Chapter 1832


    Morrison was too angry to speak. He''d shelled out for the top trending spots, and now he had to


    remind her that it was actually his birthday that day with a grand gesture?


    Ha! As if he could do something so idiotic.


    The hospital room fell into an awkward silence.


    Rose sat on the couch, her eyes glued to her phone, seemingly engrossed in whatever was on the


    screen. asionally, the murmur of male voices could be heard, which he mistook for some TV


    show.


    After a while, he pulled out a debit card from under his pillow and tossed it at Rose. Rose picked it


    up and examined it, "What''s this for?”


    Morrison gave her a sideways nce, "You don''t recognize a debit card?"


    Rose pursed her lips, "I mean, why are you giving this to me?"


    “A debit card is for spending money. Can you stop asking such dumb questions?"


    “You think I''m short on cash?” Rose''sugh was faint, showing no interest in the card.


    She truly wasn''t short on money. Her family might not have provided her with much affection, but


    they never skimped on material things.


    To groom her into a true youngdy and then sell her for a good price, they had calcted this deal


    very thoroughly. Yet, she never rebelled against them for theck of affection.


    They wanted to groom her into a youngdy, and she was more than willing.


    A girl with looks, figure, refinement, knowledge, and elegance, this was also her personal desire.


    She wanted and anticipated this - to be a refined and perfect woman. Only then could she


    confidently appear in front of the man she liked at any time, making it easier for him to fall in love


    with her. Only then could she truly be herself.


    Her desires were clear, so she epted the Davis family''s cultivation without question. They had


    their motives, and she had her own ns. It was a mutual benefit, nothing more.


    And because everything had always gone so smoothly, she had never known financial distress.


    Now, with Chloe''s help, herpany was also thriving. So she had everything, especially money.


    Morrison gritted his teeth in frustration at her words. For the first time, he realized how damn hard it


    was to win over a woman.


    “You may not need money. But you need the money thates from me, your husband.’


    Rose raised an eyebrow but said nothing.


    Facing her silence, Morrison added, "Keep it. If you want to buy anything, use this card. The PIN


    is...”


    “I don''t want it”


    Rose suddenly cut him off, tossing the card disdainfully back onto the hospital bed.


    Morrison was about to explode, “You...”


    “I don’t want it. If you really want to give me money, just transfer it to my ount.’


    Morrison''s face twitched, his lips tightened, and a vein in his forehead threatened to burst.


    This damn woman!


    “Who cares if it''s old-fashioned when you''ve got money to spend? People would kill to have that.’


    "I don''t need your money. If I''m going to spend, I need to keep up with the times:


    “Since when does a debit card embarrass anyone?! Do you know how much is in there? No one


    would dareugh at you. The PIN is..”


    “Mr. Witt!" Rose interrupted again, raising her voice, "If you really want to y the domineering CEO


    trope, please, get with the times. Even CEOs need to evolve. No woman likes a CEO who''s a


    hillbilly. The youngdies nowadays are romantics at heart. Money is good, and CEOs are great,


    but a hillbilly CEO is a major turn-off"


    The room fell silent, so much so that within seconds, Rose could distinctly hear the grinding of


    Morrison''s teeth. She smirked slightly, "What made you suddenly decide to give me money?”


    The grinding stopped abruptly.


    Morrison remained silent, his face cold.


    Rose pressed her lips together, "Well, since you''re done with dinner, I should head home. You''ll


    have a nurse to look after you tonight.


    As she prepared to leave, Morrison, who had been silent up to that point, looked up sharply, “Try


    and leave this room, I dare you.”


    Rose circled the foot of the bed, looking up at him. “Domineering CEOs aren''t supposed to be


    unreasonable”


    "I''d be reasonable if you were less stubborn."


    "How does me going home to rest bother you?"


    Morrison was silent for a moment, then said gruffly, "I''m bored on my own.


    You have to keep mepany.


    He grabbed her arm fiercely, "Don''t forget that I got hurt because of you."


    Rose: “Jerk...


    Rose didn''t want to make a scene. In the end, she stayed, although she did step out to buy some


    fruit.


    Concerned she''d trick him, Morrison kept her bag and phone as "hostages,"


    only handing her a $20 bill, enough to buy fruit for the evening. He then headed to the bathroom to


    freshen up.


    Rose followed to the bathroom door, slightly amused.


    “Mr. Big Shot CEO, if I decide to splurge a bit, do you think twenty bucks is going to cover it?”


    "Apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, cherries, and cherry tomatoes—that''s all you''ve been eating


    lately. How expensive can it be? Twenty is plenty. And you can keep the change. I should be


    generous with my wife.” With that, he sshed water on his face.


    Rose watched his back and slightly said, "You can hand out a million bucks to someone else just


    like that, but twenty dors is generous for me?"


    Morrison looked up, turned off the tap, and stared at her through the mirror, “What did you say?"


    Rose arched an eyebrow, “Nothing. I''m off"


    Morrison felt pleased that Rose was finally ying along. No longer at odds with each other, he


    settled on the couch and picked up his tablet to catch up on some work.


    With him spending most time dealing with Rose, a backlog of tasks had piled up.


    He was relieved she agreed to stay. He nced at her bag and phone next to him, and considered


    the trivial $20 in her pocket - she had no chance of escaping. Feeling better, he finally settled down


    to tackle his workload.


    The sudden knock on the door shattered the brief silence that had just settled in for a few minutes.


    Morrison frowned, a subtle irritation flitting across his brow, but he managed a terse, "Come in."


    He returned his gaze to the document he''d been scrutinizing, now peppered with red annotations.


    Once he saved the changes, he lifted his eyes.


    The figure standing before him drew his eyebrows together even tighter. His voice took on a chilly


    edge. "What is it?"


    “Since you''ve been hospitalized for quite a spell, I thought it was only right to check in on you,’


    Mona''s voice sounded softly, apanied by a subtle smile on her face.


    Dressed in an ill-fitting hospital gown, she appeared exceptionally delicate and petite, with a slightly


    paleplexion, which gave her an unhealthy look.


    However, her demeanor suggested that nothing had happened between her and Morrison the


    previous night.


    Morrison remained silent.


    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    “Morrison, we don''t have to be like this. Setting aside our history as lovers, at the very least, we''re


    old ssmates and friends. I admit that I hadn''t quite let go before, butying it all out there clears


    the air. You don''t love me, and I can''t force you. Everyone has their youthful and reckless moments,


    times when they are naive and ignorant about love. I can understand that, just like you.


    “But friendship is cultivated over time. After all these years, I don''t want to lose you as a friend. So,


    you don''t need to put up walls around me on ount.


    “When ites down to it, who are you, and who am I? If I really did something, I''d only be hurting


    myself, right?"


    Morrison''s brow remained furrowed. "So, what''s your point exactly?"


    After a brief silence, Mona said, "I won''t be staying in town for Christmas"


    He ced the tablet on hisp and squinted at her.


    Mona''s smile carried a tinge of mncholy. “You know, I don''t have anyone to really lean on here.


    Spending Christmas alone always seems a bit too pitiful."


    Morrison''s lips pressed into a thin line. "Where you go is your business. Even if I were the president,


    I wouldn''t have the authority to restrict your movements without cause."


    Mona continued unabated, "So you needn''t worry, I''ll be leaving. But I saw the trending topic today,


    and you wouldn''t mind me attending your birthday party, would you.


    “Just as a ssmate and friend. Consider it indulging a whim of mine. This is likely thest time I''ll


    celebrate with you. After that, we''ll live our separate lives, perhaps never to cross paths again. Is


    that okay?"


    Morrison ran a hand over the tablet''s edge. "Is that what you came here for?"


    Mona offered a faint smile, "That''s the main reason. It''s not too much to ask, is it?"


    “Mona-’ Morrison spoke softly, "l was clearst night. Rose is ufortable with you around. Given


    our past, it''s not reassuring for her. I know where I stand and I''m sure there won''t be anything more


    between us, but I can''t knowingly provoke he.. She might not misunderstand, but there will still be a


    thorn in her side, and I can''t ignore that."


    Mona''s lips twisted slightly. "So what you''re saying is that I need her permission to attend your


    party?"


    Morrison coldly looked at her. "I thought I made myself sufficiently clear."


    The only response was the sound of the door mming shut. After a few seconds of staring at the


    door, Morrison returned his attention to the tablet.


    Rose came back carrying a bag of groceries, and outside Morrison''s room, she encountered Mona.


    Mona made her way over as soon as she spotted Rose. “Rose, let''s talk, shail we?" Mona said with


    a smile, her gaze flicking briefly to Rose''s belly. Though Rose wore a loose winter coat, the subtle


    swell of her pregnancy was discernible.


    “What''s there to talk about?"


    Rose shifted slightly, her cold gaze resting lightly on Mona. Retrieving her gaze from Rose''s belly,


    Mona smiled, "Morrison''s birthday is on December 22nd. I’m nning to celebrate with him before I


    leave R City. I wanted to give you a heads up, so there''s no misunderstanding if I show up at the


    party."


    Rose''s expression remained calm, a polite smile on her lips, "Did Morrison agree to this?"


    Mona shrugged, “If he hadn''t, I probably wouldn''t need to inform you in advance. After all, I''ve never


    missed his birthday before, so now it might seem natural. Probably out of habit."


    “tf he''s okay with it, then I don''t see a reason to object. It''s his birthday after all, and whoever he


    wants to celebrate with, if it makes him happy, that''s what matters."


    Mona chuckled, "Just wanted to let you know."


    Rose just slightly smiled. Mona’s words didn''t seek her consent, and whether she objected was


    irrelevant.


    “Do as you like."


    “Just hope you don''t mind.


    “You, too."


    Rose''s smile was effortless and graceful, her demeanor serene and dignified—a reflection of her


    upbringing and the grace that was instilled deep within her bones. That wasn''t something everyone


    could possess.


    Mona''s fingers tightened, making her own pettiness all the more apparent.


    She offered a stiff smile in return.


    Rose continued, "Is there anything else we need to discuss?”


    Mona shook her head.


    “Then you take care of yourself." With that, Rose strode past her into the room.


    Back in the room, Rose went straight to the bathroom to wash the fruit, effectively ignoring Morrison


    as he put down his tablet and followed her.


    Striking up a casual conversation, he asked, “How much change did you get back?"


    “Two dors and fifty cents."


    Morrison scowled, "Two fifty, and you bothered to keep it?"


    Rose didn''t reply.


    “What did you buy?"


    “Pears- The faucet ceased its flow, and Rose, clutching two pears, turned to face him.


    Exiting the bathroom, Morrison continued to nag her, "Why don’t you check the news while you


    snack? There''s a lot of celebrity gossip online these days."


    Rose circumnavigated him, settling onto the sofa, "Not interested in celebrity gossip."


    "Look up a movie then."


    “Don''t feel like watching movies."


    “Don''t you get bored?"


    Rose bit into a pear and shot him a weary nce before taking out her phone andunching a


    game app.


    Morrison leaned over to scrutinize her screen, his expression darkening after a few seconds. "What


    game is this?"


    “A a romance simtion game."


    "Romance.’ Morrison''s dark brows knit together, "You''re dating four guys at once?!"


    "I never really savored the experience of love when I was younger. Four guys, four different vibes—


    it''s been quite enlightening to see which type suits me best."


    Without a word, Morrison snatched her phone, shut down the app she was engrossed in, and


    deleted it.


    "You..."


    “Open your eyes and see clearly, the man who''s perfect for you is right here."


    Morrison pointed at himself.


    Rose let out a derisive snort, “Yet, the woman who''s perfect for you isn''t here."


    Morrison replied, "That''s alright. I''m selfless and noble enough to make that sacrifice for you."


    “Quite a sacrifice for you."


    “Not at all. I''m easy to please. Just knowing you''re chilling out on the inte for a bit makes me


    happy:"


    “I''m perfectly rxed right now. The inte''s all radiation and eye strain anyway. I like it this way."


    Morrison was pulling out all the stops to make sure Rose knew about his birthday. His name was


    trending everywhere, but Rose didn''t seem to bat an eyelid.


    Three dayster, Morrison was discharged from the hospital. So was Winston.


    That same day, Spotlight Beautyunched their new product line. Morrison''s birthday bash was a


    lavish affair, inviting quests from all corners.