A Ruin Of Roses (Used to be: My Mysterious Husband)

NINETEEN

𝙲𝚘𝚋𝚑, 𝙸𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝟹:𝟹𝟽 𝙿.𝙼 𝙼𝙰𝚁 𝟸𝟿𝚝𝚑 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝙹𝙰𝚇𝙾𝙽]

The air suddenly feels heavy with tension as Jayden eagerly asks, "Dad, can we tell Mom the surprise now?"

I glance at Rose, my heart pounding, wondering how she'll react to the news. She raises an eyebrow, clearly curious. "What surprise?" she inquires.

My mind races as I contemplate the best way to break the news. I know it's been a while, and I should have mentioned it earlier. Jayden, with his childlike enthusiasm, takes the lead. "Dad paid the medical bills he promised me when I went to the hospital," he says, his voice filled with happiness.

For a brief moment, I expect anger or confusion from Rose, but her reaction catches me off guard. Her eyes, not filled with anger, glaze over with a different emotion—confusion and sadness. Her tone, when she finally responds, is somber, almost devoid of emotion, and it sends a knot twisting in my stomach. "Really?"

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner," I admit, feeling a pang of guilt for not discussing it with her earlier. Her reaction is not what I had anticipated, and I'm left wondering about the source of her distress.

"It's fine. Thank you," she says quietly, looking down as if trying to mask her true feelings. Her reaction leaves me with a sense of unease, like there's something beneath the surface that I don't yet understand.

Jayden, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, seems a little sad, realizing that something is amiss. I silently hope that Rose will open up and share her thoughts and emotions with us soon.

Just then, Lilly arrives, accompanied by a slightly overdressed guy, Henry. She approaches Rose with a bright smile and a hug. "Hey, Lilly. Hi, Henry," Rose greets them.

"Mommy, can I stay with Aunt Lilly for a couple of nights?" Jayden asks, his tone both serious and sweet.

Lilly, playing along, adds in a playful, childish tone, "Can he, Mommy?"

Rose takes a moment to consider the request. I heave a sigh, hoping that perhaps some time away will help her open up about why she's upset. "I don't see why not. If you guys want to stop by the house, we'll pack some stuff up for him," she agrees, her voice still carrying a hint of the melancholy I can't quite grasp.

We start gathering Jayden's things and, together, we walk to the car. I know Rose is still upset, and I decide to give her some space for now, choosing not to press her with questions. It's clear that something is bothering her, and I'm determined to support her in any way I can.

Once everything is packed up and ready to go, we head back to our house. The journey is quiet, and the atmosphere is tinged with uncertainty. I'm hopeful that when the time is right, she'll share her feelings with me, allowing us to face whatever challenges lie ahead as a united front.

𝙲𝚘𝚛𝚔, 𝙸𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝟻:𝟸𝟼 𝙿.𝙼 𝙼𝙰𝚁 𝟸𝟿𝚝𝚑 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙴]

It's been about an hour since Jayden left with Lilly and Henry, and an uncomfortable silence has settled in our home. I can't shake the feeling that something is amiss, and it's not just about the bills. Jaxon's sudden ability to come up with so much money raises questions, and it's clear he's carrying a burden he's not willing to share. As he walks into the living room, a palpable sense of guilt hangs in the air.

"If I ask, will you tell me?" Jaxon finally breaks the silence, his voice filled with trepidation.

"Will you answer one question?" I reply, my voice equally cautious. He looks at me, and I can see the turmoil in his eyes.

"What are you keeping a secret?" I ask, my curiosity mixed with concern.

"You wouldn't understand," Jaxon murmurs, avoiding eye contact.

"Try me," I assert, my determination pushing through.

"My family disowned me," he begins, his voice heavy with the weight of his confession. "I was left on my own, with no one to turn to. I tried to make a name for myself amidst a web of rumors. I started working for a big company in Dublin and began making good money. When the arrangement to marry your sister was made, I knew I had to hide who I really was because I was scared."

"Scared of what?" I inquire, my heart aching for him. He finally looks at me, and his eyes reveal a mix of doubt and agony.

"Losing someone else," he whispers, his vulnerability laid bare. "I was convinced that if you found out I was rich, you'd use me, or worse, leave me."

"Why would I do either of those things?" I protest, feeling a surge of empathy. "I felt useless when he told me what you did because I couldn't pay for it myself," I confess, and he gently takes my hands in his.

"You shouldn't have to worry about that," he insists, his voice full of tenderness.

"Why not?" I question, my own insecurities surfacing. "What if, in the future, he throws it in my face that I was too poor to take care of him, that I had to marry you to save his life? It would crush me."

"Why would you think he would do that? He loves you," Jaxon reassures me, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I see it every time he looks at you. He would never do that to you."

"I'm scared," I admit in a whisper, feeling a mixture of fear and vulnerability. Jaxon pulls me closer, and his warm hands run down my back softly. I rest my head against his chest, listening to the reassuring rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Let me take care of you," he implores, his voice laced with affection. I look up at him, our eyes locking in an intense connection that speaks volumes. "I love you, Rose. I want you and no one else, and I will protect you if you let me. Let me love you," he murmurs softly.

I can't resist his sincerity, and I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him close. Our lips meet in a tender kiss, filled with affection and longing. It's a moment that seems to last forever, a perfect union of two souls lost in their own world. As the kiss deepens and ignites with passion, his hands slide down my back, and he lifts me up, his strong grip on my thighs. In this moment, I feel like everything could be perfect, with him and me in our own little world, a world full of love and passion.