The Devil's Sweetheart

Earlier, when her foot crashed with the bonsai plant, although Rosalie thought of a worst-case instance for a split second, she later assumed it must be William's prank, for he was the one who brought the plant and poisoned it with deadly nightshade. But the man himself lay on the ground, motionless now. Then this another chilling monster appeared in front of her, and to her dread, he called her original name.

Clenching her fists around her ruby red gown, Rosalie glanced around when she began hearing the thumping footsteps from a distance. In the very nick, lights around her turned on. A number not less than thirty powerfully built men surrounded the area fully armored. ''It's a treat for people like us to capture the ancient criminal, isn't it?'' Kurt approached her, his gun ready in his hands. It's funny to know that the criminal master has been sneaking in their premises for two decades.

Fear swallowed her from very within seeing the batallion. Unconsciously Rosalie took a step back to escape. Her head collided with an object...a metal one she assumed, was pointed straight at the back of her head. 

''Want me to pull the trigger?'' Nick whispered into Rosalie's ears from behind. ''I got the opportunity to use the gun after a long time,'' 

Without looking back, she knew she was in point-blank range. How did this happen? She had everything under her control, and with the meticulous plan she laid to trap mother and daughter, Rosalie strongly believed it was only a matter of time they both died. How did Devin find out? 

''I wonder if I had to appreciate your intellect or pity your dead brain for thinking of an escape considering your situation.'' Devin's calm yet scathing tone reminded Rosalie of satan's call from hell.

''What do you prefer? Rosalie or Ruth? Though I don't like both the names.'' His sarcasm felt like a bucket of rubbing alcohol added to the house full of fire.

''I don't know what you are talking about.'' She sternly said. ''My name is Rosalie.''

''And I call myself a Shakesphere. Will I become one?'' Though his Leena often praises his poetic skills. He didnot voice out his inner thoughts to turn this serious conversation into a comic.

Rosalie dug her fingers into her palm to calm herself at his sarcastic reply. She desperately wanted to fish out the pocket knife she clipped to the waistband of her dress, but with one wrong move, the outcome would be her dead body. 

''There is no escape for you.'' On Devin's command, a chair was laid for Rosalie. ''Please take your seat. We have lots to talk.''

What else could she do when a man stood behind her, pointing a gun straight at her head? She was forced to sit on the chair to save her life. 

Rosalie peered over her shoulders, glancing at the man lying on the ground. Her heart ached to see him in that state. William had been with her through thick and thin. The man accompanied her ever since her thirst for revenge began. ''What did you do to him?''

''Nothing. Just knocked him out of his senses.'' Replied Devin, his voice calm like it's his ultimate weapon. ''There comes a great satisfaction in torture before killing. Don't you agree?''

Is he planning to kill William? Rosalie couldn't describe the helplessness she felt right now. Her hands are tied up. She is incapable of helping the man who has devoted his entire life just for her. He helped her in giving her a new identity. She will blame herself if something dreadful happens to him. Leaving her pride, she begged, ''Leave him alone.''

''And if I don't?'' He questioned in amusement. ''He tried to harm my wife by poisoning.''

Once the poison dilutes into liquid, it can be detected only through the ionization process, which nobody knows. So, there is no proof. Rosalie raised her head with a smirk on her face. Suddenly, a hand tugged her hair from behind until she lost balance and fell off the chair. ''Argh!'' She glanced her eyes up. It was Heather.

''You have got guts to hurt my daughter!'' Throwing the chunk of hair she collected when she pulled Rosalie's hair, Heather dropped to the ground. She slapped Rosalie's cheek hard. ''If you hurt a hair on my daughter's head, I will feed your dead body to the most loathsome filth.'' Francis and Leena, who had just arrived, tried to pull Heather back, but it was a futile attempt. 

Rosalie tried to dodge the attacks, but she had no strength to avoid the strikes. Kurt was considering diving into action or pretend like nothing was happening here. In the end, he signaled his armed buddies to stay silent. Women's fights are graver than World Wars.

''Heather! Calm down.'' Evelyn shouted.

''Mom_'

''Leave me! I should teach this filthy woman a lesson.'' She attacked Rosalie again. Leena and Francis together strength didnot suffice to pull the raging freak. Devin and Nick have to join their forces.

''Mom, calm down.'' Leena dragged her mother away from Rosalie. This is the first time she is experiencing her mother's wilderness.

Meanwhile, Francis felt like he had seen the childhood version of Heather today. The aggression has never gone from her, even at this age. He wanted to close Rosalie's case without placing suspicion on Heather and Leena, but the twists are bound to happen at the last minute. Heather eavesdropped on the conversation. If he hadn't turned up in the party ground and explained the situation to Heather, the truth would have been spread to everyone at the party by now.

Francis turned to Kurt and said. ''Take her away.''

''I am not going anywhere!'' Rosalie fiercely got up from the ground. ''What proof do you have to arrest me. I will sue you_''

''Proof? Which part of proof do you need?'' Devin chuckled. ''You thought the event management hired your partner in crime as a waiter without my permission? Or did you think the dress code your helper suggested in a plan to hide his identity was approved without my permission? Or did you think the body scanner didnot scan the poison in the bonsai tree? Or did you think I am dumb to not use the X ray scanners to scan the metal box hid in your rectum?'' The first time he met Rosalie, there was something odd about her that raised suspicion. His intuition confirmed when he unexpectedly met her daughter.. ''Every step you took, every move you made, you were under my watch.''