The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30-Frat-I

Claim

Chapter 30: Truth-1

Caleb pov

The investigator had even provided an audio recording of this supposed conversation, Bella’s voice clear and unmistakable as she laughed about how easy I was to fool. That recording had been the final nail in the coffin of my trust.

It was all fake. Every photo doctored, every audio clip Al-generated, every piece of evidence manufactured specifically to destroy my marriage before it even began.

But I’d believed it. Swallowed every lie because I’d been raised by a father who’d taught me that love was

weakness and trust was foolishness.

So on our wedding night, when Bella had walked into my office with that hopeful smile, I’d already convinced myself she was the enemy. And when Jade had shown up drunk and flirtatious, offering herself as revenge against my faithless wife, I’d been angry enough and drunk enough to let her kiss me.

The kiss had meant nothing. Jade had meant nothing to me. But Bella had walked in at the worst possible moment, and everything had exploded.

I’d accused her of manipulation, of gold-digging, of trapping me with a pregnancy that was probably another man’s child. I’d said things I could never take back, had destroyed her with words while Richard and Margaret piled on with their own vicious accusations.

And then I’d told her to get rid of it. My child. My son or daughter. I’d told her to abort my baby because I’d been too proud and too stupid to question the lies I’d been fed.

The memory of her face when I’d said those words still haunted me. The way the hope had died in her eyes, the way her hand had moved protectively to her stomach, the way her voice had broken when she’d begged me to listen. And I’d laughed at her. Laughed.

I stood and walked to the window, scotch in hand, and looked out at the city lights blurring through the rage and grief. Somewhere out there, Bella was probably awake too, thinking about our dance, hating me with every fiber of her being.

I’d found the truth too late, months after Bella disappeared, I’d finally started questioning the evidence against her. Started looking at the timing, the convenient source of all the information, the way Jade and Richard had pushed me toward believing the worst.

The forensic analysis of the video had been the first crack. The experts had found microscopic inconsistencies in the lighting, slight distortions in Bella’s facial movements that indicated Al manipulation. Then the audio specialists had examined the recording and found digital artifacts that proved the voice had been synthesized.

The private investigator I’d hired to verify Richard’s claims had discovered that the original investigator didn’t exist, the photos had been created using body doubles and digital face-swapping, and the entire operation had been funded through one of Jade’s shell companies.

Every piece of evidence had been manufactured. Every lie had been carefully constructed. And I’d swallowed all of it without question because I’d been raised to expect betrayal.

1/2

Chapter 30 Froth

Claim

I’d become my father. The man I’d hated my entire life, who’d driven my mother to an early grave with his cruelty and paranoid suspicion. I’d looked at my gentle, hopeful wife and seen a threat instead of a gift.

And now she was the tron Empress, cold and untouchable, with walls so high I didn’t know if I’d ever break through them. But Thad to try. Had to make her understand that I’d been manipulated, that I’d spent years searching for her, that I would spend the rest of my life making this right if she’d just give me a chance.

Even though I didn’t deserve one.Even though I’d destroyed something precious that could never be repaired.

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