Her head tilted at the side. “Everything, as in...”

“Yes, Rosebud. He knew what happened. It was your father who helped me with everything. He kept the police away from me and used his influence to make everything look like it was a suicide.”

Her mouth hung open, eyes wide in shock. “Dad?”

“Yes. I didn’t know what to do after that... accident. I had no one to seek help from. Mom was in too much shock to do anything. So, I called your father, and he rushed over immediately. After listening to everything I had to say, he placed a hand on my shoulder and said to leave everything to him.” I said, remembering the way he reassured me like a guardian.

A guardian I never found in my father.

“I wanted to tell everything to the police, but he stopped me. He feared the media would use it against my name for their own TRP. My reputation and career would be ruined in just a day. My future was at stake. No matter how it happened, our powerful rivals were ready to jump on us. They just needed a spark to turn it into a volcano. And that mistress of my father was ready to give a statement against me. Jonathan showed it to the world as a suicide. He even shut that woman’s mouth with money. He destroyed every proof that could be used against me.”

A shaky breath left her as she took my words in.

Kissing her forehead, I pulled her tightly against me again. Even if she said she wouldn’t leave, I needed to feel her against me to assure myself she was still here. With me.

“Please don’t hate me because I didn’t tell the truth to the cops. I just didn’t know what to do, so I just did what Jonathan asked me to do.”

She shook her head. “You did the right thing. You don’t know how grateful I’m feeling to Dad for what he did. If he hadn’t done it, your rivals would definitely use it against you and your company. And without anyone there with you, you wouldn’t be able to defend yourself at that time. Don’t blame yourself for anything.”

I squeezed her hip gently. “Thank you for understanding me.”

She kissed my lips. “And thank you for letting me in, even though it was difficult for you to talk about your past.”

I pressed our foreheads together. “Anything for you, Rosebud. Anything for you.”

After that, I carried her to our bed and pulled her into me again. I felt much lighter than I ever felt. Especially now that I had my Rosebud in my arms forever. Throwing a leg over my waist, she snuggled against me. And I placed my hand on her thigh.