Rosalie returned once again to the house where she and Theodore used to live.This was their former marital home, decorated according to her preferences. They had lived happily here for a year. The house remained unchanged, but the people who used to live there weren’t the same anymore.As they entered the hall, Sydney noticed Wesley sitting on the sofa. "What are you doing here?"Every time Wesley saw Sydney, he felt excited. He stood up, straightened out his suit, and stood straight. Even though he was middle-aged, he still took care of his appearance meticulously.Without exaggeration, if Wesley were to appear in a drama as a matured and handsome president, just standing there could ignite a frenzy among older women."Sydney, why are you here too?" Wesley asked.Sydney frowned, feeling a sense of foreboding. Just then, Theodore walked out. "I asked them to come."He appeared before everyone, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, a simple and classic attire that never w
"These are all Rosalie’s favorite dishes. Aren't there any that I like?" Sydney seemed a bit jealous.Theodore looked up, and said, "I don't know what you like to eat, and you've never told me. We rarely eat together." He looked at his mother without much expression on his face.Sydney stiffened.Theodore continued helping Rosalie to the food.Rosalie turned and stared at Theodore's serious side profile, feeling a wave of bitterness in her heart. Did he have a split personality? Why else would he hurt her on one moment, and then be gentle on the next? "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom." Rosalie put down her cutlery, stood up, and left the dining room."Theo, why are you so close to your ex-wife?" Sydney asked, her words carrying a hidden meaning.He gave a lame excuse. "She has helped me before, hasn't she? What's wrong with me serving her some food? It's just common courtesy." "She helped you?" Sydney asked. "Are you referring to the night she stayed up with me, lookin
For as long as he could remember, she had never said that she didn’t love him. Neither did she say that she loved him.This was in fact a mystery to him. It was his own guess that Rosalie didn’t love him and wasn’t happy.Rosalie’s heart ached. She looked up at him and stared at him silently, her gaze sorrowful. Then, with a slight smirk, she asked, “Don’t you find yourself hilarious for asking me that question now? What exactly do you want?”“I want to know what you feel about me. I want the truth.” Theodore rested his palms on both sides of her face, circling her in his arms as he drew her. He was much taller than she was, and had to bend his neck down low to be near her. “So, tell me now. What exactly do you feel about me? I want the truth.”Theodore didn’t understand Rosalie, and she didn’t understand him either.They didn’t understand each other. There seemed to be a barrier that urgently needed to be broken, but there was a fear in doing so. Keeping things like this woul
Theodore’s grip tightened with each passing second, but slowly, he started to release his grip over her shoulders.“Do you really want me to cut off all ties with her?”“This isn’t a matter of what I want. I simply raised a condition. Whether you can do it depends entirely on you,” Rosalie said. She knew Theodore would never be able to do it, which is why she said it in the first place. She did it to shut him up. She would never tell him her true feelings and what she was hiding from him.So what if she told him all that? He would still turn around and look for Cynthia, and she would once again be reduced to a pitiful worm without any secrets to herself.Theodore looked intently at the woman right before him. His lips neared her cheeks and his hot breath caressed her skin, and he said hoarsely, “If I cut off all ties with her, will you be with me again?”Rosalie gripped the hem of her shirt tight. She felt rather nervous, and turned her face away to avoid the hot air he was brea
Rosalie stared at him in silence.What else did he want her to say? Did he want her to go crazy and yell at him uncontrollably? Would having a woman he didn’t love go crazy for him make him feel superior?Theodore’s arms fell to his side. He took a few steps back, widening the distance between them, his eyes looking morose.He said in a low voice, “Bring those secrets you refuse to tell me to your grave. You’re right. Even if you told me the truth, it wouldn’t change anything.”Rosalie clenched her fists, feeling anger rise in her chest. She felt like a fool being toyed by him, letting him have his way with her. He gave her hopes and then dashed them so heartlessly, sending her straight to emotional hell. He was always like this, toying with her feelings and then pretending to be innocent.That was Theodore Spencer, a man she had loved for so many years.Rosalie raised a hand, and slapped him. She slapped him hard.Theodore felt his cheek go numb. He rubbed his cheek gently wi
Seeing Theodore staring at Rosalie in silence frustrated Sydney. She looked straight into Theodore’s eyes, and said harshly, “Just speak your mind!”How infuriating!Wesley’s heart leaped as he looked at Sydney in surprise. He suddenly felt as agitated and emotional as a super fan meeting his idol face to face.So cool, so domineering—he loved it!He suddenly had a strong urge to be dominated and controlled by her.Who knew that Wesley Spencer, so smartly-dressed and with an air of authority to him, would have desires for such vices.Despite being bound by rules of morality in society, man’s deepest animal instincts and desires would at times still rear its ugly head.Some would desire to whip others, while others might desire to be whipped.Rosalie suddenly realized that Sydney and Theodore didn’t seem to be in dire need to bond. Their relationship as mother and son seemed to have become very natural.Whenever Sydney scolded Theodore, she didn’t seem the least guilty about he
Sydney rested both hands on the table, her fingers intertwined. “If you want to avoid creating trouble, you should get married secretly and not openly invite your father and I to the wedding, and even ask your ex-wife to be the bridesmaid.”Sydney wasn’t usually good-tempered, but this time, she was speaking to Theodore very patiently.Although sometimes, the calmer the surface of the sea, the stronger the undercurrents.“She can choose not to be the bridesmaid, I’m not forcing her. I’m just giving her an option.”His cold tone made Rosalie clench her fists. All the more she didn’t want to stay here a second longer.“Mom, I’ll make a move first. Have a nice chat.”“Wait,” Sydney said as she turned her head. “Let’s head back together later.”“But Mom…”“Sit down.” Sydney pointed to a chair next to her.Rosalie furrowed her brows.“Sit down,” Sydney repeated herself.Rosalie sighed before acquiescing.She couldn’t be bothered to look at Theodore, and instead pulled out her ph
“I’ve always felt guilty for not fulfilling my responsibilities as a mother when I was younger and failed to be by your side. I admit, I don’t have the right to reprimand you. I’m not slapping you as your mother this time, but as Rose’s mother, to protect my own daughter.”Tears welled up in Rosalie’s eyes. She was very touched and completely caught off guard that her mother-in-law, whom she had no blood relations with and barely even knew until recently, would do something like this for her.Rosalie found herself very tragic at times, a failure in both her love life and marriage. Yet other times, she found herself very blessed in other areas. When she was in tears and in misery, when others mistreated her, there was always someone watching over her.Theodore rubbed his cheek gently with his fingers, and suddenly smirked. “Mother and daughter indeed. Each of you slapped me once. Do you feel great about that now?”Sydney was furious to see Theodore smile even under such circumstance
Theodore wrapped all of them up in his long arms.Under the golden sunshine, the family of four was wrapped up in each other's embraces. Sunlight shone on them, encasing them in a warm, golden glow. Everything felt calm and peaceful. The children snuggled in their parents' arms, innocent smiles lighting up their faces. They could feel the warmth of the sunshine as they found the safest and warmest haven in the entire world in their arms.In the evening sun and gentle breeze, they finally found happiness in each other's embrace.-In the deep of the night, Rosalie had a dream.Both Justin and Grandma came to her in her dream.Grandma and Justin were playing cards, surrounded by beautiful birds and flowers. They seemed to be in heaven, having the time of their lives with a look of tender love in their eyes.Grandma was very happy that she had reconciled with Theodore.Justin told Rosalie, "Rose, I'm so happy to see you happy.""Justin, do you hate me?""Silly girl, why would
Theodore made Rosalie feel like love was possible once more, and gradually opened her up.Love was ever-changing with time and the experiences they went through.Rosalie missed Justin dearly, but she also learned to treasure the people around her and every present moment of happiness. She learned how to accept the past and treasure the present amidst all her relationships.Justin would be her one and only in her heart, but Theodore also found his place in her heart amidst the unique position Justin was in.This was how their affections and love for each other grew and changed with time.Justin was dead, and Rosalie couldn't keep living in the past. She would carefully preserve her love for Justin in a corner of her heart.She would spend the rest of her life loving Theodore and their children."Chelsea," Rosalie said as she pulled Chelsea over. "Your daddy loves you very much, but he didn't get to see you come into this world. But you must remember his name. He is Justin Lynch."
Theodore and Rosalie brought both children to Justin's tomb.Before they left, Rosalie said that she and Chelsea wanted to spend some time alone with Justin.Theodore brought Jake to the car to wait for them.Golden sunlight shone on the land, feeling warm and toasty and giving the earth a beautiful glow.Rosalie caressed the tombstone. "Justin, I'm sorry for not coming to visit for such a long time."The last time she came back was a few months ago, during which she snuck a peak at his tombstone.Rosalie pulled out a bone fragment. "That's because you're always by my side, which is why I think that I can bring you everywhere I go. You're not just here at this tombstone."Justin, Theo and I have reconciled. He did so much for me, even sacrificing his own life for me. I can't just stand idly by and do nothing about it. I can't bring myself to reject him ruthlessly again and again."You can say that I'm moved, or that I fell in love with him once more. He's just too good, and I c
Jake had so much fun today and was exhausted by the time he reached home. After his shower, he crawled into bed and fell right asleep without any coaxing whatsoever. Jake would sometimes sleep in the bedroom with Chelsea, and sometimes they slept separately.At night, when Rosalie went to Chelsea's room to tuck her in and tell her a bedtime story, she asked, "Chelsea, how was your day with Theodore?""Hmm, it was alright," Chelsea said. "But Mr. Spencer was so silly, he burnt the food. I only got to eat lunch very late.""Is that so?" Rosalie burst out laughing. "How silly of him indeed.""But Mr. Spencer is quite nice," Chelsea said. "I like him. He said that I can call him Daddy."Rosalie's eyes lit up. "Do you want to call him that?""I do," Chelsea said with a nod, "but I'll do that tomorrow."Chelsea yawned. She felt tired, too.Rosalie caressed her cheek. "Goodnight, my darling. Go to sleep."-Rosalie returned to her room, took a shower, and laid on the bed. Theodo
Their parent-child bonding efforts officially began the next day.Rosalie brought Jake to the theme park. In the beginning, Jake felt rather stiff and reserved. It was his first time alone with his mom, after all.As time went by, Rosalie's earnestness, concern, and gentle patience with him slowly opened him up.They sat on the carousel, drove the bumper cars, rode on the Viking ship, zoomed down slides, bounced on the trampolines, and sailed on mini-boats. They had a whale of a time.Jake was covered with sweat, but he was so happy, he didn't want the day to end.He had grown closer to his mom, so much so that he would jump into her arms, hugging her and asking for kisses.Rosalie did not hold back from expressing her love for him and even carried him on her back as they continued exploring the park.Jake was very obedient and came down very soon, for fear that Rosalie might get tired. They moved on to the next attraction hand-in-hand.Rosalie found out one thing from Jake, wh
Some time later, Rosalie realized that Jake was being rather sullen.Each time she asked him whether something was wrong, he would brush her away, claiming that he was fine before running off.It was a Saturday, and Rosalie didn't need to go to work. She was seated on the couch with a book when Chelsea ran over, her braids swaying behind her. "Mommy, can you give me a hug?"How could Rosalie say no to her adorable little daughter? She shut the book and said, "But of course. Come on over."Rosalie opened her arms, very willing to show Chelsea affection.Chelsea crawled up onto the couch happily, sitting on Rosalie's lap and diving into her embrace.Jake happened to see it all.Rosalie noticed Jake standing a short distance away and was about to say something to him when he ran off.The smile on Rosalie's face faded as a look of worry took over.At night, Rosalie put Chelsea under Theodore's care and went to Jake, wanting to speak to him alone."Jake, what's with you recently
A gentle breeze lifted the curtains slightly in the deep of the night.Rosalie laid in Theodore's embrace, panting slightly. Her cheek leaned against his chest, feeling his heart pounding heavily, and her cheeks flushed.She never expected this day to come between her and Theodore, yet everything happened in a flash. He went to bed with her just like that, bewitched and completely infatuated with her.Although they were once husband and wife and had been intimate countless times, this felt different from the last. Things felt more intense this time around."Rose, are you happy?"Although Theodore's liver had been doing well over the last three months of recuperation, he was still worried that his fitness level might be affected before his liver was fully recovered.Rosalie gave him a slight smile. "Of course, I am. You almost crushed me."Her face flushed the moment she spoke those words. She hugged Theodore tight, feeling safe and secure.She could sense that he was telling th
"Theo, have you had a woman over the past five years?" Rosalie asked very frankly.They weren't naive young men and women but mature adults with experience in this matter.Theodore was a red-blooded young man who had his needs. Suppressing his desires, which were absolutely normal, would only jeopardize his health.Theodore was getting angry. "Am I someone like that to you, going to bed with a woman I don't love just to satisfy my physical needs?""Aren't men all like that?" Rosalie said. She didn't mean it in a scornful way but simply highlighted it as a typical observation.Lonely men and women in the city were bound to seek companionship in some places and part ways after the night.Someone as powerful and influential as Theodore wouldn't even need to go searching for someone else. Women flocked toward him like bees to honey."Why can't I be an exception?" He was in no state whatsoever to find another woman over the past five years and would always deal with his sexual desire
Time flew by, and three months later, Rosalie was fully recovered and back at work.Her colleagues welcomed her back with a bash.Everything seemed to have returned to normal.To keep Jake company, Rosalie would go back to Theodore's house every day after work. She was practically living there.Rosalie and Jake's relationship had improved over time, and they were looking more and more like they were truly mother and son.Everything was going well.At night, the four of them sat around the dining table and chatted happily with each other.After dinner, Rosalie and Theodore sat in the living room chatting. She suddenly noticed a book on the table. It looked so familiar that it caught her eye.It was the book she had written. Over the past five years, not only was she busy learning and working, but she also managed to write the book she had conceptualized and even gotten it published. However, this book was only available in Briusian and not exported to Blencalgo.Rosalie's book