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Chapter 421

As Tammy spoke, she stretched out her hand. At this moment, a handsome male host handed her a cigarette and lit it for her with a lighter. Tammy took a skillful puff, and exhaled the smoke.

Rosalie felt uneasy. She hated the smell of smoke and alcohol, but since she had come here by herself, she couldn’t forbid them from smoking and drinking. After all, this was where they had fun, and she couldn’t criticize them.All text © NôvelD(r)a’ma.Org.

“Since you can’t drink or smoke, how about trying your hand at gambling? I can give you some chips,” Tammy suggested. She seemed to be a leader in her group.

“No, thank you,” Rosalie said. “I don’t gamble. I’m just here to accompany Vonnie. I’ll be leaving soon.”

Just then, a beautiful woman stumbled over with a wine glass in hand. When she saw Rosalie, her eyes lit up, and she walked up to hug her. “Darling, did you come here alone? I’ve never seen you here before.”

Feeling uncomfortable, Rosalie leaned back. “Sorry, I… mmph…”

Before she could finish speaking, the girl had kissed her. Rosalie was thunderstruck.

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed.

“What am I doing?” The woman gave her a look that said, “Isn’t it obvious?”

Rosalie was about to explode in anger, but before she could, Tammy spoke up.

“Hey, you.” Tammy pointed at the woman. “You idiot. Get lost!”

The woman pouted, feeling displeased. “What’s the big deal?” She left, albeit reluctantly.

Rosalie looked around nervously, unsure of what else she might encounter.

Seeing Rosalie’s flushed face, Tammy was amused. She looked at Rosalie as if the latter was a kitten. “Don’t mind her. She’s just acting crazy because she’s drunk.”

Rosalie forced an awkward smile. “Sorry, I should go now.”

She didn’t want to stay in this place for another second.

“Yes, you better leave quickly. You’re pregnant after all. If you inhale more second-hand smoke and it affects your baby, I can’t help you,” Tammy said with a nonchalant attitude, as if she didn’t care about anything.

Rosalie couldn’t help but think that Tammy wasn’t that bad. She just loved to have fun. Growing up in a wealthy family, she had access to everything she wanted, including handsome men at her beck and call.

Who could resist such temptations in this world?

net

Just then, a man walked toward Tammy and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He

whispered affectionately in her ear, “Tammy, a new batch of goods has arrived. Do you want to try them?

hapter 422

“Sure.” Tammy extended her hand. “Give it to me.”

The man placed a folded paper packet into Tammy’s palm.NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

Rosalie’s eyes widened. What was that?

Tammy unfolded the small white packet to reveal a fine white powder inside. She took a dented metal strip handed to her by the male host, scooped up some of the powder, placed it under her nose, and inhaled deeply.

Then, she opened her mouth and tilted her head back. With a look of comfort on her face, she exclaimed, “This is really good stuff.”

Rosalie felt a chill run down her spine, and she turned and ran.

Oh my god! Tammy was openly using drugs!

“Rosalie, are you okay?” Yvonne had just managed to get away from the few girls who had cornered her, and hurried over to find Rosalie. Rosalie was panicking. “I need to get out of here.”

“Alright, let’s go now.” Yvonne knew that Rosalie was a strict rule-follower who couldn’t handle such shocking scenes. She took Rosalie away immediately.

After leaving the private room, Rosalie was still shaken and her cheeks were still red.

“Vonnie, did you see that? S-She was using…” Rosalie’s hands trembled as she fumbled for her phone in her pocket. “I have to call the police.”

“Rose.” Yvonne stopped her. “I understand how you feel, but if you call the police, you’ll be offending everyone in that room. Their parents and families are wealthy and powerful, with intricate connections. Even if Seb wanted to protect you then, it would be difficult.”

Yvonne snatched her phone away.

“The upper echelons of society may look glamorous on the surface, but in reality, it’s very shady. What you just saw is just the tip of the iceberg. Besides, their parents likely know what they’re up to and are more eager than you to resolve such matters. But if you, an outsider, get their children into trouble,they won’t let you off. You’re pregnant now, so you need to be careful.”

Yvonne put the phone back in Rosalie’s pocket.

“They’ll bear the consequences of their actions, so you shouldn’t feel guilty. Don’t forget why we came here today.”

Rosalie looked at Yvonne, and

suddenly realized that the latter wasn’t as simple as she thought. She had always believed Yvonne was a fun-loving, carefree,

el

cheerful girl. In reality

grew

up in this circle, so she knew how things worked and was actually very clear-headed.

Rosalie sighed. Reality was always cruel.

Black, white, and gray coexisted. None can obliterate the other.

Yvonne was right, though; being pregnant meant she couldn’t afford any accidents. Involving herself in such matters could be very dangerous, and she didn’t want to drag Sebastian into it.

However, she couldn’t just pretend she hadn’t seen it.

Rosalie grabbed Yvonne’s hand, agitated. “Seb can’t marry Tammy! Absolutely not! Putting aside the fact that she’likely cheat on him after getting married, what’s more concerning is that she’s using drugs. If he marries her, he’ll be implicated too!”

She felt this was no longer about meddling. As Sebastian’s friend, it was her responsibility. She couldn’t just watch him be forced to marry a woman who used drugs.

Seeing that Rosalie was genuinely frightened, Yvonne patted her on the back.

“Rose, let me tell you, this circle is very chaotic. They often take yachts out to sea for group parties.”

Chapter 423

Hearing the last two words, Rosalie immediately understood what Yvonne meant. She couldn’t even bear to imagine the scene, and shuddered. “We have to save Seb. Is your father insane? Even if he wants a marriage of convenience for your brother, he should find someone normal!”

“My dad doesn’t care about that. He’ll take whoever benefits him, regardless of their character. Not only is the Jones family wealthy, but they also have powerful backers. My father values power,” Yvonne said.

Rosalie huffed angrily. “In his eyes, power is more important than his own son!”

Seeing Rosalie a bit out of breath, Yvonne put her arm around her shoulder. “Let me take you outside to get some fresh air.”

She then led Rosalie out of the club. The air outside was much better, and Rosalie took deep breaths. She had felt so suffocated inside.

“I’m sorry, Rose. I shouldn’t have brought you here today. It must have scared you,” Yvonne said.

“It’s okay. Thank you for bringing me here. If you didn’t, I could have only watched as Seb got married.”

“But how can we stop it? My brother certainly doesn’t want to marry her, but…” Yvonne said, confused. She sighed. “You know my father. He doesn’t care about any of that.”

Rosalie thought about what Geoffrey had said to her before-that he approved of her as Sebastian’s partner.

“Rose? What’s wrong?” Seeing Rosalie lost in thought, Yvonne was a bit worried, and held her arm. “Don’t worry. No matter what, as long as my brother’s status and position are secure, he won’t be kicked out of the family. In life, you can’t have both career and happiness. You have to give up one.”

“Why must you give up one?” Rosalie turned around. “You can have both, but you’re forced to give up one, as if it’s something you must experience in life. It’s so unfair!”

“There’s nothing we can do. Life is unfair,” Yvonne said. “Sometimes, we have to face reality.”

“If we know it’s unfair, we should try to change it. If everyone tolerates unfairness, what will the world become?”

Rosalie was filled with determination

and a rebellious spirit. When

ne

everyone else gave up, she would go against the tide and try to change things.

“But what can we do?” Yvonne said, looking dejected. “Right now…”

Yvonne continued to talk about potential issues, but Rosalie didn’t hear her clearly because she was focused on a bold idea. She took out her phone, and dialed Sebastian’s number. Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.

But no one answered for a long time, and the call was hung up automatically in the end.

Rosalie dialed again, but the same thing happened. The call connected but no one answered, and later, it hung up automatically.

She didn’t know if Sebastian was

y not answering, or if het

phone wasn’t with him. Both

possibilities made her yet

Yvonne saw her brother’s name on her phone screen. “Rose, are you calling Seb?”

Rosalie nodded. “Yes. I need to talk to him, but he’s not answering.”

“Let me try.” Yvonne took out her phone and called Sebastian.

The same thing happened; it connected, but he didn’t answer.

“He’s not answering your call, either. Could something have happened to him?” Rosalie was getting more and more anxious.

“Wait, I have an idea.” With that, Yvonne quickly typed a text message to Sebastian.

[Seb, where are you? Something happened to Rose! Hur

Chapter 424

After Yvonne sent the text message, Rosalie asked, “What did you send?”

Yvonne showed Rosalie her phone.

Rosalie frowned. “Why did you send that? He’ll be really worried if he sees it.”

Just as Rosalie finished speaking, Yvonne’s phone rang. The caller ID showed that it was Sebastian.

Yvonne proudly waved her phone, as if telling her, “See?” She then answered the call and put it on speaker.

Before she could say anything, Sebastian’s agitated voice came through. “Yvonne, what’s going on? Where’s Rose?”

“Seb, where are you right now? Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“Answer my question first!” Sebastian sounded somewhat irritable. “Where’s Rose?”

“I’m here,” Rosalie said.

Hearing Rosalie’s voice, Sebastian asked worriedly, “Rose, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine. You didn’t answer our calls, so Vonnie sent that message to you.”Content rights by NôvelDrama.Org.

Sebastian’s voice immediately turned cold. “Yvonne, you can’t crack that kind of joke!”

“I wasn’t joking!” Yvonne said; she lowered her head, upset.

“Seb, don’t blame her. We were really worried when you didn’t answer. Where are you now?” Rosalie said.

Sebastian’s tone softened instantly. “You don’t need to worry about me. You don’t need to persuade me, either. I’ll take care of myself.”

“No, we need to meet. I have something important to tell you.”

“What is it? Just tell me, I’m listening.”

“No, I need to say it in person. I must see you.” She had to see Sebastian to be reassured.

Sebastian sighed. “Alright, I’ll come and pick you up.”

“No need. Vonnie and I will come to you. Just tell me where you are.”

After that, Yvonne drove Rosalie to where Sebastian was.

He wasn’t at his home, but at a private bar. The bar was small and in a discreet location, but it was exquisitely decorated without flashy lights or deafening music. Sebastian was the only customer there.

It turned out that Sebastian had opened this bar-not to make a profit, but to have a place to clear his mind whenever he was troubled. He didn’t need it to be big, but cozy.

It was clear that by opening the bar

in such a remote location, he didn’t

want to attract too many

Yet, there were still quite a few. people who had heard about it and came here. The bar had also

become a secret haven for some.

However, the bar wasn’t open tonight because Sebastian wanted to be alone. The bartender was there just to make drinks for him.

“Seb, you opened a bar and didn’t tell me? I can’t believe you didn’t invite me to your secret base!” Yvonne said.

Sebastian seemed to have drunk quite a bit, and he shot her a cold look. “You’re always making a fuss.”

He waved her away, signaling her to step aside. When he looked at Rosalie, his gaze softened considerably.

“Didn’t you have something to tell me? Go ahead.”

He downed the drink in his hand, placed the empty glass on the bar, and stood up. He then straightened out his suit and walked toward her. “I’m listening.”

He was always ready to listen to her.

Rosalie stared at him. The soft light above the bar cast a gentle glow on him, who seemed a little tipsy. It made his sharp features seem even more profound but cold. For some reason, it was charming.

Meanwhile, Yvonne requested the

handsome bartender to make her a cocktail. She leaned against the bar as she watched Rosalie and

Sebastian, as if she were watche

her favorite couple. Suddenly, she noticed how good they looked together.

ry and text me back!]

Chapter 425

Yvonne took a sip of her drink as she continued staring at her favorite couple. She silently cheered, “Go for it!”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Sebastian asked when he saw that Rosalie was in a daze. He raised his hand, and waved it gently in front of her eyes. “What’s going on, Rose? What’s happened now?”

Rosalie quickly shook her head. “It’s nothing. I just want to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

Nervous, Rosalie tugged at the hem of her shirt. Finally, she lifted her head and said, “Didn’t you mention before that we could have a fake marriage?”

Sebastian frowned. “Why bring that up?”Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.

“Let’s go see your father and tell him we’re in a relationship. Even if you have to get married, you’ll marry me,” Rosalie said in one breath.

A look of surprise flashed across Sebastian’s face. “Rose, do you know what you’re saying?”

“I do.” Rosalie raised her voice. “Seb, I know exactly what I’m saying. Let’s go see your father right now.”

She grabbed his hand and tried to lead him out, but Sebastian remained unmoved.

Feeling that he wasn’t moving, Rosalie turned around. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to?”

Sebastian freed his hand gently from hers, and shook his head. “I don’t want to.”

“Why not?” Rosalie asked in confusion. “Didn’t you propose this idea?”

“I did, but…” Sebastian sighed. “That was a last resort, and you rejected it, didn’t you?”

“But I’ve changed my mind.” She had changed her mind the moment she saw Tammy using drugs.

“Rose, I don’t want to put you on the spot.” Sebastian looked worried. “I know you’re willing to make this sacrifice for me, but I don’t want you to.” “This isn’t a sacrifice. We’re friends, and I’m just helping you out.”

Rosalie didn’t see it as a sacrifice.

“But you’re only marrying me to help me. It’s your future we’re talking about.”

“I’m fine,” Rosalie said. “It’s a fake marriage, anyway. Once this thing blows over, we’ll get a divorce. The important thing is to get through this crisis Otherwise, you’ll have to marry Tammy. I saw her today, and she was using drugs. Do you really want to marry her?” Content belongs

Seeing Sebastian’s calm expression, Rosalie was surprised. “Do you know about it?”

Sebastian said calmly, “Yes. Rose, I appreciate what you’re doing, but I don’t want you to sacrifice your happiness.”

“I’m not sacrificing my happiness.” Rosalie grabbed his wrist. “Helping my good friend is my happiness too.”

“But…” Sebastian stared at her. “Is doing all this for me worth it?”

“You’re worth it!”

Rosalie emphasized each word.

“Every time I’m hurt or sad, you’re always there for me. When I’m sick, you take care of me. When I face problems, you always comfort mez with endless patience. You always consider my feelings, and you even got into a fight to protect me. As a friend, you’ve been so loyal to me. So now, please give me a chance to repay you. I can help you with your problem!”

If one didn’t help a loyal friend in need, then one wasn’t worthy of having a friend.

Standing aside, Yvonne wiped the tears from her eyes. Goodness, what Rosalie said was so touching! Even she was deeply moved.

Sebastian’s eyes reddened as he silently stared at Rosalie. For a long time, he said nothing.

Rosalie tugged at his sleeve. “You’ve helped me through my toughest times. Now, let me help you through yours.”

“Seb, you should agree,” Yvonne cut in.

Yvonne couldn’t stand it any longer. She rushed forward, grabbed Sebastian’s arm, and shook it hard.

“This is the perfect solution! Dad can accept Rose as a daughter-in-law. If

you two get a fake marriage, he

won’t force you to marry anyone else. It’s just a fake marriage to get you through this crisis.”

Sebastian raised his hand, and gently wiped away the tears fro

Chapter 426

Late at night, the Carter Residence was brightly lit.

Xyla was dressed neatly. Sitting at her dressing table, she yawned. A maid was doing her hair.

“So late, and still making a fuss,” she grumbled.

The maid, who looked to be in her forties and seemed to have worked for Xyla for a long time, bent down and whispered in her ear, “Mrs. Carter, it’s the first time Mr. Sebastian is bringing his girlfriend home. He must be eager for you to meet her.”

“He brings a girlfriend home just after a marriage has been arranged for him. How timely.” Xyla picked up a diamond hairpin from the dressing table, and put it against her hair. “I’ll wear this one.”

Xyla went downstairs with her maid’s help. Everyone in the living room was seated nicely.

Geoffrey glanced up at his wife, and said indifferently, “Come over and meet Miss Young.”

Xyla slowly walked up and glanced at Rosalie, who stood up nervously from the sofa. “Hello, Mrs. Carter.”

Xyla looked her up and down. “You’re Sebastian’s girlfriend?”

Rosalie bit the bullet, and nodded with a smile. “Yes.”

Xyla didn’t say much and sat down a bit farther away from them, as if she wasn’t part of the group. There seemed to be some distance between her and Geoffrey.

Geoffrey didn’t say much either, and turned to Rosalie. “Have a seat. No need to be so nervous.”

After Rosalie sat down, Sebastian noticed she was tense. He gently patted the back of her hand.

Rosalie instinctively wanted to pull back, but then remembered they were supposed to be a couple. She smiled at him, pretending they were really together.

Geoffrey saw this, and smiled. “I remember you saying you two were just friends, Miss Young. Why come here so late at night claiming to be a couple now?”NôvelDrama.Org owns this.

His eyes were sharp as he looked at them with a half-smile. It was as if he had seen through everything, but chose not to expose them.

“Because we were in a secret relationship before. We didn’t want to make it public since I had just gotten divorced. But I didn’t expect you to arrange a marriage for Sebastian,” Rosalie replied.

“Oh, really?” Geoffrey said. “But I told you before if you were Sebastian’s girlfriend, I wouldn’t oppose it. Why didn’t you say so then?”

Rosalie chuckled awkwardly.

“Because the news was too sudden. We hadn’t thought about marriage yet. After careful consideration and discussion, we decided to tell you the truth. We’ve been together for a long time.”

Rosalie held Sebastian’s hand, faking the intimacy. “So, we hope you can cancel his engagement to Miss Jones.”

After some thought, Geoffrey said, “That might be difficult, since both families have come to an agreement.”

“You don’t necessarily need a

marriage to continue business

cooperation. If a marriage is

et

involved, the interests of both sides might be so entangled that it’d be harder to resolve if there was a

problem,” Rosalie said. Content

belongs to

“What you say makes sense, Miss Young, but why should I believe you?” Geoffrey’s voice turned cold. “How do I know you two aren’t just trying to deceive me to stop Sebastian from marrying?”

“We’re not lying to you.” It was Rosalie’s first time telling such a lie. She was so nervous, her heart was pounding and her palms were sweating. “Sebastian and I love each other.”

Sebastian, taking the initiative, held her hand. He gently rubbed her palm with his thumb to comfort her.

“Really? Xyla, what do you think?” Geoffrey’s gaze fell on Xyla.

She seemed to want to be invisible, and when suddenly addressed, she snapped back to reality, looking dazed. “Me? Don’t you decide everything in this household?”

“This is about your son’s marriage. Shouldn’t you be involved?” Geoffrey asked coldly.

“Oh, okay.” Xyla sat up straight. “Looks like I can finally have a say in something.”

Rosalie sensed some tension between the couple. They definitely didn’t have a good relationship.

Growing up, she had rarely seen

couples with good relationships. If it weren’t for helping Sebastian with the fake marriage, she wouldn’t care about marriage at all. She didn’t see it as a necessity. After all, marriage just seemed like trouble.

Hearing Xyla’s veiled comment, Geoffrey frowned but didn’t say anything.

m the corners of Rosalie’s eyes. Then, he nodded.

Chapter 427

Xyla’s gaze fell on Rosalie. Her half-smile made Rosalie feel uneasy.

However, Rosalie still offered a polite smile. This was her first time meeting Sebastian’s mother. Xyla looked well-maintained; she was a beautiful woman with great poise. Sebastian’s excellent appearance must be inherited from his parents.

“Very nice,” Xyla said calmly. “When are you two getting married?”

As soon as the topic of marriage came up, Rosalie tensed up. She smiled, and said, “Seb and I are still discussing it. As for the wedding, we…” “What’s there to discuss?” Geoffrey interrupted her.

Rosalie was stunned for a moment, then smiled. “Marriage is a big deal. Of course, it needs to be properly discussed. And then…”

“Aren’t you in love with each other?” Geoffrey interrupted her again. “Isn’t the reason you announced you’re together and came here in a hurry to explain the situation to us is so you can get married as soon as possible?”

Sebastian, worried his father might make things difficult for Rosalie, spoke up. “Dad. Rose means…”

“Let me finish speaking first.” Geoffrey frowned. “Why are you so anxious?”

Sebastian wanted to rebuke Geoffrey, but Rosalie gently tugged on his sleeve, signaling him to stay silent.

“Mr. Carter, please go ahead,” Rosalie said cautiously, afraid of exposing herself.

Geoffrey raised his head slightly. “Since you two have made things so clear to me, I think there’s no need to waste any more time. You should get the marriage certificate first thing tomorrow morning and officially become a married couple.”

Rosalie’s mind reeled. “What did you say? Get the marriage certificate tomorrow morning?”

She hadn’t expected things to move so quickly, and thought she could delay getting married for a while.

“That’s right,” Geoffrey said. “Since you’ve established your relationship, why wait any longer?”

“But Dad.. Sebastian said. “That’s

too fast. We haven’t prepared

anything. Even if Rose and go

marded, we need to plan it properly. Otherwise, it would be unfair to her.”

“Don’t worry, she won’t be treated unfairly,” Geoffrey said. “Get the marriage certificate first, then you

can plan the wedding. Otherwise et

who knows how long it will be delayed. You youngsters tend to procrastinate, so someone needs to push you.” Text © by NôvelDrama.Org.

el

“Moreover…” Geoffrey continued. “If you don’t hurry up and prove it to me, how will know you’re not deceiving me? And if you get married quickly, I can tell the Joneses that my rebellious son got married behind my back. So if you two get married tomorrow, it will solve all our problems. It’s decided.”

2.19

Sebastian sensed Rosalie’s hesitation, and even fear.

“Dad, I think…” he said again.

“What now?” Geoffrey asked sternly. “Are you deceiving me? I’m just asking you to get married as soon as possible. Are you unwilling?”

“Mr. Carter.” Rosalie stood up. “Rest assured, we’ll get the marriage certificate first thing tomorrow to prove we’re not lying. We’re serious about each other.”

Only then did a smile appear on Geoffrey’s face, and he nodded. “That’s more like it. You should be decisive about some things.”

Perhaps she felt too pressured, Rosalie felt her stomach churning. She quickly turned to Sebastian. “I need to go to the restroom.” Sebastian noticed Rosalie’s pale face. He quickly stood up, taking her hand. “I’ll take you.”

Chapter 428

After Rosalie entered the restroom, she started vomiting.

Sebastian waited anxiously outside.

After a while, a pale Rosalie reappeared.

“Rose, it’s all my fault. If you really don’t want to get married, it’s okay. I’ll just tell my father the truth. You don’t have to do this for me…” he began.

“I’m fine,” Rosalie reassured him. “It’s just normal morning sickness. It’s nothing serious, and it has nothing to do with you.”

To ease his worry, she gave him a gentle smile. “I’m fine now. Let’s go back. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

They made their way back to the living room after navigating several corridors.

Rosalie had specifically asked Sebastian to take her to a more distant restroom, as she was worried someone might overhear her vomiting.

If the Carters found out she was marrying Sebastian while pregnant with her ex-husband’s child, it would be a difficult situation to handle. Even though their marriage was fake, it needed to appear real.

Back in the living room, because Sebastian didn’t want Rosalie to be further stressed out, he said, “Mom, Dad, I’ll take Rosalie home now. You two should rest.”

Geoffrey stood up. “It’s late, so just stay here tonight. I’ll tell the driver to send you to get the marriage certificate tomorrow morning.”

“Mr. Carter, my documents are at home. I need to go back and get it for tomorrow,” Rosalie said.

Geoffrey considered this, and said, “That’s fine. Tomorrow, I’ll send an assistant to the city hall to wait for you. He will accompany you the whole time. After you get the certificate, you can come back. We can discuss the remaining matters.”

Rosalie nodded. “Okay.”

After the arrangements were made, everyone left.

Rosalie and Sebastian got into a car driven by Yvonne, since Sebastian had been drinking.

car

Yvonne had been waiting in the as she didn’t dare to go inside. She was afraid that if something went wrong, s

she would get scolded. Thus, she hid in the car the entire time.

Learning that the plan had succeeded and their father believed them, she was over the moon.

The Carter siblings dropped Rosalie off at her home. By then, it was already late at night.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

Rosalie, exhausted, lay on her bed.

She stared at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh. The thought of marrying Sebastian the next day made her heart squeeze. But it was her

Ver

decision, and she had to face

whatever happened tomorrow.

She picked up her phone to check the time, and was about to take a shower when she noticed a message from Yerick.

Last time, when she followed him on

Instagram to pay money back to him, Yerick had only accepted her request the next day with a message that said, [I’m sorry, I’ve been busy and couldn’t reply. Once I’m done, I’ll chat with you.]

Rosalie had Venmo-ed him some money and replied “Okay”. They hadn’t chatted since.

Today, Rosalie found out that Yerick hadn’t claimed the money, and the money had been automatically refunded.

Tonight, Yerick sent her a message. [Are you awake?]

[Yes. Why haven’t you claimed the money?]

[I forgot because I was too busy. It’s fine. You don’t need to pay me back. Consider it my treat.]

[Then I’ll treat you to a meal next time.]

[Okay, but it’s late, so you should rest now. Staying up late can cause dark circles under your eyes.]

[I was just about to take a shower.]

[Alright. Go take a shower and rest. Goodnight.]

[Goodnight.]

Yerick sent a heart emoji. After a brief exchange, Rosalie got out of bed.

Chapter 429

The next morning, Rosalie put her documents in her bag. She was ready.NôvelDrama.Org owns this.

She received a call from Sebastian, who said he would arrive in three minutes.

Rosalie went downstairs with her bag to wait for him, but as soon as she reached the bottom, a tall and handsome figure ran toward her. “Good morning!”

Seeing Yerick, Rosalie was pleasantly surprised. “Yerick! What a coincidence!”

Yerick, carrying a backpack, was slim but not frail. He also wore a very bright smile. “You look beautiful today. Are you going on a date?”

Rosalie was wearing a V-neck blue lace dress with long sleeves. There was also a lovely necklace around her neck. She looked very elegant and beautiful.

“I have something to attend to.”

She had made an effort to dress up; if she was going to put on a show, she would go all out. After all, Geoffrey had mentioned that he would send an assistant, who was likely there to check whether they had actually gotten married or not.

“So, have you had breakfast?” Yerick asked.

“I’ve already eaten. What about you? Have you had breakfast?”

Yerick shook his head. “Not yet. I’ll grab something from the street vendors later. By the way, we didn’t get to finish dinner together the other night. Let’s find a time to do that. I’ll treat you and make sure I have enough money.”

Before Rosalie could respond, a car stopped in front of them.

The car door opened, and Sebastian stepped out. He walked up to them immediately. He glanced at the boy beside Rosalie, who looked quite young. “You are…”

“Sebastian, he’s from my neighborhood,” Rosalie said.

“Hmm.” Sebastian nodded, showing no particular interest in Yerick. He turned to Rosalie, and said gently, “Rosalie, did you bring your documents?” “Yes, I’ve got it.” She patted her bag.

“Good. Let’s get in the car.”

Sebastian went ahead, and opened the car door for Rosalie.

Rosalie turned to Yerick. “I have to go now. See you later.”

“Bye!” Yerick raised his hand, and gave her a small wave.

Rosalie received a message from Yerick less than a minute after she got in the car.

[Say, are you going to get married?]

Rosalie replied, [Yes.]

Yerick texted, [So is this person your boyfriend?]

Rosalie hesitated for a few seconds before replying, [Yes.]

[Wow! You found such a handsome boyfriend so quickly! That’s

impressive. I hope this time

found a good man who won you cry.]

Won’

make

et

Rosalie felt her heart squeeze. She suddenly thought of something, and felt a brief pang of sadness. Sometimes, bad memories would resurface at unexpected moments, and the feelings that came with it were intense and uncontrollable.

Sebastian noticed that Rosalie was texting someone, but he didn’t disturb her. He only started asking questions after she put her phone away. “Who was that?”

“It was the boy you saw earlier, Yerick,” Rosalie said.

“So, his name is Yerick. How did you two meet?”

From their conversation, Sebastian had noticed that Rosalie seemed quite close with Yerick.

а

“We’ve only known each other for few days. I bumped into him while strolling downstairs, and we struck up a conversation. Maybe it’s fate,” Rosalie said.

She didn’t tell Sebastian the whole truth. That night, she was crying badly when Yerick suddenly appeared.

Chapter 430

“Oh. Did he approach you first, or did you start the conversation with him?” Sebastian asked. “He thought I was in a bad mood, so he came over to ask me what was wrong,” Rosalie said.

“Were you in a bad mood?” Sebastian asked, concerned.

“No, I was just quiet. I wasn’t in a bad mood.”

“I see,” Sebastian said thoughtfully. He sensed that Rosalie was hiding something from him. “That Yerick seemed quite enthusiastic about you.” Rosalie blinked in confusion and turned to look at Sebastian’s side profile, sensing a hint of jealousy in his tone.

Chuckling, she said, “He’s only eighteen.”

“Eighteen…” Sebastian relaxed a bit at the mention of Yerick’s age. However, he suddenly remembered that Rosalie was only twenty-one, just three years older than Yerick.

“Eighteen-year-olds are popular nowadays. Many girls like them,” Sebastian said interrogatively.

Rosalie nodded. “Yes, Yerick is very sweet. He’s like a younger brother. His voice is so soft and cute that it cheers me up when he talks.”

“Is that so?” Sebastian pursed his lips in displeasure, though he tried to stay calm. “Is he really that good? Some boys can be quite deceptive. They act sweet to manipulate people. You might get tricked.”

“Don’t worry,” Rosalie said. “He’s a genius. He’s already pursuing a PhD at his age.”

“A genius, huh.”

Sebastian’s eyes seemed to flash with a sense of danger. An eighteen-year-old genius who was good-looking and sweet, and made her feel better just by talking.

The danger he felt suddenly rose to its peak. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

“That makes it even worse. A genius with such a sweet tongue-he could be flawless in deception.”

Rosalie frowned. “Why do you insist he might be deceiving me? You’ve only met him for less than a minute. Jumping to such conclusions about someone isn’t like you.”

eln

“I just want you to be careful. You’re very kind and think everyone is a good person, but there are bad guys out there They won’t hesitate to take advantage of you. They especially like the nicest ones. I distike people who have a glib tongue. They’re often insincere.”

Rosalie smiled, as if she had realized something.

“Yes, I think very few people can match your gentleness and patience. Compared to young boys, a caring man like you is much more popular.”

Hearing the words “caring man,” Sebastian’s lips twitched slightly—as if he wanted to smile, but had to suppress it.NôvelDrama.Org owns this.

“Really? Do you think I’m caring?”

“Of course Rosalie nodded

vigorously. “Not only are you caring, but you’re also tall, handsome, and a man of good character. I’d give you a 99 out of 100. 99 because m worried you might get too arrogant.”

Sebastian finally allowed himself to smile. He was satisfied with her praise.

“A caring man like you will definitely one day meet a girl who loves you just as much as you love her,” she continued.

Sebastian’s smile immediately

et

faded, and he furrowed his brows “Rose, you remember we’re getting married today, right? After we’re married, we’ll be husband and wife.”

“Yes, but isn’t this a fake marriage?” she asked.

Chapter 431

“Even though it’s a fake marriage, it’s still a spousal relationship. After we’re married, I won’t be fooling around with others,” Sebastian said.

In his eyes, there was only Rosalie. There was no room for a third person in a relationship. It would be too crowded.

Rosalie looked at Sebastian with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.

Noticing Rosalie staring at him, Sebastian asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

He was focused on driving, but from the corner of his eye, he could see Rosalie seemed to be doubting something. He felt uneasy-had she noticed something?

Rosalie smiled. “It’s nothing. It’s just that you seem a bit…”

She paused, suddenly unsure how to describe Sebastian.

He asked curiously, “A bit what?”

Rosalie thought for a moment, and came up with a word. “You seem a bit…honest.”

“Honest?” Sebastian was puzzled. “You think I’m honest?”

No one had ever described him like that before.

“Aren’t you? We’re in a fake marriage. You don’t need to be loyal to your fake wife. Don’t worry. After we’re married, I won’t interfere in your matters. You can seek true love whenever you want, and we can divorce anytime.”

She married Sebastian solely to help him; there were no other intentions.

Sebastian’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, and his dark eyes seemed to freeze with a thin layer of ice.

He forced himself to smile. “And what about you? Will you pursue true love?”

Since Rosalie had said that, he wondered if she would meet Theodore again. He knew she still had feelings for Theodore. She had loved for so many years, after all. It would be hard to forget him in a short time.

“No, I won’t.” Rosalie leaned back, and turned to look at the fleeting scenery outside the window. “I don’t want to pursue true love anymore. Right now, I just want to have the baby and take good care of him.”

I

“Rose, weren’t you planning to leave and have the baby? Now that we’re getting married, you won’t be able to leave.”

“Yes,” Rosalie said. “I had planned

keel

that, but I didn’t expect this to happen. But it’s okay. We can resolve any issues. The most important thing now is to keep your family from finding out that m pregnant.”

“Have you thought about what to do if they find out? No matter how careful we are, there could be unexpected situations. After all, we can’t hide a baby. Your belly will only get bigger.”

“Well…”

Rosalie admitted she hadn’t thought that far. At the time, she just wanted to help Sebastian. She wanted to marry him so that he could avoid his arranged marriage.

“Some things will always be unpredictable, so we can only deal with them as they come. Right now, we should solve your problem first. We’ll sort out the rest later.”

Rosalie was no longer fond of planning things. She used to like planning, but every time, there were unexpected events that disrupted all her plans. She planned to live happily with Theodore, but he divorced her for Cynthia, which caught her off guard.

She planned to leave and have the baby, but then she had to help Sebastian. So, she decided to let things happen as they would. Sebastian opened his mouth, wanting to tell her that he would help care for the baby and could be a father to the child.

However, he decided against it because it might scare her. Even though he and Rosalie were getting a fake marriage, he was satisfied.

Chapter 432

When they arrived in the city hall, Geoffrey’s assistant was already waiting.

Everything went smoothly, and the couple soon received their marriage certificate.

Rosalie stared at the marriage certificate in her hand, her heart racing. She suddenly felt a great deal of pressure. Even though she knew it was a fake marriage and she was only helping a friend, seeing the certificate still made her think about the time she got her certificate with Theodore.

Even though it was just over a year ago, it felt like decades.

As they exited the city hall, the assistant said, “Mr. and Mrs. Carter, the chairman has requested for you to go home right after you received the marriage certificate so you can have a meal together.”

Sebastian nodded. “Alright, I’ll take Rose back.”

The assistant left. He had completed his task of witnessing the couple obtaining the certificate in person and ensuring it wasn’t a forgery.

After the assistant departed, the two of them looked at each other while holding the marriage certificate. The air between them was a bit awkward.

Rosalie put the certificate back in her bag. To make Sebastian feel less burdened, she looked up and smiled. “See, the problem is solved. You don’t need the arranged marriage anymore.”

“But it’s still unfair to you,” Sebastian said, feeling guilty.

Rosalie shook her head. “There’s nothing unfair about it. I don’t feel wronged at all. Even though we’re married, you’re free. Just don’t let your family know about anything you do.”

Sebastian responded with a simple “Okay.”

“Alright, let’s go. We need to have a meal with your family. Let’s give them a show.”

The two of them got in the car, and went to the Carter Residence.

At the dinner table, everyone gathered around. They were all Carter family members.

et

Xyla was always very quiet. Last night, she had said very little. Even though Geoffrey had asked her to speak a few times, it was mostly him who talked. Today was the same-Xyla didn’t speak, as if she didn’t have anything to do with the family.

Rosalie felt a bit uneasy because of the silence. Everyone seemed to have different thoughts about her.

“Rose, this is really delicious,” Yvonne said, putting a piece of meat on Rosalie’s plate.

“Look at you,” Geoffrey said indifferently. “She’s your sister-in-law now. You should acknowledge that.”

He didn’t sound stern; it seemed he was quite pleased with his son’s marriage as well.

Yvonne smiled. “Welcome to the family, Sister-in-law.”

She didn’t mind calling Rosalie that. She had wanted to for a long time, and now, she could do it openly. Rosalie smiled, and nodded. No one had ever called her “Sister-in-law” before.This belongs © NôvelDrama.Org.

“What are your plans for the wedding?” Geoffrey asked.This material belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

“Since Rosalie and I are now

there’s no reason to

mwedding. We should pick ysbet

the

best date for it,” Sebastian replied.

“There’s no rush, but you should take her shopping. Buy her some clothes, jewelry, and some other things,” Geoffrey said. “Alright, Dad. I’ll buy them for Rosalie.”

Geoffrey put down his cutlery. “The wedding can wait until your mother and I return. You can plan it by then.”

Sebastian was puzzled by Geoffrey’s words. “Where are you and Mom going?”

“Your mother and I planned to go on

a vacation. We were going to wait

until after your wedding with Tammy, but you married Rose

l

instead. Now, your mother and can deal with our own affairs,” Geoffrey said.

“Mom and Dad, where are you going for va

Chapter 433

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know. Anyway, we’ll be away for about a month. During that time, Sebastian and Rose will handle the family affairs,” Geoffrey said.

For Sebastian, it was somewhat of a relief that his parents would be away for a while. “Alright, I understand. I’ll take care of the company and family affairs.”

Geoffrey responded, “Good. Since your mother and I will be on vacation and there will be no one at home, you and Rose should stay here for now.”

Sebastian was afraid Rosalie might feel uncomfortable staying in his parents’ house, so he said, “Dad, since Rose and I are married, I plan to buy a new house. So I think…”

“We’re not stopping you from buying one,” Geoffrey said. “It’s just that while your mother and I are away, you two can stay here temporarily. You can buy your own place, and after your mother and I return, you can move out. I know you don’t want to live with us.”

“This…” Sebastian still wanted to refuse, but Rosalie noticed that Geoffrey seemed displeased. It was clear Geoffrey had made a concession, and living together for now was acceptable.

So, she gently tugged on Sebastian’s sleeve and said to Geoffrey, “Okay, Mr. Carter. Sebastian and I will stay here while you’re away.”

Geoffrey smiled, looking much kinder. “You still call me Mr. Carter. You should call us Geoffrey and Xyla now.”

Rosalie forced a smile, and said, “Geoffrey, Xyla.”

Geoffrey nodded, satisfied. “You’re very smart, and you can help Sebastian. Most importantly, he’s happy with you and won’t complain about me being too domineering.”

Rosalie responded, “I’ll do my best to help Seb.”

Geoffrey turned to Xyla. “Xyla, this is your daughter-in-law. Don’t you have anything to say?”

Xyla preferred to be invisible, but she was brought into the conversation once again. She smiled and said, “Rose, I don’t know much about you, but since Sebastian likes you, there must be a reason. I wish you both happiness.”

“Thank you, Xyla.”

Rosalie’s heart raced at hearing “Sebastian likes you.” Fortunately, it was a fake marriage. What they had was just friendship.

After lunch, Geoffrey called Sebastian to his study. They talked privately for over an hour before Sebastian came out.

Rosalie was anxious, worried that Geoffrey might be giving Sebastian a hard time.

When Sebastian finally came out, Rosalie hurriedly asked, “Seb, are you okay?”

“Of course he’s fine,” Geoffrey’s voice came from behind. He walked out and said, “He just got married, and is very happy. What are you worried about? That I’m going to eat him?”

Rosalie smiled awkwardly. “I didn’t mean that.”

“Alright. I know you didn’t mean it.” Geoffrey wasn’t trying to make things difficult for her. “It’s natural to be concerned about your husband after just getting married. If you weren’t worried, it would be suspicious.”

Rosalie felt a bit guilty. The thing she feared most was Geoffrey getting suspicious. She even thought that Geoffrey might already have some doubts but seeing that Rosalie and Sebastian were genuinely married, he chose to overlook it.

After all, if Sebastian married Tammy, their marriage would likely be just as insincere and driven by interests. “Sebastian will take you out to buy some jewelry and accessories. As a husband, he should show his appreciation.” Rosalie smiled. “No need for that. I’m not very concerned about material things.”All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.

“You may not care, but the family does,” Geoffrey said. “Now that you’re our daughter-in-law, you can’t look shabby. You need to present yourself well. And you just got married, so it’s perfectly fine for your husband to go shopping with you and buy you some luxury items.”

Rosalie couldn’t argue with what Geoffrey said.

Even Sebastian said, “Rose, let’s go. Since we don’t have much to do this afternoon, I’ll take you shopping for some things you like.” Rosalie nodded. “Okay.”

Noticing that Rosalie seemed uncomfortable, Sebastian suggested, “Let’s bring Yvonne along. The three of us can go together.”

As soon as Sebastian finished speaking, Yvonne ran over. “Great! Let’s go together! But Seb, you also have to buy me something.” Sebastian shook his head helplessly. “Fine, I’ll buy you something too.”

hapter 434

The three of them arrived at a luxury goods mall.

Sebastian rarely went to malls himself. Usually, the watches he wore were sent to his home by the brands for him to choose from, and his suits were tailored at his house.This belongs © NôvelDrama.Org.

Meanwhile, Yvonne enjoyed going to malls. Instead of having items delivered to her home, she preferred visiting stores to select items. She enjoyed the shopping experience, and liked the hustle and bustle.

“Seb, when we shop later, I’ll pay. You don’t need to buy anything for me,” Rosalie said.

The items here were very expensive. If Sebastian bought them for her, it would cost a lot. Since their marriage was fake, she didn’t want him to spend too much on her.

Sebastian said, “Don’t worry about it. Even though it’s a fake marriage, I don’t mind buying you some things as a token of appreciation.”

“But the things here are very expensive. I don’t want you to spend too much money.”

“It’s not expensive for me. Besides, if I don’t have any spending records, my dad will get suspicious.”

“Well…” Rosalie thought for a moment. “Alright, but don’t buy me anything too expensive.”

“Oh, Rose! Don’t worry about saving money for Seb. He has more than enough to spend. By the way, he hasn’t bought you a ring yet, right?” Yvonne said.

Rosalie wasn’t wearing any jewelry.

“Yes, Rose. I haven’t bought you a ring yet. Pick one you like, and I’ll get it for you. It’s a must-have,” Sebastian added.

Even though it was a fake marriage, Rosalie would still need to wear a ring. So, she nodded in agreement.

They entered a jewelry store, where a staff member greeted them warmly and began introducing various styles of rings to them.

In truth, Rosalie wasn’t in the mood to shop and just picked a ring randomly.

However, Yvonne was very vocal.

She rejected most of them, saying they didn’t look good. Rosalie tried several options, but Yvonne dismissed them all, which delayed them and made the process lengthy.

At that moment, a voice came from not far away.

“Mr. Spencer, how about this ring? You can adjust it to fit any finger size.”

Upon hearing that, Rosalie froze.

Out of instinct, she glanced over. The surname Spencer automatically reminded her of Theodore.

To her surprise, the person she saw was indeed Theodore.

The staff member was showing Theodore a ring. He shook his head, indicating that it wasn’t suitable. The staff member recommended another one to him, but he was very picky. He was dissatisfied with

everything the staff member

showed him.

ne

Sebastian noticed Theodore as well, and frowned. What was the possibility of encountering him here?

Sebastian was troubled. He knew Rosalie still had feelings for Theodore. Every time she saw that man, it made her sad.

Yvonne’s eyes lit up when she saw Theodore. He was so handsome!

Rosalie hadn’t expected to run into Theodore here, and was unsure how to face him. She immediately averted her gaze.

Theodore initially tried to ignore

Rosalie, but then he saw her and

Sebastian choosing rings with

another woman he didn’t recognize. The scene made him

uncomfortable.

Seeing Theodore’s constant gaze at Rosalie, Sebastian stepped in front of Rosalie to block Theodore’s view, his eyes full of vigilance.

Yvonne noticed something was off, and asked, “Seb, do you know him? He’s so handsome!”

“Being handsome doesn’t mean anything when you’re a scumbag,” Sebastian said bluntly, not even caring if Theodore heard.

Chapter 435

Theodore originally intended to quietly pick out a ring and leave, but now that he was blatantly provoked, he slammed the ring he was holding onto the glass counter.

“So, it’s Mr. Carter. What a coincidence.”

“Indeed. What a coincidence,” Sebastian replied coldly. “Mr. Spencer, who are you buying a ring for?”

Obviously, it was for Cynthia.

“What does it matter to you?” Theodore snapped icily.

Rosalie felt uncomfortable, and gently tugged at Sebastian’s sleeve. “I’m going to the restroom.”

Sebastian was worried, so he said, “I’ll go with you.” With that, he escorted Rosalie away.

Yvonne stood there, bewildered, still holding a ring in her hand. What was going on?

She approached Theodore, and asked, “Mr. Handsome, do you know my brother?”

“Your brother?” Theodore asked. “He’s your brother?”

Yvonne nodded. “Yes. What’s your relationship with him?”

“Since he’s your brother, didn’t he tell you who I am?”

Yvonne shook her head. “No. It’s my first time meeting you, but you look a bit familiar. You’ve been in the news, haven’t you?”

Theodore’s voice grew colder. “What’s your relationship with Rose?”

“I’m friends with her. Why are you suddenly mentioning her…?”

Suddenly, Yvonne’s eyes widened in realization, and she stared at Theodore in shock. “You’re not Rose’s awful ex-husband, are you?”

Theodore’s brow furrowed at the mention of “awful ex-husband.”

“Did Rose tell you that her ex-husband is awful?” he growled. Did she talk badly about him behind his back?

“She doesn’t need to tell me.”

At first, Yvonne was infatuated by how handsome he was, but when she realized that he was Rosalie’s awful ex-husband, her expression turned cold. “She doesn’t even want to talk about you, which means you must be awful. You made her so sad. You may be handsome, but my brother was right— what’s the use of being handsome if you’re just a scumbag?”

Theodore’s eyes flashed with a sharp, cold light.

Yvonne felt as though a cold wind just blew past her. Shivering in fear, she took a few steps back.

Theodore exuded an aura that frightened her deeply. But upon thinking that she should stand up for her friend, she gathered her courage and said, “Luckily, Rose has divorced you. Now, she…”

“Yvonne.” A reproachful voice interrupted. Sebastian walked over, and pulled Yvonne aside. “What did you tell him?”

His sister had a tendency to speak without a filter, so he was worried she might accidentally mention Rosalie’s pregnancy. “Seb! I was just standing up for Rose.”

“No need. Just ignore him.” Sebastian pulled Yvonne away.

Theodore didn’t follow them, but his expression remained ominously dark.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

When Rosalie came out of the restroom, she looked upset.

Sebastian and Yvonne quickly went to her. “Rose, are you alright?”

Rosalie nodded. “I’m fine.”

“I’ll take you back,” Sebastian said, knowing that encountering Theodore here was painful for her.

Rosalie smiled. “It’s fine. Let’s just buy the ring and not worry about others.”

By that, she meant Theodore.

“Yes, let’s not worry about others!”

Yvonne linked arms with Rosalie.

“This mall isn’t owned by that

et

scumbag, so why should we care if

he’s here or not? Let’s continue to shop. We shouldn’t let someone like him affect our mood!”

Rosalie nodded. “Okay.”

After that, the three continued shopping.

Yvonne was perceptive enough to notice that Sebastian wanted some alone time with Rosalie. She would just be a third wheel by staying here, so after some time, she told them she had something to do and would be leaving.

After Yvonne left, Sebastian continued to accompany Rosalie to shop. He bought her a few items, including the ring.

Rosalie put the ring on her finger herself. Since it was a fake marriage, the ring was just a tool and meant nothing else. At least, that was how she viewed it.

Sebastian carried the other items for her, following her like a loyal dog.

“Seb, I want to go back to my place to pack up some things.”

“What do you need?” Sebastian asked. “I can buy it for you.”

“No need. I have everything. Buying more would be wasteful. I need to go back to my place to pack up and turn off the power before moving to your home for a while.”

Sebastian nodded. “Alright. I’ll take you back.”

They left the mall, but halfway there, Sebastian received a phone call. There was an urgent matter at the company, so he needed to go to the office right now. Despite that, he still took Rosalie back to her home first.

Rosalie urged him to leave and

net

attend to his work, saying she would wait for him to return after she finished packing up. Sebastian repeatedly reminded her not to dift anything heavy, and promised he would come back as soon as possible to help her. Content

belongs to

After Rosalie entered her home, she looked at the ring on her finger and sighed.

It was fine. She wasn’t planning on marrying anyone else, anyway. Helping out a friend wasn’t a big deal.

After about ten minutes of packing, she suddenly heard the doorbell. She immediately put down what she was doing, and went to open the door.

“Seb, you’re back so soon…”

But when she opened the door and saw the man outside, she was stunned.

“Theo? What are you doing here?”

Chapter 436

Theodore’s face turned cold. He barged in without Rosalie’s permission, and slammed the door shut.

“What are you doing?” Rosalie demanded with furrowed brows. “I haven’t agreed to let you in!”

“I’ve just entered. What can you do about it?” Theodore looked every bit like an unreasonable bastard, bent on having his way.

Rosalie tried to hold her anger back. “What do you want?”

“How many times have you called me a bastard behind my back to others?”

Rosalie’s brows remained tightly knitted. “I don’t know what you’re saying!”

She had never spoken ill of him behind his back.

“Didn’t you? Then why does Sebastian’s sister keep calling me a bastard? Isn’t it because you keep doing so in front of her?”

Anger boiled in Rosalie’s chest, and she yelled, “Why would I know why she called you a bastard? Whatever it is, I’m not the cause! Get out, I don’t want to see you!”

Theodore’s rage grew when Rosalie chased him out of her house. He came here with the intention of interrogating her for talking bad about him behind his back, but he knew clearly that was just an excuse for him to look for her.

“Are you so eager to chase me away for fear that Sebastian might find out? How close are you to him now that you two would go shopping for jewelry?” he snarled.

They were leaning so close against each other when he saw them. It was a painful sight to bear.

“What business is it of yours?” Rosalie shot back with a frown. “We’re already divorced. What right do you have to question me about this?” His behavior was driving her up the wall.

“Is that so? Do you really think that we shouldn’t care about each other anymore, just because we’re divorced?” Theodore went on.

“Of course! Since we’re divorced, we should be going our separate ways. I’ve already made myself clear before!” Rosalie snapped.

He scoffed. “Since you’re so eager to draw the line between us, let me ask you. Why did you still help me?”

“What do you mean?” she asked doubtfully.

“I know all about how you spent the night looking through documents on Regent Co. If you really wanted to draw the line between us, why did you stay up all night and helped me behind my back?”

Rosalie finally understood what Theodore was referring to, as well as all the messages and strange things he had said to her before. Did he actually think she stayed up all night looking through documents on Regent Co. for him?

“Hahaha…!”

She suddenly burst out laughing.

“What are you laughing at?” It was Theodore’s turn to furrow his brows. He was bursting with anger, but here she was, laughing.

“I’m laughing at how ridiculous you are! What made you think that I did it for you?” she said.

Had she not heard it from Theodore himself, she would never have guessed that he would think this way.

A bad feeling crept up Theodore’s heart. “Who did you do it for, then?”

“I…….”

She did it for Sebastian, of course, but she was worried that Theodore might get agitated and fight with her again.

Instead, she said, “None of your business. Aren’t you getting married to Cynthia? You even bought her a ring today. You really love her very much, don’t you?”

Suddenly, Theodore grabbed Rosalie’s shoulders and pressed her against the wall.

Rosalie jumped in fright. “What are you doing?”

“You did it for Sebastian, didn’t you?”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Since Rosalie didn’t do it for him, she definitely did it for someone else. Who else could it be aside from Sebastian?

Rosalie evaded his gaze. “None of your business.”

“Rosalie Young, tell me the truth! You did it for Sebastian to help him in his career, didn’t you?”

Rosalie turned her face away, and ignored his question.

Fire burned in Theodore’s heart; he pressed her shoulders harder. “Rosalie Young, don’t ignore me! Answer my question!”

“Yes, you’re right!” Rosalie yelled furiously. “I did it for him!”

Silence ensued as Theodore stared blankly at the woman before him. Rage, sorrow, and various other chaotic emotions drowned him from inside.

Theodore suddenly found himself a

joke. He had been touched by

Rosalie’s efforts, thinking that she had done it for him, staying up night and losing sleep. As it turned

out, she had done it for bed

man.

He, on the other hand, had been a clown through and through.

Theodore suddenly laughed. “You said you’re just friends with Sebastian. Is that really true?”

He was beginning to suspect that Rosalie had been lying to him all along, and that the one she truly loved had always been Sebastian.

The interrogative look in his eyes made Rosalie’s heart burn with anger.

She slapped him, hard.

“Theodore Spencer, are you sick in the mind? You asked me to be your bridesmaid just a while ago! Did you lose your memory? What right do you have to come to my house and ask me these questions? You were the one who divorced me for

another woman first! What right do you have…” she snarled.

“That’s only because you don’t love me!” Theodore suddenly yelled at her. “Rosalie Young, it’s been ten years. You’ve always seen me as a brother, and that’s what you said when we got divorced. Since my wife doesn’t love me, should tie her to myself for her entire life? You always claim that I did it for another woman, but what about you? Have you ever loved me?”

Chapter 437

Theodore’s words sent Rosalie spiraling in shock. She stared at him wide-eyed, as if time had come to a stand-still.

Very soon, she snapped out of her daze. A strong sense of irony took over.

“Theodore Spencer. Do you mean to say that everything that has happened has nothing to do with you and Cynthia, but it’s all because you thought I don’t love you? That you let me go as an act of compassion, so I could be happy? Is that it?”

Her words sounded laughable even to herself, but it seemed to be exactly what Theodore meant.

Theodore suddenly leaned in closer, his voice hoarse with sorrow. “If I say yes, can you tell me if you ever loved me?”

Rosalie laughed bitterly. “We’re coming back full circle once more. You asked me if I ever loved you, but does that change anything? If I say that I never loved you, will you just blame everything on me? If I say that I do, will you cut things off with Cynthia?”

“I can!” Theodore proclaimed loudly and resolutely.

Rosalie’s world turned quiet. Everything froze, and even Theodore seemed to freeze in time.

Her mind froze at the moment he said he could. There seemed to a black hole sucking in all her thoughts. Everything was eerily quiet, with nothing but endless shock and fear.

The momentary loss of sense of reality made everything feel like a dream. Her erratic heartbeat, heavy breathing, and the deep, dark eyes he was staring at her with…

He was leaning in close to her, the fire in his eyes almost scorching her fiercely and mercilessly.

Rosalie’s lips trembled, a lump in her throat, as she spat out, “What did you just say?”

Theodore’s right hand shifted from her shoulder to lightly pinch her chin. He tilted her head up and looked straight into her eyes, his voice heavy and hoarse.

“If you love me, even if just a little bit, we’ll get remarried.”

Rosalie was utterly flabbergasted by his suggestion. “Do you know what on earth you’re saying? Are you mad?”

“I am!” Theodore’s eyes were

bloodshot as he went on, “You’re

driving me mad! You make me wonder every single day-what’ exactly I did wrong that my Rose doesn’t love me?”

Tears trickled down Rosalie’s cheeks, the sorrow in her heart spreading to every crevice in her body.

What exactly did Theodore mean? Did he really divorce her because he thought she didn’t love him?

So, did he love her?

She wanted to ask if he loved her, but she didn’t dare to. It seemed as though things between them couldn’t go back to the past.

“Your relationship with Cynthia is anThis is from NôvelDrama.Org.

et

undeniable fact! Last time, you resolutely said that you wanted to marry her in front of me and your parents. But now, you have the cheek to suggest for us to get remarried! How could you say such a thing?!” she yelled.

“That’s only because Cindy only has a matter of days left!” he said solemnly. “Her heart is failing. She has to find a heart donor within a week, but we just can’t find a match. She’s doomed, so I… I wanted to give her a wedding before her funeral.”

Chapter 438

Rosalie scoffed. “In that case, why did you come looking for me? Who are you trying to show care for? Aren’t you afraid that she’ll roll over in her grave?”

As always, Cynthia was always coming in between them.

Bitter pain billowed in Theodore’s eyes as he stared at the woman before him. He remained silent, but his eyes spoke of an intense mix of complicated emotions.

“Didn’t you make me choose?” Theodore pinched her chin, and went on, “I’m making myself clear now. I choose you. As for Cynthia, you don’t need to care about her. I’ll bear all the consequences, because everything’s my fault!”

Rosalie shut her eyes in pain. “Theo, it’s too late. Making your choice now…it’s all too late!”

Sorrow spread from her heart to her head, and she couldn’t help but sob bitterly.

“Don’t cry.”This belongs © NôvelDrama.Org.

Seeing her bursting into tears made Theodore anxious. He hurriedly wiped her tears away, but they kept flowing.

“Why would it be too late? Are you still angry over what I said before? I didn’t mean them. Cindy’s on the verge of death. At that time, I had no other choice. Take it that I was a bastard and just hate me. It’s better than crying over me.”

“And now you have a choice? Why didn’t you not have a choice before? Now you can make the choice of picking me? Doesn’t that make me sad too?” Rosalie asked in between sobs. “Aren’t you just being fickle? Even if you chose me today, how would I know if you’d end up choosing Cindy tomorrow? Or some other woman altogether?”

His ever-changing stance scared her.

“I won’t! As long as you remarry me, I promise you, I’ll never do that again! As long as you give me a sliver of hope and make me believe that you love me, I won’t do it again!”

“You’re out of your mind! You really are!”

Rosalie was rendered almost speechless by him. She didn’t know what else to say aside from calling him crazy.

“I am out of my mind!” He

confessed, just like a madman. “I

was set on marrying Cindy and fulfilling her dying wish, but I had catch you choosing rings with Sebastian! Are you marrying him? I won’t allow that! I want you to marry me again! I can’t stand idly by watching you be with him!”

Not just Sebastian, he wouldn’t be able to stand seeing her marry any other man!

“Rose, do you know?”

Theodore cupped her cheeks in his hands and looked morosely at her.

“Even though we’re divorced, I was happy I could still see you around. But when you started distancing yourself from me and getting closer to Sebastian, to the point of blocking me and even choosing rings with him…

“I started panicking, Rose. I feel you slipping through my fingers and out of my life. That was when I realized how foolish I had been. I chose to divorce you in a fit of anger.

“When I requested for a divorce back then, I asked you if you saw me as a brother. I got so furious when you said yes. I was thinking, if you denied it and said that you love me, I would definitely have hugged you tight and apologized for even raising divorce.”

“Saying I’d divorce you was a sort of test. I was testing if you loved me or not. I was a fool to even test you like that! It caused us to really get divorced in the end.

“I thought you wanted to divorce me

a long time ago. I thought you might be very happy after divorcing me. I feared you might think of yourself as a child bride of the Spencer family, and only married me to repay our kindness. You’ve always been considerate of others. You keep everything to yourself and short change yourself. That was why I presumptuously made that decision.

“I was wrong. After the divorce, I realized I couldn’t stand it. I could stand not having you around, I couldn’t stand seeing you with other men. How could other men have you? You’re my woman, and I’m going to make things right! Just take it that I’ve really gone mad!” Content

belongs to

He had lost his mind, and was throwing caution to the wind. In fact, he was rambling incoherently.

But he knew one thing he would bear all responsibility, even if it meant breaking his promise to Cynthia again!

Chapter 439

Rosalie had never seen Theodore in such a crazed state. He was like a madman in a state of delirium, yet the emotions in his eyes looked so raw and genuine.

“I don’t understand, I really don’t. Why are you doing this? You think I don’t love you, but have you loved me over these ten years? Have you ever…” “I love you!” Theodore yelled at the top of his voice.

Hot, scalding tears trickled down his cheeks. He dragged Rosalie into his arms, wishing he could fold her into his body and become one with her. “How could I not? I never wanted to treat you like a sister! I didn’t mean that one bit! You’re my wife. Why wouldn’t I love my wife?”

He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of her body and smelling the comforting scent of her hair. He loved her smell, and hadn’t hugged her or been so close to her since they were divorced.

He wanted to hug her like this till the end of time. He really missed her, so much that he almost went mad.

That was why he came looking for her.Content is © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

He couldn’t hold himself back any longer.

Rosalie’s tears gushed forth like waters bursting through a dam. She cried so hard as she clenched her fists, punching him on his shoulders and back.

“Theodore Spencer, you bastard!”

He, a man she loved for a decade and in turn hurt her so much, was now telling her that he loved her and had divorced her for her sake.

How laughable!

“I’m a bastard! I am!” Theodore shut his eyes, and went on bitterly, “Not only am I a bastard, but I’m also a fool to let you go. Rose, come back to me, won’t you? Please come back to me!”

“No!” Rosalie sobbed. “You cruel man! How could you treat me like this? Do you know how much it took me to walk out of the pain you caused me? And now, you’re suddenly telling me how much you love me! You’re a huge joke! I hate you, I hate you!”

“Rose,” Theodore said, agitated. He cupped her face in his palms. “Don’t hate me, please. Give me one more chance, I’m begging you. We have ten years of love between us. Ten years! Tell me that you love me too, won’t you? If you don’t, why did you ory so sadly for me? You love me, right? Please tell me that is so!”

Rosalie bit her lip so hard, it almost bled. Large drops of tears fell from the corners of her eyes.

“It’s too late, Theo. It’s all too late.”

It was too late for him to be saying things like these.

“It’s not, Rose, it’s not! I’m right here by your side!”

Theodore held her face in his hands, closed his eyes, and kissed her deeply.

Rosalie’s eyes widened in surprise, and her mind went blank. She had desired his kiss and his touch so bad in the past-but now, all he gave her was pain, despite him claiming to love her.

Snapping back to reality, she raised her hands, wanting to push him away. However, he pressed her against the wall with wild

desperation, as if he wanted to

devour her whole. Content belongs

S

“Theo, we can’t do this! Don’t…” she grunted. She pushed his face away hard, and shook her head profusely. “We can’t be like this!”

“Why not? Rose, I really miss you.”

“Theodore Spencer, we’re already…”

Before she could complete her sentence, he had sealed her lips with his once more.

She tried desperately to speak, but he wouldn’t let her. He hauled her up, and headed to the bedroom.

Rosalie was frightened. “Theo…mm…”

Theodore flung her hard on the bed, and she landed on it with a grunt.

Chapter 440

Theodore tore his suit away and flung it on the floor before pouncing on Rosalie. He trapped her arms by her sides to keep her still. “Theodore Spencer, Sebastian and I…”

“Don’t mention his name!” Theodore covered her mouth roughly with his hand. “I don’t want to hear it!”

He moved his hand away, and kissed her hard once more. He hated hearing that man’s name from her lips. It made him go mad with jealousy.

He saw it for himself how natural she was when with Sebastian, which was unlike how she was always with him.

What made him more furious was mistakenly thinking that the favor she did for Sebastian was for him.

Why?

Why couldn’t his ten years of relationships with Rosalie compare with Sebastian? He refused to take it lying down!

He and Rose used to be each other’s closest kin, leading the happiest lives they could as husband and wife! He should be the only one so close to her, and no one else!

Rosalie’s resistance proved futile against his aggressive attacks. Her mind was in a daze.

His kisses came hard and fast, his emotions too overwhelming. Everything was so unexpected, she didn’t know how to react. She never expected things to turn out like this.

Theodore loved her!

Theodore was behaving like a madman over her.

Rosalie had loved him for ten years. She had never seen herself as a child bride, and she didn’t marry him just to repay the Spencer family’s kindness.

The intense feelings she had for him had rooted themselves deep in her heart over the past ten years. She loved this man and couldn’t stop herself from doing so, despite the bone-piercing pain each time he hurt her.

Before Rosalie knew it, her clothes were ripped off from her body. The floor was in a mess.

Rosalie had lost all traces of rationality, and was completely controlled by her emotions. Even her arms subconsciously tightened around the man before her.

A flurry of warm kisses landed on her body. Her last vestiges of reason left her. She felt like she was drifting on the ocean, lost in a haze. “What’s this?”

In the throes of passion, Theodore suddenly grabbed Rosalie’s hand, noticing a ring on her ring finger.

Rosalie snapped back to reality, and yelled, “Let me go! Let me go!”

“Why are you wearing a ring? Are you going to marry Sebastian? Answer me!”

Theodore roared like a beast, looking like he was about to tear her apart and devour her.

Rosalie has almost lost herself in

the midst of the passion burning between them, but this ring pulled her right back to reality. She immediately realized what she was doing.

“Theodore Spencer, let me go!”

“Why?!” Theodore questioned. “Am I so disgusting you wouldn’t touch me?”

He could clearly sense her reaction towards

his touch, but then

of the ring turned her into a person.

“I’ve registered my marriage with Sebastian! Let me go!” Rosalie cried.

Although her marriage with Sebastian was nothing but a facade, her divorce with Theodore was undeniably real. Yet now, he had run toward her asking to remarry him, claiming to love her and even pressing her under his body. She wasn’t a puppet under his control, subject to his every whim and fancy!

Her announcement struck Theodore

like lightning. He felt his heartThis belongs © NôvelDrama.Org.

splitting

into half as he stared at the

woman before him in shock,ber words still ringing in his ears.

This wasn’t real-it couldn’t be!

“You’re lying!”

Theodore grabbed Rosalie’s hand, interlocking his fingers with hers.

“Rose, I know you’re angry at me, but there’s no need for you to lie. You’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?”

Chapter 441

“I’m not lying. You’ve seen it for yourself. This is why I’m telling you that it’s too late! I’m already married to Sebastian!” Rosalie cried.

Even though her marriage to him was a sham, she wasn’t going to immediately divorce Sebastian just because Theodore asked to remarry her. How could she marry Theodore again?Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.

What’s more, it was unnecessary for him to know that her marriage to Sebastian was a facade.

“You two…have registered your marriage?”

Theodore stared at her in disbelief, wanting to confirm her final answer and hoping against hope that she would tell him no.

Alas, things often don’t go according to one’s wishes.

Rosalie nodded her head, a painful expression on her face.

“Yes, we just registered our marriage today. It’s too late between us, Theo. Didn’t you promise Cynthia you’d marry her? Go ahead. She was in the picture from day one. Everything you’ve said since then involved her, without fail.”

“No!” Theodore exclaimed, agitated. “How could you marry Sebastian? How could you?! Rose, how could you treat me like this? Didn’t you say you two were just friends? How could you marry a friend?”

“I just did,” Rosalie said, her voice turning a pitch higher. “He treats me well. Why shouldn’t I marry him? You, on the other hand, caused me so much pain. You’ve accused and blamed me so many times, all because of Cynthia. You can’t just erase everything you did to me just by saying you love me! Theodore Spencer, we’re over!”

What’s done was done there was no point crying over spilled milk.

It no longer mattered why the milk was spilled in the first place. The key was that the milk could no longer be returned to the cup.

Theodore’s heart was torn into two, and he felt like a bloody mess inside.

He had put aside his pride in coming to find her today, and bared his heart and soul to her. Yet, this was the answer she had for him? How laughable and how cruel!

“Rosalie, you liar!” Theodore yelled at the top of his voice. “You claimed to be friends with Sebastian, but you married him. We’ve only just gotten divorced, and you married him even before a month has passed! I say, you’ve probably been lying to me and having an affair with him all this while!”

He even started suspecting her of

being unfaithful to him a long time ago. Everything she said to him was a lie

wise, why would she get

married so quickly to Sebastian?

“Enough, Theodore! Enough! We’re already divorced! What’s the point of going through this again? I’m begging you, please go! Let me go, please!”

“Let you go?” Theodore was like a

raging beast his eyes bloodshot as

he spat, “bared my soul to you, dug my heart out for you…and this iş

how you treat me? You want me to let you go?! How could you

cruel?” Content belonging

to

“Am I the cruel one? How could you say such a thing? You presumptuously divorced me, and now you’re accusing me of being cruel? You’re despicable!” Rosalie seethed.

“Me, despicable?” Theodore felt his world crumbling under his feet at the sound of his beloved woman accusing him in such a way. Suddenly, he chuckled.

“You’re right, I am despicable! I can be even more despicable!”

Her last line of defense was torn apart, and Rosalie found herself reeling in shock.

“Alright, I know. You and Mom take care on the road.”

Sebastian was talking to Geoffrey over the phone along the corridor. He had just received news that his parents were leaving today.

He was surprised to find out about his parents’ sudden vacation to an exceptionally secluded destination.

He had thought they would leave a few days later, but was once again surprised to know that they were leaving in a hurry today.

There must be something more behind this. His father never displayed any intention of rebuilding his relationship with his mother.

That thought made him conclude

that his father wasn’t a willing party to this. For all he knew, his uncle Christopher might have a hand in this. He was no pushover, after all.

Sebastian soon arrived at Rosalie’s door, and pressed the doorbell.

Chapter 442

However, no one came to the door even after a long time had passed.

Sebastian pressed the doorbell a few more times. “Rose, are you there?”

No one answered from inside the door.

“Theodore, let me go!” Rosalie heard Sebastian’s voice outside, and hurriedly tried to push Theodore away.

However, fire burned in Theodore’s eyes upon realizing that Sebastian was here.

“What are you scared of? That he’ll see us like this? Oh, I almost forgot. You’re married to him, and you’re his wife now!”

A wicked look flashed past Theodore’s eyes, something that Rosalie had never seen before.

“Since you know that, let me go! Theodore, I’m begging you!”

“Begging me? Hah…” Theodore chuckled. “Rose, can I beg you to remarry me then?”

“Why must you force me like this?”

“Me, forcing you?” Theodore said through gritted teeth. “It’s all Sebastian’s fault! If it weren’t for him, things between us wouldn’t have become like this. This is all his fault!”

He started yelling wildly.

“Wouldn’t it be interesting if he sees us like this right now? You had an affair with him while you were married to me, and now, you’re having an affair with me while married to him. We’ll all be miserable together!”

Before Rosalie had a chance to respond, Theodore sealed her lips with his.

“Rose,” Sebastian called out anxiously outside the door. “Rose, are you there? Please open the door if you are. Rose!”

He started banging on the door with clenched fists.

He thought he heard something strange from inside the room.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong. Driven by worry, he immediately keyed in the password Rosalie told him before.

The moment he entered, he heard groans from inside the room.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

“Rose!”

Sebastian kicked the door open, and saw the couple in states of undress. Rosalie was lying right under Theodore.

The sight pierced Sebastian’s eyes.

Theodore turned his face away, a

et

triumphant grin on his face. He rose, covered Rosalie’s body with the blanket, zipped up his pants, and fastened his belt nonchalantly

before saying smugly, “You came late.”

“Theodore Spencer!” Furious, Sebastian pounced on him.

Rosalie gripped the sheets anxiously, trying to wrap herself up tight.

“Spencer, you monster!” Sebastian pressed Theodore to the floor, and sent a punch flying to his face.

Blood trickled from the corner of

Theodore’s lips, but instead of getting angry, he smiled. He shot Sebastian a challenging glare “I came very early on.”

The meaning behind Theodore’s words made Sebastian fly into a rage.

“Spencer, you monster! Go to hell!”

He threw another punch to Theodore’s face.

Theodore naturally wouldn’t just lie there and take a beating. Very soon, the two men were entangled in a fist fight.

“Stop fighting! Stop!”

Upon seeing the two men going crazy, Rosalie panicked. She feared that irreversible damage might be done if they kept on fighting. She immediately picked up her clothes on the floor, and put them on.

The two men had crawled off the floor, and were moving toward the living room.

After getting dressed, Rosalie rushed out and witnessed the chaotic scene between the two men.

“Stop fighting!” Rosalie lurched forward, and hugged Sebastian. “Stop fighting, please!”

“Rose, let me go! Let me beat this bastard up!”

“No, Seb, please don’t!”

“He treated you like this, but you’re still defending him?” Sebastian bellowed.

His heart ached for her.

Chapter 443

Rosalie looked up, and cried, “I did it willingly! I did it all willingly! Please stop fighting!”

That was the only thing she could say to stop them from fighting, for fear of the consequences that might be dire.

Sebastian looked at her in shock. “What did you say?”

Rosalie wiped the tears from her face. “I… I told him to come. Things aren’t what you think they are. I was a willing party.”

Theodore wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, and looked at the fury etched on Sebastian’s face. He scoffed, his eyes tinged with smugness.

He stepped forward, and pulled Rosalie into his arms. “Darling, don’t cry. We’ll go home. Don’t let him ruin our mood.”

“Spencer, let her go!”

Sebastian was about to step forward when Rosalie yelled, “Enough!” She pushed Theodore aside, and stood in between both men. “I’m begging you two!”

“Rose, did he force you into it? Tell me the truth! Don’t be scared, I’ll help you!” Sebastian said. He refused to believe that was the case. Rosalie definitely didn’t do it willingly.

“He didn’t force me. I did it willingly. I missed him too much. It’s all because of me!”

She didn’t want Sebastian beating up Theodore for her sake. It would only get him into deeper trouble.

Telling Sebastian she was a willing party gave him no reason to attack Theodore.

Theodore knew Rosalie said so to protect Sebastian, and that realization infuriated him deeply. However, he knew it would also make Sebastian furious.

“Carter, did you hear that? I’m her man,” he said arrogantly.

Sebastian clenched his fists. “Is that true? Rose, did you do that willingly?”

“Yes,” Rosalie said as she wiped the tears from her face. “I was the one who took the initiative.”

Pain pierced through Theodore’s heart.

He didn’t want Rose getting blamed for what was clearly his mistake, but if he spoke now, he would certainly start fighting with Sebastian@gain. It would only cause Rosalie more hurt.

“Why?” Sebastian asked in disbelief. “Why did you stoop this low when he hurt you so badly?”

“For no particular reason. I just did it. I miss him, and I can’t control myself. I couldn’t help it!”

The disappointment in Sebastian’s

eyes pierced Rosalie’s heart, but she

et

had no other choice. It was better for Sebastian to blame her than to fight it out with Theodore. If any of them were to get hurt, the other party might face jail time.

She would never allow something like that to happen.

Getting blamed for something like this was nothing compared to that.

Sebastian was furious. “Rosalie Young, did you forget? We’ve only just married! How could you do this?”

“I…”

Rosalie didn’t know what to say. Her

marriage with Sebastian was a

facade. Even though they hadCopyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

registered their marriage, they were still only friends. Faithfulness

tel.

between a genuine married couple wasn’t exactly necessary. She wouldn’t mind if Sebastian went out with another lady. Content belongs

Sebastian could blame her or even rebuke her, but she didn’t understand why he would do so on the basis of their fake marriage.

However, she couldn’t let Theodore know that her marriage with Sebastian was a sham. Because of that, she couldn’t say anything about it. Things had become such a mess, there was no way out.

Rosalie’s silence confirmed Sebastian’s suspicions.

He suddenly laughed, and took a few steps back. “Rosalie Young, why are you so cheap?”

“Carter! How dare you say that about Rose!” Theodore charged forward, wanting to teach him a lesson.

However, Rosalie stopped him in his tracks. “No! Stop!”

Chapter 444

“Rose! He called you cheap!” Theodore snarled. He forbade anyone to call her that!

Rosalie turned to look at Sebastian. “He’s right, I am cheap. You’ve seen it for yourself.”

She held Theodore’s hand. “My heart remains with him despite divorcing him. I can’t help myself. I’ve made my choice.”

Rosalie’s hands were trembling, and Theodore’s heart ached for her. He pulled her into a tight embrace.

He knew why she said that she didn’t want them fighting. He wasn’t going to add fuel to fire and backfire her efforts. He decided to seek out Sebastian privately without her in the picture. Whatever it was, he couldn’t have Rosalie taking the blame for this.

To Rosalie, Theodore’s arms felt like thorny vines.

Yet, she couldn’t push him away. Otherwise, it would contradict what she just said.

“Rosalie Young, you’re such a disappointment!” Sebastian spat.

What truly broke him were the words she uttered just now. She still had feelings for Theodore, and he couldn’t doubt it.

Sebastian could clearly see and feel her love for Theodore. She had never forgotten him. That was why she chose to defend him so utterly and completely.

With a slam of the door, Sebastian left in a huff.

The moment Sebastian left, Rosalie immediately pushed Theodore away.

“Are you happy now?!”

“Rose, I know you said that to protect him, but you’re also protecting me. Tell me, between Sebastian and me, who do you choose?”

“Shut up!” Rosalie rushed into the room, picked up Theodore’s jacket and shirt, and stuffed them into his arms. She then pushed him toward the door with all her might. “Get out, get out! I don’t want to see you!”

Rosalie pushed Theodore out of the

door with all she could muster, but Theodore didn’t want to leave. But she was pushing him with all

strength, and he was worried

that

any resistance might hurt her He could only let her push him to the door.

“Rose, let’s go home, shall we? Come home with me. I can forget about what happened between you and Sebastian as long as you two get a divorce.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

He couldn’t care less about

everything else right now. Things

had come to this point, and it was meaningless trying to blame anyone. He was still entangled with Cynthia himself. Right now, att he wanted to do was to have a fresh start with Rosalie. Content belongs

“Shut up! You have no right to say that! Get out! I don’t want to see you-leave!”

After Rosalie pushed him out of the door, she slammed it shut.

Theodore started banging the door hard. “Rose, open the door! Let’s talk things through, I’m begging you!”

“Scram! Don’t you understand me? I don’t want to see you, I really don’t!”

“Open the door and let me in! At least I can keep you company.”

“I don’t need your company! How arrogant can you be? You said you love me, but I don’t believe that one bit! You only love yourself and care about your own feelings. You don’t care about my feelings at all!”

Tears streamed down Rosalie’s cheeks.

“Rose, how could you say that? I’ve dug my heart out to prove my feelings for you! How could you say I don’t love you?!”

“If you love me, why aren’t you leaving? You’ve gotten what you wanted, so why aren’t you leaving?”

“I don’t just want this, Rose! I want your entire being, everything about you!” he demanded.

Rosalie’s world was crumbling at her feet.

“You once had my entire being and everything about me! Why didn’t you treasure it? Why must I give myself to you just because you demand it? You clearly know I don’t want to see you right now, you clearly know how much pain I’m in right now, but why aren’t you leaving? You just want to see me suffer, don’t you? You selfish prick!” she screamed.

Chapter 445

Theodore had no words for Rosalie’s outburst. He stood outside the door with one hand on the door. He rested his forehead weakly against the back of his hand on the door, and sighed.

He said helplessly, “Fine, I’ll go. I’ll give you some time to calm down, but this isn’t the end of it. I won’t stand idly by and watch you and Sebastian live your days as a married couple.”

Rosalie opened the door, and yelled at his retreating figure, “Theodore Spencer, what are you going to do to Sebastian? I’m telling you if you dare hurt him, I’ll never forgive you!”

Theodore had gone far, but he heard Rosalie’s warning. He clenched his fists as fire raged in his heart.

Rosalie returned to her room, and hurriedly called Sebastian. The call went through, but he didn’t answer it. Instead, he hung up immediately.

He was probably furious right now.

She knew she had disappointed him greatly.

Sebastian had been a good friend to her, sticking to her side all the way, helping her, taking care of her and always being around for when she needed him the most.

He stood by watching her cry over Theodore and having her heart torn to pieces by him; but now, he had to hear her say that she was willing to go to bed with Theodore, and that she missed Theodore.

As her friend, Sebastian was understandably angry and thoroughly disappointed in her.

Rosalie slumped weakly on the floor.

She had no other choice, really. What if one of them ended up killing the other during their fight?

All she could do right now was to wait for Sebastian to cool down. He wouldn’t listen to anything she had to say right now, anyway.

Sydney prepared to drive home after clocking off from work at the bank.

The moment she got into the car, she received a call from an unfamiliar number. This caller had contacted her before, but she didn’t save it in her contacts.

She answered the call, and said unceremoniously, “Geoffrey Carter, what do you want?”

“You know it’s me. Seems like you’re getting familiar with my number.”

“Cut the crap and get to the point.”

“How did you end up so badly hurt by Wesley with this temper?”

“Goodbye.”

Sydney was about to hang up, when Geoffrey immediately went on, “How close are you to Rosalie?”

Sydney frowned. “What exactly do you want?”

“Nothing. I’m just curious to know how you’d react if you found out that she got hurt.”

Sydney’s face changed in an instant. “Geoffrey Carter, I’m warning you! If you dare tay a finger on Rose, I won’t spare you. I can tell you clearly that I know all about the filthy business you’ve been engaged in. You’d better keep yourself in check.”

“Just listen to yourself,” Geoffrey said with a chuckle. “You make it sound like I’m going to hurt yourAll text © NôvelD(r)a’ma.Org.

ex-daughter-in-law. Don’t worry, bet

won’t do anything to her. She’s my daughter-in-law right now, anyway. Asher father-in-law, I’m eager to protect her.”

“What did you say?” she exclaimed, shocked. “What daughter-in-law?”

“Don’t you know? Looks like she hasn’t told you. She’s married to my son, and they just registered their marriage today.”

Sydney looked thunderstruck. “Impossible! You’re lying to me!”

“Why would I lie about something like this? If you don’t believe me, go ask Rose if she married my son.”

“What game are you playing right now?”

et

“I’m not playing any games. Rose and my son are in love with each other. Isn’t it normal for them to get marded? But I wonder why she didn’t tell you about it.”

“Where are you right now?” Sydney demanded angrily.

Chapter 446

“I’m about to go on a holiday with my wife.”

“You’re going on a holiday right now? Are you sure?”

“Yeah. With my son’s wedding settled, we have put down the very last major burden of our lives. Isn’t it very reasonable for my wife and I to go on a holiday? I’ve got to go. The plane’s about to take off.”

“Carter, wait!”

Before Sydney could say any further, Geoffrey hung up. When she tried calling him again, she found his phone switched off.All text © NôvelD(r)a’ma.Org.

Sydney was furious. Geoffrey must have done it on purpose!

Flying off suddenly for a holiday and calling her right before flying off to tell her about this, then disappearing without a trace.

Sydney called Rosalie.

Rosalie answered the call quickly. “Hello, Mom.”

“Did you marry Geoffrey Carter’s son?”

“How did you find out?”

Rosalie’s words made Sydney flare up. “Rosalie Young, are you quite mad? Why did you marry his son? Do you have a screw loose?”

“Mom, I’m sorry for not telling you about this. I’ll explain this to you later. Please give me some time, okay?”

Sydney could sense that something was wrong from Rosalie’s voice. “What’s the matter?”

“I’m fine.”

Rosalie’s voice clearly didn’t seem fine.

“Where are you now?” Sydney asked.

“I’m at home.”

“Wait there. I’ll go find you.”

With that, Sydney hung up and drove to Rosalie’s apartment.

When Sydney arrived at Rosalie’s place, she found Rosalie looking- deathly pale, her eyes red and,

fel.

net

swotten. She looked as though she had cried for a long time.

Seeing how miserable Rosalie

looked, the fire boiling inside Sydney, one that made her want to give Rosalie a thorough scolding, immediately put out. At that

moment, she was at a loss met

to say.

“What’s happened?”

el

what

Rosalie didn’t want to cry in front of Sydney, but seeing Sydney was akin to seeing her own mother. She couldn’t stop her tears from falling, and her defenses came crashing down.

She lurched forward, and hugged Sydney. “Mom, I screwed up.”

Sydney’s arms slumped to her side as she stood stunned.

Rosalie sobbed hard in Sydney’s arms. Sydney didn’t need to ask to know this had something to do with Theodore.

Sydney sighed, and gently patted Rosalie’s back. “Alright, don’t cry now. Everything can be solved.”

“No, it can’t. I’ve screwed it all up. Mom, I’m going crazy!”

Sydney pushed Rosalie gently, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and shut the door.

She brought Rosalie to the couch and sat down. Then, she passed Rosalie some napkins.

“Dry your tears. Did you forget about your baby in your belly? You’re crying so hard, aren’t you worried that the baby will end up a crybaby?”

The baby was always a soft spot for Rosalie, and she immediately wiped the tears from her face.

Upon seeing Rosalie calm down, Sydney asked, “Can you tell me what happened now?”

Rosalie recounted the entire incident to Sydney.

After hearing Rosalie out, Sydney said nothing. Instead, she went to pour herself a glass of water, drank it all up, and slammed the glass on the table. Rosalie trembled, frightened. She looked exactly like a rebellious teenager who got married behind her parents’ back.

Sydney turned around, and looked at Rosalie. “You said you screwed up because Theo confessed to you?”

Rosalie gripped the hem of her shirt, not sure of what to say.

“Had he not looked you up and told you everything he said, would you cry like this and say that you screwed up?” Sydney went on.

Chapter 447

Rosalie shook her head.

Sydney scoffed. “In that case, you don’t really think marrying Sebastian was a mistake. If Theo hadn’t looked you up, your relationship with Sebastian would still be fine.”

Rosalie nodded. “Yes.”

“In that case, we’ll have to blame Theo for this. He shouldn’t have come looking for you and said what he said.”

“Mom, things have already come to this point. It’s meaningless trying to blame someone. I just hope that everyone will calm down,” Rosalie said.

“And then? Will you still see Theo after everyone has calmed down?” Sydney asked.

Rosalie shut her eyes, looking pained. “I don’t want to see him.”

“You won’t forgive Theo, will you?”

“Forgiveness is no longer a question between Theo and me. Perhaps we’re both responsible for things turning out this way. Since we need to pay the price for our mistakes, we have to stay as far away as possible from each other to prevent the situation from worsening, especially since we’re divorced.”

“He’s the father of your child. Since he admits that he loves you, he must love your child too. Won’t you change your mind on account of that?” Given what she knew of her son’s character, he must have imploded internally to finally decide on confessing his feelings.

Rosalie rubbed her belly with a sigh, her mind in a mess. “Mom, I’ve married Sebastian. If Theo knows I’m pregnant, he definitely won’t give up. I can’t let him know about it.”

Sydney was flabbergasted. “Why in the world did you come up with such a foul idea, marrying Sebastian?”

“I didn’t have a choice. I did it to help him.”

“I know you did it to help him, but you did it at the expense of yourself!”

“It’s just a fake marriage,” Rosalie said. “It’s not for real. Since I wasn’t planning on marrying anyone else, I thought helping Sebastian this way wasn’t a big deal.”

Sydney crossed her arms, finding the entire situation maddening yet hilarious. “You’re so generous. Have you ever thought that while you don’t find it a big deal, Sebastian might not think the same way?”

“Seb knows this is just a fake marriage. He wouldn’t take it seriously.”

“Did he say that himself? Do you know him so well that you can see through his mind? Have you ever considered that this might be a trap that he worked with his father?”

Rosalie’s heart leapt. She turned around, and exclaimed in shock, “No, they have no reason to do that!”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes,” Rosalie said as she stood up. “If you think they did it deliberately, they must have an objective in doing so. What is their objective? Just so I’ll marry into the Carter family? don’t think I’m that capable a person, worthy of them to scheme for me to get married into the family.”

“You don’t think so, but…” Sydney was about to say more, but she swallowed the rest of her sentence.

She eventually sighed. There was no point for her to get angry over something that had happened. Moreover, there were some things that the fewer people knew about, the better.

At the end of the day, she was at fault, too. Had she told Rosalie the truth earlier, Rosalie might hesitate to marry Sebastian.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org – Content owner.

Rosalie could sense that there was something on Sydney’s mind. “Mom, what were you about to say?”

“I was going to scold you,” Sydney said irritably.

Rosalie hung her head guiltily.

“But there’s no point in me scolding you. The past is the past. When are you going to divorce Sebastian?” Sydney asked.

hapter 448

“Divorce?”

“Yes. Isn’t it a fake marriage? In that case, there has to be a limit. You won’t really spend the rest of your days with him, will you?” Sydney said.

“We’ll let nature take its course, I suppose. When he meets a lady he fancies, he’ll naturally divorce me.”

Sydney laughed sardonically.

“You’re even more generous and open-minded than I thought! Your divorce with Theo must have caused you to lose all expectations and reverence towards marriage in general. It’s become nothing but a tool that isn’t even all that important, is that it?”

“Yes,” Rosalie admitted frankly. “My marriage to Theo brought me nothing but pain and sorrow. Marriage means nothing to me right now, except maybe a tool that I might lend a friend if he needs it.”

Sydney had nothing to say in response to Rosalie’s words.

Rosalie didn’t even care about her own marriage, which was why she could easily make use of it to help a friend. Theodore had truly hurt her deeply, to the point she gave up all hope in marriage.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org – Content owner.

“What about your baby? If the Carters found out that you’re pregnant, are you going to make my grandson a member of their family?” Sydney asked. “No, Mom.” Rosalie said. “This is my baby. I won’t let him have any relationship with the Carters whatsoever. I’ll give birth to my baby by myself. Of course, the Carters may find out about it, and that might be my chance to divorce Sebastian. After all these, they probably won’t make Sebastian marry another woman. I’m just temporarily helping him overcome this hurdle. We’ll talk about things in the future as they come.”

Sydney’s mind was in a daze, and she was rendered speechless.

Eventually, she said helplessly, “You might not find it a big deal to use your marriage to help a friend, but you forgot one thing.” “What is it?” Rosalie asked.

Sydney said solemnly, “You forgot about what Sebastian truly feels. You might think of it as a fake marriage, but he might not think the same way. If he took it seriously and refuse to get a divorce, what are you going to do?”

“He won’t. Seb knows this is a fake marriage. We’ve made things clear between us. He’s a very nice man, and we’re friends.”

Rosalie clearly trusted him a lot.

“Is that so? Could a child who grew up under Geoffrey Carter really be an angel?” Sydney said. She refused to believe that a demon could raise an angel.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing was even scarier than a real, undisguised wolf. For all Rosalie knew, Sebastian might be even more scheming than his father.

“Mom, what do you mean by that?” Rosalie asked, uneasy.

“I’ve made myself very clear,” Sydney said coldly. “It’s obvious Geoffrey Carter is no good, but a truly devious person may not be easy to discern. Is Sebastian really that good a person? don’t believe someone so perfect exists. Sometimes, the more perfect something seems, the more dangerous it is. It’s like a beautifully wrapped Christmas present that turns out to be a bomb when you unwrap it. The most frightening people are those disguised in the most attractive and bewitching appearances.”

“You don’t know Seb, and you’ve never interacted with him before. He isn’t like that. He treats me very well. He was always with me, helping me out when I was at my most miserable state. I trust that he is sincere with me.”

“So what if he is?” Sydney said. “Just because he’s sincere with you, doesn’t make him a good person. Have you seen him when he’s alone?”

“I…” Rosalie fell silent.

She recalled how Sebastian flared up at his subordinates, which was a frightening scene she had never witnessed before.

“I advise you to be careful. Don’t give him your all. A person like him is a master at disguise,” Sydney reminded Rosalie. Suddenly, Rosalie chuckled.

“Seb treats me very well, and he’s sincere with me. If that’s a disguise, what about Theo? He hurt me and divorced me for Cynthia. He might not be fake, but does that make him a good person? If Seb is really two-faced like you think he is even if he really is a bad person, goes that

mean I can’t be sincere with him or help him out if he treats me well and is sincere with me? Is that it?”

Sydney looked back at Rosalie, suddenly at a loss for what to say.

“Mom,” Rosalie went on. “I’m just a woman and a friend, not the police or a judge. From my own

perspective, whoever treats me well,

I’ll treat them well. This is a very n

straightforward question. If he really is a bad guy who did bad things, the police are around to deal with him. I just want to be sincere toward whoever treats me well.”

Sydney frowned. “Have you fallen in love with Sebastian?”

Rosalie’s heart sank.

“No,” she said.

“Really?” Sydney looked hard at her, as if trying to uncover clues from her eyes.

Rosalie evaded her gaze. “Really, I haven’t. I don’t want to love anyone right now.”

Theodore alone had completely broken her heart. Her broken heart had no capacity to care for another man.

Chapter 449

In the deep of the night, Sebastian sped along a quiet, secluded road until he reached an obscure bar with many motorcycles parked outside. Sebastian was very distraught. He got out of the car and made a beeline for the bar, wanting to drown out his frustrations with alcohol.

Many people in the bar were dressed in biker style, with tattoos adorning their bodies. To a traditional person, they didn’t look very decent. Sebastian walked, dressed in his suit, looking like a member of high society and sticking out like a sore thumb in the crowd.

Everyone was staring at him. He ignored them all, and sat at the bar counter and placed his order.

The bartender watched as Sebastian downed a few glasses consecutively.

“First time here, handsome? You don’t look like you’re in a good mood.”

Sebastian looked up and said coldly, “Just do your job and give me my drinks.”

He exuded an aura of cold authority, and his words sent a chill down the bartender’s spine.

The bartender had seen his share of hooligans and gangsters, many of them no stranger to gang fights. However, the aura that this man exuded was way more frightening than those hooligans.

Oftentimes, the ones who yelled the loudest were the most timid. The truly frightening ones are the ones who didn’t rely on yelling to make themselves known.

“Hey, bro.” A tall and lanky man sat next to him.

Sebastian ignored him, and continued drinking.

Instead of getting angry, the man said gleefully, “You don’t look like you belong here at all. You belong to one of them high-class banquets. Let me guess. Why in the world are you here, drowning your sorrows? Your face is wounded. You were probably in a fight. After the fight, you drove all the way here to this secluded face. If my guess is right, this is all for a woman.”

Sebastian’s hand, holding the glass, stiffened ever so slightly. He turned to glance at the man and spat coldly, “Get lost.”

“Seems like I’m right.”

The man chuckled.

Instead of leaving, he went on, “Bro, given your stature and figure, you have no lack of women throwing themselves at you. I think this

woman, must be very important

you, and you can’t get her. Why get

would a man like you be unable to get a woman? Oh, I know. That woman must be in love with

someone else, but that man hurt her, so you fought with him in a bid to stand up for her.” This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

Sebastian slammed his glass on the bar counter. “Who the hell are you?”

The man chuckled again. “I’m just curious. I think I can help you with your problems, because I know best what women want.”

Sebastian scoffed. “Is that so? So what do women want?”

“Women want men to mess them up. The more painful, the better. Forget about what they say. Men they find most unforgettable are

often the ones who hurt them the et

deepest. Conversely, they don’t give a damn about the ones who treat them well. To get a woman, you must first hurt her then give her something good before hurting her again. That way, she’d be trapped in a never-ending cycle of pain and happiness.”

Sebastian laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Am I, really?” The man smiled. “Think about it. Isn’t that what’s happening in reality?”

Sebastian tightened his grip over the glass as he thought about Theodore and Rosalie.

Why did Rosalie still love Theodore, no matter how much he hurt her? Was what this man said true-that women always found those who hurt them the deepest, most unforgettable?

“Dude, I know you.”

The man lifted a hand, and patted Sebastian’s shoulders gently. He leaned in close, then said into Sebastian’s ear, “It’s not hard to snag a woman. You just need…”

Chapter 450

The next day, Rosalie woke up in the middle of a nightmare.

“Seb, no! No!”

She dreamt of Sebastian fighting with Theodore, and Theodore beating Sebastian to death.

The first thing she did after jumping out of bed was to check her phone and see if Sebastian called her.

He didn’t.

Rosalie freshened herself up, planning to go to Sebastian’s office to find him. He might be deliberately ignoring her calls.

Once she was ready, she opened the door. Lo and behold, she saw Theodore standing outside. She jumped back in fright, and was about to slam the door shut when he raised his hand and pressed it against the door.

“Wait,” he said.

“Theodore Spencer, can you please stop harassing me?”

This man was suffocating her first thing in the morning.

“Rose, can’t you just talk calmly to me? I’ve been waiting for you here since four in the morning. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I didn’t knock and decided to wait till you came out. I don’t mean to force you, but can’t we just sit down and talk calmly?”

There was a hint of fatigue on Theodore’s face; he looked as though he really didn’t sleep the whole night.

“What else is there to talk about between us?” Rosalie had no energy to argue with him. “I have something to do. I need to leave. I don’t have time. Please go away.”

“Where are you going?” Theodore asked coldly, shooting her a suspicious glare. “Are you going to look for Sebastian?”

“What business is it of yours? Step aside.”

“You’re going to find him.”

Theodore pressed Rosalie against the wall. “Why do you care so much about him? I don’t believe you two are just friends.” “We’re husband and wife,” Rosalie sneered. “Didn’t I tell you that we’ve already registered our marriage?”

Theodore punched the wall with a smash. Rosalie jumped in fright, her heart racing.

The fear in her eyes made Theodore retract his hand and suppress the fire in his heart. “I know you’re angry at me. Now, be good. Divorce Sebastian, won’t you?”

Rosalie realized it was becoming nearly impossible to communicate with Theodore. This man was simply too arrogant and prideful.

“Come with me.” He grabbed her wrist forcefully, and dragged her away.

“Where are you taking me? Let me go!”

Theodore ignored her protests, and pulled her into his car roughly. It was only until he drove all the way to the hospital that Rosalie realized what he wanted to do.

This hospital was well known for its cardiovascular surgery department. Since Cynthia was about to undergo a heart transplant, she naturally had to be treated here. Theodore would definitely give her the best treatment available.

Theodore held Rosalie’s hand tight, and pulled her to Cynthia’s ward.

“Theodore Spencer, are you insane? What are you trying to do?” Rosalie demanded.

“I’m bringing you to Cindy and telling her who I truly love, and that I’m not marrying her.”

“Didn’t you say she’s dying? You’ve repeatedly promised to marry her but ended up breaking your promise again and again! Aren’t you afraid she won’t spare you even after her death?”

“I’ll wait for her soul to take revenge on me, then. Whatever it is, I’m going to remarry you.”

Rosalie never expected to see Theodore behave so unreasonably.Belonging © NôvelDrama.Org.

When they arrived at Cynthia’s ward, they saw the doctors trying to resuscitate her.

Theodore’s gripped Rosalie’s hand tight as he stared at the scene before him, his gaze complex.

Rosalie turned around, and said to him, “Looks like she’s really about to die. Are you really going to tell her that you love me?”

Theodore was hesitant. He realized how raw he was being, and that telling Cynthia his true feelings at this point might cause her to lose her life. “Rose, give me a few more days, please. That’s all that Cynthia has left!”