Chapter 20%
*Before your brother died, he left behind a posthumous child in my womb. I loved your brother deeply. Even after he was gone, I still gave birth to his child. His name is James.%
I had planned to spend the rest of my life with James, holding onto the love I had for your brother, living quietly and alone But ever since James was born, he suffered from a rare blood disease; the only treatment was to have another child and use that child’s umbilical cord blood to save him.“E
“You and Easton were twins. If I could conceive a child with you, James’s chances of recovery would rise significantly. For James’s sake, I had no choice. I had to get close to you. I had to use every method I could to marry you and get pregnant.”
“Only after I became pregnant did I erase my identity and leave. So now, do you understand? I never loved you. From the beginning to the end, I only wanted to have a child with you. So whether what you’re saying now is true or not, whether you love me or not, between us, there was never a possibility. Not from the very start.”
It felt like a bolt of thunder had split the sky and come crashing down on Chase.”
So, he was nothing more than a substitute. Just a sperm donor.}}
From beginning to end, he had only been a tool for Rosalie to get what she wanted.
And the one she loved had always been his brother.}}
The girlfriend Easton used to talk about over and over again; the one he loved most was his own ex–wife.
Absurd. How utterly absurd.
His life was nothing short of a cruel joke.“]
So what now??
All this time, he had thought that during those three years with Rosalie, she was just a hopeless fool, a lovesick woman he could toy with at will.
A clown dancing for his amusement.”
But in the end, he was the clown.”
In these past few days, he had already come to realize his love for Rosalie had become irreversible.
Whether real or not, whether he was just a stand–in or not, as long as Rosalie would return to him, that was enough.“]
“Rosalie, I don’t care.”
Tears were already rolling down Chase’s face, his heart in pieces.
“Even if you only see me as a substitute for Easton… as long as you’re willing to stay by my side, I’ll accept it. Rosalie, please… come back to me.”!
“We’re no longer possible.” Rosalie ended the call with a cold finality. After a moment of hesitation, she blocked the number without a second thought.2
Some things, once they were meant to end, had to be let go.
Ali she wanted now was to focus on healing James, then quietly live her life with the baby still growing inside her, just the three of them.
She didn’t need any other man.“]
The only one she had ever truly wanted was Easton.
No one could take his place. Not even Chase, who looked just like him.”
Perhaps because her thoughts were in disarray, her paintings soon lost their usual rhythm and clarity.
Weston noticed. “Has the sea breeze unsettled Miss Rosalie’s heart?”
Hearing his voice, Rosalie turned with a soft smile. “Something like that. My heart feels a little restless today.“}
Weston said, “If your heart is in disarray, why not set aside the brush and take a walk by the sea?”
Rosalie agreed and packed up her easel.!!
By then, the sun had begun to set.
The golden light stretched across the shore, painting the sea in warm hues and casting long shadows behind the two of them.
“How is James?” Rosalie asked softly.”
“He’s with your parents,” Weston replied. “He’s been doing much better lately.”
“It’s all thanks to you,” Rosalie said with quiet gratitude.
“It’s nothing.” Weston answered. “But today, I was hoping that between us, it wouldn’t just be about James and painting. May I?”
“Hmm?“%
“May I ask you to close your eyes for a moment?” Weston said.
Rosalie smiled and gently closed her eyes.
When Weston finally said, “You can open them now.”
A burst of brilliant fireworks lit up the sky, and the glowing words slowly appeared above them. [Rosalie, I like you.]
