Chapter 1827


    Morrison paused, processing the words.


    Really?


    Without a word, he made his way to the bathroom. The reflection that stared back at him was


    haggard, a weary shell with puffy, swollen eyes ringed with dark circles.


    This wasn''t just looking bad. He hardly recognized the person in the mirror.


    The previous night''s worries about Rose possibly running off with someone else had kept him


    tossing and turning until the wee hours of the morning.


    Normally, ate night at the office would be no big deal, butst night, lying in bed, he felt more


    drained than after a week''s worth of overtime.


    He knew Rose had a thing for good looks, and that very fact had granted him a chance to spend the


    night with her. And now, with his face a wreck, wouldn''t she be even more restless? Especially since


    they had a bona fide actor living downstairs.


    Hisplexion was sallow, making him look all the more unsightly. He turned the tap and sshed


    his face with water, trying to wash away the fatigue.


    Rose finished dressing and opened the hospital room door. After a moment, the door suddenly


    swung wide open, and several people let out a surprised “Huh."


    “How odd, it was just locked, and now..."


    They stopped short when they saw Rose, d in an ill-fitting men’s suit that was clearly not


    designed for her, standing beside the hospital bed looking at them.


    Molly''s eyes flickered with mirth as she turned to the medical staff beside her. "Thanks for your help.


    Now that the room''s open..."


    “Ma‘am, we need to conduct the routine check-up,” said the doctor with a friendly smile, as morning


    rounds were the norm to assess patients"


    conditions.


    Molly set the thermal container aside on a cab and looked at Rose with a warm smile. "Rose,


    where''s Morrison?"


    Rose felt her cheeks flush. The meaning behind Molly''s smile was all too naked, and she knew


    exactly why. After all, the previous night, they had indeed engaged in unspeakable acts.


    “He''s in the bathroom."


    RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Morrison came out of the bathroom, looked at the room full of people, and frowned slightly. His gaze


    shifted from Molly to the thermal container, which he opened to findyers of breakfast delights: the


    topyer held muffins, the secondyer biscuits, and the bottomyer oatmeal.


    Taking the container, he walked over to Rose and handed it to her. "Go sit over there." His voice


    was cold, his eyes briefly flicking to the sofa and coffee table with clear intent.


    Molly raised an eyebrow as Morrison climbed into the hospital bed and gave the medical staff a


    chilling nce. They promptly began their cursory examination.


    Rose, holding the container, watched from where she stood.


    “Mr. Morrison, it seems you have some new injuries."


    Morrison looked at Rose, still standing there, and said, "What are you waiting for?"


    She blinked, hugged the container, and settled on the sofa, peeling an egg.


    Finally, Morrison looked back at the doctor and gave a nomittal grunt.


    The medical staff were at a loss. “We need to take some detailed scans to see what''s going on,’


    they said.


    Molly frowned. "How did you get these new injuries?"


    “It''s nothing; Morrison said dismissively.


    Rose lowered her head and took a bite of the egg. “Mr. Morrison, since you haven''t had breakfast


    yet, would you like to go for a check-up now?"


    "I''ve said it''s fine, no need for a check-up."


    The doctors looked at Molly, a little embarrassed. Molly, however, looked at Rose and then nodded,


    "He''s probably fine"


    If there was really something wrong, how could he still have the strength to have sex? It''s not like he


    could risk his life with a broken arm or leg to indulge in such activities.


    Rose took a bite of the muffin. She''s trying to bepletely transparent, and acted like everything


    that happened yesterday had nothing to do with her.


    In the end, the medical staff gave up on further examinations. Instead, one of them left Morrison


    with a word of advice, "Mr. Morrison, given your current condition, you should abstain from any


    strenuous activity. Some things are better left until after you''ve fully recovered. It would be much


    more... efficient."


    Rose nearly choked on her muffin at these words. “Cough. cough, cough."


    She quickly took a few sips of oatmeal.


    Morrison sat up, ring at the doctor who just shrugged with a smile. "You should be more careful.


    You don''t look well today, and normally people don''t have the energy for certain activities. It would


    be quite embarrassing if you were to have an ident midway."


    Morrison''splexion turned even more sour. An ident midway? What kind of ident?!


    As Morrison was about to lose his temper, the doctor chuckled and led the group of medical staff


    away with a smile.


    Molly felt a bit awkward. After all, she had maintained a certain level of reserve throughout her life.


    Hearing about the private matters of her son and daughter-inw, it was inevitably ufortable


    for her.


    The room fell into an awkward silence. Rose, still blushing, took another bite of her muffin.


    To break the tension, Molly finally spoke up. "How did you get those new wounds?"


    Morrison pointed at Rose. "Her fault, he said.


    Rose met Molly''s gaze. "Really? Comining about your wife to your own mother?"


    “It''s the truth"


    Molly snorted. "If having a wife is so much trouble, I, as the mother-inw, certainly cannot tolerate


    it. Divorce her. I can''t afford a daughter-inw who stirs up such drama. Once divorced, you go your


    separate ways, and she can find whomever she wants."


    The very image of a difficult and formidable mother-inw.


    Morrison frowned. "I thought you liked her?"


    Molly spoke with a maternal certainty that brooked no argument. "But you''re my own flesh and


    blood, my dear boy. You fell right from my own tree, so to speak. Sure, I don''t mind her, but no


    amount of fondness can trump the love I have for you. Your grandma and I, we''ve been talkin''—we


    just want you to be happy. If you truly don''t love Rose, then we won''t stand in your way of a divorce.


    And as for Mona, if she''s the one you want, then go ahead, son.


    Marry her. We''ll make sure she has a grand entrance into the Witt family, no slights or slurs, I


    promise. All we want is for you to be happy, and we''re willing to meet you halfway on this."


    Rose slowly lifted her head to look at Molly, while Morrison''s face twisted into an expression of utter


    distaste. "You can leave now if you''re just here to rile me up."


    He wondered if they were deliberately trying to make his life moreplicated. Was it not enough


    that he was already on edge?


    Molly arched an eyebrow, her voiceced with incredulity. "What''s with the attitude? You were


    unhappy when we tried to keep you from Mona, and now you''re still upset when we''re giving our


    blessing. What will it take to please you?"


    "lL had no intention of divorcing once I was married."


    “That won''t do.” Molly''s voice rang clear and crisp. “You don''t love Rose, and all this quarreling—it''s


    in to see she’s not the daughter-inw I was hoping for. But that doesn’t mean she can''t be a


    treasure to someone else. A marriage without love is no happy union. Even if you''re reluctant to


    divorce, you can''t deny Rose her chance at happiness. She owes you nothing."


    Morrison clenched his jaws tightly. "if you''re done, then please leave."


    Molly ignored his request, turning instead to Rose with a direct proposal.


    “Rose, since Morrison doesn''t love you, there''s really no point in dragging this marriage out any


    longer. As your mother-inw, I''m not pleased with the constant chaos between you two. Divorce


    seems like the best option."


    Rose stood up gracefully. "I admit I haven''t been the daughter-inw you deserved. I''m grateful for


    your care these past days. You''re right, a loveless marriage can''t be happy. Since Morrison has


    someone else in his heart, I won''t cling to him."


    Morrison leaped to his feet. "Have you lost your memory?!" he demanded.


    Rose frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"


    “I''ve said it clear as day—I love you. You! How could you forget something this important?"


    A reluctant smile flickered at the edge of Rose''s lips.


    Molly, still eyeing Rose with a challenging look, pressed on. "What''s that? You just said you love


    Rose? Morrison, don''t be absurd. Don''t say something so insincere just to save Witt family’s image.


    You''ve been pining over Mona for years, and now you suddenly love Rose? Who would believe


    such a story?


    Certainly not Rose herself. Do you think you can fool her?"


    “Who says I''m doing this for the Witt family? Is the Witt family so fragile that a single divorce could


    bring it down?"


    “If it''s not for the Witt family, then don''t you find it ridiculous to im you''ve fallen in love with Rose


    overnight?"


    “I''ve never loved anyone else!” Morrison was growing impatient, his own mother constantly singing


    a tune contrary to his.


    Molly''s face darkened. "What are you saying? Morrison, you better exin yourself clearly today, or


    I won''t ept Rose as my daughter-inw any longer. Even if you refuse to divorce, I''ll never let her


    step foot in the Witt family home again. Don''t you realize the impact a good or bad mother-inw


    rtionship can have on a family?"


    Morrison gritted his teeth, nced at Rose, who stood there in silence with her head lowered. It


    seemed like the issue of divorce wasn''t something she was currently concerned about.


    If the rtionship between Molly and Rose was poor, and his mother ended up making life difficult


    for Rose. Even if Rose didn''t push for divorce now, there was no guarantee that she wouldn''t be


    driven to it by this troublesome family dynamic.


    Damned inw rtionship.


    Taking a deep breath and then letting it out slowly, he tried to calm himself.


    “The person I''ve always loved is Rose, not Mona. So I don''t want a divorce.


    Can you stop causing trouble here?!"


    Molly shook her head in disbelief. “I don''t believe you. If you''ve truly always loved Rose, why did


    you date Mona in the first ce? When we suggested marriage, why did you refuse? And why treat


    Rose with such coldness after the wedding?"


    Morrison''s lips twitched, but he said nothing.


    “See? You''re lying. I don''t believe you, and why should Rose?"


    Furious, Morrison jumped out of bed and ushered Molly toward the door.


    "This isn''t your business. And don''t youe here bringing meals anymore.


    If you ever make things difficult for her again, might as well just finish me off"


    Half-pushed, half-willing, Molly was escorted out of the hospital room. The moment the door closed


    behind her, Molly''s stern expression melted into a smirk. She pulled out her phone from her bag and


    dialed her mother-inw.


    “Morrisor''s finallye to his senses. He just admitted he''s always loved Rose. Yes, really, I


    dragged it out of him myself. They were togetherst night. He confessed it with Rose right there.


    Though whether she believes it, I can''t say. I''ll fill you in when I get home."


    After hanging up, she slipped the phone back into her purse, unable to contain the joy spreading


    across her face.


    The stubborn kid had finally seen the light. in the past, she''d always thought her mother-inw was


    a bit hasty and reckless, but this time, her tactics had paid off. tt seemed sometimes you had to


    reverse course to make headway—especially with Morrison, who was certainly due for it.


    The process might have been frustrating, but at least he was young enough to weather a little


    storm. And Rose—such a sweet, sensible, and capable wife—how could he not cherish her?


    Now alone with Rose, Morrison felt awkward. His face was flushed with embarrassment.


    Getting Morrison to talk about love and affection was like pulling teeth—harder than climbing Mount


    Everest. He had just poured his heart out, and now facing the object of his affections, he felt utterly


    ufortable.


    Besides, his dynamic with Rose had never been gentle or romantic. They had always been at each


    other''s throats, exchanging barbs rather than sweet nothings. Years of rivalry at school had left


    neither willing to bow to the other. And now, here he was, admitting defeat, conceding that he loved


    her.


    Heh. After all their battles, it was he who had lost. A "loser" standing before the “victor” naturally felt


    awkward.


    He was reluctant, yetpelled to clear up the misunderstanding and stop the incessant quarreling


    with Rose.


    Morrison pursed his lips, noticing Rose standing quietly, watching him. His difort was palpable.


    “What are you staring at? If you''re done eating, pass me that stuff—I''m still starving.” The edge in


    his voice could cut steel.


    Rose''s brows knitted for a moment as she picked up the insted food container and handed it


    over to Morrison. "Here, eat this. I''m going to check on Winston downstairs."


    Morrison''s forehead creased in sudden irritation. "Are you ever going to drop it? Always bringing


    him up, just to remind me how much you''re in demand, huh?"


    Rose''s frown deepened. "I mention him to show I have nothing to hide, and to be transparent with


    you. If you don''t want to hear about it, fine by me"


    With that, she headed for the door.


    Morrison''s frustration boiled over. "Where do you think you’re going?"


    “To get some fresh air."


    “You mean to check on Winston, don’t you? Rose, are you seriously sneaking around behind my


    back to see him?"


    “So what if I arn? If I tell you, you think I''m unting my social life. If I don’t tell you, you think I''m


    hiding something. What do you really want from me?"


    Morrison was at a loss for words.