The Substitute Bride Is Reborn and Loves Her Husband No more - Chapter 114

Chapter 114: The Secret she’s keeping
She hadn’t told him about it—and now she was certain she never would. Rose acted like yesterday had never happened, as if she hadn’t almost been overwhelmed by her emotions. Everything around her was calm and peaceful.

She busied herself by monitoring the activities at her film company. It was a welcome distraction, especially since they were undergoing an upgrade. Everything looked perfect. The only issue was that she wouldn’t be there to witness it all in person.

The company was progressing, but she couldn’t bear the thought of showing up in front of everyone—like this. With her injured leg. With the wheelchair. With the shame.

She hated it. Hated the way she looked now. She felt ridiculous. Weak. Exposed.

After she was done reviewing updates on her phone, Zara walked into the room with a wide grin plastered across her face.

“Girl, are you not ready? We’re going on a picnic to check out the tour—and we’re doing a bit of exploring, some sightseeing around the area.”

Rose raised an eyebrow, eyeing Zara skeptically.

What was she talking about?

No one had told her anything about a picnic or sightseeing.

Since when was this a plan?

She folded her arms and gave Zara a look that practically screamed, What are you up to?

Zara caught the silent accusation and responded quickly, smiling as she spoke. “I just planned this. We’re going on a picnic.”

“Who exactly is going on this picnic?” Rose interrupted, her tone sharp, one brow still raised.

Zara hesitated, then answered, “Well… Damien and Rolan are coming with us.”

Rose sighed. She didn’t care much for Rolan, and she wasn’t close to Damien either. But given the recent string of strange and threatening incidents, she knew it was necessary. They needed people like Rolan and Damien around—men who could handle danger if it came knocking.

She hadn’t arranged for proper bodyguards yet. That was still in the works. She was planning to hire professionals who would protect them, stay by their side, especially during their upcoming trip to Switzerland.

“So you planned all of this without telling me? Are you just going to keep making plans without informing me—your best friend? Am I even your best friend?” Rose asked, her tone firm. There was no hint of playfulness in her voice, and Zara could tell she wasn’t joking.

“Rose, stop the drama. I know you’re pretending right now,” Zara replied, grinning.

Rose rolled her eyes and pressed her lips together, as if she’d been caught red-handed. She was pretending to be upset. Sometimes, she just couldn’t help it—she was jealous of Zara’s confidence. Her courage. The way she made decisions so quickly, without second-guessing herself. Zara simply followed her heart without hesitation.

Rose was the complete opposite. Someone conditioned to be sweet, obedient, and quiet. Even when she wanted to speak up, something always dragged her back into that old shell—the timid girl who used to be bullied from the time she was little.

She was never allowed to speak for herself. Whenever she tried, someone would shut her down. Tell her to be quiet. Tell her she didn’t need to talk. And so she’d go silent again, stuck not knowing how to defend herself, afraid of raising her voice.

“I know right now you’re drowning in your past, turning all gloomy,” Zara said softly. “Just take a deep breath and come out of it. Let’s enjoy today—the little outing we have planned.”

Rose had been so deep in thought that she didn’t even notice Zara walking up to her until she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked up and met her friend’s eyes.

“Thank you, Zara,” she said quietly.

Zara immediately reached out and pinched her cheek. “Between friends, there’s no such thing as ‘thank you.’ You should never say that to me. We’re friends for life—friends forever.”

Rose chuckled at that. “Wow, all these sugar-coated words—just for me?”

“Let’s get going already. You look amazing,” Zara said, stepping back to appraise her. “Honestly, I don’t think you even own any ugly clothes. I keep wondering—if you were to dress recklessly, what kind of outfit would you even come up with for a picnic?” She rubbed her chin in mock seriousness.

Rose blushed and looked away with a playful smile.

“I will never look pathetic in any way—never in this life.” For the past three years, no matter the situation, she had learned to dress well and present herself with confidence. Even when her mind was a mess, even with a storm of problems in her head, her appearance would never reflect it. How she looked should never affect how she interacted with people.

“Yes, I trust you. You’re always ready,” Zara said with a grin. “I just wish that one day, I’d catch a bad photo of you in an ugly outfit.”

Rose shook her head and laughed helplessly.

….

Rolan looked at Rose the moment she stepped out of the room with Zara. Her eyes deliberately avoided his, and he noticed—how could he not? Why was she avoiding him? What was she trying to hide?

Yesterday, she’d wanted to tell him something. He’d seen it on her face, the hesitation, the internal war—but in the end, she’d stopped herself. What was it that she couldn’t bring herself to say? And why was she back to pretending he didn’t exist?

The dream he’d had about her kept gnawing at him. It felt connected—like whatever she wanted to say had something to do with that dream. But she had held back. She hadn’t said a word. And he couldn’t force her. As much as it killed him, if she didn’t want to talk, he couldn’t drag it out of her.

All he could do now was wonder. Wonder why she wasn’t just avoiding him—she was ignoring him completely.

She looked gorgeous in her dress, even sitting in a wheelchair. Her mouth was drawn in a tight line, but her eyes flicked toward him—for three point five seconds—and then she turned right back to smiling at Zara like he wasn’t even there.

He hated that. Hated the way it made his chest tighten and his jaw clench. He wanted to talk to her, approach her, make her look at him—really look—but then Damien had beaten him to it.

Damien. Always too damn quick.

The guy was already at her side, holding her arm like he had every right to, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand like some goddamn prince.

Rolan watched it happen, watched her let it happen, and all he could think about was how long it had been since Lacey kissed him like that. Or when he’d even kissed Lacey, period. His brain blanked. All he could see was Rose—smiling at Damien. Smiling at him when she couldn’t even spare a glance for Rolan.

It lit a fire in his gut. Something raw. Something possessive.

Unacceptable.

He clenched his fists, then forced himself to approach them with a casual swagger that didn’t match the storm in his chest.

“Hey babe,” he said, voice low and teasing, “you look really nice in that dress.”

He reached out and brushed a strand of her hair. It was the only thing he felt he could touch—like everything else about her had become off-limits.

Rose didn’t even glance at him.

Not at his voice. Not at the nickname. Not at the touch. Nothing.

He’d expected her to snap at him, maybe throw a “crazy bastard” or a “shameless prick” his way. Anything. Something. But instead, there was just… silence.

Dead, hollow silence.

He stared at her, heart thudding like a war drum.

What are you hiding from me, Rose?

Whatever it is…

I’ll find out.

And nothing—nothing—is gonna stop me.