Chapter 2
The next day, Chase returned home with Isla.
In a black tailored suit, tall and composed, Chase looked almost identical to Easton.
Isla wore a pink princess dress, her figure delicate and graceful. The two walked side by side, chatting and laughing, a perfect picture of elegance and charm.
Rosalie was slightly surprised. In the past, Chase had never brought Isla to their home.
Chase gave a direct order.
“Rosalie, Isla was badly frightened last night. She’ll be staying here for a few days; look after her.”
“Alright.” Rosalie turned to the maid. “Go prepare a guest room.”
Isla clung to Chase’s hand, her voice sweet and playful. “Brother, I’m not used to sleeping in a guest room. I want to stay in the master bedroom!”
Chase looked at Rosalie. After all, the master bedroom was their marital room.
Rosalie had intended to refuse. But then, her eyes drifted to the window. Snowflakes floated down gently from the sky.
Staring at the falling snow, she murmured softly, “The snow is beautiful…”
It was just like the snowfall from years ago, the same quiet scene when she and Easton had fallen in love.
She looked at Chase as if through him, seeing the man she had once loved. In the two years of marriage, aside from the goal of getting pregnant, she had spent every day searching for traces of Easton in him.
“Fine. But I have one request: you go into the snow…“M
“To be a model for your painting, right?” Before Rosalie could finish, Chase cut her off.”
In the past two years of marriage, she had painted Chase countless times, in different places, with different expressions, always asking him to appear in certain settings to match her vision.”
Once, after watching her gently store away a snow portrait of him in the study and kiss it softly, Chase felt something stir in his chest. For the first time, his tone eased slightly. “Do you really love me that much?”
Rosalie’s eyes stayed on the painting.
“Yes. I love you very, very much…“)
Your brother.}
Chase’s heart skipped a beat as he remembered all the times she had stood by him.”
His heart stirred in confusion, but the moment passed. As if recalling something, his tone turned cold again.}}
“Isla wants your snow pear cake tonight. In return, I’ll cooperate with whatever you want to paint.“>
“Okay.” Rosalie, just like always, agreed without a pause.”
For a second, Chase felt alstrange ache in his chest as he looked at her.
Isla had always been spoiled and stubborn. After Rosalie married him, he asked her to do many things for Isla, like shopping with her, carrying her bags, cooking her food, and even driving her around.§
As long as he agreed to pose for a painting, Rosalie would quietly accept it all.
His love for Isla had always stayed buried, never spoken. But as the woman who shared his bed, Rosalie must have known.
And yet, because she loved him, she endured it all. She watched him care for someone else and never complained.}]
She must have loved him deeply. So deeply it might have matched his feelings for Isla.}
Warmth rose in his chest briefly, then faded just as fast.
At dinner, Isla sat smugly as Rosalie personally served her the snow pear cake.
“See?” she said proudly. “As long as I want something, even if it means turning you into a cook, Brother will say yes!“}
Rosalie answered calmly, “Your brother has always cared about you the most.“}]
Chase glanced at Rosalie’s quiet face, and for some reason, a dull ache settled in his chest.}}
Isla smirked again. “Rosalie, I heard you can’t eat spicy food. But since I’m here tonight, Brother made sure everything’s spicy.“}}
Chase’s brows knit slightly.
Rosalie only said, “It’s alright. I don’t have much of an appetite anyway.“”
She stood up and walked away from the table.
Even after she had gone some distance, she could still hear Chase’s voice, gentle and thoughtful. “Isla, these are all your favourites. Have more.”
And Isla’s excited reply, “Brother! This necklace from that designer is so hard to find. How did you know I’ve always wanted it?”
Without stopping, Rosalie went straight into the study.
