Jennie

I stand just outside Rosé's bedroom door , my heart hammering in my chest. I still find it hard to believe she donated a kidney to my father. For so many years I've hated her, convinced she'd never change. Convinced I'd never be able to forgive her. Yet here I stand, every thread of hatred slowly unravelling, reluctant gratefulness replacing it. I never thought that she might be suffering right alongside me, that the guilt might be eating her alive. I've grown so much as a person over the years, yet I was convinced she didn't. I rest my forehead against the door and inhale deeply. I'm feeling so incredibly conflicted.

I jump when I feel an arm wrap around my waist, and my eyes flutter closed when Lisa's scent envelops me. She leans in, her chest against my back, and she lifts my hair out of the way. She presses a soft kiss against the back of my neck, and a shiver runs down my spine.

"Just go in," she whispers. "She'd love it if you did. You don't have to restrict yourself to only going in to give Rosé her pills."

She trails a path down my neck with her nose before pressing another kiss on the hollow of my throat. I melt against her and turn to kiss her. She smiles against my lips and deepens the kiss as I rise to my tiptoes. We're both panting by the time I pull away, smiles on both our faces.

Lisa presses a kiss to my forehead, her lips lingering. "Go on," she murmurs. "Go in. I've got to run to the office. I'll see you at dinner."

I nod and rise to my tiptoes to kiss her. She pulls away reluctantly and looks at me with so much love in her eyes that my heart skips a beat. She smirks and pecks my lips one more time before walking away, leaving me standing in front of Rosé's room.

I'm nervous as I knock on the door. It's obvious she didn't expect me, because she sits up in bed and then groans in pain.

"Jennie," she whispers. "I'm sorry. I thought it was Mom." She glances at the alarm clock on her bedside table and frowns. "Is it time for my meds already? I thought I had another hour."

I shake my head and walk to the chair Helen placed beside her bed. "It's not. I just thought I'd see how you were doing," I say, a tentative smile on my face.

Rosé blinks in surprise and then smiles. "I'm good. Lisa and you are taking such good care of me. I adore Mom, but it's so stressful to have her around. The nurses are really great."

I nod. "They were amazing with Dad too."

"How is he feeling?"

I relax in my seat, my smile genuine this time. "Honestly, it's like she's a whole new man. He's far more alive than he ever was before he got sick. He's filled with light, with happiness. I've never seen him this way." I glance at her and bite down on my lip. "And I owe it to you. Thank you, Rosé."

Her eyes widen and she holds her hands up. "Oh no, don't. Don't thank me, Jennie. I… I've spent years thinking of ways to make things right, but I was too much of a coward. It was easier to run from my problems and pretend everything I did never happened. I pursued a life of my own, and I even ended up getting married, however briefly, in my pursuit of a new life. But in the meantime, Lisa's life stood still. She forged ahead with her career, but much like your dad, she wasn't truly alive. Not in the way she was when you were around. The kidney donation… it's the least I could do, Jennie."

I study her and then look down at my lap. "Nini. You can call me Nini. And did you really get married?"

I look up at her to find her looking at me, hope and disbelief in her eyes. She nods slowly, a smile slowly spreading on her cheeks. "It's a long story," she murmurs.

"Let's call it even, okay?" I say.

Rosé looks at me, brows raised.

"Let's both stop living in the past. It won't help either of us. I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that I no longer feel like you took some precious years from me… but if not for you, I'd have lost my father. You might have taken some years away from me, but you gave me others in return. Lisa and I… we'll be okay."

Rosé looks at me, curiosity lighting up her eyes. "You'll be okay? Does that mean you aren't leaving?"

I smile at her. "No, I'm not. I haven't found a way to tell her yet, though."

Rosé frowns, a worried expression on her face. "You should probably tell her soon," she murmurs.

I raise my brows in question, and she blanches. "What do you mean?"

Rosé looks away, but not before I catch the brief flash of panic in her eyes. I bite down on my lip as hundreds of terrible scenarios run through my mind. Is she expecting me to leave? Has she been waiting for it?

Rosé looks at me and shakes her head. "Nothing like that," she says. "You still wear the exact same expression when you're overthinking things," she says, a smile on her face. "It's just… she's already bought a plot of land in London. Jaehyun and she are gathering more investors so they can expand their company to England… so Lisa can be with you."

I stare at her in disbelief. "What?"

Rosé nods. "The boss I currently work for, Alyssa Devereaux, is one of her investors. She and her husband are investing in Lisa's London office," she says. "I totally understand it too. You've sacrificed so much for us, it's about time someone does the same for you."

I run a hand through my hair, my heart racing. "But there's nothing there for me. It's just a job. I've been far happier working for Manoban Reed. Besides, my dad is here and he loves it here. He won't want to leave, and truthfully, neither do I."

Rosé bites down on her lip and nods. "You should talk to her, I think. From what I understand, she wanted to surprise you with all of this, so you wouldn't have a chance to say no. I think she wanted to keep you from making another sacrifice by staying here for her."

I smile to myself and shake my head. "This woman," I murmur, and Rosé grins at me.

"You know what she's like," she says. "When it comes to you, she's always been dramatic."

I smirk and cross my arms over each other. "I guess it's my turn to be truly dramatic," I say, a mischievous smile on my face.

Rosé looks at me, apprehension in her eyes. "Oh, Nini," she murmurs. "What are you planning now?"

I rise to my feet, my heart hammering in my chest. "You'll find out soon enough. Do me a favor, though. Call Lisa in exactly one hour and tell her to come home. Be dramatic."