The Substitute Bride Is Reborn and Loves Her Husband No more - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Protective:oh no she wasn’t fooled

Rolan’s lips parted, his mind reeling at Rose’s request. He wanted to answer her—needed to—but what could he even say?

His thoughts spun, caught between the past, the present, and the sharp edge of her anger.

Then—BANG!

The restroom door rattled.

Rose stiffened. Rolan’s entire body tensed.

Who was hitting the door like that? Didn’t they know people were inside? His frown deepened.

Another bang—louder this time—followed by muffled voices. At first, he couldn’t make out the words over the pounding in his ears, but then—

“Open the door!” someone shouted. “Mrs. Rose Stewart! We know you’re in there!”

Rose took a deep breath. Rolan turned to her in that moment, catching the way her eyes went wide—not with shock, but with fear.

And that did something to him.

Were they after her again? Had her shadow enemy tipped them off? How much more could she take?

Rolan’s confusion, his lingering frustration with Rose—all of it vanished.

Rose’s entire career was built on reputation. If the press got a scandalous photo of her in a restroom with a man—him—they wouldn’t just speculate. They’d tear her apart.

That was the enemy’s goal.

Rolan didn’t hesitate.

He moved.

Before she could react, his hand covered her lips, muffling the small sound of panic escaping her throat. His other arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her close as he whispered, lips barely an inch from her ear, “Don’t make a sound. Don’t act suspicious.”

The pounding on the door continued.

“Mrs. Stewart! We just need a moment of your time—”

“Are you hiding someone in there?”

Rose’s body was rigid against him, her breath hot against his palm.

She didn’t pull away.

But she did glare at him.

And when her gaze flickered to his red, stinging cheek, a different kind of silence filled the space between them.

Right.

She had slapped him. Hard.

A part of him—the petty part—wanted to smirk and remind her. But the chaos outside didn’t give him that luxury.

The reporters weren’t leaving. If anything, they were getting louder.

Rolan could hear the shuffling of bodies, the eager clicking of camera shutters. Someone was probably recording already, broadcasting live on social media.

Then came the worst part.

A deep, authoritative voice.

“Break it open.”

Rolan’s grip on Rose tightened.

Her eyes snapped to his, panic no longer hidden.

They were out of time.

The next few seconds felt slow and fast all at once.

CRACK!

The lock snapped.

The door burst open.

Blinding light.

Dozens of voices.

And before anyone could capture Rose’s vulnerable expression—before they could twist the story into something ugly—

Rolan moved.

He wrapped his arms around her, turning his back to the crowd, shielding her body with his own.

The camera flashes exploded like fireworks. The air filled with shouted questions, accusations, demands.

But Rolan didn’t care.

Because in this moment, protecting her was all that mattered.

“Mrs. Rose Stewart, who is the man next to you?” a reporter barked, shoving a microphone dangerously close. “What is the owner of a company doing in a restroom with a man? Are you not ashamed?”

Another voice cut in, sharper, not scared about life.

“Is this the same man you ran away with three years ago?”

Rolan’s jaw clenched. He could already see the headlines—

‘CEO Caught in a Scandal!’

‘Shameless Woman’s Secret Affair Exposed!’

Rose’s company would suffer. Her reputation, something she had fought to rebuild, would be shredded in seconds.

He wouldn’t let that happen.

Slowly, he turned to face them, keeping Rose hidden behind him. His dark eyes burned as he met their hungry gazes.

His voice was sharp and he said. “She is my wife. All of you, get out.”

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd, but some reporters weren’t satisfied. A few smirked, sensing blood.

“Mr. Rolan, you say she’s your wife, but isn’t it true that she ran away three years ago?”

“She left you for another man, didn’t she? Cheated on you? And now she’s back with another man’s child? Are you really going to accept them? Are you that stupid?”

Rolan’s fists clenched.

Every word was a knife—not because of their accusations, but because of the truth buried inside them.

Yes, she had left.

Yes, she had another man’s child.

And yes, despite everything, he had accepted her back.

But what they would never understand was why.

His mind flickered back to the sleepless nights, the endless questions. To the years spent in silent rage, convincing himself he hated her. The moment he saw her again—standing in front of him, walls built so high even she was trapped inside them.

Hate?

He had told himself he hated her.

But nothing—not time, not distance, not even betrayal—had killed the grip she had on his heart.

And now, with the press circling her like vultures, with her body trembling against him—

He knew.

He would rather destroy the world than let them destroy her.

“Listen carefully.” Rolan’s voice dropped into something low and lethal. The reporters hesitated. “If a single one of you prints a lie about my wife, I will make sure you regret it.”

The air shifted.

A smirking journalist pushed forward. They questioned”So you’re saying everything is a lie? You’re saying she never ran away?”

Rolan’s grip on Rose tightened.

“I’m saying,” he growled, “that none of you are leaving this place unless you delete every photo you just took.”

A sharp inhale spread through the crowd. Some reporters exchanged glances, fingers twitching over their cameras.

But Rolan wasn’t finished.

“I own this hospital.” His voice was cold, factual. “The security system records everything, including who enters and leaves. If I find a single article, a single leaked video, I will make sure your faces are known—and not in the way you want.”

Fear flickered across some of their faces. It was no secret that Rolan wasn’t just a businessman.

He had power. The kind that crushed people overnight.

One by one, reporters lowered their cameras. Some whispered amongst themselves, hesitating.

Rose hadn’t spoken a word. She remained still against him, unreadable.

But he could feel it. The rapid rise and fall of her chest.

She was shaken.

He needed to get her out of here.

“Security.” Rolan turned to the entrance. Almost immediately, two men in black suits appeared—his personal guards. “Clear them out.”

Without another word, they stepped forward. The reporters protested, but when a guard grabbed a camera and forcefully deleted the pictures, the rest scrambled back.

Within minutes, the restroom was empty again.

Silence settled.

Rolan finally looked down at Rose. Her face was pale, but her eyes…

Sharp.

Filled with disbelief. And something else.

Something unreadable.

His voice softened, just barely. “Are you alright?”

Rose blinked up at him. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she whispered—

“Why did you do that?”

Rolan exhaled slowly. His fingers, which had been gripping her arm so protectively, loosened.

“Because I would rather them ruin me than ruin you.”

“Bastard” Rose spat hitting him hard caughting him off guard

“Nice acting Mr Rolan” Rose smirked bitterly looking at him

“Mind following me?” as she said she walked out of the restroom, her chest still not calm.

Today was just like hell and Rolan actions and words almost made her a fool again