The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 91

Chapter 82: Enter Ethan

Bella POV

I didn’t see Caleb for the rest of the gala. He’d disappeared after his devastating revelation, leaving me to navigate conversations and networking while-my mind spun with humiliation and anger.

He’d heard me, he heard everything. By the time I made it back to the penthouse, it was past midnight and I was exhausted. Tom was asleep at Maya’s apartment, giving me a night alone to process everything.

I kicked off my heels, poured myself a glass of wine, and stood on the terrace looking at the city lights. The night air was cold against my skin, but I needed it to clear my head.

“Bella.”

I turned to find Caleb standing in the terrace doorway. He’d removed his bow tie and jacket, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, looking rumpled and dangerous.

“I don’t want to talk to you,” I said.

“Too bad.” He moved onto the terrace, closing the distance between us. “We’re talking anyway.”

“You had no right to listen to me like that.” I was shaking with anger. “What I do in the privacy of my own room is none of your business.”

“You made it my business when you said my name.” His eyes were fierce. “And I didn’t listen on purpose, Bella. I came to check on you, heard enough to know what you were doing, and I left. But I can’t unhear it, and I’m not going to pretend I did.”

“So you decided to humiliate me publicly?” I threw my wine glass and it shattered against the railing. “To use my private moment as leverage to stop me from moving on?”

“You’re not moving on!” He grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “You’re running. Again. Just like you always do when things get too real.”

“Don’t psychoanalyze me.” I shoved him away. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know you touch yourself thinking about me and then agree to dates with other men to avoid admitting you still want me.” His voice was rough. “I know you’re terrified of getting hurt again so you push me away even though every time I get close, you lean in. I know you love our son more than anything but you won’t give him the family he wants because you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared, I’m smart!” The words exploded out of me. “You destroyed me, Caleb! You told me to abort our baby, you threw me out, you chose my sister over me. And now you expect me to just forget all of that because you’ve decided you’re in love with me?”

“I don’t expect you to forget anything.” He moved closer, his voice dropping. “I expect you to acknowledge that I’ve spent years changing, that I’ve proven through actions that I’m not that man anymore, that I love you and Tom more than anything in this world.”

“Love isn’t enough!” I was crying now, angry tears streaming down my face. “Love didn’t stop you from hurting me before. What makes you think it will this time?”

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<Chapter 82 Enter than

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“Because I know what it feels like to lose you now.” His hands cupped my face, thumbs brushing away Tears. “Because I’ve spent years living in hell knowing what I threw away. Because Bella, I would rather die than cause you that kind of pain again.”

“You can’t promise that My voice broke. “No one can promise that.”

“You’re right, I can’t promise I’ll never hurt you.” His forehead pressed against mine. “But I can promise I’ll spend every day trying not to. I can promise I’ll put you and Tom first, always. I can promise that if I do fuck up, I’ll own it and fix it and never let it fester into something that destroys us.”

wanted to believe him so badly it hurt. “I don’t know how to trust you.”

“Then let me earn it.” His lips brushed my forehead. “One day at a time, one action at a time. Let me prove that what we have is real.”

“And the dinner with Ethan?” I looked up at him.

“Go if you want.” His jaw clenched. “I can’t stop you. But Bella, I’m not going anywhere. You can date every eligible bachelor in the city and I’ll still be here, waiting, proving that I’m the one you actually want.”

“You’re so sure of that.”

“I heard you last night,” he said quietly. “I heard the way you said my name. That wasn’t uncertainty, that was need. So yes, I’m sure.”

I should have pulled away, should have maintained distance, should have protected myself.

Instead, I kissed him. It wasn’t soft or tentative. It was desperate and hungry, years of denial and want pouring into it. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me tight against his body, and I fisted my hands in his shirt.

“Bella,” he groaned against my mouth. “If you’re going to push me away again, do it now before this goes. too far.”

“Shut up.” I pulled him closer. “Just shut up and kiss me.”

He did, backing me against the terrace railing, his hands sliding down to my waist, gripping tight. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressed my body against his, and let myself feel everything I’d been denying.

His tongue swept into my mouth and I gasped, the sensation overwhelming.

۴

“I’ve dreamed about this,” Caleb whispered against my lips. “Every night since you came back. Touching you, tasting you, making you fall apart in my arms.”

“Then do it.” The words came out breathless. “Stop talking and”

My phone rang, cutting through the moment. We both froze, breathing hard, staring at each other.

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