The name that used to give me flutters in my tummy now only added fuel to something that smoldered inside me for years.

I didn’t want to be called by that name anymore.

“I didn’t think my Rosebud could stay mad at me for that long,” he drawled as I kept quiet, his eyes searching for something on my face.

My Rosebud?

Whatever you see on my face, Achilles Valencian, you won’t find the fifteen-year-old sister of your best friend there. Because she died that night because of you. And the irony was, it wasn’t even your fault.

“Don’t call me that!” My voice came out much like a snap.

When he raised a brow, I tried to cool my nerves. I couldn’t show him my anger. And though how much right it seemed, he wasn’t at any fault.

He didn’t even know.

“I-I have a name. And I’d prefer to be called by that. I don’t like when someone calls me with nicknames,” I clarified.

The side of his lips quirked up. “I know your name. But you will always be Rosebud to me.” He leaned in, his hot breath fanning my earlobe. “Though this Rosebud of mine now bloomed into a beautiful rose.”

My heart stuttered.

Whispers of the past echoed in my mind.

‘Really?’ I brightened up like a Christmas tree. ‘That means you will marry me?’

He bit his lip, his eyes lit up with amusement. ‘I’m sorry, Rosebud. But I can’t.’

‘Why not?’ I pouted.

‘Because it’s not the right time. You’re still so young.’

‘Then when will be the right time?’ I gazed up at him with so much hope.

‘When you turn into a blooming rose from a rosebud.’

A shaky breath left my lips, a squeezing pain shot through my chest. My eyes stung with forbidden memories. He… remembered?

But then flashes of that night floated across my eyes. My throat tightened, causing me to ball my fists.

I gulped, it felt like acid burning inside me. I needed air.

Moving out of his arms, I pushed him away. Surprise flashed across his eyes, and then something close to concern took over his features. Not wanting to stay there any longer, I turned around and walked away. As fast as I could without creating a scene.

“Rosebud!” He called after me. In my peripheral, I saw Tobias going to him, maybe to stop him from following me.

“Em? Where are you going?”

Ignoring Warner’s question, I ran out of there and didn’t stop until I was at the serenity of the huge balcony.

Gripping the railing, I breathed in the cold night air. Up in the sky, hung the half-curved moon, surrounded by gazillions of twinkling stars. They winked at me, as if mocking me for my pathetic feelings.