The Substitute Bride Is Reborn and Loves Her Husband No more - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Xxx

Standing there in the garden, looking around, Rose suddenly caught Rolan staring at her.

Her heart raced with an unstable beat as their gazes locked.

Her pulse quickened, and awkward beads of sweat began forming on her forehead.

She knew she was done for.

She was finished. There was no point in denying that Tobi was her son anymore—she had already exposed herself completely.

Rose wondered why he was looking at her like that. It seemed as if her lie had already been uncovered. That was clear, but that didn’t give Rolan the right to look at her with such accusatory eyes, as if she had done something wrong.

Rolan placed his hand in his pocket, raising a brow at her, his lips curving into a smirk that resembled a sneer—yet it made him look undeniably attractive.

“Oh? You said he’s not your son, right? That he’s Zara’s? But I’ve never once seen Zara with him.”

As his words reached Rose’s ears, she bit her lip—a small act of self-inflicted pain to ground herself, to stop her mind from spiraling and saying something that made no sense. She needed to be careful, to respond with something that wouldn’t get her caught.

She turned her face slightly, revealing the sharp profile of her well-defined features. Her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow as her eyes landed on a purplish flower, using it as a distraction. She didn’t want to meet Rolan’s gaze when she lied—because she feared he could read her eyes, see the deception within them.

Rolan’s gaze deepened, watching her every move, noting her deliberate attempt to avoid eye contact.

[She’s about to tell me a big lie,] he thought, [that’s why she won’t look at me. Staring at that flower as if it’s more interesting than me.]

A clicking sound of approaching footsteps broke the tense silence. Rolan took a step forward, drawing closer to Rose. A gust of wind swept past them, making the moment feel strangely eerie.

Rose clenched her fists tightly as she heard his footsteps nearing. She swallowed hard, her heart racing in anticipation of his approach.

Finally, as he stood close to her, Rolan leaned in and whispered in her ear, his voice dangerously smooth.

“Come on, Rose. Tell me. Who is the father of that child?”

His voice sent a shiver down her spine.

How did he do that? Rose couldn’t help but wonder. He had always had this effect on her. It wasn’t that she had a thing for voices, but Rolan… he made her question her own heart.

His voice had always had this strange power over her—back then and even now—though she wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

“Tobi is my son, and as for his father… that does not concern you. Is that clear, Mr. Rolan?”

Rose turned to him, her voice firm and sharp like a blade. She had made up her mind—she was going to push him away with her words. And she had finally confessed—Tobi was her son. She wouldn’t deny it anymore.

And what could he do about it? Tobi was hers alone.

Fingers suddenly gripped her chin, tilting her face up, locking her eyes with his.

Her brows furrowed, irritation flickering in her gaze.

“Let me go. Your proximity is too close. I wouldn’t want Tobi to see this.”

She tried to turn away, to escape his grasp, but Rolan held her firmly. He wasn’t letting go.

He chuckled, his eyes darkening—his usual greyish-hazel irises now taking on a deeper, unreadable shade.

“You’ve gotten more interesting over the years. When will I have you back?”

Rose scoffed at his words, resisting the urge to spit in his face.

“Never. You will never have me back.” Her glare sharpened. “What do you want from me? Don’t push me into saying something I don’t want to.”

She finally broke free from his grasp, stepping back.

“Mr. Rolan, you should learn to keep your distance. I have a child with me. He might come here at any moment, so be mindful of your behavior.”

She dusted off her sleeve, her glare still fixed on him.

Rolan smirked at her but said nothing.

With a sigh, Rose shifted her gaze toward the garden, scanning for Tobi.

A rustling sound came from the bushes. Her attention snapped toward the noise.

From behind the leaves, Tobi suddenly came running out—laughing, with Darius following closely behind.

“Mummy! Mummy!” Tobi called out repeatedly, running straight into Rose’s arms. She chuckled, ruffling his hair.

Rolan’s gaze flickered between Rose and Tobi before settling on Darius. The wolf stood nearby, wagging his tail.

Steps echoed as Rolan approached Darius, effortlessly lifting the small wolf into his arms.

“Huh… Your son’s wolf can take on a form of its own?” Rolan mused, raising a brow. “I haven’t seen such a thing before.”

Darius struggled in his grasp, growling lowly, clearly displeased.

Tobi’s eyes widened.

“Hey! Let go of Darius!”

Tobi could hear Darius muttering curses under his breath at Rolan, complaining in his usual grumpy tone.

Rose, who had been kneeling beside Tobi, rose to her feet, stepping forward with a firm expression.

“How about you let my other son go?” she said, her voice steady. “What do you think, Mr. Rolan? You should let him go.”

She reached toward him, her stance unwavering.

Rolan met her gaze with a knowing chuckle. He glanced at Darius, still squirming in his arms, before finally placing the wolf back down.

“You know,” he said, watching her closely, “your children seem to have rare traits… traits that oddly resemble mine. Why is that?”

His voice dropped slightly, tinged with suspicion.

Rose stiffened. She instinctively took a step back, though she kept her movements slow, measured.

She forced a smirk onto her lips.

Rolan, still watching her every reaction, narrowed his eyes slightly before turning away.

“I’ll find out everything you’re hiding from me, Rose.”

His words sent a cold chill down her spine.

Rose bit her lip, trying to suppress the wave of unease that washed over her.

She needed to be careful now.

Rolan… The man she had once loved… He should have been a detective, not a company owner. That profession would have suited him far better.

And now, she feared he was dangerously close to uncovering the truth.