Chapter 185 - Amsterdam (2)

'I am so sorry. You would have been alive if it wasn't for my selfishness. I would have been able to see you smile with my own eyes if it wasn't for me. You would have been able to see your child grow up if it wasn't for me. I haven't been able to forgive myself even after all these years. I don't think that I ever will be. I don't think that I deserve to even ask for forgiveness, but please forgive me.' He thought to himself. He had always wanted to say this out loud, but he could never gather the courage to do so.

His fingers lingered over the golden letters, 'Rosaline Martin', as a lone tear managed to escape his eyes. His thoughts drifted back to the sorrowful day. 

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*FLASHBACK*

Ethan's work mate was throwing a party for his daughter, he had invited him along with his family. Rosaline wanted to accompany her husband and daughter but she had not been feeling well that day since early in the morning. Even though she requested Ethan again and again to take her with them, he had refused to give into her demands. For him, the party wasn't more important than her comfort. 

"Why can't I go with you two?" She questioned him only to be turned down again. 

"Because you aren't well. And don't even try to fool me by saying that you are well. I can clearly see your pale face without my glasses." Ethan refused to agree with her.  

"Dad?" A soft, angelic voice interrupted their argument as an eleven year old girl appeared at the doorway of their room. 

"Yes, sweetheart?" Ethan replied, his lips curled up in a wide smile as his eyes landed on his angel who was walking towards them.

He wrapped his arms around her small figure and hugged her. "Why aren't you ready?" He asked her as he carried her towards her mother. 

"I don't want to go to the party. There will be too many big people. And I don't like their children either." She pouted her lips. 

"If you don't want to go, then it's alright. You can stay back here with your Mom and look after her. Will you do that for me?" He asked her softly.

"Ahan!" She bobbed her head up and down. "I will keep an eye on her." 

"That's like my little angel." Ethan kissed her cheeks before putting her down on the floor. 

Rosaline stood there quietly as she looked at the father and daughter duo who were pairing up against her. She really wanted to go to the party, it had been so long since she went to one. A mischievous smile appeared on her face which vanished soon as an idea popped in her mind. 

~~~

"Boss, we have an update. He will be going on his own. His wife and daughter will be staying back." One of his lackeys spoke after barging inside his room. 

"Are you sure?" Carston asked him. He needed to make sure that Ethan would be all alone, so that he could ask his lackeys to put the plan in motion. 

"Yes, Boss. I am more than sure. He just called his friend to inform him that he will be the only one to attend the party." His lackey answered him. They had tapped all the phones being used in that house. Every time a call was made or received, they would know about it and could hear the conversation, loud and clear.

"Good! Put our plan in motion, and make sure you guys don't mess it up." Carston added before shifting his attention to the desktop placed in one corner of the room. After his man had left the room, he picked up his wallet which was resting next to the screen. His gaze softened as his eyes landed on the picture of a girl smiling brightly, her features resembling Stella's. 

"Soon you will be mine, Rosaline." He muttered to himself. 

~~~

"Why are you so dressed up?" Ethan narrowed his eyes while observing his wife. 

"Darling, I am fine now. I took all of my medicines on time and look, my complexion is all better." She replied to him, pointing towards her own face. 

"Why don't you listen to me?" Ethan questioned her. 

"I just want to go with you. And I haven't been to a party in so long." She pursed her lips in a pout as she wrapped her arms around his waist. 

Looking at her sulking expression, he heaved out a tired sigh. "Alright! But I have one condition. You will tell me right away if you feel the slightest of discomfort and we will leave the party." 

"I agree." She muttered softly before peppering his face with kisses. "What about Stella?" She asked him in between her kisses. "Should I ask her to get ready?"

"Nah! Our little angel doesn't like parties, unlike you. We can drop her off at your friend's house, it's in the same direction anyways. Ethan suggested to which she agreed right away. 

Half an hour later, a silver car drove out the garage of a house situated in a well developed area. 

~~~

"Ethan?" Rosaline muttered softly next to his ears. 

"Yes, my love?" He smiled sweetly at him as he took a sip of his orange juice.

"Can we go home now?" She asked him.

"Are you feeling okay?" He couldn't help but worry about her. 

"No, I am alright, hon. It's just the party is too boring. And I miss our little angel." She replied giving him an assuring smile. 

"You are the one who wanted to tag along me." He shook his head at her sudden change of mind. "You really are something." 

"Oh, come on! You were completely smitten by this something in high school, weren't you?" She pecked his lips. 

"I couldn't argue with you on that. I am gonna go and bid goodbye to my friend, you stay here. And don't you dare to drink behind my back, not even a small sip." He reprimanded her before going away from their table. 

As soon as Ethan left, her expressions changed. The mind-blowing smile was replaced by a worrisome expression. She had been feeling restless right after arriving at the place. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Stella. 

Closing her eyes, she mumbled a silent prayer. 'Let her be fine.' 

A little while later, a silver car drove away from the underground parking of the tall building. As soon as it hit the road, a black Bentley began to follow it. Because of the tinted glasses of both the cars, nobody could see inside.  

"Are you sure that you are okay?" Ethan asked her. He was starting to get worried now as he looked at her restless expressions. "We can go to the hospital first before picking Stella up."

"No, no. I am fine. Let's pick her up and get back to our home." Rosaline responded as she looked at the red signal through the tinted glass window.

Carston looked at the silver car through the tinted windshield of his Bentley which was parked at the side of the road, a few meters away. 

*FLASHBACK ENDS*

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