Chapter 391 The Family She Was Never Part Of

Chapter 391: Chapter 391 The Family She Was Never Part Of

The moment Rose stepped out of the car, Alicia came hurrying toward her.

“Rose!”

Alicia slipped her arm through Rose’s with easy familiarity.

“Grandma told me you were coming today, so I came out to wait for you. This place is huge. Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Rose glanced down at Alicia’s hand resting on her arm.

She didn’t say anything.

Alicia didn’t seem bothered by her silence. She was practically glowing as she pointed toward different parts of the property.

“The estate is about 23,000 square meters. There’s a private lake on the east side, gardens straight ahead, and tennis courts over there.”

She pointed toward several buildings scattered across the grounds.

“The main house is right in the middle, and there are guesthouses and smaller cottages for family members when they come to stay.”

Then she looked at Rose hopefully.

“If you move back here, you can stay in one of the cottages with me. I’d love that.”

Rose hadn’t expected the invitation.

But Alicia probably didn’t know about the property transfer yet.

She likely assumed Rose was coming back to the family for good and was simply excited about having her around.

“What about Dr. Grace?”

Rose didn’t answer her invitation.

Instead, she asked about Grace.

“Oh, Grandma’s busy.”

Alicia’s expression became slightly apologetic.

“Something went wrong with the research her team is working on. They’re having a video conference right now, and apparently some of the students are pretty stressed.”

That sounded like Grace.

She had always taken responsibility for the people working under her seriously.

Rose wasn’t surprised.

“Why don’t I show you my place first?” Alicia suggested.

Rose thought about it before nodding.

After all, these days, she was more of a guest here than anything else.

They continued walking.

As they passed one of the gardens, Rose noticed several gardeners working near a row of trees.

She slowed.

They were digging up several large flowering trees.

Rose immediately recognized them.

Camellias.

And not ordinary ones.

They were mature, beautifully maintained trees, their glossy leaves healthy and full. Several of them were already covered with buds, ready to bloom.

Yet someone was having them removed.

“Why are they digging those up?”

Rose stopped completely.

She’d always loved plants.

Her home was usually filled with flowers and greenery, so she could tell immediately when a plant had been carefully cultivated.

These trees were exceptional.

Seeing them torn from the ground made her wince.

Alicia scratched the back of her head.

“Actually... that’s because of me.”

Before Rose could ask what she meant, Alicia sneezed.

She laughed sheepishly.

“I’m allergic to pollen. I’ve had bad reactions since I was little, so my parents don’t keep many flowers around the house.”

She glanced toward the gardeners.

“Since spring is coming, they were worried I’d have another serious reaction. So, they decided to remove anything that might trigger my allergies.”

Rose hadn’t expected that.

Her gaze shifted toward Alicia.

It was obvious her parents had gone to great lengths to protect her.

Even though Alicia was only staying here temporarily, they’d arranged for the gardeners to remove perfectly healthy flowering trees rather than risk making her sick.

Rose said nothing.

A strange feeling settled somewhere deep inside her chest.

“Rose?”

She looked up.

Derick had just come around the corner.

He stopped when he saw her.

For a moment, surprise flashed across his face.

Then his expression softened.

“You’re back.”

He stepped toward her.

Rose instinctively took a step backward.

Derick’s hand, which had been reaching for her, stopped in midair.

His expression dimmed.

Before he could say anything, Victoria approached.

She took in the scene and looked at Rose sadly.

“Rose... are you still angry with your dad?”

Rose’s expression remained blank.

Victoria continued gently.

“I’m sorry about what happened last time. Your dad was in a difficult position. He loves you very much. He was just trying to deal with everything as best he could.”

She reached for Rose’s hand.

“Please don’t think it was because you weren’t important to him.”

Rose pulled her hand away.

Her brows drew together.

“Do I know you?”

Victoria froze.

Her face went pale.

“I... I’m sorry.”

“Dad.”

Alicia suddenly walked over.

She looked between them.

“What’s going on? Is something wrong between Mom and Rose?”

Rose’s eyes snapped toward her.

Mom.

Dad.

Her gaze hardened.

“What did you just call him?”

Alicia looked confused.

“My dad.”

She glanced at Derick.

“What’s wrong, Rose?”

Rose couldn’t speak.

The truth hit her all at once.

Alicia was Derick and Victoria’s daughter.

Her little sister.

The child born from the affair.

Not some distant relative from another branch of the Taylor family.

Not a coincidence.

Her father’s daughter.

Rose felt something tighten painfully in her throat.

She had never blamed Alicia.

How could she?

Alicia was sweet, innocent, and had always treated Rose with genuine affection. She’d wanted to be close to her from the very beginning.

Rose had never found anything to dislike about her.

But now...

Everything felt different.

Her eyes drifted toward the camellia trees being pulled from the ground.

The trees Alicia’s parents had ordered removed because their daughter couldn’t be around flowers.

Rose remembered what Alicia had said earlier.

Her parents had gone out of their way to protect her.

What a loved child she must be.

What a cherished child.

Victoria noticed where Rose was looking.

Understanding flashed across her face.

“Rose, do you like those trees?”

Rose didn’t answer.

Victoria hurried on.

“I’m sorry. Your dad and I didn’t think about it from your perspective.”

She looked toward Derick.

“Alicia has always had severe allergies, so your dad ordered the flowers removed.”

Then she turned back to Rose.

“If you like them, we’ll have them replanted. Your dad won’t mind.”

Victoria reached for Derick’s hand.

“Right?”

She gave him a gentle look.

“From now on, Alicia can just avoid that part of the garden. It’s not a big deal.”

Derick looked at her.

Then at Rose.

He clearly hadn’t expected to see Rose here today, much less under circumstances like these.

His eyes settled on her.

“Rose, do you really like them?”

Rose met his gaze.

Something hot and suffocating rose inside her.

She couldn’t explain why.

She couldn’t even tell whether she was angry.

But she knew that if she objected now, she’d look petty.

Victoria had already offered to compromise.

Alicia was willing to make adjustments.

What more could Rose possibly ask for?

She forced a small smile.

“Yeah. I like them.”

The smile never reached her eyes.

She was suddenly curious.

She wanted to see what Derick would choose this time.

Derick frowned slightly.

He turned toward the gardener.

“Then—”

“Put them back.”

Victoria interrupted him with a quick nod.

“Derick, replant them.”

She looked at him gently.

“I know you want to protect Alicia, but we can find a middle ground. Rose just got home. The least we can do is let her have something that makes her happy.”

Alicia immediately moved closer and slipped her arm through Derick’s.

“Dad, I’m feeling much better.”

She smiled brightly.

“The medicine has been helping. And honestly, I think those trees look really pretty there.”

Mother and daughter stood on either side of Derick, both trying to convince him to agree.

Neither wanted Rose to feel rejected.

Neither wanted him to say no.

Rose watched the three of them.

Victoria on one side.

Alicia on the other.

Both women holding on to Derick as naturally as if they’d done it a thousand times.

They looked like a real family.

A happy family.

And Rose suddenly understood exactly where she stood.

Outside of it.

Even something as small as a few flowers had to be negotiated on her behalf.

Alicia and Victoria had to plead with Derick just to make room for her.

Rose lowered her eyes.

Then a cold voice came from behind her.

“Whether those trees stay or go, Rose doesn’t need your permission.”

Everyone turned.

James was already walking toward them.

His expression was icy as he stepped in front of Rose, placing himself between her and the others.

He looked directly at Victoria and Alicia.

The corner of his mouth lifted in a cold, humorless smile.

“And she certainly doesn’t need your charity.”

Victoria’s expression changed.

James continued.

“Because this entire property is being transferred to Rose.”

He looked toward the garden.

“From now on, it’s hers.”

His gaze returned to Victoria.

“So how she chooses to arrange it is entirely up to her.”