Chapter 5
“Because…” Rosalie swallowed the last bit of bread in her hand.
The bread tasted so-so. Had it been in the past, she would’ve probably refused to eat it, but at present, taste played a secondary role to her. Filling her stomach was the most important thing.
She continued, “We’re the same kind of people. We’ve been abandoned by this society and need to fend for ourselves at the lowest rungs of the social ladder. Perhaps no one would want or care about people like us, but at least we can give each other warmth and solace. I can care about you, just as you can care about me, right?”
She flashed a gentle smile at him, which carried traces of hope, yearning, and nervousness.
“Is that so? It does seem like we really are the same kind of people… he murmured. Yet, his gaze looked like he was watching a small animal fall into a trap. Perhaps life was really too boring for him. Being able to get anything he wanted at his fingertips became mundane over time. Right now, this game was more interesting to him.
“Rosie,” he gently called out the word she desired to hear.
In an instant, a smile bloomed across her face like stars lighting up the night sky.
After dinner, Rosalie took Jonathan to the night market to shop for clothes.
Although she picked the cheapest options, she still spent more than 100 dollars on a change of clothes for him.
Rosalie made Jonathan put on the cotton-padded jacket on the spot there and then. “Are you feeling warmer?”
“Mm, Jonathan hummed lightly as he lowered his gaze to glance down at her, who was almost half a head shorter than him. “Actually, you don’t have to buy these clothes for me. I’ve gotten used to the cold. Even if 1 were still clad in what I originally wore, I’d be okay.”
“Being used to it doesn’t mean that you should stay like that,” she insisted. “I might not have a lot of money and can’t buy you too many things, but I can still let you wear warm clothes, at the very least.
“Why are you so kind to me?” he asked in a low voice.
“Because I’m your older sister,” she replied with a smile. When she accidentally touched his hand and found that it was also icy, she held both his hands between hers, bowed her head, and blew warm air onto them while gently rubbing thepa back
and forth.
“Your hands are too cold. Rubbing them like this can keep them warm.
The man’s hands stiffened a little, and the pair of beautiful eyes beneath his bangs abruptly narrowed. No woman had ever rubbed his hands like this just to provide him some warmth.
Jonathan had always disliked physical contact with others, but it seemed like he was not that against her touch. ‘Am I only able to endure her touch because she’s currently an important part of the game for me?” he ruminated.
Seeing that he did not have any reaction, Rosalie came to a sudden realization. She glanced down at her hands full of calluses and asked, “Are my hands too rough? Did I hurt you when rubbing your hands…”
As her voice trailed off, she hurriedly let go of his hands.
As if the warmth on his hands had disappeared out of the blue, he unconsciously frowned a little and answered, “I don’t think your hands are rough. My hands are still a little cold. Why don’t you rub them for a while more.
Rosie?”
He then held out both his hands to her once more.
She was slightly stunned but swiftly reacted and held his hands between hers again. Compared to his large hands, hers appeared much smaller.
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Chapter 5
However, on this cold winter night, her tiny hands worked to wrap around his big hands as much as possible as she rubbed her palms against the back of his hands repeatedly.
Rosalie dropped her head and even blew warm air onto his hands from time to time. In his eyes, the tip of her nose, which was slightly red due to the cold, somehow seemed to carry a hint of cuteness.
Jonathan’s long eyelashes trembled slightly while he looked at his hands wrapped by the two little hands. “It seems like…. they’re really getting warmer, he thought.
Two days later, Rosalie received a call from Loretta. “Rosie. Dad said that he wanted to throw that album away today, but I begged him for a long time and finally managed to convince him to keep it. I want to give it to you, but can you come to where I’m at?”
Rosalie froze, knowing what album Loretta was talking about. It was an album of the photographs she had taken with her mother before she was three years old.
“If you don’t come, it’ll be terrible if I accidentally lose it,” Loretta added tenderly. With that, she gave a specific address and ended the call before Rosalie could reply.
Rosalie stared intently at the phone in her hand. Naturally, she knew that Loretta most certainly wouldn’t give her the album for no reason. There must be an ulterior motive.
Nevertheless, that album contained memories of her and her mother. Nearly all her memories of her mother originated from it.
“Rosic?” An aloof male voice resonated beside her ears.
Coming back to her senses, Rosalie took a deep breath. “Jon, I need to head out now. You should go to bed without waiting for me.” With that, she stood up in a hurry, put on her coat, and went out, all without realizing that there was a pair of eyes staring at her back thoughtfully behind her..
When Rosalie arrived at the address Loretta had given, she discovered that it was a club. Upon walking into the private -room that Loretta had told her, she saw that there was not only Loretta but also a slightly plump middle-aged man in his 40s
in there.
“Loretta, is this your sister? The former girlfriend of Mr. Xanthos?” that man asked as he scrutinized Rosalie.
“Yes, this is my sister. Rosie, this is Mr. Holt, the assistant director from the film crew I’m working with now. He heard that you’re Zachary’s ex-girlfriend and kept saying that he wanted to meet you,” Loretta said smilingly.
“Where’s the album?” questioned Rosalie frostily.
“If you want it, you’ll have to put in a good word for me with Mr. Holt. If he’s content and willing to grant me additional scenes in the show, I’ll naturally give you the album, Loretta whispered, with threat laced between her words.
“All right, since you’re already here, let’s have a drink first, Jason Holt suggested as he poured a full glass of red wine, and then motioned for Rosalie to drink.
Pursing her lips, Rosalie stared at Loretta. “Looks like this good sister of mine wants to sell me out in exchange for an opportunity to act in more scenes in the show,” Rosalie pondered.
Loretta took the initiative to pick up the glass of wine and brought it to Rosalie. In a voice that only the both of them could hear, Loretta exhorted, “Rosie, you were the one who destroyed my opportunity first. It’s not too much for you to make it up to me now, right? Moreover, with your current situation, you may live a better life in the future if you please Mr. Holt. I’m doing this for your good.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard someone talk about pimping in such a refreshing, elegant manner.” Rosalie promptly pushed the wine glass away, causing the drink to spill all over the floor.
“Don’t you want the album anymore?” Loretta gritted out in a low voice.
The never thought of selling my body in exchange for the album.” Rosalie was aware that if she did that, her mother would
15.48 Wed, Sept
Chapter 5
be truly disappointed.
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However, just as she was about to turn around and leave, Jason suddenly spoke up. “Wow, how disrespectful. Do you really think that you’re still Mr. Xanthos’ girlfriend? I heard from Loretta that you’re just a sanitary worker who sweeps the streets. now. I’m doing you a favor by telling you to drink!
