All Chapters of Roses Rising Above the Thorns: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Freya didn't have the nerve to lie to a doctor, so she told Gabriel the truth.After hearing her out, Gabriel carefully rebandaged her wound, secured the wrap, then put the first aid kit aside and got up.Freya was surprised to see him acting so strangely. Didn't he plan on checking her wound? Why wrap it up again?After shooting off a few messages, Gabriel picked up the keys from the table and turned to her. "Come on, let's head to the hospital for a proper check-up.""No, it's fine. I had it checked in Javerton. The doctor said it wasn't serious and let me leave." Even though Freya refused, it didn't make a difference.Gabriel kept his gaze on her, his eyes unwavering, but his tone was surprisingly soft. "You were in a car accident and need a full check-up. Your hands are meant for drawing."Freya was convinced as soon as she heard his last words. She got up and left with him without hesitation. They quickly headed to the nearest hospital, where she had a full exam.When the r

Kenneth's call came through while Stellan was peeling an orange for Freya, following Kelsey's orders. Stellan's hands were a mess from the juicy orange, so answering the phone was a bit of a hassle. He asked Freya to take his phone out for him.Freya pulled it out, and when she saw the caller ID, her smile faltered for a second before returning to normal.She hit the answer button, held the phone up to Stellan's ear, and took a bite of the fresh orange. The juicy pulp burst in her mouth, and the sweetness flooded her throat. It tasted so good.Kenneth said something that made Stellan frown and gave Freya a weird look.Freya remained unbothered by his strange stare. She grabbed some tissues, quickly wiped his hands, and shoved his phone at him.Stellan was about to ask something when the butler showed up with Gabriel.The moment Kelsey saw him, she jumped to her feet to greet him. Once they exchanged a few pleasantries, Gabriel walked over and sat beside Freya.With Gabriel's a

"Duh! With my looks and charm, there's no way I'd settle for anything less." Stellan flashed a smug grin as he held the veil over Freya's head, checking to see if it suited her.Freya went along with it, flashing a thumbs-up before quietly asking, "So, why would such an amazing guy like him agree to an arranged marriage with me?"Stellan raised an eyebrow, looking even more pleased with himself as they dove into the topic. "Gabriel's famous for being standoffish. He was totally consumed by his research and medicine since he was a kid."He hasn't cared about romance a day in his life. His family noticed how he was and naturally began pressuring him to settle down."Being his close friends, we had to pitch in and help him find someone. But even after introducing him to a dozen or so women, none of them seemed to impress him. "Then, I had him over on my birthday, and he saw our family photo. He was staring at you for quite some time. I figured something might be going on, so I broug

The Deakins had an estate near Cloudveil Hill. It was typically pretty quiet but buzzing like never before on Tuesday night.All the young elites in Javerton who were tight with Kenneth got invites and showed up on time.The moment they entered, they shot puzzled glances at each other when they saw the grand hall set up like a wedding venue.Was Kenneth about to propose? Who was the lucky one?Everyone looked around the room and noticed his new girlfriend was missing. Their gazes naturally shifted to Charlotte, dressed in a stunning gown.Whispers began to ripple through the crowd."Looks like old flames die hard. Guess Kenneth went back to his first love after all.""His poor ex—she probably has no idea why she got dumped."With the murmurs buzzing around her and the hall bursting with roses in every color, Charlotte's eyes shone with smug satisfaction.She was sure Kenneth would come back to her. For eight years, his love for her had never wavered. What chance did Freya have

Kenneth still hadn't heard back from Freya by Thursday night. Frustrated, he hung his head and drank quietly, his gaze flicking toward the phone every now and then.Wayne knew what was bothering him and tried to ease his mind. "She's probably just throwing a fit, waiting for you to make things right. It's pretty obvious how much Freya loves you."How could she actually want to break up? I bet she had Stellan invite you to the wedding just to give you a chance to fix things."Kenneth began to feel better after hearing that. He checked the time, and when it hit 9:00 pm, he got up and headed to the airport.Wayne drove him. At the red light, he looked at the beautifully wrapped gift boxes in the back seat and said enviously, "It's just your college roommate's wedding. Do you really have to go all out?"You even brought along your grandfather's heirlooms. You'd better do the same for me when I get married!"Kenneth shot him a look and tossed his bracelet at him. "Roommate? He's my fu