The Substitute Bride Is Reborn and Loves Her Husband No more - Chapter 121

Chapter 121: You’re the love of my life

“Rose, if you don’t love me or care about me, then why did you stay in this marriage?”

“If your heart wasn’t beating for me, why didn’t you leave?”

Rose was caught off guard by Rolan’s sudden question. It came out of nowhere, hitting her like a slap. She froze, completely unprepared. Her thoughts spun, her body tensed. She didn’t want to answer—it felt like a trap.

Her eyes shifted away, refusing to meet his. She knew the second she opened her mouth—if she said even one word—she’d break. Her emotions were too close to the surface, raw and exposed.

She knew the truth. She stayed because she was a fool. Because she had fallen in love with a man who never once looked her way. A man still obsessed with her sister.

But she wasn’t about to admit any of that.

Instead, she clenched her jaw, forced a bitter smirk onto her face, and spat out,

“Of course I stayed for my sister. I was just covering for her. Waiting until she came back so you two could live your little fairytale. I was just the stand-in, right? The inconvenience. The one who ruined everything between you and Jennifer.”

“You two were meant to be. I was just the mistake that got in the way.”

Rolan stared at her, stunned. Her words echoed in his ears—sharp, surreal.

She’d stayed… for that reason?

He didn’t know what to say. For so long, he’d hated her. He believed she had stolen her sister’s place out of selfishness. Thought she was manipulative, calculated, shameless. And yeah, he’d seen her feelings for him—noticed the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t watching.

It disgusted him.

Or at least, that’s what he told himself.

But now… now he was questioning everything.

Had he misunderstood her all along?

Had he treated a loyal woman like dirt because of his own damn pride?

He remembered her kindness, her efforts, the soft smiles he never once returned. He remembered using her body to satisfy his needs, never offering comfort or affection in return. He remembered her silence, her tears, the way she never fought back.

And now, it hit him like a truck.

He’d been a fucking monster.

If he could go back, he’d take it all back. If it meant proving he wasn’t the same heartless bastard, he’d never touch her again. Not unless she asked. Not unless she wanted him.

But gods…

She was still so fucking irresistible.

—

“Don’t look at me like that, Rolan. Don’t look at me. I hate the way you look at me.”

Rolan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of amusement in his voice.

“Why shouldn’t I look at you?” he asked, his gaze never leaving hers.

“You’re the love of my life. I have every right to look at you. You can’t stop me from staring if I want to.”

Rose’s face burned with discomfort. Her eyes darted away.

She was silent for a beat, then said softly, almost in a whisper,

“Can’t you see that I hate you, Rolan? I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“What would be best is if you just take me back to my son, so I can finally meet him and be with him. Even though I’m crippled, that doesn’t make me an object. At least I’m still breathing. You should consider that.”

Rolan’s expression shifted. His face twisted—hurt, anger, guilt—everything tangled into one.

He stood there, silent, eyes locked on hers like he was searching for something lost.

“I never meant for you to feel this way, Rose,” he said at last, voice quieter now.

“I’m sorry. I thought this trip would be special for us. I didn’t realize I was hurting you… just by being me.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Rose. Not like this.”

“You never meant to hurt me, Rolan? Then why are you hurting me now? If you truly don’t want to hurt me, then let me go. Let me be free. Get us out of here.”

Her voice trembled, laced with fury.

“You’re misbehaving right now, and you sure as hell don’t look like someone who’s sorry. You don’t look like a man who wants to repent—someone who regrets what he’s done.”

She stared at him, eyes burning with clarity.

“You have only one option, Rolan. One. Tear up the pilot’s schedule, take us back to our hometown. Cancel this trip. And maybe—just maybe—somewhere in my heart, I might consider forgiving you.”

Her voice sharpened. “Are you hearing me clearly, Rolan?”

She took a deep breath, confused. Rose couldn’t understand why her voice had softened, why she was even negotiating with him. What the hell was she doing?

Rose, can’t you understand? Rolan moved before she could even blink. Suddenly, his hand was on her face, cupping her cheek. His gaze locked on hers, intense and desperate.

“I can’t do without you, Rose. You ignoring me is driving me crazy. Everything about you—it’s driving me insane.”

His voice cracked.

“I never imagined I’d fall this madly for you. That I’d be this deeply in love. Not in my wildest dreams. Rose… please. Forgive me. Let’s start over.”

“Back off, Rolan.”

Rose shoved him away with her hand, firm and cold. “One thing I hate about you is your aggressiveness.”

“You hate it?” he muttered, tilting his head. “I think you’re lying. I think some part of you likes it.”

Rolan stepped in, smirking—and smacked his lips against hers with no warning.

She bit her tongue in the chaos and swallowed her words, rage flaring through her chest.

Damn bastard, she cursed in her heart.

“Okay, I’m sorry. I promise—no more jokes from now on. The flight’s almost over, just try to calm down. Want a drink? Something nice?” Rolan said, moving forward to call a flight attendant.

A woman in a sharp corporate-style stewardess uniform arrived shortly after. Rolan took the drink from her and brought it to Rose.

She stared at it and refused to take it.

But Rolan, like he already knew what she was thinking, placed it gently in her hand.

Eventually, she took the juice from him and drank it.

Meanwhile, inside, she was screaming.

She has no shame, Rose thought bitterly. She should be acting cold toward Rolan—but here she is, acting weak.

She hated herself for it.

Still… the drink tasted good. Sweet and smooth.

“Don’t think I’m happy with you just because you got me a drink,” she snapped, turning to Rolan.

He just chuckled quietly and gave a small nod.

“Okay, let’s agree—you’re still mad at me.”

“Yes, I am still mad at you,” she said, giving him a sharp look, as if trying to hypnotize him into believing it. Like she could convince him that the juice hadn’t softened her even a little.

“Rose, you said you don’t love me—so why did you stay in the marriage? Why did you even marry me?”