Chapter 14 Missing

Rose looked up at the beautiful, tall woman who had saved her, admiration shining in her young eyes. She'd run away from home that evening, her heart aching from words that stung more than she'd admit. Her grandmother had let Sienna stay with them. Sienna, with her flawless, doll-like face, was always commenting on Rose's acne scars, sneering that no one would ever like her because of them. Then she'd suggest plastic surgery, as if Rose's skin needed "fixing" to be acceptable.

But Rose knew better. She was still young—it was perfectly normal to have pimples and scars. She'd heard that nobody was flawless, and that real beauty didn't come from surgery. Sienna, who had gone through countless procedures, didn't understand that. Her face was all angles and perfection, but Rose could see right through it.

"Thank you for saving me," Rose said shyly, her voice barely above a whisper. Before this strong, stunning woman had arrived, she'd been trembling, wondering if her life was about to spiral into something dark. But now, seeing her protector, fierce and full of confidence, she felt a spark of hope. This was the kind of woman she wanted to become—someone powerful, who didn't let others define her worth.

Lilith looked down at Rose, her brow furrowing with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Where is your home?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm. Lilith knew it wasn't safe for a girl to be out here alone at this hour.

Rose shook her head, her face scrunching up as she pretended to cry. "Sister, I don't... I don't remember my way home…" she whimpered, sniffling dramatically. Of course, she remembered, but who wanted to go back and face Sienna's plastic smile and judging eyes? She'd much rather be with this beautiful, strong woman. Hehe, she thought mischievously.

Lilith's brows knit together, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "Do you have a phone?" she asked, giving Rose a pointed look.

Rose's expression turned even more pitiful as she shook her head. "Sister, my brother is a devil... a real devil… He took my phone away," she huffed, pouting. "I barely even use it! But he thinks I'm on it too much… Hump! Devil brother!" She added a little sniff for effect, mentally rolling her eyes at her brother's strictness.

Hump! Devil brother! I'm not addicted to my phone… I just love reading specifically romance books, okay!

Lilith's serious gaze softened as she knelt down to meet Rose's eyes. "Alright, little girl," she said, a hint of a smirk on her face. "You're not spending another minute alone out here."

Rose grinned widely, thrilled with how things were turning out. Not only was she avoiding Sienna's criticism, but now she got to spend time with this strong, beautiful sister.

***

"Your home is so pretty, sister!" Rose exclaimed, her eyes widening as she looked around in awe. The warmth and charm of Lilith's home felt worlds apart from the cold, oversized mansion she was used to.

Lilith smiled casually as she kicked off her heels. "Oh, you like it?"

Rose nodded rapidly. "Yes, yes, sister, it's so pretty!" She wandered around, admiring the simple decor.

Lilith raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Hmm... So you don't remember your way home, and you don't have a phone?" She paused, pulling her own phone out and shaking it slightly in front of Rose. "Maybe you remember your home phone number, right?"

Rose's face fell slightly as she realized her beautiful sister wasn't easily fooled. Pouting, she looked up at Lilith, trying her best to look innocent. "Sister…" She blinked her big eyes, making them appear teary and wide, hoping it would soften her up. She fluttered her thick eyelashes for added effect, her cheeks round with baby fat and her lips small and pouty.

Lilith's stoic expression finally cracked, a small chuckle escaping her. She shook her head, half-amused and half-exasperated. "Alright, alright, little one. You can stay here for tonight. But first thing tomorrow, we're calling your family, understand?"

Rose beamed, throwing her arms around Lilith. "Thank you, sister!" She snuggled into her, feeling the warmth and safety she rarely felt at home.

'This human baby girl is a little bit cute,' Lilith thought, a small smile tugging at her lips. Though she could sense the girl was a bit of a liar, Lilith found herself surprisingly amused.

Anyway, she liked this little girl.

-★-

On the other side of City, her "human doll" was anything but calm. A deep frown creased his forehead, and his lips were pressed in a tight line of displeasure. His sharp, dark eyes shot an icy glare as he listened to the voice on the other end of his phone.

"Sir, we've located your sister. Sending the location to your phone now," the voice reported.

"Hmm..." he muttered, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated by the news that his little sister had run away again.

Without wasting another second, he barked to assistant behind him, "Prepare the car for me." He took a slow breath, rolling up his sleeves, revealing strong, toned forearms. His black shirt fit snugly over his muscular frame