The Donna Rose Buried in the Snow Chapter 02

The Donna Rose Buried in the Snow Chapter 02

The bandage on Natalia’s hand was soaked through with blood again.

Damien didn’t even care about his own face.

He cradled her hand carefully, his eyes turning red.

“Don’t hurt yourself… please. I’m begging you.”

I had never seen Damien like this.

Even at his gentlest with me, the pride carved into the sole heir of the Caruso family never disappeared.

No matter how spoiled I acted, I never dared cross his line.

Once, while we were playing around, my hand brushed his ear by accident.

His smile vanished.

He stared at me—cold, heavy.

That single look sent chills down my spine.

But now, in front of Natalia, he was humble to the point of humiliation.

Like a beggar with nothing left, holding onto the only treasure he had.

My nose stung.

So this… was what he looked like when he truly loved someone.

Natalia looked down at him.

She ignored his desperation completely.

I couldn’t help but wonder—was she just used to it?

A drop of tears fell.

Plop.

She covered her face, her voice trembling.

“What else am I supposed to do? I owe her my life… more than once.”

Her words struck like lightning.

I froze.

My hand instinctively pressed against my chest.

So souls could feel pain too?

I had saved Natalia more than once.

When she was poisoned as a child, I was the one who rushed her to the hospital.

And then, there was the fire.

Our parents were out of town.

It was just the two of us at home.

She slept heavily.

I woke up choking on smoke and ran toward the door, only to realize she wasn’t out yet.

I ran back in.

Dragged her off the bed.

Pulled her out of the house.

I survived.

But I inhaled too much smoke.

Since then, I’d been plagued with chronic coughing.

My body grew weaker than most.

And Natalia?

She broke down, screaming at me, “Alison Hayes, why did you save me?!”

“Do you want me to owe you forever?!”

Since we were born, we had always fought to win.

But after that day, she started giving in.

Always quiet.

Always holding back.

But she never once asked if I even wanted that.

Damien’s veins bulged at his temple.

He kicked a trash can hard.

“So you’re just going to suffer your whole life?!”

She kept crying.

His hands trembled as he pulled her into his arms.

He kissed her forehead like she was something fragile.

“Natalia… you’re the one with real talent for painting.”

“But because Alison Hayes doesn’t want to run the company, you gave it up.”

“You abandoned what you loved most and forced yourself into a life you hate.”

That wasn’t the truth.

She had gone to our parents herself.

Said she didn’t want to live as the useless second daughter of the Hayes family.

They told her, awkwardly, that I was the heir.

I saw how down she looked.

So I stepped back.

Gave up my position in the company.

But somehow, in Damien’s version of the story, she was the one who sacrificed everything.

“And me,” he continued, his voice cracking.

“The person I love has always been you.”

“But because Alison Hayes said she loved me, you threatened me with your life—forced me to marry her.”

“And you swore you’d never marry anyone.”

My soul felt heavier and heavier.

Like something was dragging me down.

I collapsed to my knees.

Covered my face.

And started laughing.

I didn’t even know why, but tears slipped through my fingers, falling silently to the floor.

Damien loved me.

But only in front of other people.

There had always been something between us.

A thin, invisible veil.

Untouchable.

Unbreakable.

He never shared his emotions with me.

Never let me into his private world.

Every time I asked him to watch the sunrise with me, he said no.

But in secret, he climbed mountains with Natalia before dawn.

They leaned against each other under the stars.

And when the first light broke, they kissed like the world was ending.

While I happily prepared for our honeymoon, they were in a hotel room.

Curtains drawn. Entangled for three days and nights.

Even the day before our wedding, I couldn’t reach Damien no matter what.

Now I knew why.

He was in a church in Norway with Natalia, holding a wedding that belonged only to them.

A vow of forever. Before he ever stood beside me.

And the next day, I stood under a sky full of falling rose petals.

Moved to tears.

Believing him when he said he’d been busy all day preparing that “surprise.”

The most ridiculous part?

I had once asked Natalia if she liked Damien.

Her expression twisted.

Half crying, half laughing, she screamed at me, “Alison Hayes, is there anything left you won’t take from me?!”

I had no idea what she meant.

The next day, Damien confessed his feelings to me.

I only said yes—after getting Natalia’s blessing.

And now—only after I died—did I finally understand.

It was another sacrifice.

One I never asked for.