The Substitute Bride Is Reborn and Loves Her Husband No more - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Mother and son against him
Rolan smirked, watching her grumpy expression. At least she still cared. Even though she didn’t want to talk to him, she still made sure he got checked.

For once, she was putting him over her son.

If anyone was delusional here, it was definitely Rolan.

—

At the Hospital

“His eye condition is serious,” the doctor said, adjusting his glasses as he looked up at Rolan. Then, he turned to Rose. “Who did this to him?”

The doctor’s voice carried pity as he examined Rolan’s injuries.

Rose couldn’t bring herself to say the truth—that her son was the one who hurt him and that he completely deserved it. Instead, she just gave the doctor an awkward smile.

“Doctor, how long will it take for him to recover?” Rose finally asked the question that had been bothering her for a long time.

Would Rolan have to stay in her house? Would he recover quickly? She wasn’t sure. She just wanted to know.

“You’re asking too soon. This will take weeks, maybe even longer,” the doctor said.

Rose’s heart sank. She wanted Rolan to heal quickly so she could throw him out of her house—or, better yet, not even bring him there in the first place.

“But, Doctor, with strong eye medicine, he’ll recover faster, right?” Rose asked, her hope rising again.

“Yes,” the doctor confirmed.

Rose’s heart raced. That was it. She wouldn’t have to take care of Rolan personally. If she could get effective medicine, it would do the job.

“Thank you, Doctor. I’ll get the best medicine for him so he can recover quickly and—leave me alone. I mean, so he can heal fast,” Rose said, her words stumbling as she caught herself.

The doctor gave her a confused look but chose to ignore it.

Meanwhile, Rolan, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly raised his head.

He had heard everything.

So she really couldn’t wait to get rid of him?

—

“A few weeks, Doctor? I thought it would take months! Doctor you mean it could take months before I fully recover, right?” Rolan asked, his voice rising in frustration.

He almost wanted to glare at the doctor with threatening eyes, but he quickly remembered that his vision was still blurry and his eyes were burning. Just attempting to do so made him wince.

The doctor glanced between Rolan and Rose awkwardly before dismissing them. “My work here is done. You two can leave now,” he said with a polite smile.

Rose glanced at the doctor and then gave an awkward smile when she realized he was brushing them off.

“Thank you, Doctor, for attending to us. I’ll make sure he gets well,” Rose said, standing up, not bothering to wait for Rolan, who was still lingering in the doctor’s office.

“And don’t forget his prescriptions,” the doctor reminded her.

“Yes, yes, I’ll make sure he gets his medicine,” Rose replied quickly.

But in her heart, she thought, Why wouldn’t I give him his medicine and pills? This is the only way to get rid of him faster.

Slightly squinting, she couldn’t help but smile. She was thrilled, she would be able to drive him away after getting a strong medicine to cure his eyes.

…

The hospital doors slid open, and the cold evening air hit her skin like a warning. Rose adjusted the strap of her bag and took a deep breath, pretending that her heart wasn’t racing like it was about to leap out of her chest. Tobi clung to her side, his small fingers wrapped tightly around hers as if he knew she needed an anchor.

Beside her, Rolan exhaled sharply, shifting like he was gathering himself. “Hold her hand,” he said, voice firm but slightly off. ” I can’t see clearly. I might walk into traffic or get hit by a truck.”

Rose barely glanced at him. “That’s dramatic.”

“It’s called being careful,” he muttered, his hand hovering close to hers.

Before she could answer, Tobi tugged at her sleeve. “Don’t hold his hand, Mom.” His voice was stubborn—small but firm.

Rose sighed. “Why not?”

Tobi’s little face scrunched up. “Because you don’t like him.”

Rolan let out a breath, probably irritated, but he didn’t argue with a three-year-old. His fingers curled slightly before he shoved his hand into his pocket.

Rose turned her attention back to Tobi. “Sweetheart, we don’t just—”

“You said you don’t like him either,” Tobi interrupted. “You always say that when he’s not here.”

Rose pinched the bridge of her nose. “Okay, that’s enough.”

Tobi huffed, crossing his arms, and she knew this wouldn’t be the last time he said something like that. Rose glanced at Rolan, expecting some smug comment, but he just watched her through tired eyes. For someone who supposedly couldn’t see clearly, he looked way too focused.

They stepped off the curb. A car honked in the distance, the street lights flickering overhead. Rolan hesitated again.

“Rose—”

She cut him off. “I wish the truck would hit me instead.”

The words came out flat, too casual, but it made him stop. His lips parted slightly, and for a second, Rose thought he might say something that mattered. Instead, he clenched his jaw and walked ahead.

They reached the spot where they were supposed to wait for a ride. Rose was already pulling out her phone to call a taxi when Rolan spoke again.

“My car’s coming.”

She looked up. “What?”

“I called it earlier,” he said, tone unreadable. “It’s better than taking a taxi.”

Rose stared at him. “And you just decided that for me?”

He tilted his head, giving her a slow, assessing look. “Would you rather squeeze into some random car with Tobi when mine is right here?”

That wasn’t the point, and he knew it.

Rose pressed her lips together. She didn’t want to get into his car. Didn’t want to sit in that suffocating space, pretending like they weren’t walking around this stupid tension. But Tobi was already yawning, rubbing his eyes with his fist.

She sighed. “Whatever.”

The black car pulled up to the curb smoothly, the driver stepping out to open the door. Rolan didn’t look at her as he guided Tobi inside first. His fingers barely grazed her back as she stepped in, but Rose felt it like a brand.

…

Later in the car.

Rose crossed her arms and leaned back against the seat, her gaze shifting toward Rolan, who sat in the front beside the driver. He had one elbow resting against the car door, his fingers tapping idly against his thigh. His sharp profile was set in that usual unreadable expression, but she could see the way his jaw tightened. He was thinking about something.

That wasn’t a good sign.

She should have known the moment his lips parted that whatever came next would irritate her.

“You’re not staying at your house.” His voice was even, like he was stating a fact that wasn’t up for discussion. “You and Tobi will be staying in mine.”

Rose let out a slow breath and turned her head toward him. “Excuse me?”

Rolan didn’t even look at her. “You heard me.”

Her fingers curled against her arms. “That is not happening.”

His gaze flickered toward her through the rearview mirror. “Unless you don’t want to compensate me for my eyes,” he said smoothly. “Then by all means, step out of the car. You’re free.”

Tobi, who had been quietly playing with the seatbelt beside her, looked up with wide eyes. “Mom?”

Rose met Rolan’s gaze in the mirror, her nails pressing into her palm. The arrogance in his voice made her want to kick the back of his seat.

“I already said I’d take responsibility,” she muttered. “That doesn’t mean I have to move into your house.”

“It does.”

She scoffed. “And who decided that?”

Rolan exhaled sharply, finally turning his head slightly toward her. “I’m an Alpha, Rose. I have important duties in my house. I don’t have time to be running around to some place I don’t belong just because you’re stubborn.”

Rose rolled her eyes. “Oh, forgive me, mighty Alpha, for existing outside your precious territory.”

He ignored her sarcasm. “You’ll be safer in my home.”

“Safe from what?”

He didn’t answer, which told her everything.

She let out a short laugh and shook her head. “Not happening.”

Rolan turned forward again, his fingers drumming against his knee like he was already done with the conversation. He had that air about him—like he expected her to just fall in line, like his word was final.

That only made her want to annoy him more.

So she ignored him.

“Did you know,” she started, tilting her head toward the window, “that crows can remember human faces for years? If you ever piss one off, it’ll never forget you.”

Silence.

Tobi perked up beside her. “Really?”

“Yup.” She nodded. “They’ll even tell other crows about you, so they can all gang up on you if they see you again.”

Tobi gasped dramatically. “Whoa! Like a crow revenge club?”

“Exactly.”

She could feel Rolan’s exasperation without even looking at him.

Tobi, excited now, leaned forward. “Did you know that dogs dream? I read that they dream about their owners!”

Rose gasped playfully. “No way! So if a dog loves you a lot, it probably dreams about playing with you?”

Tobi nodded furiously. “Yup! I bet my dog dreams about me all the time!”

“You don’t have a dog,” she reminded him.

“Oh…” His face fell, but only for a second before he grinned. “But if I did, it would dream about me all the time!”

“Definitely.”

She heard Rolan exhale heavily, and she knew he was regretting even speaking in the first place.

Good.

“Did you know,” she continued, “that if you tickle a rat, it will laugh?”

Tobi gasped again. “No way!”

“Yes way.”

“That’s so cool! I wanna tickle a rat!”

“Absolutely not,” Rolan muttered.

Tobi ignored him. “Mom, let’s get a rat!”

Rose pretended to consider. “Hmm. Only if we can also get a crow and train it to recognize Rolan’s face.”

Tobi clapped his hands. “Yes! Then we can tell it he’s a bad guy so it follows him forever!”

Rolan let out a long-suffering sigh. “Rose.”

She smiled sweetly at him through the mirror. “Yes, dear?”