Roselle’s POV
Eva nodded.
“Yes, Mrs. Roselle.”
She turned and left.
I watched her until her back disappeared completely from my sight and the door closed behind her.
The moment we were alone again, my mind returned to tomorrow’s meeting with Silas.
I needed to think of a way to negotiate with him.
I wasn’t entirely sure whether I could negotiate the marriage.
From everything I had learned so far, it seemed as though that decision had already been made for me.
Still, I could try.
At the very least, I wanted to save some of the workers who didn’t want to switch sides.
Perhaps I could convince him to allow them to remain independent, or at least find a better arrangement for those who didn’t want to become part of the Belladonna family.
I was so deep in thought that I almost didn’t notice the little girl sitting quietly in my arms.
“Mommy, would I have a new daddy?”
Jasmine’s small voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I looked down at her.
Her face was filled with worry.
“Who told you that?” I asked, wondering who could have told a child something like that.
“I heard the elders talking earlier, before you came in,” she explained.
“They said we’re going to be switching houses soon and that you would be getting married again.” She paused.
Her eyes met mine, and the worry in them made my heart ache.
“Mommy, would you stop being my mommy?”
My heart clenched.
“Would you abandon me for another family?” she continued.
“Is it because Daddy is no more?” She stopped speaking, but I could still hear the fear trembling in her voice.
Something inside me nearly broke.
How long had she been carrying these fears around?
Had she been imagining herself being taken away from me?
Had she been wondering whether losing her father meant she was going to lose her mother too?
At that moment, I knew one thing with absolute certainty.
If she asked me to bring her the entire world, I would probably try.
“I would never stop being your mother,” I said softly.
“I can’t even imagine abandoning you for another family.” I silently cursed the men who had spoken so carelessly in front of a child and filled her head with such frightening thoughts.
But I couldn’t blame them entirely.
They were afraid too.
Everyone in this family was afraid of what tomorrow would bring.
“Listen to me, Jasmine.” I gently pulled away from her so I could look into her eyes.
“I want you to understand what I’m about to tell you, okay?”
She nodded.
“Yes, I am going to remarry.” I waited, allowing her to process my words.
“The man who came to the funeral earlier today… he is the man who will become your new daddy.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
I continued before she could interrupt.
“But don’t ever think that means you will be treated badly. Over my dead body will anyone mistreat you.” I held her gaze.
“And you will never have to worry about losing me or losing my love for you.”
I gently brushed her hair away from her face.
“You won’t lose anything, Jasmine. Not me. Not my love.” I smiled softly.
“If anything, you’ll have another family and another father figure. And I will make sure that you are loved, protected, and treated with care.”
I knew those were a lot of words for a child to hear.
But I needed her to hear them from me.
I didn’t want someone else filling her head with their own version of what was going to happen.
“I don’t really care about having a new daddy,” she whispered.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know grown-ups have their own reasons for why you’re getting married again, but…” Her voice cracked.
“I don’t ever want to lose you.”
The moment she said those words, she broke down.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she wrapped her little arms around me even tighter.
Her entire body trembled.
It was obvious she had already imagined it happening.
Me leaving.
Or me abandoning her.
Perhaps she had replayed those possibilities in her head so many times that they had become real enough to frighten her.
I hugged her tightly against my chest.
“I would never leave you.”
And yet, the thought of the previous Roselle suddenly crossed my mind.
She had killed herself.
I couldn’t bear imagining what Jasmine would have felt if she had known that her own mother had chosen to leave her that way.
I quickly pushed the thought away.
That wasn’t me.
I am here now.
And I had no intention of ending my life.
“Promise?” Jasmine’s tiny voice brought my attention back to her.
“I promise,” I reassured her.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
“Miss Roselle, I’m here with the documents you requested.” Eva’s voice came from the other side of the door.
The moment Jasmine heard her, she buried her face deeper into my chest.
“I don’t want her to see my crying face,” she whispered.
I couldn’t help but feel a little amused.
I understood her completely.
I wasn’t exactly fond of letting people see me when I was vulnerable either.
“Come in,” I called.
I placed my left hand gently over Jasmine’s head, shielding her face from the door as it slowly opened.
Eva stepped inside with a large stack of documents in her hands.
“Place them on the table.”
“Yes, Miss Roselle.”
She walked over and placed the documents neatly on the table.
I waited until she was finished before speaking again.
“You may take your leave. I’ll send for you if I need any assistance.”
Eva gave a small bow.
“Yes, Miss Roselle.”
She turned and left.
Once the door closed behind her, I looked down at Jasmine.
“Come on. Let’s get you washed up so you can sleep.” I stood carefully, keeping one arm around her.
“I have some documents to go through tonight before I can sleep.” My eyes moved toward the thick stack sitting on the table.