Serenity

He Lost

His feet didn't gather any speed. Cal's throbbing body felt feeble, but he could hear the melodic sound of laughter. Dawson and...Rose. The heavy barn door whined its injury as two figures emerged, bound for the Daimler, whom his father purchased specifically for Ruth and her daughters upon returning from New York after the sinking to travel in such style. To ensure their appearances could continue. His father had hired a new chauffeur to ensure that every move of theirs could be reported back to his open ears; it was promised the chauffeur would pry into their business and ensure that they were kept abreast of Rose's whereabouts, ironic who his unknowing father had taken under their wing of employ. If they believed in such nonsense, one could have almost written the fate.

Now though...now, they were about to leave, together, and he had caught them amid a passionate embrace.

Cal was a fool to believe that they had gone already, a fool to think that Rose would have stayed, a fool to have even started to go after them, but for once, Rose had been right about something...how could they have been married, now? How could he still have that damned incessant fight. That need. That urgency for her?

Their laughter echoed, causing his anger to triple in size before his pace picked up despite the wounds inflicted earlier. A man his age was virile yet certainly not used to sparring as he had once been as a bucking adolescent. No man could match him then, and his attempts to curb his temper were pointless, but now, their combined spirited performance ceased his ability to breathe. Cal could only feel the fire of fury lingering within his belly as they had stumbled, completely enthralled with the other and wrapped in a passionate embrace. It was like a poisonous snake trying to rip its way out of his stomach with an acidic wash.

They must have seen his approach. With their lips joining, Jack left the car wheel to stand with crossed arms to greet him. That casual stance seemed to cause the snake to hiss further within him, a clear sign of his lack of nobility, education, manners, and just about everything else.

"What do you want Cal?" he asked, annoyance clear to Cal. "I told you earlier to stay the Hell away from her."

"I require the keys to the car that you are attempting to steal."

Jack's head tilted cockily, and he shook his head. "Go to Hell."

Cal's blurred vision settled on Rose as she stepped from the passenger side without Jack's aid and raised her chin, meeting his eyeline perfectly. She was utterly poised, keeping herself straight and without so much of a tremble.

"Do you truly wish to be taken into the night by that...thief? To be a whore to a common criminal."

Rose didn't withhold her answer. "I'd rather be his whore than your wife."

It was true. There was an almost confessional confession. She had taken another man and allowed him to do the things only a husband should do to her, sharing herself with a stranger when he, her fiancé, had been willing to treat her the same way all along.

"Your reputation shall be in ruins."

The scandal. She had left him, and the whole world was going to know. It would turn his life into a laughing stock. His family would be mortified by her whoreish actions. Society would chatter, newspapers would print the headlines, and he would be unspeakable. His name would be tarnished, dragged through the mud, and his peers would point, watch and mock him. He was undeniably broken. He had lost her. She had left him. For a man of very little meaning, money or social status. A man with nothing but an unwashed coat, untied laces and ten bucks in his pocket. A man who she didn't know. A man who had probably made her silly promises of a better life, which she had fallen for. Stupid, naïve girl.