Chapter 27 Kiss Mark Revealed, Samantha’s Visit
+5 Free Coins
Houston experienced an unprecedented six–hour sleep. When he woke up, the evening sky had already darkened outside the window.
“You’re awake?” A soft and gentle voice, full of comforting warmth, sounded next to him.
Turning his head, Houston saw Rose still sitting by his side, just as she had been six hours earlier. His jacket was folded neatly on the nightstand, and his socks were placed tidily on top of his slippers. Understanding her thoughtfulness, Houston instinctively reached out and held her hand. “Rose, thank you for taking care of me.
Rose smiled gracefully. “Do we need to be so polite with each other?”
She picked up his clothes from the nightstand and gently placed them over his shoulders. Houston gazed at her, his smile carrying traces of gratitude and satisfaction.
“Rose. I’ve never had such a good sleep before.” he said with heartfelt appreciation. “I never expected I could sleep so peacefully with you nearby.”
Rose responded, “It’s odd. Most people with insomnia are extremely sensitive to things like alcohol and caffeine, but you seemed to sleep even better after drinking. She frowned lightly, clearly baffled by the anomaly.
Houston noticed her furrowed brows, her serious expression unexpectedly adorable. With a sudden motion, he gently tugged her hand, and Rose fell into his arms–or rather, onto his chest.
“Rose, it wasn’t the alcohol that put me to sleep. It was you. His warm breath brushed across her face.
Blushing deeply, Rose was both flustered and amused by his words. She shyly replied, “I’m not that magical.”
Houston, accustomed to seeing Rose’s composed and serious demeanor, found her current bashful and tender smile utterly enchanting. Unable to hold back, he leaned closer. “Rose.”
Rose froze, her mind blank, as Houston’s lips descended toward hers.
Abruptly, a rapid knock echoed from the door.
Startled, Rose bolted out of Houston’s arms.
I’ll get the door,” she said hastily, nearly stumbling as she left.
Watching her retreating back, Houston’s lips curled into a clever smirk. Leisurely, he dressed, pulling on his shirt and pants. Then, with a calm and relaxed air, he stepped out of the bedroom.
Grace’s face froze in shock when she saw Houston, her expression as stiff as a statue.
Noticing the blush lingering on Rose’s cheeks and the faint trace of desire still visible on Houston’s face, Grace couldn’t help but let her imagination wander. “Rose, are you two…..?”
Rose, who had little patience for Grace, replied with her usual cool demeanor, “Madam Grace, do you need something?”
Grace glanced briefly at Houston, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered her voice as if afraid of being overheard. “Rose. someone wants to see you. They’re at my house waiting?
Rose wavered. In the past, she had walked into the Brown family’s home as if it were her own. But now, with Vivian and Ethan living together, she felt an aversion to crossing that threshold.
Grace pressed further. “Rose, no matter what, she’s determined to meet with you today. You should just go and see her
Eventually, Rose agreed reluctantly. She turned to Houston and said, “Tll be back soon”
Houston nodded, his tone even. “Don’t take too long”
Rose nodded once more.
1/2
Chapter 27 Kiss Mark Revealed, Samantha’s Visit
+5 Free Coins.
Grace couldn’t resist another glance at Houston. His extraordinary looks and undeniable charm seemed almost unreal, far surpassing that of any celebrity. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, “Rose, is this the Kingsford College
scholar?”
Rose didn’t respond, continuing to walk ahead without a word,
Grace hurried to catch up.
When Rose entered the Brown family’s home, the first thing she saw was Vivian and Samantha sitting together on the living room sofa. They appeared close, sharing laughter and conversation
Her gaze then shifted to the backdrop behind them–a large wedding photo of Ethan and Vivian, blown up into a nearly 3- foot–tall display board. The photo captured the two in an intimate kiss, their closeness unmistakable. Across the board were the words “A Century of Harmony, clearly designed for a wedding reception.
as a faint
Rose’s eyes fell on the wedding date printed on the photo. The calm she had carefully maintained began to waver, as a bitterness rippled through her heart.
Samantha’s expression was slightly strained when she saw Rose. Rising from her seat, she hesitated before walking over and nervously placing a thin leather envelope in Rose’s hand. “Rose, I know you’ve spent a lot of money on Ethan over the years. Generally, in relationships, spending is voluntary, and the Walker family wouldn’t owe you anything. But since you’re so insistent on repayment, we Walkers are fair people. This money represents my savings, carefully accumulated by living frugally. I’m giving it to you now. All I ask is that you and your mother stop making things difficult for Ethan about money. You might not care about your dignity, but I do.”
Rose felt the envelope and could tell it contained no more than a few hundred dollars.
Calmly, she returned the envelope to Samantha and replied with poise, “Madam Samantha, the supplements I bought for you and the medical expenses I covered should, in principle, be reimbursed, as we have no familial ties and I am not a charity. But since I chose to spend that money willingly, I won’t ask for it back. However, the money I’m asking Ethan to repay is money he explicitly borrowed, with clear evidence to back it up. Borrowing money and repaying it is the natural order of things. If he refuses to pay back what he owes, how does that make me ‘so insistent?”
Samantha, expecting Rose to be timid and unassertive, was shocked by her sharp and unyielding reply. Only now did she realize that Rose’s previous deference toward her had been nothing more than politeness.
Seeing her future mother–in–law losing face, Vivian quickly interjected to change the topic. Her tone, though seemingly gentle, was full of veiled provocations.
“Rose, Vivian said with feigned sweetness, “Ethan and I have decided to get married this New Year’s Day. I’d like you to be our bridesmaid”
Since Rose was already married, she was ineligible to serve as a bridesmaid. She refused without hesitation. “I won’t be your bridesmaid
Vivian bit her lip, looking aggrieved. “Rose, are you still upset with Ethan and me?”
Rose replied indifferently, “I wouldn’t waste my energy being angry at people who are irrelevant.”
Vivian pleaded, “Rose, I know our relationship hurt you, but we’ve always considered your feelings. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have kept our relationship–and even our child–a secret from you, just to avoid upsetting you. But love makes people blind, and Ethan and I simply couldn’t help how we felt about each other, Rose, please, be gracious and forgive us. It would mean so much to us if you could come to our wedding.”
Rose didn’t understand why Vivian was so eager for her to attend their wedding. But someone who could disregard basic decency to steal her boyfriend clearly wouldn’t genuinely value her friendship. Vivian’s insistence must have an ulterior
motive.
Rose rejected Vivian’s invitation with unrelenting coldness.
