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Chapter 48
Last Updated:
2025-02-25 00:32:06
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My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 49
Brain’s povI could hear Rosa's rejection in my head over and over: "Brian, stop. Please.”Her own voice—despite being firm, resolute, yet with a layer of compassion in it piercing through the thick flesh of the statement like a hot iron needle scorching a sheet of paper. Each syllable rang out like a challenge, a reminder she thought she'd be rid of me. Me. Like I was just an unnecessary annoyance;I stood there in the center of my study, almost feeling as if the walls were closing in upon me. The silence was deafening save for the soft crackle of the fireplace. The amber light devoured the edges of darkness, but what did that matter to the storm swirling within?I paced the room, muttering, "She's blind." My fists balled and unballed in time with my heart. "Blind to what could be blind to what she needs."The images of Rosa flooded my mind. The gleeful twinkle of her smile, the light in her eyes when she talked bullshit about her dreams, the few times she lowered those walls. What s
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Brain’s povI then spent the entire walk back thinking of all the different ways I could say something to win Rosa over. I could not lose her to James — or anyone for that matter. The no burned but it also helped to drive me. She was mine. She just didn’t know it yet.I will break her down, use her weaknesses against her and create a new world for her where I am the center of it. That only required patience and precision.First, I will win her trust back. I will make her feel like she should be ashamed for me regretting my “mistake,” victimizing myself through my emotions. A love so pure that it leads to tragedy.I practiced the words in my mind, gentle and remorseful, every syllable a lasso meant to tug on her heart."Rosa, I’m sorry. I was blinded by my feelings. I had gone over a line I shouldn't have and I'm very sorry for doing that. Please, forgive me. "I'm not going to let my stupidity ruin something I cherish as much as our friendship.I could already see her balking, doubt fl
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Rosa's POVBrian made me apologise, and I could not shake it off. His words became an unwanted thought, getting louder every hour: “Sorry. My feelings got in the way of my vision. I was left wondering why his apology affected me so much. For a while, I thought I had escaped the bullet. I had shut him down, but his determination felt like a hurricane I couldn't dodge. Maybe he sounded more sincere when he apologized—or maybe because deep inside I knew it was no longer about the apology. It was more than that. He was doing everything to make me doubt everything.I was so sure that I had dodged a bullet at telling him I was married, but now bubble of confidence seemed to have burst and the ground was slipping away. Just when I thought I had it under control what Brian would do forced me to question everything. The way he looked at me, the way he spoke — it was almost like an emotional scalpel. What disturbed me even more was how effortlessly he did it, forcing his seed into my brain wher
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Brian's POVI knew that patience was key. I needed to find the opportunity, wait until Rosa could not refuse to listen, until she might be so desperate she would believe me. I had sowed the seeds of doubt in her mind, now it was time to water them. Gradually, I started to redirect every interaction toward her perceiving me as the cure to all of her problems that she had been contemplating about.The pretext for dinner seemed innocent enough. A low-key, low-pressure environment, for me to once again take on the role of her portable therapist. I had picked the spot with care, somewhere private, where she would feel most at ease, somewhere quiet and out of the public eye. And she would assume it was simply another meal shared among friends, as well as another routine evening out. But underlying that it would be the driver of the change I wanted to see.I noticed upon Rosa's arrival that the burden of her immediate concerns were evident on her facial expression. She was exhausted, a relat
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Brian's POVI had been close — so close to actually beating Rosa. She was mine, almost completely under my thumb. The sedative in her drink having taken effect throughout the night. I could sense the balance of power tilting, her resistance weakening each minute that passed. The keen edge that Rosa held, the strength in her eye was vanishing. She was losing a grip on everything that mattered to me, slowly reducing to the fog into which I could guide her.With anticipation, the tense in my body knotted tighter. This was it. It would have been over as soon as I got her into my bed, as soon as I convinced her that she needed me. She would forget that James existed, forget whatever doubts she may have had about herself, and she would be mine. I did not work too long and too hard for this moment to do anything but come true.As we walked through my dark hallway, the tension in the air. My plan had slowly unfolded before me, and I could feel the weight of it. It was too easy now. All I had
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James's POVI had been feeling my heart beat as if in panic for the last few hours. Rosa had been cold that whole day, her texts not answered and when I called the direct to voicemail. The knawing realisation that something was wrong settled in my bones. Because my mind was going all sorts of places about why she may not be responding. But there was no point to any of them. I had to find her. And fast.That's when Brian's memory struck like a youthless golden god. The strange way he had been acting for weeks now, the way he kept hovering around Rosa—it all made sense. He was a danger. Deep down I always suspected it, but now I had confirmation. I had to go to his place.I didn’t think. I just acted.I was literally sprinting through the streets, I would not have realised how worked up I had got until i was standing outside his apartment. You pounded on the door with a fierceness that hadn’t aroused in so long. No answer. My stomach churned, an alarm, and I shoved it open so violently
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James’s POVRosa closed her eyes again, and the sight of her body quaking made my heart race. The sedative they had made her take was still seeping too deep into her blood, and I inhaled the stench of terror around me. As her breaths shallow and heart raced, nothing could ease the queasiness twisting in my gut.I started to sense her slip away from me, and I simply could not lose Jani. Not now. Not when I had just rescued her from the edge of whatever sick game Brian was playing.I dialed the hospital, still shaking as I yanked my phone out of my pocket. After two rings, a breathless voice picked up."James, what's happening? Is Rosa okay?" It was her old head physician, Dr. Harris. He was even-toned, but could just as easily been anxious. Something inside of me needed to hear his voice."She's. Her voice trembling with anxiety I said, "No.. she is losing it" The tranquilizer… it’s spreading. What can I do?"The silence on the other end seemed to drag for decades. And then we heard Dr
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Rosa's POVWhen I started finding my way back to consciousness, I became aware of James holding me close; slowly prying me from the clutches of darkness that was threatening to swallow me whole. It was such a gentle touch, tender at the same time soothing and each stroke of his hand across my back seemed to silence the erratic rhythm of my heart. The fear that had engulfed me, the dreams of Brian in my mind, and the residual effects of the drug slipped away all together when I found solace in his arms. His kisses were soft and calm against my forehead, my temple, my cheek, each one a silent assurance of safety, that I wasn’t alone.A steady, sure voice pulled me from the fog of my confused thoughts. “I’m here, love. You’re safe.”My body started to relax, the little tight ball of fear that was wrapped so tightly around inside me began to unravel. It was a simple, but impactful statement that I had not heard in far too long and relieved me to the point that I finally allowed myself to
Last Updated : 2025-02-25
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My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 117
James’s PovThere was a charged air, electricity hanging in the atmosphere — waiting for a spark. The energy in the room was palpable—anticipation, excitement, and disbelief. Rosa was pregnant with twins. Our twins. Years of love, toil and growth had built up to this moment, it was almost surreal in its enormity.I scanned the room to find our friends, family and colleagues filling up the venue for the grand opening of The Harden Family Foundation —the foundation we had worked so hard to build. This initiative was something we had both cooked up, helping young entrepreneurs and artists with the tools needed to build their dreams. This was the beginning of our next chapter, a one that would create an impact much larger than we ever could alone.Still, all of that felt secondary now to the fact that Rosa was mere hours away from delivering. Her body had been through so much already, the ability to carry this pregnancy now along with everything else—it was nothing short of a miracle. Yes
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 116
James’s PovWatching all those little kids in their funny caps and gowns from the back of the auditorium felt strange. It filled me with a combination of pride, nostalgia and disbelief. Emma, our daughter with the wobbly knees walking into her first day at school was long gone. She was at the threshold of something more—her life. And it was happening literally in front of me.Rosa was next to me with her hand resting lightly on my arm, staring at Emma as she stood in front of the podium. I could almost taste her tension, the pride and love she'd been brewing there for more years than I could count. The moment was not only for Emma. It was ours. We had forged this, together, following our lead, with us being there to support and love her through her trials, and victories. And here she was now, standing ready to address an auditorium full of people, preparing to tell the world what she needed them to hear.My heart raced with anxiety as Emma walked to the mic. She was steady, composed b
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 115
James’s PovThe day had been a long one. Too long, in fact. With the business problems, Bethel came back, and was still looking for whoever had started messing with Rosa's designs—my brain was like a one-person track team going around in circles. Through all those storms there had been one constant—Rosa. She was the peacekeeper, the nucleus of everything that revolved around it.That evening when she entered with a pale face, an absent look in her eyes, I knew something was wrong. I recognized the expression, my mind saying to keep it together baby girl as though something heavy was on her. Not that she needed to say anything. Not even for a moment did I doubt that always in the air, there was tension.“Hey, what’s wrong?” I said, putting down the coffee cup. Not waiting for an answer, I knew that she needed to talk and I was all ears.But what she would open her mouth and say next would leave me breathless.“I’m pregnant.”My initial reaction was disbelief. I found it hard to take in
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 114
Rosa’s PovThose next few weeks were a series of meetings, lack of sleep, and questioning. Bethel had returned to the family home for some time, looking for a sense of stability. Yet, she was merely rebuilding things in her life — There lay an ambiguous journey the next. The search didn't let up for whoever was leaking our designs and the business was feeling that heat. Yet all that remained unchanged, despite the ruckus swirling around us, was James and I locked in as teammates who would bounce forth whatever lurked next.But while the storm raged on we did something weird — something that felt like a cosmic nudge in my direction to say life was still happening literally throughout all this.I had missed a few periods. I initially presumed it was stress. I had hectic days behind me and felt a whole range of emotions. But as days passed, a subtle dread grew in the belly of my stomach.So I grabbed the phone, called my doctor's office. They were able to squeeze me in the next morning f
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 113
Rosa’s PovThe first days in the world after moving out of my family home, was like a strange kind of birth. I had reconciled my past and was okay with it, now I would get on with my life. The burden that held me down was finally removed. But as life likes to teach us, we donÕt get change without a fight.The first of many challenges hit James and me while we were sitting at our favorite restaurant, enjoying dinner together. Suddenly, there was a little buzz on the table where his phone was resting. His eyes scanned the words on it, narrowing as he read a message.“What’s wrong?” I half asked, my fork freezing in the air, the pleasant buzz of the restaurant dulled.James, with clipped vocals, replied: "It's about Bethel."I had put my fork down; I could hear the tension behind his voice. And his sister, Bethel, had always been the wild card of the Harden bunch—free-spirited, reckless and bold. Yet lately, she had been making more than a couple of bad choices.“What happened now?”"Of
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 112
Rosa’s PovAs we neared the house, which had once been my world, now a rundown old heap. The car came to a slow crawl. I had completely forgotten how much I missed that creak of the tires rolling on the gravel driveway. When I stepped out of the car, a surreal sense of nostalgia and unease washed over me. It was the first time for me back here in years, not since everything had changed. Not since the day I left in search of making a life for myself: so far away from here and all this history that hung around like an echo.“Are you sure about this?” Uh oh what happened James asked down beside me with concern in his voice.I shook my head, probably too fast and grinned at him with a tight smile that was only half reassuring. “Yeah. I think it’s time.”He gazed at me for a second, dark eyes roving over my face, the furrow between his brows growing deeper. He didn't follow up, but I could feel the question line hanging in the air. James had watched me go through hard times over and over,
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 111
James’s PovThe morning light was spilling through the blinds of my office, casting long shadows on the floor. While outside, the city hummed quietly in comparison to the storm in my brain. I had been expecting this. And I knew that after all we had done together Reginald would never let things like this slide. Defeat was not one of his words–not easily, anyway. So when I saw his name flash on my phone screen bright and early that morning, I knew it meant something.The door opened and Rosa, a placid but attractive figure of a woman always ready to chat broke into my thoughts. The question if she too had seen the message didn’t even need asking. There was already a heaviness between us.I said, and the words came out like an accusation — though I hadn't even finished speaking.Rosa’s gaze hardened. We knew that walking away quietly was not going to be an option for him. What does he want this time?”I sat back in my chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I pondered our choices. Such
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 110
Rosa’s POVOn a lazy Sunday afternoon, Emma surprised me with a question that caught me short. She had just finished her homework and was on the couch with her legs tucked under her, watching TV without really paying attention. Her innocent voice interrupted the soft hum of the house.Someday, at some point in our lives, one of us will ask the question — “Mom, why do you and Dad get married?”I paused, as the shock of words were more impactful than I had anticipated. Emma had never been dull — she always asked the kinds of questions that forced you to consider things in a way you never had before. I knew this day would come, but so early I didn't expect My thoughts were tumbling a bit as I tried to find the most appropriate words; how do you explain the mixed feelings behind our choice, or rather why the decision was not so simple for me or us?I looked at James, who was sitting at the kitchen table reading a newspaper, with his back toward us. His eyes glanced at mine for a split sec
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 109
James’s POVIt was something I had always prided myself on: knowing where I came from; understanding the legacy of my family. I thought I knew everything about our wealth, our power, the empire we had created; that little part of my life which I imagined was mine. But when I sat across the table from my mom, her hands shaking a little as she passed me an envelope with a strange, faded insignia ironed on it, I knew just how little knowledge I had.“James,” her voice wavering, she continued “I have to tell you something. The family history around how we came by our money, I guess.I frowned and focused on my breathing. “What do you mean, Mom?”After some delay, she opened the envelope and took out a few creased yellowing sheets of paper. “Of course, I never wanted you to know this but today feels like it could be time. You have to know the real story about your father, about what it took to build the Harden dynasty.I leaned in, heart racing. Decades of effort, well-placed investments,
