Rose’s hands and feet were cold when she stepped into Imperial Garden in Elland City for the last time.
She heard several servants whisper to each other.
“I heard Mr. Roach was already with Ms. Stewart last night. How come she still comes back?”
“She must be thinking that she hasn’t suffered enough humiliation. Mr. Roach intended to grant her a dignified exit, but she refused it.”
“She’s so shameless.”
“Let’s see how long she can hold on to…”
After seven years of treading the stairs leading to the second–floor master bedroom, today was the first time she felt they were so long and steep.
The housekeeper, Aileen Snow, had been following her. When Aileen saw her open the door of the master bedroom, Aileen immediately stopped her and said, “Ms. Edwards, Mr. Roach is not here right now, and I’m afraid it won’t be proper for you to enter. If something is missing, we won’t be able to take the huge responsibility.”
If Rose hadn’t broken up with Judson yesterday, she might never have seen Aileen’s true color.
Aileen, who had always greeted her with smiles and cared for her, actually despised her this much deep down.
Rose glanced at Aileen calmly. “Don’t worry. I’ll only take my things.”
Aileen smiled and remarked, “I must admit, Ms. Edwards, I didn’t anticipate finding things here that you personally purchased.”
Aileen pondered, “The Roach family has nurtured Rose for over a decade. If she possesses any sense, she ought to depart empty–handed and allow Ms. Stewart to assume the role of Mr. Roach’s fiancée.”
Rose’s eyes turned cold. “Aileen, the Roach family has many dogs, too. They all know that barking doesn’t always guarantee getting meat in return.”
She believed that the housekeeper didn’t have a say in matters concerning her and Judson.
Aileen’s face turned pale. As soon as there was a hint of resentment in her eyes, she was suddenly taken aback. She bowed her head and spoke respectfully, “Mr. Roach…”
Rose turned around at once.
Judson was standing right behind her
The morning sun shone through the large floor-to–ceiling windows of the bedroom and made his tall and handsome figure glow.
In a trance, she felt that his straight nose and beautiful eyes were not as cold as the usual days.
“Get out,” he said to Aileen and walked over indifferently. His reprimand carried a chilling demeanor.
“Aileen has worked here for seven years. You shouldn’t talk to her like that.”
Rose was amused.
She thought, “So what?
“Should I remind him that I have been living with the Roach family for thirteen years, and I was once his rightful fiancée?
“In the end, I’m not as important as a housekeeper in his eyes.
“Forget it. I’ve made my peace.
“At this point, what do I expect?
“If he cared about me even just a little bit, he would not have kicked me out yesterday for that woman, Lillian Stewart. All my years of efforts and affection were shattered.”
Perhaps the sneering look on her face was too obvious. Anyway, his face darkened. He grabbed her by the arm.
“The Roach family spoils you indeed!”
Great pain came from the place where he pinched her, making her bite her lip at once.
She couldn’t help but let out a soft moan.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and her complexion paled with the evident pain she was experiencing.
Judson frowned, and his eyes darkened, filled with the disgust and disdain that Rose
was familiar with, and some other emotions…
Without waiting for her to interpret what else emotions were hidden under his eyes, she had been dragged into his arms.
“No…” Rose tried to break away.
“Aren’t you short of money?” Judson spoke coldly, his usual contempt mixed with perfunctory impatience. “I have some business to attend to later. Don’t waste my time.”
She felt humiliated, yet she didn’t stand a chance to resist.
Following passionless and joyless sex, Judson rose from the bed, apathetically dressed, and then casually tossed her a card.
Rose only felt more pain from the bruises and abrasions on her body. She was in a car accident last night and almost died.
She didn’t want him to catch sight of her wounds, fearing he might misconstrue her as feigning misery to persuade him to remain once more.
The black card before her emitted a golden glow, revealing its substantial value.
Yet Rose wrapped herself with the quilt, having no reaction at all.
She was silent, which was weird. Seeing that, Judson inexplicably felt irritated.
“It’s for your sister’s operation,” he explained it for the first time.
“No need,” she said calmly.
He was buttoning his shirt, and he paused. He looked at her coldly.
Rose explained, sounding calm, “The surgeon is out of the country, so she can’t have surgery for a while.”
It was all over.
The previous night, Jenifer Mauer had fallen gravely ill, and she found herself with no alternative but to unabashedly head to the club where he was enjoying himself. She arrived in tears, desperate to see him, hoping to plead with him to prevent the surgeon from boarding the departing plane and to save Jenifer.
Yet he didn’t even see her. He asked his men to give her two options, breaking up with him or getting lost.
If Jenifer didn’t make it last night…
Rose took a deep breath.
She realized that it was probably for the best that he had spent the entire night out. This way, he wouldn’t discover the extent of her emotional turmoil throughout the night.
Even if he knew, he’d only hate her more.
“Grandpa’s turning eighty next month,” he informed her before he headed out. “Keep the card aside.”
He didn’t want her to cause him any trouble.
Rose pondered, “So, he hurried back to have sex with me and fund Jenifer’s surgery solely to ensure I wouldn’t expose him and create complications in front of the Roach family.
“Only I know that I’m exhausted.
“I have been trying for thirteen years to win his favor, yet I failed. I won’t waste my time anymore.”
***
Rose pulled out the suitcase and opened the wardrobe. The countless white dresses stung her eyes.
Anyone who was familiar with Rose knew that she liked white. Pretty much all her clothes were white, including long dresses, trench coats, and evening gowns.
Few were aware of her fixation on white, a preference formed solely
use Judson had praised her pearly white princess gown during her 12th birthday celebration.
“White suits you best. You look perfect.” She remembered the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes, with approval, appreciation, and encouragement.
From then on, her wardrobe was filled with clothes of one color only.
It was just like her emotional world, which was filled with only one man.
He disliked her wearing vibrant attire, prompting her to adopt a more understated style. His aversion to heavy makeup led her to forgo its use altogether. His disapproval of women displaying themselves publicly led her to abandon her interests and profession. His disdain for her mingling with those outside their circle resulted in her severing all external ties.
It wasn’t until she saw Lillian, who was so high profile while with him, that she knew that he appreciated other colors.
She became what he wanted her to be, and then he fell in love with another woman.
She figured that she could become the love of his life, yet she failed.
He harbored an aversion towards her. He simply didn’t accept her for who she was, causing whatever she did to be perceived as disgusting in his eyes.
Sunlight flooded the spacious bedroom, appearing to possess the ability to metamorphose an individual into an entirely different persona.
After a while, Rose smiled.
She left.
She took nothing with her but a new self. She left her despair and the bank card behind
From now on, she would live only for herself.
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