Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Rose stood behind Silas, her heart initially unsettled. Her lips were pressed thinly together.

However, she nearly broke into a smile after hearing Silas' remark.

Silas possessed a formidable ability to dismantle a convict in court and ruthlessly exploit someone's vulnerabilities with his words.

"Nonsense! I've never had my face done!" Lydia retorted, hastily covering her stiffened face, a mix of shame, anger, and guilt consuming her.

Silas shook his head. "It's not your fault for aging, but it's not right to run around scaring people off with that face either."

Lydia seethed with outrage, feeling her blood boil at his audacity.

"Who are you to Rose?" Jamie interjected, clinging to her mother and demanding an answer.

"Who am I to Rose?" Silas mused, touching the inside of his cheek with his tongue before turning to Rose with a serious expression. "Ms. Emerson, she wants to know my role in your life."

Rose met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest.

say anything, then I'll take the liberty of calling myself your boyfriend," Silas announced

and Jamie's jaws

could this sophisticated man

cheeks flushed instantly. She looked down shyly, afraid

he reached for her cold hand,

of your cruelty and shamelessness.

me. It's truly eye-opening to see both of you devils in action," he added, his

Rosie?

the moisture from her eyes, feeling a warmth spreading

"This concerns only the Emersons. I don't think this has anything to

well.." Silas rubbed his cheeks, his gaze sharp enough to deter

has never spoken an

more. "She's the illegitimate offspring of the Emersons. Her mother seduced my father and bore her out of wedlock. Unable to secure her position, she birthed this wretch

mother brought her to us for protection. We embraced her as family, but Rose, despite our kindness, turned her