The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 173

Chapter 157: Return to Reality

Bella POV

The penthouse smelled like Tom’s shampoo and someone had been baking, which meant Maya had been here, and I stood in the entry hall for a moment with my bag at my feet and just breathed it in.

Two weeks ago, it had been two weeks of sea air, constant sex, and endless talking. In that short time, I got to know more about Caleb than I had in our entire previous life together.

The moment we stepped back into the apartment, the familiar smell of home hit me. It felt real-equally worth wanting

Caleb came in behind me, set the bags down, and went still. “Maya,” he said.

Has to be,” I said.

Tom came running from the kitchen and launched himself at me. I caught him as his arms wrapped around my neck and legs around my waist.

You were gone forever, he said into my shoulder.

Fourteen days,” I said.

That’s forever.”

“Did you miss me?

He pulled back, grey eyes solemn like his father’s. “Every day. Maya let me have ice cream twice. I told her you wouldn’t mind.”

“Did she say I would mind?

She said your mother will have thoughts. That’s not the same.”

I glanced at Caleb over Tomris shoulder. He was pressing his lips together hard, trying not to laugh.

Maya appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Welcome back, you both look disgustingly well-rested. I’m thrilled for you and slightly resentful.”

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“Where’s Diana?” Caleb asked

“She left this morning. She said, and I’m quoting, I’ll call when I’m ready. Tell him not to push it.’ She also brought Tom three books about marine biology. He’s read them four times each, so enjoy hearing about

bioluminescence at dinner.”

Tom, still in my arms, said urgently, “Did you know anglerfish glow?”

1 did not.”

Til tell you everything”

Five minutes later, he had us both sitting at the kitchen table with the book open in front of him.

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Anglerfish first,” he said, pointing at the picture. Then the glowing stuff, then the deep sea creatures with no eyes. Aunty Diana said the no-eye ones are the most interesting, but i think the anglerfish is better because it has a light on its head like a flashlight.”

“Objectively,” Caleb said, keeping a straight face.

“That’s what I said.” Tom turned the page. “Aunty Diana also said some creatures live so deep down that no human has ever seen them. I think we should go find them.”

“In a submarine?” I asked.

“Yes!” he said, like it was obvious. “Can we get a submarine?”

Caleb looked at me. I looked at the ceiling.

“We’ll look into it,” Caleb said.

Tom nodded, satisfied, and kept reading.

While Tom lectured, Maya leaned close to me at the counter as she whispered. “How was it? Really.”

“Perfect,” I said.

She studied my face. “You’re glowing.”

“It’s the sun. Two weeks on an island.”

“Mm.” Her tone said she didn’t believe me. “Okay, spill. How was it? Really. And don’t give me that ‘perfect’ and ‘it was the sun’ nonsense. You’re glowing like you spent two weeks in a tanning bed and a sex marathon.”

I felt heat rush to my cheeks. I glanced at Caleb and Tom to make sure they were still deep in deep-sea creatures, then whispered back, “It was… sooo good, Maya. Like, stupidly good.”

She grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Define ‘sooo good. Because you two left here looking like newlyweds who barely knew each other, and you came back looking like you rediscovered each other in every possible way.”

I bit my lip, fighting the smile that wanted to take over my face. “We had constant sex like every day sex, and talked until sunrise. I think I learned more about Caleb in those two weeks.”

୮

Maya raised an eyebrow. “Constant sex? Details, Bella. I’m living vicariously through you while I wipe dinosaur-shaped spills off the counter.”

I laughed softly, cheeks burning hotter. “Okay, fine. Mornings started with coffee on the deck and ended with him carrying me back to bed. Afternoons… Well, let’s just say the ocean view got ignored a lot. And nights? We’d talk for hours. Real talk. About what broke us, what scared him when I left, how he thought he’d never get another chance. Then we’d stop talking and…” I trailed off, waving a hand vaguely.

“And fuck like the world was ending?” Maya supplied helpfully, grinning.

“Something like that,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “It wasn’t just the sex, though. It was intense. He looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered. He told me stories about his mom, about missing Tom’s first steps, about lying awake every night for years wondering if I was okay. And I told him

Cla

things I never said out loud before-how alone t felt even when I was building the empire, how terrified I

as raising Tom.

Maya’s expression softened, but the teasing glint stayed. “Look at you, blushing like a teenager. So the ruthless billionaire finally learned how to use his mouth for more than signing contracts, huh?”

I swatted her arm lightly. “Maya

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