The Substitute Bride Is Reborn and Loves Her Husband No more - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: silent pleas

The soft click of the hospital door opening sent a jolt through Rose’s body. Her eyes snapped toward it, her heart hammering in her chest.

For a moment, she didn’t move.

She just looked at Tobi’s small face—his peaceful expression as he slept. His breathing was slow, steady—but fragile. Too fragile.

She couldn’t wake him.

So she rose carefully, her movements swift but silent, and made her way to the door. Her fingers hesitated on the handle for a split second before she pulled it open.

Rolan stood on the other side.

He looked… the same. Handsome, confident—like time had barely touched him. Unlike her.

But Rose refused to let her eyes linger.

She didn’t acknowledge the sharp cut of his jaw, the slight scruff on his chin, or the way his shirt stretched over broad shoulders.

She didn’t let herself feel anything.

Her voice came out cold. “Let’s go to the restroom and talk.”

Rolan blinked, brows furrowing slightly. “Huh?”

That innocent confusion—like he didn’t already know he was the last person she wanted to see—made her jaw tighten.

Her patience was hanging by a thread.

Don’t make me explain, she wanted to snap.

Instead, she exhaled sharply, turned on her heel, and started walking.

She knew he’d follow.

And he did.

—

Inside the Restroom

The door shut with a dull click, sealing them in.

Before Rose could even inhale, before she could spit the words at him—he moved.

His hands gripped her waist, yanking her close. Too close.

His scent hit her before his lips did—warm, maddening, like the past sneaking up on her.

Then he kissed her. Hard.

The breath she meant to take turned into a sharp, muffled gasp. Her body locked up… before it betrayed her.

His hands roamed over the fabric, gliding across her body until they found her breasts—claiming them like he had a right to, like she still belonged to him.

She didn’t.

She was supposed to push him away. To shove at his chest, to slap him, to scream at him for daring to touch her after—

After her.

Jennifer.

The memory slammed into her like a slap.

Explicit images—him and her sister, the pictures, the betrayal. The pain she had buried so, so deep.

Rage boiled in her veins.

Rose’s teeth sank into his lower lip—hard.

Rolan pulled back with a sharp hiss, his tongue darting out to taste the blood she had drawn.

His dark eyes flickered—something unreadable passing through them.

Then, her palm met his cheek.

Smack!

His head jerked slightly—but not enough. Not enough to satisfy the storm inside her.

So she hit him again.

This time, he caught it.

Not her hand. But the pain.

His breath hitched. His lips parted like he had something to say—but no words came.

He barely turned his head, but his expression… it shifted.

Not anger. Not even shock.

Something worse.

Like she had actually hurt him.

Like she was the one who betrayed him.

Rose’s breath came fast, her chest heaving. Her fingers twitched, ready to strike again—

But this time, he caught her wrist.

In one swift motion, he twisted her arm just enough to pull her closer—then pinned her against the cold wall.

She barely had time to struggle before his voice came, low and smooth against her ear.

“What the hell did I do to you, Rose?”

His tone wasn’t sharp. It wasn’t demanding.

It was soft. Almost gentle.

Almost… hurt.

That made her even angrier.

Because he had no right.

Rolan’s fingers were still wrapped around her wrist, his grip strong but not forceful—like he was holding on without truly trying to restrain her.

And Rose hated it.

She hated how easily he could hold her still. How he looked at her like that—like she was the one breaking him.

Her fury surged.

“How dare you?” Her voice trembled, but the rage burned hot in her chest. She yanked her wrist from his hold, her breath coming fast. “How dare you touch me after being with her?”

Rolan’s brows furrowed. Genuine confusion flickered across his face. “What?”

“Don’t act clueless!” she spat, pointing a shaking finger at him. “You slept with Jennifer, didn’t you?”

A flicker of something crossed his face—shock. Disbelief.

Rose pressed on, unable to stop. The words tumbled out, cutting her tongue like broken glass.

“You just got done with my sister, and now you think you can crawl back to me like I’m nothing?”

Her vision blurred. She had fought so hard to be strong. To not let this man break her again.

But standing here—so close to him, with his scent invading her, with his touch still lingering on her skin—

It hurt.

She saw it again—those pictures. The rumors. The whispers.

Playing in her head. Over and over.

Rolan’s expression darkened.

Not with anger. With something else.

Something she couldn’t name.

He stepped forward.

Rose stepped back.

She didn’t want to hear whatever excuse he had.

Because if she did—if he had any way to make her doubt what she saw—she would be weak.

And she couldn’t afford to be weak.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she choked out, her voice cracking. “Don’t you dare look at me like that.”

His eyes stayed on her—raw, searching.

She clenched her fists. She should be the one looking at him like that. She should be the one hurting.

Not him.

Rolan exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. Then he shook his head.

“Rose, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

That made her snap.

“Liar!” she screamed, slamming her fists into his chest. “You liar! You bastard!”

She hit him again. And again.

He didn’t move. Didn’t block her.

He just stood there.

Letting her fall apart.

Her arms trembled. The next hit barely landed. Then another. And another.

Until she wasn’t hitting him anymore.

Until her fingers curled into his shirt.

Until she let out a broken sob.

Her voice barely came out.

“Please.”

A shuddering breath.

“Stay with my son… until he gets cured.”

Because that was all that mattered now.

Not her.

Not him.

Tobi.