"Dante, it is fine. I'm just going upstairs to rest." Not intending to explain further, Rosetta briefly greeted the butler before heading back to her room.

There were still a few details of the upcoming performance she needed to discuss with her manager, so she made some calls as soon as she settled into her bedroom.

She had barely hung up when she noticed that Elliot and Edric had not returned home.

With nothing else to do, she absentmindedly scrolled through her social feed until a recent post from Sierra caught her eye.

The caption read, [For the first time, I could feel that going to the hospital was such a happy thing to do. Thanks to you, guys!]

The post included a photo, just shadows of three people. However, Rosetta could immediately tell it was a picture of Elliot, Edric and Sierra.

So, they would not come home tonight. They stayed at the hospital to keep Sierra company.

If it had been in the past, seeing that would have hurt deeply and she might have questioned Elliot and Edric right away. But now, a calmness washed over her.

So, she simply set her phone aside, washed up and lay down to sleep.

***

Early the next morning, Rosetta went to the company. With plans to return to Northbridge, she needed to end her contract with her current agency.

Her sister, Riley, had already helped her find a new agency and once she had finalized things here, she would be able to sign up for the new one.

When she told her manager about the contract termination, he seemed baffled. "Wait, why are you ending the contract all of a sudden?"

"It's nothing. I just feel a bit worn out. My contract is nearly up, so I thought I would take a good break."

"Did the Sinclair brothers suggest that you stop working?"The manager glanced at her cautiously."Well, actually, I suppose that makes sense. They've always thought your tour schedules were too grueling. They really care about you."

His words brought a brief silence. It was true. In the past, Elliot and Edric never wanted her to endure any hardship, even a bit of it.

Even if it was just an ordinary tour, they would worry shewould exhaust herself. Elliot, as the heir to the Sinclair Group and Edric, already the deputy director at the hospital at such a young age, often reminded her that with them by her side, she could go her whole life without working. She needed only to relax and remain their little princess.

Past memories drifted through her mind and Rosetta found herself momentarily lost in thought.

Her manager sighed. "If you're really set on terminating the contract, I won't pressure you. I'll get it sorted as quickly as possible."

Rosetta thanked her manager and left the company.

When she arrived home and entered the living room, the sight of familiar figures inside made her pause.

"Rosetta, where have you been? We didn't see you anywhere when we got back."

Sierra stood between Elliot and Edric, a bright smile on her face, looking pleased and triumphant.

Rosetta glanced at her briefly, then looked away before replying in an icy tone, "What I do has nothing to do with you."

Sierra's expression fell and she lowered her head, murmuring apologetically, "I'm sorry, Rosetta, I didn't mean to pry. I shouldn't have asked."

Long accustomed to her act, Rosetta turned and walked away.

Elliot frowned, looking at Rosetta and said in a low voice, "Sierra genuinely cares about you. There's no need to be so cold."

Edric added, "Yes, she has good intentions, Rosie. You shouldn't act like this."

Both spoke up on behalf of Sierra, as though Rosetta was some sort of a villain in a story that had done something unforgivable.

This was not the first time she had seen such a scene, though.

Once, whenever anyone bothered her, Elliot and Edric would support her unhesitatingly.

She remembered a dinner party when the Sterling family's son, ignoring the fact that she had a cold, persistently pressured her to drink.

Elliot had arrived and, without a second thought, punched him without saying anything. That incident thoroughly offended the Sterling family. To this day, the incident left the Sinclair Group and the Sterling family in a fierce, lasting rivalry.

In the past, they could grant her a special affection without sparing a thought for the consequences. Now, while that same affection lingers, they favorite person had become Sierra.

"I'm just a cold person. If you don't like it, you don't have to talk to me," Rosetta said blankly as she turned to go upstairs.

Elliot reached out and grasped her hand. "Rosetta, that's not what I meant, I..."

Before he could finish, Sierra interjected softly, "Elliot, it's getting late. I'd like to go back now."

"Then let's get Sierra home first," Edric added.

The three of them left together, leaving Rosetta standing alone. Remembering the smug, defiant look Sierra had given her as they walked away, Rosetta lowered her gaze and smirked. As expected, those who are favored always brim with confidence.

Unbothered by Sierra's provocation, Rosetta returned to her room. She gathered all the gifts Elliot had given her throughout the years and placed them neatly into a large box.

Early the next morning, she instructed the butler to carry all the boxes downstairs to be thrown out.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw Elliot and Edric entering the house.

Spotting her descending the staircase, Elliot was the first to approach.

“Rosie…”

Before Rosetta could respond, Edric's eyes fell on the box in the living room.

"What's in these boxes?” he asked the butler.

The butler glanced at Rosetta, hesitating before replying, "These are all things Miss Rosetta asked me to get rid of."

"To get rid of?"

Edric walked over and opened the box. On top was the bag he had gifted Rosetta for her birthday last year, a bag she once adored. He was taken aback and as he looked deeper, he found it filled with presents they had given her over the years.

Noticing his brother's puzzled expression, Elliot also came over to take a look.

"Why are you throwing away everything we gave you?" Elliot asked, frowning in confusion.

Edric stepped closer to Rosetta, equally baffled. "Yes, these were gifts you really loved. Why would you want to get rid of them all?"

Seeing their bewilderment only deepened the irony for Rosetta.

She had cherished these gifts once, but now, with the meaning behind them faded, what was the point of keeping them?

“It’s simple. I just don't like them anymore. They take up space, so I might as well get rid of them," she said coldly.

Elliot held her gaze for a moment. "You don't like them anymore?"

"Yes," Rosetta replied, meeting his eyes with a steady look and after a pause, firmly added, "I don't like them."

Something in Elliot's chest tightened and a strange thought flashed through his mind. It felt like it was not just these gifts that Rosetta did not like.

It was not just these gifts that she wanted to get rid of.

"Rosie, are you upset over what happened last night? I was impatient and spoke harshly, but I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry." Edric's tone softened as he grasped her hand, apologizing.

Rosetta slowly pulled her hand away. The memory of their preference for Sierra the previous night surfaced once again and a sharp pang of pain stabbed at her chest. The weight of that betrayal only deepened her decision to leave.

"I'm not angry. It's just that things I no longer care for should be thrown away."

Elliot’s lingered on her. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "If you don't like them, then throw them away, but we can always choose something you'll like another time."

Edric nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, if you don't like it, just throw it away. We can always buy a new one for you."

Later that afternoon, after finishing her music practice, Rosetta received a call from Elliot. He invited her to the mall, suggesting that they take her shopping so she could pick out the gifts she actually liked.

Though Rosetta initially did not want to go, she hesitated. However, if she declined, she was worried that they might notice something was wrong. The decision to leave was already made, but she did not want any more troubles or complications before she left.

What she did not anticipate, however, was the sight that awaited her in the mall. It was not just Elliot and Edric standing there. There was also Sierra, who was standing between the Sinclair brothers.

They appeared to be engrossed in some cheerful conversation, their joy so palpable that it seemed as if no one else could belong at that moment with them.

Rosetta paused in her tracks, standing still as she watched them. It was Sierra who noticed her first and greeted her, "Rosetta, you're here."

Elliot and Edric turned their heads in unison.

"Come, let's see what you'd like," Elliot said first.

Edric added with a nod, "We're running low on a few things for the book arts, so feel free to look around. We can buy double copies of anything that catches your eye."

"Thank you, Edric," Sierra said in a soft voice.

At that moment, Rosetta could not help but let out a small laugh.

"What's so funny?" Elliot asked, noticing her reaction.

Rosetta quickly shook her head. “It’s nothing. Everything's pretty good."

As they continued shopping, Sierra picked out a variety of items such as bags, jewelry, cosmetics and clothes.

Meanwhile, Rosetta was not interested in anything. Her indifference was so obvious that Edric finally took note of her odd behavior. "Rosie, what do you want?"

"I don't want anything. I don't need anything."

"Then let's go somewhere else," Elliot insisted, his tone firm and resolute.

Rosetta, feeling weary and not wishing to engage further, shrugged and casually said, "I'm tired. You can buy anything you guys want. I'll head back first."

With that, she began to make her way toward the exit.

However, before she could take even a single step, Elliot reached out to grab her hand while Edric positioned himself in front of her, blocking her path.

"We'll go back together after dinner," Elliot said, his voice low and unwavering, leaving no room for disagreement.

"Yes, Rosie, don't you love dishes at La Lumiere Restaurant? We're going there today," Edric added.

Before Rosetta could respond, Sierra, who had been quiet up until now, suddenly answered a phone call. Her face shifted with concern as she tugged at Elliot's arm.

"Elliot, Edric, my grandmother accidentally fell! I need to go home right now!"

The moment Elliot and Edric heard her distress, their attention was immediately diverted, leaving Rosetta standing alone in the middle of it all.

"Don't panic, we'll go with you right now," Elliot said softly.

Edric added, "Yes, don't worry, Sierra. Everything will be fine as long as you're with us."

"Let’s leave right away."

Without another word, the three of them left together, disappearing into the distance as Rosetta stood frozen, watching them fade from view.

Anyway, it was not the first time they had chosen Sierra over her. She remained there for a long while, watching them walk away before she finally turned and left the mall.

Rosetta made her way to the Sinclair Family's old house.

Since the tragic death of her parents, the Sinclair Family had always been kind to her, treating her with warmth and care in every possible way. She had never forgotten their kindness and felt a deep sense of gratitude.

Now that she was leaving, it seemed right to return for one last visit.

"Rosie dear, why did you come here all of a sudden? Where are Elliot and Edric? Aren't they with you?" Elliot and Edric's mother, Linda, asked. Her voice was laced with concern as she took Rosetta's arm and led her to the sofa.