Married to the Son :Owned by the Father

Rosalie Gaston POV

I carried the square cake box and stepped out of the shop with a faint smile.

It was my sister-in-law's birthday, and my brother had insisted I bring the cake before the weather turned. But I was late.

I desperately needed just a few minutes to breathe, away from the walls of that house that felt like a prison.

Cold raindrops splashed against my face. I lifted my hand to shield the cake, but within seconds the drizzle became a storm. My hair clung to my skin, my clothes soaked through, my breath tightening in my chest.

"My luck is cursed. What a shame."

"All this trouble for a cake? How pathetic."

"He's going to kill me. My funeral will be held the moment I arrive."

That wasn't a joke. It was the truth I knew too well. I knew how his anger could turn into something darker.

I ran with everything I had, ignoring the cold that cut straight into my bones. Every step felt like a fight for survival.

When I pushed myself to run faster, my foot twisted and I stumbled. The box slipped from my hands and rolled before stopping dead in front of me. My face froze, horror spilling across my features. The cake must have lost its perfect round shape.

I refused to check. Too scared to see the damage, I picked up the box and rushed to the door of the house. The moment I grabbed the handle and opened it, I was greeted by my brother's grim face.

"When will you learn to obey the second I give an order, you stubborn brat? Didn't you see the storm coming?"

He snatched the box from my hands, his breath hot with rage. I whispered, nervous and trembling, "I ran all the way here so I wouldn't be any later."

He caught my wet hair between his fingers and yanked hard. Pain distorted my face as he dragged me inside and slammed the door.

"Look at you, for God's sake! You look like a stray cat!"

Shame burned my lips. I pulled my arms across my chest, used to covering up because of his strict rules.

"Did you ruin my wife's birthday cake?"

He almost opened the box, but I caught his hand quickly.

"No, I didn't mean to. It's just that"

He shook me off with a scowl. "Confess before I kill you with my own hands."

"My foot twisted on the way. I fell. The box slipped out of my grip."

His wife's voice cut in, sharp and impatient. "Should I cancel my birthday because your stupid sister couldn't walk straight on her way back?"

He growled at her, trying to calm her. "Don't worry, darling. We'll check the cake."

He opened the box in front of me. His tongue wet his lips with hunger, but his eyes burned with fury as he roared, "It's ruined, you worthless brat!"

"I told you, I didn't do it on purpose! I didn't throw it!"

I shut my eyes tight as his hand cut through the air. The slap landed, snapping my face to the side with a strangled gasp.

"Do you want another one before you apologize? When will you learn to grow up, to get some sense in your head? Do you still think you're a little girl I'll forgive?"

His wife hissed, annoyed. "That's enough, Damon. Don't waste your anger on her. I expected nothing less from her. She can't do anything right."

I pressed trembling fingers to my cheek. He shot back harshly, "But she won't escape punishment so easily. I'll add a few new bruises to that weak little body. Don't you agree?"

With his last words, he grabbed my chin hard, forcing me to look up at him. It was routine. The routine of my misery.

"Please, don't do it."

He didn't care. Not at all. He dropped the cake on the floor and dragged me upstairs to my attic room. He shoved me so hard I cried out as my arms scraped against the floor.

"This won't be as bad as last time, Rosalie. I'll go easy on you tonight, since you didn't defy me over your clothes like you did last week."

Last week, a friend had lent me a pair of loose shorts for gym class. His wife had searched my closet behind my back and told him.

I pushed myself backward with my hands as he crouched in front of me. Fear swallowed me whole. He leaned closer, squeezing my jaw until it ached.

"You should've obeyed. But you only ever bring misery on yourself."

"My wife's mood is ruined because of you. Damn you."

I whispered, trembling, "I wasn't careless."

Your wife doesn't love you.

I didn't say it. The words stayed trapped behind my tongue like poison.

He yanked my hair so hard it rattled my lashes. "Don't you dare talk back to me, Rosalie! One day I'll kill you with my own hands. Whether you like it or not!"

I'd grown used to his violence. Used to the bruises and the hatred. All because I was blamed for our mother's death; because I was born and she wasn't. She had been his everything. And I was the reason she was gone.

"I made a mistake when I stopped using my belt, you cursed brat."

He struck me again. The blows rained down on my hands until the skin swelled, then across my mouth until blood smeared my lips.

"The older you get, the uglier your tongue becomes. Especially when you speak to me. You should learn my rules as if for the first time, every single day."

"I'll lock you in here until tomorrow, when you'll go to high school. Don't bother Genevieve with the bathroom tonight."

I smiled despite the pain. For the first time. A small smile. A real one.

"One day... you won't hit me again. And I won't come back here."

He didn't answer. He just slammed the door shut and turned the key.

I was alone. As I always was.

Rosalie Gaston POV

With the first light of dawn, I heard the lock turning slowly. Genevière appeared from behind the door, her face cold.

"Your brother is still asleep. Don't make any noise when you leave the house."

I only gave her a calm side glance and stayed silent. I slipped into my school uniform, pulled my hair into a tight ponytail, then looked into the mirror on the wall.

The swollen corner of my mouth, the redness, it reminded me of what happened. Not to feel sorry for myself, but to remember who I am, and who I want to be.

"I look like I just came out of a fight... and that's exactly true."

I whispered bitterly. All of this had to end soon... and it would. Daniel and I had already agreed to escape this nightmare, very soon.

I walked slowly after leaving the house, until I reached the main gate of the high school. From a short distance, I saw Daniel coming closer. My lips curved into a smile. Daniel was the only one who made me feel safe, the only one I could call a true friend.

"Rosalie!"

"How are you?"

He waved and came near, but as soon as he caught sight of the bruise on my lip, his brows furrowed.

"Was it Damon again?"

I'll never forget the first time I saw Daniel, two years ago. He was pulling me out of Damon's grip, saving me when I was so close to dying. That night, I thought of myself as lucky. Daniel stepped in, and for the first time, I felt rescued.

"By the way, what were you doing in this neighborhood so late at night?" That was the first thing I asked him, because he was a new face.

He cleared his throat roughly, and I realized I had gone too far. But then he leaned closer and whispered, softening the air. "My girlfriend lived at the end of the street. We planned to meet that night, since we didn't have enough time earlier."

From that moment on, he became my closest friend my only one. He doesn't date that girl anymore. Now, he doesn't have anyone.

That night turned into one of my best memories. Two years later, Daniel is still saving me, still comforting me. He is the best thing in my life. As long as I have him, I can keep going.

I shook my head slowly, and Daniel sighed. "After classes, wait for me. I'll walk you home, alright?"

I blinked at him, a little surprised. "Why? Do you want to talk to my brother?"

He had spoken to Damon that night, while he was drunk, promising he'd find him a good job thanks to his father's connections. My brother had been so thrilled, like some stray dog handed food, before passing out.

"It's about the job I found him. If I tell him today, he'll be happy enough to let me take you out with me."

I had always wished I could leave that miserable place, hang out with friends, live normally. But Damon's rules were iron chains. Daniel was the only one willing to break them.

"You're serious? So it really is nice having a rich friend, huh?"

He patted my shoulder with a reassuring smile. "All you need to do is convince him it's good for him. Then he'll let you do anything you want. Trust me.. it's easy."

He was respectful, and smart too. With him, I felt safer than I ever did with my brother.

"Thank you, Daniel. I just hope Damon doesn't push back."

When noon came, I found him waiting by the big gate. Standing before him, I suddenly felt how small I was.

"Done with your classes already?"

He blinked, answering calmly, "Yeah. They were short today. I promised I'd come, so I rushed before you thought I'd forgotten."

His clothes were neat and stylish, marking his wealthy family background. But I never felt embarrassed for how I looked. I was strong enough not to care.

"So... what did you do to your brother this time?"

I smirked, bitter. "He asked me to buy a birthday cake for his wife. I came back late, almost when the rain started. You can guess how it ended."

Daniel exhaled, tired. "Do you even realize what could've happened if I hadn't stepped in? He wasn't in his right mind. That alone was dangerous enough!"

I lifted my shoulders like it didn't matter. "I don't mind facing death. I'm not afraid."

His gaze locked hard on me. "Rosalie..."

I forced a crooked smile. "Fine. I won't bring up death again."

"I'm sure he'll be glad about the job. He'll be too busy with work to hit you again. And you, just be careful. Don't do anything reckless. Don't put yourself at risk anymore."

I nodded, agreeing silently, until we reached my street. But then Daniel caught my hand, stroking my palm gently, and whispered, "You're special to me. I promise your suffering will end soon."

I had never thought of giving my heart to anyone. But I wasn't stupid enough to ignore the warmth in Daniel's voice when he called me special. When he touched my shoulder so gently, I realized how much his presence mattered.

"Will you open the door?"

I studied him for a moment, then turned the key with cautious confidence. My brother was sitting on the couch, as always, his sharp eyes fixed on me.

"Daniel's here. He wants to talk to you about the job."

Damon's brows pulled tight. "The job?"

Rosalie Gaston POV

Daniel walked in with quiet steps, his chest lifted high, his voice calm but full of pride.

"I told my father about your problem. He'll take care of finding you a job that suits you, one where you don't need to push yourself too hard, just like you wanted."

I held back a bitter laugh. My brother? Wanting an easy job? Daniel and humility are two lines that will never meet. He wants a job with a fat paycheck, but of course, he doesn't want to actually work hard for it. Just selfish. Just arrogant.

Are you serious, boy?

He rose from his seat and stepped closer, but I didn't back away. We locked eyes, cold and sharp.

"Sit down, Daniel."

He bowed slightly, not out of respect but just politeness, then sat again.

Daemon's stern gaze cut through me like a command, ordering me upstairs. I pulled back from the cramped living room, heading to the attic my little room. I left the door cracked open just enough so I could hear their voices below.

"Go on, finish what you were saying," Daemon said with a wide grin.

"I told you about the job, Mr. Gaston. I handled it for you when I asked my father to use his influence."

Silence stretched for a few moments. My brother was thinking. No doubt weighing his response.

"What kind of job is it? I want details. Tell me everything you know."

Daniel cleared his throat. "You'll be guarding the plastic factory at night."

I couldn't hold my laughter anymore, so I pressed both hands over my mouth to muffle it.

"At night only?"

Daniel nodded, his voice calm and maddeningly serious. "From eight in the evening until about five in the morning."

Silence again. And then I heard Genevière call my name from downstairs. She probably wanted me to serve Daniel a cup of coffee.

"I'm coming!"

I answered quickly, then walked carefully down the creaky wooden steps. My eyes met Daniel's he winked in triumph. I shot him a smile, pride tugging at my lips.

"I don't mind guarding any place," my brother said flatly. "I've done jobs like this before. But... I'll need some time to get used to being awake all night."

Then he added, half-joking: "I'm lazy by nature."

I froze with the tray in my hands. Did he just admit he was lazy? Out loud?

"What are you waiting for? Should I push you inside?"

Genevière's voice stabbed into me, making me swallow hard. Slowly, carefully, I carried the tray toward Daniel. He smiled kindly and lifted the cup.

"Thank you, Rosalie."

His lips wrapped around my name. Quick, casual, but intentional just so I couldn't slip away. My lips parted shyly, my blush betraying me.

"You'll have to learn to stay awake, Daniel," Daemon warned, "because you'll be well paid."

Daniel straightened his back, confidence filling his voice. "Then let me take Rosalie with me sometimes. She needs a break. Exams are coming soon, and if she doesn't relax a little, she won't give you the results you're hoping for."

The frown on my brother's face told me he hated the idea. My chest tightened.

"Where will you take her? Are you two dating?"

My tongue froze in fear, but Daniel jumped in fast. "No. But if I were to date someone, Rosalie would be my first choice."

Daemon rubbed his jaw, annoyed, while Daniel kept going.

"I want to show her the streets of France. She deserves more than this quiet little neighborhood. From now on, she's my responsibility. And I promise I won't let you down."

Daemon sighed, uneasy. "Those streets will be crowded. My sister will get too excited, and she'll embarrass you. She's never been out there before."

Shame burned me inside. He always had to cut me down, to make me look small and foolish in front of him.

Daniel brushed it off. "What matters is that she comes back safe, isn't that right?"

My fingers twisted together nervously, but his steady gaze found mine. Somehow, it calmed me down.

"Thank your father for me," Daemon muttered at last. "I didn't expect to find work this soon."

"Of course, Mr. Gaston."

He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, exhaustion weighing down his voice. "You can take her. But don't be late. Be back by six, before the sun sets."

My lips pressed tight around the joy bursting inside me. I wanted to jump like a child.

"We won't be late. I promise."

He lifted his head slightly, his hollow eyes on me. I could feel it, he didn't want me to go. But Daniel's charm had cornered him.

"Get dressed. Don't just stand there like a post."

I nodded and hurried back to the attic. I changed into something simple but nice a pink blouse with long sleeves and white trousers.

"Consider yourself lucky today, Rosalie," Genevière sneered when she slipped inside. "I never thought Daemon would let you wander off with strangers so easily."

I brushed my hair again, steadying my voice. "All I wanted was a little fun. And Daniel is a good man. I trust him. He thinks of me more than my brother, who beats me every time I make the smallest mistake."

Her brows pinched tight. "Your brother cares too, stupid girl. He just remembers his own pain whenever he looks at you. That's why he treats you that way."