Rosalie froze instantly. She didn't even want to show Aurora basic courtesy. With a cold expression, she said, "To avoid an argument between us, leave now."She didn't want to quarrel with Aurora. It was obvious Aurora had misunderstood her, and was full of arrogance and prejudice. There was nothing worth discussing with this woman."This is a public place. What's wrong with me standing here? Are you feeling guilty, Mrs. Carter?" Aurora deliberately emphasized the words, Mrs. Carter. "Even though you have a husband, you still can't stop clinging to your ex-husband. Pretending to go missing—you put on quite a good show!""Stop talking nonsense! Do you even know what happened? You're just making baseless accusations without knowing the full story. I can only say that you're shallow," Rosalie snapped."Shallow? Oh really?" Aurora laughed. "Mrs. Carter, I'm still better than you even if I'm shallow. I'm not the one clinging shamelessly to another woman's boyfriend. I'm already carrying hi
Aurora's tear-filled eyes made her appear pitiful, like a frightened kitten. She seemed so delicate that it naturally drew sympathy from others and made them disregard what had happened."Aurora, let me see." Theodore gently pulled Aurora's hand away and saw a clear handprint on her face.He was furious. How much force had that slap taken?Turning his head in anger, he demanded, "Rosalie, why did you hit her?"He used to call her "Rose" affectionately, but now, for Aurora's sake, it was back to "Rosalie", as though everything had come full circle and returned to how things were before.Back then, he had also defended Cynthia in the same way.Rosalie's hands, hanging at her sides, trembled. "Because her mouth is filthy and vile.""What did you say?" Theodore frowned, glancing at Aurora, who shook her head desperately."I… I just accidentally ended up here and wanted to chat with her. I don't know why she became so angry suddenly. I really don't."Aurora appeared greatly frightened, clut
"Aurora, why are you so silly?" Theodore didn't know whether to be angry or not. He was convinced Aurora could do such a foolish thing for his sake."Theo, I just wanted to make you happy. I didn't mean anything else. I'm sorry, Theo. I'm so sorry."Aurora began to cry in his arms. Her tear-streaked face would make anyone feel sorry for her.Theodore sighed helplessly and held her tighter.Then, he looked at Rosalie again. "No matter what, Aurora didn't do it on purpose. How could you hit her?"Rosalie let out a helpless laugh. Theodore was really good at sidestepping the real issue. Did he think she slapped Aurora simply because of this? Aurora was truly cunning.Moreover, Theodore's indulgence of Aurora was astonishing. Even though he knew Aurora had spoken about such things, he didn't get angry at her."I'm sorry. I apologize. I shouldn't have hit her. After all, she's carrying your child and is now your precious one," Rosalie replied in a mocking tone."So you know," Theodore retor
Rosalie wasn't going to let him trample all over her. Did he enjoy seeing her in pain so much? If that was the case, then they could suffer together!Theodore stared silently at Rosalie for a full ten seconds before finally speaking to Aurora. "Aurora, let go.""Theo, what are you planning to do?" Aurora clutched his shirt tightly, worried. "Don't listen to her! She's crazy! We should go."Aurora tried to pull Theodore away, but he refused to leave. He gently pushed her aside, carefully moving her to a safe spot. "Aurora, stay here and don't move."With that, he walked up to Rosalie."Theo." Aurora tried to follow him, but Theodore turned around and said, "Stay right there. If you don't, I won't pay you any mind."Theodore's tone was exceptionally serious, scaring Aurora into stopping in her tracks. She stayed put, her wide, tearful eyes fixated on him, unsure of what to do.Theodore then turned back to Rosalie. "Rose, now…"Before he could finish, Rosalie slapped him hard across the
Rosalie choked up as well. Tears welled up in her eyes; though she stubbornly held them back, unwilling to be vulnerable in front of him.When she first married Sebastian, their union hadn't been genuine, but things had spiraled one step at a time. Now, it was completely out of control and impossibly tangled.Theodore suddenly reached out weakly, attempting to touch Rosalie's shoulder."Don't touch me!" She slapped his hand away and gave him another hard slap.Theodore's already swollen face became even more so. For some reason, Rosalie felt even angrier seeing him like this. Watching him take her hits without a word and without fighting brought her no sense of satisfaction. He wasn't even dodging. It only made her feel angrier and more hurt."Theodore, what's this supposed to mean?" Rosalie clenched her fists, pounding against his chest. "Why aren't you fighting back? I hate you! Why do you have to do this? Why can't you just stay away from me? Why?""Enough!" Finally, Aurora couldn't
Rosalie felt utterly miserable. She didn't want to say anything and released Sebastian's arm. She took a few steps back, overwhelmed by her emotions."Rose." Sebastian supported her, pitying her. "Let me take you back to rest. You shouldn't stay here. Let's go.""I'm not leaving. I need to stay here with him." Rosalie's gaze shifted toward Justin's direction.Though Theodore had caused her heartache, the most important matter now was Justin. Theodore no longer mattered; whatever he did with Aurora was his own business.She just wanted Justin to wake up.Rosalie anxiously stood by the glass doors of the ICU, her gaze filled with worry and helplessness. The ICU was filled with a sterile chill, with only the beeping of machines breaking the stillness inside.She looked at Justin lying motionless on the bed, his face pale and lifeless.Rosalie clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh, but she felt no pain. Her focus was entirely on the scene before her.Suddenly, Jus
"I got it, Theo. I won't do this again. I'm sorry. I didn't know I shouldn't say those things. I don't have much experience in this area, and I was worried you'd be disappointed in me."Theodore lifted his hand to gently stroke her hair. "Don't talk about these things again, and don't see Rosalie again either.""What about you? Will you still see her?" she asked.Theodore fell silent for a moment.Seeing his lack of response, Aurora knew his answer.Perhaps even Theodore wasn't certain whether he would see Rosalie again. Maybe he would run into her, maybe he would seek her out, or maybe Rosalie would shamelessly look for him—who knew?In any case, it was all Rosalie's fault. Theodore was surely blameless.Suddenly, Sebastian was standing outside the ward and called his name. "Theodore." When Theodore turned around and saw Sebastian, his brows furrowed.Aurora appeared a bit fearful. "Theo, why is he here?"Theodore squeezed her hand gently. "Aurora, don't worry. Just stay here and do
In this world, perhaps only Aurora was willing to go along with his lies, cooperating in his deceptions and accommodating him.No matter how strange his requests were, she accepted them wholeheartedly without ever questioning him.Why was Aurora so good to him? She was so good that it pained him. Maybe one day, he would truly fall in love with her."Mr. Carter, I have a few words I'd like to say to you," Aurora said. She gently released Theodore's hand and walked over to stand in front of Sebastian.Theodore grabbed her hand. "Don't go over there.""Theo, I just want to say a few words to him. Don't worry. I trust Mr. Carter would never harm me here, especially since this is a hospital with so many security cameras. He couldn't do anything reckless."The mention of "security cameras" seemed to carry an implied meaning.At that time, Sebastian had barged into Theodore's house and damaged the security cameras.Sebastian understood the implication in Aurora's words and let out a cold laug
After that camping trip, the relationship between Theodore and Rosalie seemed to have reached a new level of understanding.Though they were no longer husband and wife, they interacted like close family.Theodore found a good burial site to lay Justin to rest.Even though only a few fragments of Justin's bones remained, he still deserved a proper burial in a place with good geomancy.The burial was kept simple. There was no formal funeral. Only Rosalie and Theodore brought Justin's remains to the cemetery.Rosalie held the small box in her arms, reluctant to part with it. Theodore gently placed his arm around her shoulders. "Rose, let him rest in peace."Tears welled in Rosalie's eyes as she gazed at Theodore. She opened the box, revealing the few remaining fragments of Justin's bones, and gently caressed them. "Justin, I will come visit you again."Theodore glanced at the bones inside the box and frowned slightly. Something seemed off. There were supposed to be seven bone fragments
"That's right, you're not silly—you're just a little dummy," Theodore said teasingly. He didn't actually think Rosalie was silly. He was only joking with her.Rosalie knew that as well, so she wasn't upset. She turned and lay on her side to face him. "Theo, we got along so well when we were kids, and you always took care of me. I liked you ever since I was little. Later, when I was able to marry you, I was really happy.""I was happy to marry you, too. But I was the foolish one. Rose, you're not a little dummy—I'm the big fool here."If he hadn't been so foolish, things wouldn't have turned out the way they did. When it came to love, he was utterly clueless.Even a genius with a high IQ could be completely ignorant in certain areas. It often took countless detours before finally coming to a realization.Love, in particular, was the easiest thing to get wrong—especially when viewed from one's perspective."But we're still family, and we have a child together. The bond between us will
The sun gradually set, casting an orange glow over the tent and the grass. The family of three sat around the campfire, enjoying the joy of camping and admiring the beauty and tranquility of nature.Rosalie and Theodore had arrived in the morning, and they had spent the entire day together. They chatted, took walks, and explored the surrounding area.Neither of them had taken out their phones to pass the time, yet the hours flew by, and before they knew it, night had fallen.The three of them sat by the fire and enjoyed barbecued meat together. By the time they finished eating, the fire had begun to die down. The sky was now pitch black.Rosalie lay on the mat spread out on the grass, staring up at the sky. The twinkling stars above shimmered like glowing diamonds.In the quiet of the night, the occasional crackling sound came from the extinguished embers of the campfire.It was a soothing sound, one that didn't disturb the beauty of the night.Rosalie formed a circle with her index fi
"Alright." Theodore nodded. "I'll give the child a name, but this is an important matter—I need to think it through carefully."Since this was Rosalie's wish, he was naturally willing to fulfill it.Rosalie smiled and said, "Alright, let me know when you've decided on a name.""I will. I'll tell you as soon as I decide." Theodore raised his hand and gently stroked Rosalie's head.Steve stumbled as he ran toward his parents and threw himself into Rosalie's arms. His movement was a bit forceful, but Rosalie still managed to catch him in time.Seeing this, Theodore immediately took Steve from Rosalie's embrace.He said seriously, "Steve, Mommy is pregnant now. You can't throw yourself at her like that—you might hurt her."Steve's dark, round eyes blinked as he listened to Theodore's words. Realizing he had done something wrong, he looked at his mother with a guilty expression."It's okay. I'm fine," Rosalie quickly reassured him. "Come here, let Mommy hold you." Rosalie pulled Steve back
A few days later, Theodore took Rosalie and Steve on a camping trip. They found a quiet spot, and bodyguards were stationed around for security.The scenery was breathtaking. In the distance, layers of mountains stacked upon each other, while lush greenery spread in all directions. Just a few dozen feet ahead, a clear stream flowed gently, creating a serene and natural landscape."Theo, let's set up the tent first," Rosalie said.They had decided to camp here for the night, as it was a perfect spot for stargazing."Alright, I'll have the bodyguards set it up.""Theo," Rosalie walked forward and said, "let's set it up together. No need to ask the bodyguards.""But it will be tiring. I can do it myself—you should sit and rest," Theodore said, not wanting her to exert herself."It's fine. I can handle it. Let's set up the tent together," Rosalie insisted.Theodore nodded. "Alright, we'll do it together."He bent down, opened the bag, and took out the tent. The two of them then started ass
Late at night, Rosalie woke up from yet another nightmare. This time, however, she did not scream. Instead, her eyes snapped open, and her breathing was rapid.Theodore immediately rushed to her bedside. "Rose, did you have another nightmare?"She hadn't had one in several days.Rosalie turned on the lamp, surprised to see Theodore by her bed. "Theo, why didn't you go back to your room to sleep?""I was worried about you, so… Rose, I just want to stay with you. Did you have another nightmare?""Theo, I...""What is it, Rose? Do you have something to tell me?"Rosalie shook her head. "Repeating those words over and over again doesn't really change anything. I just...""Theo." She gripped his hand tightly. "You must protect yourself well. Get more bodyguards.""Alright, I promise you. I will protect myself, protect the baby, and protect you. I will never let you get hurt again." He pulled Rosalie into his arms."By the way, Rose, I have something to tell you. Aurora, Angie, and Cynthia
Rosalie wondered if the baby would look more like her or Justin.Looking up at the azure blue sky and the white clouds floating in it, she could almost see Justin looking and smiling back at her.Steve raised his hand and caressed her face. She looked at him and smiled, and caressed his head. "Stevie, Mommy will always love you."She kissed his forehead gently, and he hugged her gleefully.Just then, a voice sounded from behind. "What are you two talking about?"Rosalie turned around to see Theodore walking toward them. He was wearing a suit, looking smart, a tender look on his face as he stood next to the mother-and-son pair."Nothing much, just getting some sun. We should head in soon," Rosalie said as she stood up with Steve in her arms.Theodore took over Steve with one hand and pulled Rosalie up with another."Let's head in together."He held Rosalie's hand and didn't let go. She didn't shake his hand off and nodded, letting him hold her hand.They walked into the villa.
Theodore brought Rosalie back to her room and she sat by the windows, exhausted."Rose, lie on the bed and rest for a while. I'll call you when it's time for lunch.""Theo, you don't look too good."His face was very pale."I'm fine. Perhaps it's because I didn't sleep well the past two days.""You should get some rest too. Don't just keep staying by my side."During this period, she would see Theodore by her bedside whenever she woke up from a bad dream. She gathered he hadn't been getting enough rest during this period."I'm fine. I'll wait for you to fall asleep before leaving."He helped RoslIe onto the bed and covered her with the sheets. Rosalie shut her eyes and exhaled out loud."Oh yes, Rose. There's one more thing.""What is it?" Rosalie asked."We found a girl called Nana.""Nana?" Rosalie sat up on the bed. "You saw her?"Theodore nodded. "When we found her in the villa, she kept saying that you're her mother and Sebastian is her father.""Sebastian adopted he
She and Justin's baby must have really wanted to survive, which was why it tried so hard to stay in her body.For all she knew, it was Justin staying by her side in another way.Rosalie caressed her stomach while covering her lips as she sobbed brokenly. This time, she didn't cry merely due to sorrow, but because she saw a ray of light amidst the hopelessness, and Justin's shadow within the light.Theodore gently patted her through the sheets. "Rose, you still have me and Steve. We'll stay by your side. I'll also take care of the baby in your stomach. I won't let him grow up without a father."Rosalie looked at Theodore, tears streaming down her face. She held his hand tight, words unspoken in her heart that she didn't know how to express.After being under observation in the hospital for two days, the doctors made sure that she was physically fine and Theodore took Rosalie home.Rosalie was ready to see Steve.She had been emotionally unstable and didn't dare to see Steve not b