MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Chapter 96: Freedom or love?

As Rose drove through the unfamiliar streets, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides. It was a strange sensation, being behind the wheel of her car without the usual presence of her loyal driver, Reggie. But today was different; today, her mission required her to be alone.

Her thoughts swirled chaotically as she navigated the winding roads, her mind drifting between the pressing matters at hand and the memories of happier times spent in this city. Sometimes, she found herself staring at the road almost absentmindedly, her focus slipping as she allowed herself to be consumed by her thoughts.

The scent of fresh air assaulted her acute senses, mingling with the faint aroma of exhaust fumes and distant city sounds. It was a stark contrast to the sterile environment of her penthouse, and for a brief moment, she found solace in the simplicity of it all.

But her respite was short-lived as she neared her destination, the imposing structure of the prison looming ominously in the distance. The sight sent a shiver down her spine, a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation she was about to confront.

With a deep breath, Rose steeled herself for what lay ahead. Today, she would face her demons head-on, even if it meant venturing into the heart of darkness itself. And as she pulled up to the entrance of the prison, her jaw set in determination, she knew that there was no turning back now.

As she approached the prison, Rose couldn't help but notice the unfamiliar surroundings. The imposing walls of the facility loomed ahead, guarded by uniformed men armed with rifles. The air crackled with tension as Rose pulled up to the entrance, her expression unreadable as she stepped out of her car.

The uniformed men greeted her with a mixture of respect and wariness, their eyes flickering with recognition as they acknowledged the powerful figure before them. Rose returned their nods with a nod of her own, her posture straight and purposeful as she strode past them and into the prison.

Each step she took was deliberate, her power emanating from every movement as she made her way through the corridors. The guards stationed along the way watched her with a mixture of awe and apprehension, their gazes unable to penetrate the steely facade she presented to the world.

Finally, Rose arrived at the entrance to the prison's hospital wing, where Blake was being held. The sight of him lying in the hospital bed, his face pale and drawn from his ordeal, sent a pang of concern through her heart. But she pushed the emotion aside, replacing it with a mask of determination as she approached his bedside.

Rose approached Blake's bedside with a composed demeanor, her expression carefully neutral as she met his gaze. "Blake," she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil churning within her. "I'm here to discuss your situation."

Blake's eyes narrowed slightly, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Situation? What situation?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. "I've been stuck in this place for days with no explanation. Why am I still here?"

Rose hesitated, her gaze flickering away from Blake's probing stare. She struggled to find the right words, the weight of her failures pressing down on her shoulders like a suffocating blanket. "I...I don't have all the answers," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm working on it."

Blake's expression softened slightly, his frustration giving way to concern. "Rose, what's going on?" he asked, reaching out to grasp her hand. "I can tell something's bothering you. You're not usually like this."

Rose flinched at the touch of his hand, the warmth of his skin a stark contrast to the coldness of her own. She forced herself to meet his gaze, her eyes clouded with guilt and self-doubt. "I've failed you, Blake," she confessed, her voice barely audible over the din of the hospital wing. "I promised to keep you safe, but..."

Blake's grip tightened on her hand, his eyes searching hers for answers. "But what, Rose?" he pressed, his voice filled with urgency. "What happened?"

Rose swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak. "I let you down," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "And now...now I don't know how to fix it."

Blake's expression softened as he listened to Rose's confession, his gaze filled with empathy and understanding. "Rose, you haven't failed me," he said gently, his voice soothing in the sterile hospital room. "I know you're doing everything you can to help."

Rose's eyes widened in surprise at Blake's words, her heart twisting with emotion at the unexpected kindness in his voice. She hadn't expected him to be so understanding, especially after everything he had been through. "Blake..." she began, her voice catching in her throat.

"I've missed you," Blake continued, his grip on her hand tightening as he spoke. "More than you can imagine."

The weight of his words hit Rose like a physical blow, her breath catching in her chest as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She had been so focused on her own guilt and shame that she hadn't stopped to consider how he was feeling. And now, hearing him express his longing for her, it was almost too much to bear.

"I...I missed you too, Blake," Rose whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "More than you'll ever know."

Blake let out a soft chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement despite the seriousness of their situation. "You know, Rose," he said, his tone teasing, "I was starting to think you didn't want to hug me because I've missed a few showers already. Didn't want you going back out into the normal world smelling like sickness and bondage."

Rose couldn't help but laugh at Blake's attempt to lighten the mood, her heart swelling with affection for him. Despite everything they were facing, he still had the ability to make her smile. "I'll have you know, Mr. Whitaker," she replied with a playful grin, "that I have an excellent sense of smell. And you still smell like the same old Blake to me."

Their banter eased some of the tension that hung between them, and for a moment, they were just two people sharing a moment of lightheartedness amidst the darkness. But beneath the surface, Rose couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her. They were running out of time, and she still didn't have a plan to get Blake out of prison.

But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the warmth of Blake's hand in hers and the sound of his laughter filling the room.

Blake's playful demeanor shifted slightly, his expression turning more serious as he looked into Rose's eyes. "You know," he began, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "if it weren't for these guards watching our every move and the fact that I'm currently stuck in this hospital bed, I'd be tempted to do a lot more than just hug you."

A mischievous glint danced in his eyes as he continued, "I'd whisk you away to some secluded island, where it's just the two of us and an endless stretch of beach. We'd spend our days swimming in the crystal-clear waters and our nights wrapped up in each other's arms under the stars."

Rose felt her cheeks flush at Blake's words, a rush of heat spreading through her body at the thought of being so close to him again. Despite the gravity of their situation, she couldn't deny the allure of his suggestion, the idea of escaping from their troubles together tempting her more than she cared to admit.

But reality quickly intruded upon their moment of fantasy, reminding them both of the harsh truth of their circumstances. With a sigh, Rose forced herself to push aside the tantalizing image that Blake had painted. "As much as I'd love to entertain that fantasy, Blake," she replied softly, her voice tinged with regret, "we have more pressing matters to attend to."

Their brief moment of intimacy was shattered by the reminder of their predicament, and Rose couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of what could have been. But she knew that they couldn't afford to indulge in fantasies when their reality was so bleak. They needed to focus on finding a way out of this mess, no matter how impossible it seemed.