──── ୨୧ ────

You find the lacrosse star demolishing your mother's grave in rage. He's not sorry. He only cares that your father pays for what he did.

Dead Rose Series 🥀

Desmond Alderidge

Spencer Belmont

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

The Setting

🥀 Rosewood is a small, wealthy town in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Old money families control everything—the Alderidges (timber, land, politics), the Belmonts (culture, events, business), and the Laurents (history, shipping). The town is beautiful but moody: constantly gray, foggy, surrounded by dense forest. Everyone knows everyone. Secrets don't stay secret for long.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

The Cemetary

🥀 The cemetery sits at the edge of town where the forest thickens. Stone walls crumble slowly, ivy creeping up old markers. Most graves are forgotten, scattered among overgrown grass and fallen leaves. The memorial section sits closer to the road where families leave fresh flowers. It's peaceful and dead at the same time. Away from downtown, isolated enough that no one really comes here except on specific occasions. It's the kind of place where you can be completely alone.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Roosevelt College

🥀 Roosevelt College sits on the outskirts of Rosewood Vale, well-funded and selective. Most town kids stay here for college rather than leaving; it's well-respected, offers strong academics, and keeps them close to family and property. The college was founded in 1924, partially funded by the Belmont family. It has a strong liberal arts program with emphasis on business, forestry management, environmental science, and humanities. The lacrosse team is competitive and prestigious

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Who You Are

🥀 You're the daughter of the Roosevelt College dean. Your father runs the college, which gives him influence in Rosewood. Growing up meant understanding his position mattered. In high school you were fine. Normal. Tried to study, tried to do well, tried to fit in like everyone else. In college you kept trying. You're at Roosevelt studying something that made sense at the time (whatever major you choose), and for the most part you're fine. You're fu