But she had not expected Elliot to ask again, "Rosie, your voice sounds strange. Did something happen?"
Rosetta felt a twist of emotions at his question.
When she had needed him most, he had been busy prioritizing Sierra's needs, ignoring her calls. And now, when she no longer needed him, here he was, asking if anything was wrong. How ridiculous.
"Nothing."
On the other end, Elliot sensed something off. He wanted to ask Rosetta directly, but in the background, she could faintly hear Sierra's voice calling him anxiously.
"That's all. You go on. I'm hanging up now." Rosetta closed her eyes, spoke in a cold tone and then ended the call.
The following days passed without any sign of Elliot or Edric. She assumed he was at the hospital, keeping Sierra company.
In the meantime, Rosetta had almost finished packing her belongings, with only two days left until her final performance.
After the last rehearsal, Rosetta returned home and briefly called Riley. As soon as she hung up, she heard a car pulling up outside.
It was Elliot and Edric returning.
In the past, she would have waited to greet them, but today, she only felt an overwhelming weariness, too drained to face anyone.
So she stood and started to go upstairs.
But before she could make it far, Elliot stopped her.
"Rosie."
She turned and there, between Elliot and Edric, stood Sierra.
For a moment, Rosetta was caught off guard, forgetting to guard her emotions as she looked at the two brothers with questioning, puzzled eyes.
Edric stepped forward, gently taking her arm. "Rosie, Sierra's grandmother is in the hospital. We didn't feel right about leaving her alone, so we'll have her stay here at the villa for a while."
"She will stay here for a while?" Rosetta almost wondered if she had heard wrong.
"It's a large house. If we clean up a guest room for Sierra, it won't affect anything."
It won't affect anything, he said...
Rosetta could not hold back any longer. She looked at Elliot and Edric with an icy gaze. "This villa holds so many memories for the three of us. And now you want her to live here? Have you really thought it through?"
Elliot met her gaze, silent for a few moments before finally saying, "I told you, it's only for a while."
"Yes, Rosie," Edric added. "It's just for a while. Can you stop being so unreasonable?"
What? Unreasonable?