Total Number of Words: 2700

Chapter Twelve

"Don't you recognise him, my dear? He is the prime minister of France."

Hearing those words from the detective's mother is enough for her eyes to be widens in surprise. That explains the mansion, the luxurious design and other displays!

'Why didn't I even recognise him? This is so embarrassing! Jimmy should have told me about this!'

Now she knows why his parents are so rich. She turns her gaze to the detective, he just remains in silence and his expression is just neutral. Rosalia couldn't help herself but to feel quite disappointed since Jimmy didn't tell her anything else about his parents, 'don't he trust me? I know that he doesn't want to talk about his parents that much but he could at least tell me about this.'

"Hey, my parents are rich not me. I pay for my own wants and needs because I have a stable job"

What Jimmy said earlier before they enter the mansion suddenly plays on her mine. Yes, she already expected Jimmy to be independent, especially because his way of thinking is quite different from his parents and adding the fact that her relationship with them is not that good, Jimmy doesn't care about his father's position at the government at all, unlike other rich people who usually rely on their parents.

Rosalia couldn't help but to keep on thinking while watching them talk to each other, like who their day went, memories from the past and etc., she looks down on her hand that is being hold by Jimmy tightly as he answer their questions.

"I suddenly remembered when our little Jimmy and Rachel used to argue about thing back when they were still studying together." Said Vivian before letting out a soft chuckle, reminiscing the memories that his son had with her childhood friend as if it is still fresh in her mind. She used to think that her son and Rachel would end up together since they used to be so close when they were younger.

Letting out a deep sigh, Vivian looks at Rosalia who is currently listening to them quietly.

'She look nice, her physical appearance is not that bad for a woman in a working class. But… still, not a kind of woman that fits our standard.'

She thought before turning her gaze to her son, who looks expectedly bored.

"Jimmy, honey? Do you still remember when you two were playmates? She suddenly kissed your cheek that time and you were so annoyed, you got that from your father by the way, and complained about that to me. Sorry I didn't do anything about that" she giggles before glimpsing at Rosalia who just looks down. Vivian mentally smirks before looking at her son who glared at her and to Rachel who suddenly blushes in embarrassment.

"Aunty!"

"Mom."

Rcahel and Jimmy speak at the same time but their tones are different. Rachel's tone is more like a whine after remembering the embarrassing thing that she did but Jimmy's tone is like warning her mother to stop.

However, that is not enough to make her stop. She's just doing this for the sake of her son and to somehow spare the magician for more pain if they won't end their relationship.

"I really thought that the two of you will end up together, right Eva?" she said and looks at Rachel's mother.

"Well, the two of them was always together before, I actually thought the same thing" Eva replied and chuckles before taking a sip on her wine.

"Mom, please." He hissed with a low tone as he try to control his temper.

"What's wrong? I am stating fact here, Jimmy. What's wrong with Rachel? She's got everything!" she exclaimed while staring at her son, "She is an amazing, sophisticated woman. She is the kind of lady that fits our family standards. Unlike the woman you brought without even informing us, she's nothing compared to her!" Vivian attests before looking at Rosalia who flinch by the words that she just throw, it hurts her as him she is being thrown with knifes and rocks, having no rights to move from her position.

"I wonder what you liked about her, honey. Did she seduce you?" she continued while looking at the magician mockingly. Booker on the other hand is currently looking at her as he cleans his throat to stop her from saying anything further.

"That's enough. You're right with that madame. I may look cheap to you or everyone in this room, I may not be the type of lady who fits the standards or your family just because I didn't came from a rich family, but you don't know a thing about me for you to underestimate my whole existence. You don't have any idea how I actually met your son and the things I can do for him. Your insolence won't make me easily let go of someone important to me"

Rosalia suddenly countered before standing up from her seat, trying her best to keep her poker face intact despite of wanting to breakdown in front of them. She tried to bare everything her lover's mother said but she couldn't.

"now if you'll excuse me, I'll just use the rest room and breath some fresh air" she tried to maintain her normal voice before starting to walk.

"Rosa—"

"Don't worry about me, Jimmy. I can handle myself, I'll be back quickly" she muttered before walking outside the dining room, trying to escape from what happened even though she couldn't.

The room went quiet after the magician left. Jimmy just remained standing while staring at the door while clenching his fist. The detective then quickly glared at his mother who is also staring at the door.

"Have you heard how she disrespected me? How could you be so blind and pick such woman?!" Vivian chided that made him laugh sarcastically.

"If you want people to respect you, then respect them in return. After everything you have said, do you even think that she would say something that is pleasant to your ears? .her."

He emphasised the last three words before letting out a deep breath to refrain himself from yelling.

"So you're on her side? You dare speak to your mother like that just to protect that low class woman? I did it for the sake of the both of you!"

Hearing his own mother's words made him grit his teeth and huffs in disbelief, he expected something no good but he didn't expect that they would step off the line and insult Rosalia. For him, it's like throwing their own dignity!

"Why you did even said those horrible things? And for our sake? You did it for your own!" Jimmy fumed in frustration, "and you, you were just sitting there and doing nothing while your wife insult Rosalia? I wouldn't even be here if she didn't encourage me just to 'fix' my relationship with the two of you!"

"That's enough, Jimmy" the detective's father calmly while looking at him, his father's cold gaze gave him chills run down through his spines, it seems like it is a warning signal for him, "Are you not ashamed of our guest?"

However, it won't stop Jimmy from speaking up to protect his precious magician, he is aware that no matter what boundaries that they have, they are still his parents and that he should respect them but he won't just let what his mother did to Rosalia.

"Ashamed? Why would I be ashamed? Your wife is talking nonsense!" he hollered firmly and looks at his mother as he shoots her a cold glare, "Why did you even said those things? Why can't you just keep your insults for yourse—"

"Jimmy, I said enough!"

Jimmy didn't even finished what he's about to say when his father shouted as he slammed that table that made his stands up from his seat. He looks at his son furiously but Jimmy just stares at him back,

"Your fiancé and her parents are here, hearing those shameful words that came from your mouth. You were the one who brought a woman here so bear with it."

Booker said that made his eyes widens, he looks at his childhood friend, Rachel who just looks down and to the female's parents who didn't say a word.

"Fiancé?" he repeated the word, he looks at his parents and flinch as he looks down an annoyed huff before look smirking in realisation,

"So this is the consequence of choosing my own passion, you will still take my freedom away and arrange me with my own childhood friend. I knew it, an urgent matter about my future? Bloody hell!" He howled and chuckles in disbelief as he shook his hair before glaring at his father, "What if I say no?"

"You have no choice. We have already arranged everything, you two will have to get married whether you like it or not." His father stated that made Jimmy feel like he is being stabbed with millions of swords, although it couldn't kill him. He just felt numb instead as he clenches his fist and looks at Rachel,

"Rachel, do you even want this? Why won't you fight, it's your rights to choose a man to be your husband"

"I'm sorry, Jimmy."

Rachel said and it is enough for him to know that she also had no choice until he heard what Richard Moore said, "Rachel actually wanted this, and we didn't even need to force her"

"But has anyone even tries to think if I would want this?" Jimmy asked with a broken tone as he thought of the magician and what she would say. He didn't want to hurt her, he wanted to protect his magician and live the rest of his life with her. He knows that he can't just give everything up.

"I shouldn't have come here, every time you summon me, I get nothing but disappointment." Jimmy muttered and starts walking towards the exit,

"It's funny how you guys were barely there when I was a kid and still have the audacity to control my life"

He gave them one last glance before turning his back to open the door himself,

"No matter how much you try. I will never agree to that marriage, disown me if you want. I don't care anymore. My business here is done, if you'll excuse me"

The detective walks out of the dining room without looking back, not minding his parents shouting at him to come back. His eyes wandered around the hallway and saw Rosalia looking at the night sky through the huge window with a gloomy looking face.

Jimmy lets out a deep sigh before holding her wrist and pulls her outside the mansion, she looks at him in surprised and was about to say something but before she could even speak, Jimmy already interrupted her.

"Just follow me, alright? We're getting out of here"

With that, the magician just gave him a nod before walking outside the mansion. They went straight to the carriage. Jimmy quickly instructs their coachman to bring them home, quickly enough so that his parents wouldn't have a time to stop them from leaving.

He sighs in relief as soon as they got out of his parents' property without anyone following them. The detective looks at his magician and felt guilt as soon as he saw how dull and depressed she looks. He holds her hand tightly before kissing the back of it,

"Jimmy, your parents don't like me, don't they?" she asked, almost whispering but it is good enough for him to hear.

What should he say? He couldn't say that they didn't mean it after those horrible things that his mother said to her, they didn't even tried to keep it for themselves!

"I heard everything… You're getting married, aren't you? I'm sorry, I feel like a hindrance right now." Rosalia continued that made him stun,

"I was just about to go back when I heard your argument with them, you didn't have to protect me, Jimmy"

The magician said with a broken voice, her tears are starting to fall down and seeing her like that made the detective's heartache.

"Rosalia…"

He called her as he holds her face and wipes her tears away,

"Look at me"

Jimmy said but Rosalia didn't, she just looks down and let her tears fall down from her eyes,

"Look at me, mi amour, please?"

He pleads while still wiping her tears away. Rosalia finally looks at her beloved detective and sobs,

"Listen to me, okay? I never agreed to that marriage. If you heard everything, you'll know that I declined it. They can never force me to marry Rachel, I have you, remember?"

The detective caresses his beloved's magician's cheek. It hurts him every time he sees her cry. She has been holding up her tears ever since his mother starts talking just to insult her, and now he is seeing her as her poker face break into pieces.

"But they are your parents. You can't possibly choose me over them"

She muttered while staring at her detective who just shook his head and continue to caress her cheek. Rosalia leans on his hand, leeching some warmth that she needs to somehow make her calm down even just for a bit.

"But what they are doing is wrong. I won't tolerate their selfish decisions even if it would make me look bad" he paused and wipe his beloved Rosalia's tears once again before planting a kiss on Rosalia's forehead, "I'm willing to be the world's own worst enemy if it is the only way for me to protect you"

Rosalia gave him a weak nod before she hugs him tightly and bury her face on his chest. Her lover hugs her back. Jimmy's warmth is enough for her to calm down, a weak smile curve onto her lips as she closes her eyes.

"I love you, Jimmy"

"I love you most, I love you more than anything in this world, Rosalia"

Yes, as long as Jimmy is there beside her, she knows that no matter what happens everything will be alright. What is she even afraid of? She is sure that Jimmy is as scared as she is to lose each other, his parents' disapproval won't be enough to separate destined lovers who love each other so dearly, she just needs to trust her detective and fight for the love that they have for each other.

NOTES: Hello again! As promise we updated today, November 21, Saturday at 1:25 am (GMT+8). We are almost near the end of this story and we are really excited to share you guys how this will end! As you can see, Jimmy's parents doesn't approve their relationship but Jimmy is willing to sacrifice (to be disowned) just to protect Rosalia. What do you think will happen next? We will drop a lot of bombs to our future update and one of those is about the case of the missing children, love triangle of Jimmy, Rosalia, and Sebastian and of course about the condition of Jimmy's parents! Please bare with us, we will try our best to update as soon as possible!

P.S. As you can see, parents Jimmy (Shinichi) and Rosalia (Kaito) are quite different in this story. We had a little adjustments about their personality for the sake of our plot, besides, they are not Shinichi and Kaito on this one~

So what do you think about this chapter? Please leave a vote and share us your thoughts!

-Dark Knight