Chapter 19
Rosemary didn’t seem the least but fazed by my cold demeanor, Instead, she regarded me with a composed expression. “Laurel, aren’t y
invade me in?”
I didn’t budge. 1 dona exactly roll out the welcome mai for things that give me a headache
you going to
She raised her eyes slowly, unbothered. “Laurel, I think some things are better discussed insi–le. After all, you wouldn’t want the neighbors ravesdropping, would you? Especially with your mom still in the hospital”
A dark look passed over my face, and I shot her a slurp glance. I hadn’t expected her to bring my mom into this as a threat.
But she had a point. Bad news spread like wildfire.
y temper and hit her right here, the whole neighborlined would be talking
I let out a slow breath and smiled thinly. Fine. Ten minutes.
Then I stepped aside to let her in.
Inside, Rosemary fixed her eyes on me. “Laurel, do you really want to break up with Austin?”
I ignored her question and studied her instead. “Did Austin send you!”
A beat passed before I let out a cold laugh. “Or was this your idea? After all, if our breakup was because of you, the Herreras wouldn’t take it lidutly. No woman would tolerate the kind of relationship you two luve
Her lips pressed into a thin line. Laurel, it’s not what you think between me and Austin
“Rosemary, there’s no one else here–drop the act. 1 leaned against the counter, voice dripping with sarcasm
Just as Alex had said, the Herrera family would never agree to call off the engagement.
Rosemary was their adopted daughter, and Kayden was a man obsessed with reputation. He would never allow his son to be involved with her.
Even if Rosemary left the Herrera family, Amanda would never accept her as a daughter–in–law.
An adopted daughter and a daughter–in–law were two entirely different things.
Besides, I could tell Amanda was wary of Rosemary’s past. Whatever had happened to her as a child, it had left a mark
Austin
never told me much about it, but I always had my doubts about her so–called illness.
If she were really sick, her condition would act up whenever she schemed against me.
It was probably just an excuse.
Rosemary flashed a slow, mocking smile. “You sure you don’t need me in remind you Your mom’s still in the hospital, hoping you’ll marry Austin. How do you think she’d feel if she found out you’re backing out?”
Locked eyes with her, st
door open
steady as
as ever. “My life’s none of your business. If that’s all you came here to say, you can leave now I turned and pulled the
She let out a dry laugh. “Weren’t you the one who said you give me ten minutes?”
-no more fake sweetness, just something sharp and cold. “If you really don’t want to marry Austin, why the hell did you
Her expression shifted–no more follow Alex?
“Were you planning to rat me
to rat me out! Trying
Trying to get me kicked out of the Herrera family?”
She stepped closer, her confidence creeping me out. “Let me save you the trouble, Laurel The Herreras will never throw me out.”
Thesitated for a fraction of a second. Where did she get this confidence from!
Then, I thought back to how she looked at Alex earlier–there had been fear, yes, but not enough, What struc him. She was afraid, but not terribed.
It dawned on
me was how she still dared to use
Even with Alex’s warning. Rosemary only looked briefly startled–not truly afraid, which meant she had leverage over the Herrera
1/3
Traky Topeng sit
they gribably get away with murder and never face a single consequenser
1 patients house aty shot II you kill a honar in well defense, would you go in jutj
The jeunessed for brief second, I could how profitable a must be to be a certified hitatie
sion yanked me back, to reality. To you kisom schy Austin never touched you?
down
Achill show my spine Ausim had asually told her something that personal
yes as she let out a lom, errie laugh. For a moment, she really did
“Nosi perngruber wow, next boshlay aller nisoving to Newtony Day Voting way with you that night. You got donk he tilted her head. “But did you
v gare voit through me, sharp and mocking, like a blade. My he suvad from my feet all the way up to my ches
is though someone fud tightened their grip armed it, and a
leaned mu, bet voice barely above a whisper. “Austin was with me that night—until early morning
never told you because he was afraid of what you’d do if you found out. That’s why, after all these years, he’s never touched you”
de sighed dramatically, shaking her heal. “Though, to be fair, part of it was his fault ton. He left in such a hurry when I fainted that he didn’t even
Something in me twistest. li teh like a thousand
me tw
mal insects were growing at my insides, but I forced myself to stay
!!!
y calm
u think. I’d believe a word you say?” Lasked, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
Kosemary marked, leaning in closer, “Laurel, believe whatever you want. But deep down, you know the truth. And tell me, if this life.. mess gets but do you honestly think any guy wasull want you after that?”
She gave
six years with Austin, how many people honestly think you two never hooked up?“
e a sly gris. “After six y
Het vost divpped to a whisper, like she was letting me in on a dirty secret. “Even my mom asked me why, after all this time, you never gor pregnant Wondered if you had trouble coneriving.”
She paused letting the words hang in the air. “I didn’t have the heart to tell her the real reason. If she knew, you’d never step foot near the Herrera. family again
I stood there, frozen for a moment, the realization settling over me.
So this was why Austin had avoided me all these year–why he never wanted to be intimate, never talked about marriage, and even went behind my buck to flat with other women.
In his eyes. I was no longer pur.
But none of this was my taulu
I never imagined the man that night wasn’t Austin.
And all this time, he kept making excuses to avoid me, saying he was worried about the Herrera family’s reputation if I got pregnant out of wedlock.
I’d been so damn naive, believing him.
Bat the truth? We weren’t really living together. We just slept in separate rooms, pretending to be a couple.
“Don’t forget the auction tomorrow. He on time, I’ll be waiting, Rosemary said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
‚ a relieved unde tugging at
The door clicked shout behind her, I just stood there for a moment, still in stock. Then, finally, I let out a deep breath, à
lips.
