, Amber nodded in agreement.

Melissa, who was their daughter, had gone back to their side by then. Having overheard her parents’ exchange, her fear that the dead had come back seeking revenge was dispelled.

Although she did not understand all the details, she knew one thing: if even her Uncle Sean was defeated by her father, how could that annoying Rose be a match for both of her parents?

With his wife and daughter at his side, Richard finally began heading to the door that led to the entrance hall.

Soon enough, after people parted to let the family through, he saw another group of people walking towards him.

The first person that drew his notice looked pale, but even so, she was moving with vigor.

Indeed, his own eyes had now confirmed it—Rose was still alive!

Deep inside, Richard was shocked and angry. But outwardly, all he showed was surprise upon seeing Rose's face.

He quickly descended the short stairs towards the entrance hall, but at the very last step, he pretended to stumble due to excitement and almost fell. Amber helped him just in time, and he promptly steadied himself and continued to rush towards Rose.

"Niece!” Richard exclaimed tearfully. “Oh, my darling niece—what happened to you? We thought you had died—! We couldn’t find you anywhere—! I was going crazy trying to look for you—! Why, Rose? Why did you not send word to us if you were still alive…? Don’t you know we suffered so…?"

As Richard spoke, he held Rose’s shoulders and secretly observed her. However, no matter how closely he looked for any sign that she would give him trouble, all he saw were Rose's clear eyes looking back at him without any trace of anger or fear.

He then saw Rose part her lips to speak.

"I'm sorry…” she said, sounding hesitant and unsure. “Apparently I was… in a coma after being rescued from the sea. B-but I…” She shook her head slowly. “I can't remember anything before then… I didn't even know who I was until I saw the news on the TV and my photo appeared... Mister, um… who are you?"

“…?”

…Amnesia? Richard thought, slightly stunned.

But now was not a convenient time to worry about whether she was telling the truth or not.

Pretending to be hesitant as well, he answered, "I am your uncle, Rose…” He then gestured to the women on either side of him and continued, “And this is your aunt, Amber, and your cousin, Melissa.”

He paused to observe Rose again.

When he saw that she was still at a loss—with no spark of recognition at all in her eyes—he made his own eyes tear up as he said emotionally, "You poor child… you must have been through so much these past few days…"

As if she had also been affected a little, Rose replied in a soft voice, "Uncle... Aunt… Cousin…"

After that, she seemed to have become embarrassed as she pulled the sleeve of the man who had been standing next to her the entire time.

"This is Joseph Morgan…” Rose continued shyly, introducing him. “He’s the one who saved me. And Joseph… this is my family…"

When they first met, Rose might not have known from the start who Joseph was, but Richard was a different matter. Now that he’d learned his name and got a good look at the younger man, his heart tightened even more!

And it wasn’t just him.

Now that everyone else’s attention had been directed at the man, the reporters also started to make a fuss.

Who was Joseph Morgan?

Oh, no one! He was only the CEO of the Morgan Group—and the most slippery bachelor in the city!

Usually, he kept himself out of the public’s eye. Even though he was probably the biggest catch in the whole country, there was hardly any news about his private life.

But now, the news of him saving Rose had broken out! How truly exciting this was! The story was practically writing itself! The reporters could not wait to hear more details!

Alas, before they could pounce, Joseph's bodyguards formed a human wall, blocking the reporters from approaching him.

Upon being introduced, Joseph didn't say anything and only nodded at Richard.

Richard secretly scoffed as he pretended to nod gratefully back. He didn't think that this young man was all that impressive. All Richard saw in him was arrogance—without the actual strength to back it up.

Unlike his younger brother, however, Sean Sommers had been a successful businessman. Despite Joseph's young age, he had recognized him as a strong competitor.

Out of the two brothers, it wasn’t Richard’s judgment that was accurate.

But his bad opinion could simply be chalked up to the fact that this young man had been the reason his perfect plan had been ruined.

"Joseph,” Richard now said, sounding choked up with tears, “you saved my niece's life—and by extension, our family’s future. My elder brother only has one child, and if something had happened to her, I… I wouldn't have been able to face him in the afterlife. You’ve saved me from all the remorse and guilt I’ve been carrying. I am eternally grateful to you.”

Joseph looked back at the older man quietly before replying, “Don’t mention it.”

At that, Richard suddenly laughed. A cloud seemed to have parted in his heart, and he sounded more exuberant as he replied, “How can I not? Please, we will be hosting a dinner after this in celebration of Rose’s return. You must stay and attend."

After receiving Joseph’s wordless agreement, Richard returned his attention to Rose and grabbed her by the shoulders again.

Looking her up and down once more as if to reassure himself that she was really alive, he said in a choked voice, "Rose, you've lost weight... Oh, but how I’ve missed you… We’ve all missed you so much! Thank you for coming back to us!"

Ka! Another camera shutter sounded.

From reporters to guests to bystanders alike, many of those watching were touched and moved by Richard's sincerity.

Though still appearing confused and hesitant, Rose comforted him softly.

Of course, she knew very well that he was only pretending. She gave it everything she had not to reveal even a hint of the disgust she felt—all while also putting on a show of her own.

Last time, Rose had been caught unprepared by the nest of vipers in her midst.

This time, however, she was determined to endure whatever she had to in order to achieve her goals.

The more Richard acted friendly, the more suspicious she became.

From there, Amber dismissed the journalists and guests, asking for their understanding as they wanted to deal with their family matters privately.

Richard, meanwhile, reiterated his invitation for Joseph to stay for dinner so he could repay his debt of gratitude. In truth, now that he had the opportunity anyway, he was just eager to get to know Joseph better and form a connection through him with the Morgan Group.

Rose silently went with Amber while Melissa followed behind them, grumbling all the way.

Knowing her daughter well, Amber kept glancing back at Melissa, warning her to keep her mouth shut.

Rose noticed this and secretly found it amusing.

This woman, though… Amber…

Whether or not she was buying the story that Rose really had amnesia, she was truly a piece of work if she could still face her while knowing perfectly what she had done.

"Here, Rose,” Amber said solicitously after they arrived outside one of the guest bedrooms. “While you’re with us, this is where you'll be staying."

In the past, Rose would have simply gone along with this. Although she was supposed to have a higher status in the family, she rarely went against others’ wishes—especially her elders. Even Melissa knew that.

But this time, Rose didn't agree as easily as they had expected.

"If it’s alright, I don't want to stay in a guest room…" she said in an aggrieved voice. "I can’t bear to be alone right now, so… I’d rather stay in Melissa's room."

"What?!" Melissa exclaimed before her mother could stop her. "You must be dreaming! You think you can just stay in my room? I won't let you!"