Forever, Day and Night

In the past, they could grant her a special affection without sparing a thought for the consequences. Now, while that same affection lingers, they favorite person had become Sierra.

"I'm just a cold person. If you don't like it, you don't have to talk to me," Rosetta said blankly as she turned to go upstairs.

Elliot reached out and grasped her hand. "Rosetta, that's not what I meant, I..."

Before he could finish, Sierra interjected softly, "Elliot, it's getting late. I'd like to go back now."

"Then let's get Sierra home first," Edric added.

The three of them left together, leaving Rosetta standing alone. Remembering the smug, defiant look Sierra had given her as they walked away, Rosetta lowered her gaze and smirked. As expected, those who are favored always brim with confidence.

Unbothered by Sierra's provocation, Rosetta returned to her room. She gathered all the gifts Elliot had given her throughout the years and placed them neatly into a large box.

Early the next morning, she instructed the butler to carry all the boxes downstairs to be thrown out.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw Elliot and Edric entering the house.

Spotting her descending the staircase, Elliot was the first to approach.

“Rosie…”

Before Rosetta could respond, Edric's eyes fell on the box in the living room.

"What's in these boxes?” he asked the butler.

The butler glanced at Rosetta, hesitating before replying, "These are all things Miss Rosetta asked me to get rid of."

"To get rid of?"

Edric walked over and opened the box. On top was the bag he had gifted Rosetta for her birthday last year, a bag she once adored. He was taken aback and as he looked deeper, he found it filled with presents they had given her over the years.

Noticing his brother's puzzled expression, Elliot also came over to take a look.

"Why are you throwing away everything we gave you?" Elliot asked, frowning in confusion.

Edric stepped closer to Rosetta, equally baffled. "Yes, these were gifts you really loved. Why would you want to get rid of them all?"

Seeing their bewilderment only deepened the irony for Rosetta.

She had cherished these gifts once, but now, with the meaning behind them faded, what was the point of keeping them?

“It’s simple. I just don't like them anymore. They take up space, so I might as well get rid of them," she said coldly.

Elliot held her gaze for a moment. "You don't like them anymore?"

"Yes," Rosetta replied, meeting his eyes with a steady look and after a pause, firmly added, "I don't like them."

Something in Elliot's chest tightened and a strange thought flashed through his mind. It felt like it was not just these gifts that Rosetta did not like.

It was not just these gifts that she wanted to get rid of.

"Rosie, are you upset over what happened last night? I was impatient and spoke harshly, but I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry." Edric's tone softened as he grasped her hand, apologizing.

Rosetta slowly pulled her hand away. The memory of their preference for Sierra the previous night surfaced once again and a sharp pang of pain stabbed at her chest. The weight of that betrayal only deepened her decision to leave.

"I'm not angry. It's just that things I no longer care for should be thrown away."

Elliot’s lingered on her. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "If you don't like them, then throw them away, but we can always choose something you'll like another time."