《Breaking Free From Mr. Ceo》


 Breaking Free From 1

    Chapter 1 Chapter 1


    The sharp, shrill wail of an ambnce siren cut through the chaos of the bustling city streets like a de through fabric. Its mournful cry echoed off the towering buildings, reverberating through the air with a sense of urgency that could not be ignored.


    Inside the ambnce, Rosalie Talleyy on the stretcher, her consciousness gradually slipping away. The distant, muffled voices of the paramedics reached her ears, their conversation blending into the chaotic hum surrounding her.


    One of the paramedics took her phone. A momentter, Rosalie heard the sound of a call being made.


    ¡°Hello, is this Rosalie Talley''s husband?¡± The paramedic''s voice was calm but urgent. "Your wife was in a car ident. We''re on the way to the hospital right now. Please-"


    "Is she dead?" A cold, emotionless male voice cut her off mid-sentence.


    The paramedic was momentarily stunned, instinctively answering, "No" "I''m busy. Call me when she is."


    "Wait-"


    Before the paramedic could finish speaking, the line went dead. The monotonous beeping of the disconnected call echoed in the cramped ambnce, each tone dripping with cruel indifference-mocking, ridiculing, as ifughing at Rosalie''s foolish devotion.


    Even as her consciousness faded, Julian Galloway''s words somehow stabbed into her mind with painful rity, each syble carved deep into her soul.


    A bitter smile curved her lips. She let her eyes drift shut as a thought surfaced in her hazy mind. She pondered, That''s enough. Some people are just born cold- hearted, aren''t they? How could I have been so naive to think I could ever change him?


    Her fingers twitched slightly before her arm went limp, slipping lifelessly to her side.


    Thest thing she heard was the paramedic''s voice, urgent yet distant. "The patient''s heart has stopped..."


    Rosalie sat up abruptly in bed, her breathing in shallow gasps.


    Dazed, she stared at her hands-soft, smooth, andpletely unscathed. Her wless skin bore no trace of injury, not even the faintest scratch.


    She wondered, her heart pounding against her ribs, ''What is going on? Wasn''t I in


    a car ident? Wasn''t I supposed to be in the ambnce, being rushed to the hospital? Then why am I back in my bedroom, without a single wound on my body?"


    A sudden, unbelievable thought crashed into her mind.


    Rosalie''s breath caught as she snapped her gaze to the clock on the wall. The glowing numbers read January 1, 2020.


    She thought, a shiver running down her spine, ''Have I traveled back in time?''


    It sounded absurd-something that only happened in movies or novels. But there was no other exnation for why she was lying in her bedroom,pletely unharmed, while the clock disyed a date from one year ago.


    She wondered, ''Is the universe giving me a second chance? A chance to make a different choice?''


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    The memory of Julian''s cruel words before her death in her past life shed through her mind, making her lips curl into a bitter, self-mocking smile.


    Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, she turned sharply, yanking open the drawer of her bedside table.


    "Of course." Rosalie let out a coldugh, her eyesnding on the divorce agreement, the bold letters standing out unmistakably


    Julian had sent it over through hiswyer just yesterday. Even when it came to ending their marriage, he couldn''t be bothered to meet her in person.


    In her past life, she had stubbornly refused to sign it, clinging to a marriage that had long since withered into nothing but a legal bond on paper.


    Their rtionship had only grown more strained-Julian had barelye home for a year, and even when he did, he''d never spared her more than a few indifferent nces, let alone talking to her.


    She still didn''t know what exactly she had been holding onto or why she had been so desperate to keep a dead marriage intact.


    She had thought that as long as she stayed by Julian''s side-as long as she remained his wife-one day, she would finally reach his heart.


    But reality had been cruel.


    Even when shey on the brink of death after a severe car ident, he hadn''t shown the slightest concern. He hadn''t even cared enough to ask if she would survive.


    Instead, he had been waiting for her to die.


    At that thought, a familiar dull ache throbbed in Rosalie''s chest.


    Julian was like an executioner wielding a de, mercilessly skilled at slicing her heart apart piece by piece.


    No matter how much it hurt-no matter how many times he had torn her apart¨D she had still refused to let go.


    But now, as she dwelled on it, the whole thing felt utterlyughable. Reaching into the drawer, she pulled out the divorce agreement. Her gaze swept over the pages, taking in every word, every use.


    Julian might not have had an ounce of affection for her, but when it came to money, he was undeniably generous. The assets he had allocated to her in the divorce settlement were more than enough to ensure she could live in luxury for several lifetimes without lifting a finger.


    Once she finished reading through the document, she headed to the study.


    When she emerged a whileter, a folder was clutched in her hands. Without hesitation, she dialed Julian''swyer.


    "Mr. Carson," she said coolly, "I''ve signed the divorce agreement. I made a few modifications. Please pass it along to Julian. If


    '' and sig her

 Breaking Free From 2

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    Inside the grand headquarters of Galloway Group, a sharp knock echoes against the heavy doors of the CEO''s offices,


    Come in Julian''s voice was cool, detached.


    Martin Carson, thepany''s chief legal advisor, stepped inside, carrying a folder in his hands. His usuallyposed expression held a trace of something unreadable as he walked up to Julian.


    Julian barely nced up from the documents on his desk. Seeing it was Martin, he casually asked, "She still refuses to sign?"


    His tone was crisp, indifferent, as if the entire matter was nothing more than a trivial business deal rather than the dissolution of a marriage. Not a single flicker of emotion crossed his face.


    "No," Martin said after a brief pause. "Mrs. Galloway has already signed. But...¡±


    Julian arched a brow. "But what?"


    Martin hesitated for half a second before handing over the folder. "She made some changes to the financial terms."


    Julian let out a coldugh, the corner of his lips curling with derision. "What, she thinks I didn''t give her enough?"


    He thought, So in the end, she''s just like the rest-insatiable. No matter how much she pretended to love me, it was never stronger than her greed for money.


    Martin pressed his lips together but said nothing.


    Julian didn''t wait for a response. He pulled out the signed divorce agreement with Rosalie''s signature on it, fully expecting to see pages upon pages of financial demands. But the moment his eyesnded on the document, his hand stiffened. Unlike the thick stack of papers detailing the generous financial settlement he had originally offered, this version consisted of a single page.


    Rosalie had signed away everything. The document explicitly stated that she was leaving with nothing-no property, no


    assets.


    On top of that, there was a separate share transfer agreement in which she relinquished her 5% stake in Galloway Group to Julianpletely free of charge. A notarized certification from a legal office was even attached to ensure its validity.


    Shocked, Julian stared at the papers, an unfamiliar sensation creeping into his chest.


    Yesterday, she had been adamant about not divorcing him. Today, she had not only signed without hesitation but had also walked away without taking a single cent-and even given up what rightfully belonged to her.


    For a fleeting moment, his expression faltered. He couldn''t quite ce what he was feeling, but one thought surfaced in his mind. ''What the hell is Rosalie ying at this time?'' he wondered.


    His fingers tightened around the papers. "Did she say anything?"


    Julian refused to believe that Rosalie had agreed to the divorce so easily. In his mind, she had schemed her way into the Galloway family by winning over his grandfather, Issac Galloway, manipting the old man into forcing him into marriage. That was what he had always thought.


    He thought, his frown deepening, ''She fought so hard to be my wife, and now she''s just giving it all up?"


    His grip on the divorce papers tightened unconsciously, leaving sharp creases on the once-pristine document.


    Nearby, his assistant, n Barker, noticed Julian''s grim expression and assumed the worst-that Rosalie''s revised agreement


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    must have been filled with outrageous demands, an attempt to push her luck even further. Disdain flickered across n''s mind.


    He had been present when Julian instructed Martin to draft the original divorce settlement. He knew exactly how generous Julian had been-far beyond what was necessary.


    If Rosalie still wasn''t satisfied with that, then n seriously had to wonder whether she had ever truly loved Julian at all¡ªor if it was simply the staggering wealth and power that came with his name that had drawn her in.


    Curiosity gnawed at him. His gaze drifted toward the revised agreement, scanning the contents discreetly. And just like Julian, he was stunned.


    She hadn''t asked for a single thing. Not only had she walked away with nothing, but she had even given back the shares Issac had gifted herpletely free of charge.


    n''s mind reeled. No matter how he tried to wrap his head around it, he simply couldn''t believe that she was leaving empty-handed and even handing Julian a parting gift.


    That 5% stake in Galloway Group might not have been a controlling share, but it was still an asset that could generate enough annual dividends to support her for a lifetime. And yet, she had given it up without hesitation.


    Martin finally spoke, ¡°That''s all. Mrs. Galloway-no, Ms. Talley-asked that you find time to finalize the divorce paperwork as soon as possible."


    His words should have brought Julian relief. After all, that was what he had


    wanted. But instead of the satisfaction of breaking free from Rosalie, a strange, unshakable irritation settled in Julian''s chest.

 Breaking Free From 3

    "Leave," Julian ordered, his voice clipped and emotionless.


    Martin and n exchanged a nce before silently exiting the room. Once the door shut behind them, Julian''s expression darkened even further.


    As he leaned back against the leather chair, his gaze grew colder,yer byyer, like ice forming over a frozenke. He didn''t believe Rosalie had truly agreed to the divorce.


    Just yesterday, she had been adamant-unwilling to let go no matter what. He thought there was no way she could have had a sudden change of heart overnight.


    A sharp, mocking chuckle escaped his lips as he ignored the divorce agreement Martin had delivered.


    Pressing his fingers against his temple, he tried to push down the inexplicable irritation rising in his chest. He grabbed the nearest document, attempting to refocus.


    But for some reason, the usually sharp and efficient man found himself unable to absorb a single word. His mind, which usually moved like clockwork, was now a jumble of thoughts he couldn''t untangle.


    "Mrs. Galloway, are you heading out?" ra Berry, one of the housemaids, paused at the sight of Rosalie descending the grand staircase, a suitcase in hand.


    Everyone in the Galloway household-and even Julian''s extended family-knew that his marriage to Rosalie had never been built on love. It was an arrangement forced by Issac Galloway, and Julian had never let her forget that.


    Now that Issac had passed, Julian had wasted no time in filing for divorce. No one could have been happy about it, least of all Rosalie-because everyone knew she was irrevocably in love with him.


    ra still remembered how thewyer had shown up yesterday, delivering the divorce papers right in front of the staff, as if Rosalie''s feelings didn''t matter at all. She couldn''t help but nce at Rosalie with a tinge of sympathy.


    Rumors had long whispered that Rosalie was nothing more than a substitute for the woman Julian truly loved. And now ra felt like those whispers had been true all along.


    "No, I''m moving out." Rosalie offered ra a small smile. "ra, thank you for taking care of me this past year."


    She wasn''t a demanding mistress, never one to throw tantrums or make life difficult for the staff. The only thing she had ever been particr about was Julian.


    ra hesitated before asking, "You''re really leaving Mr. Galloway?"


    Rosalie smiled again and nodded, though for the briefest moment, an ache flickered in her chest. She ignored it and stepped forward, heading for the door.


    But after taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped. Turning back to ra, she said, "Oh, and one more thing. Get someone to get rid of the lilies in the garden."


    "What?" ra furrowed her brows. "But Mrs. Galloway, you nted those yourself."


    Rosalie''s smile didn''t waver. "Tear them out. Julian doesn''t like them.


    She thought, pressing down the slight sting in her chest, ''Since we''re getting


    divorced, I should make a clean break. Why leave anything behind to remind him- or to irritate him?''


    Mon, 3 Mar


    With that, she turned and walked away without a single nce back, her steps steady, her heart resolved.


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    When Julian returned home, the first thing he saw was a small excavator in the garden, ripping out the lilies by their roots. His expression instantly dropped to subzero. ¡°What the hell is going on?" His voice was dangerously low.


    "Mr. Galloway, you''re back." ra hurried over, sensing the storm brewing in his gaze. "Mrs. Galloway ordered it. She said-"


    "She said what?"


    "Mrs. Galloway said you don''t like them."


    She spoke carefully, choosing her words with caution as she stole a careful nce at him.


    Julian''s face remained impassive, but ra noticed the rigid set of his jaw, the brief flicker in his gaze. Then she hesitated before adding, "Mrs. Galloway has already left."


    ''Left?'' Julian thought, startled.


    The word hit him harder than he expected, stirring up that same restless, inexplicable unease that had gued him all day at the office.


    But outwardly, he betrayed nothing. His expression remained unreadable as he let


    out a quiet, indifferent hum and strode into the house. "Fine."


    Just as he reached the doorway, he gave a finalmand without looking back.


    "Tell them to stop. Restore everything to the way it was."


    "Yes, sir." ra didn''t understand what Julian was thinking. It was clear to anyone


    that he didn''t like Rosalie. She couldn''t understand why, now that they were


    getting a divorce, Julian still wanted to keep the flowers she had nted.


    Ìï


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 Breaking Free From 4

    Since the day they got married, Julian had rarely spent time at home. He would either disappear for weeks or return in the chead and night. But today-arriving this early-was a first.


    ra cast a quick nce at him, her thoughts swirling. Do all powerful people have such unpredictable moods?" she wondered


    Despite her curiosity, she held her tongue and promptly instructed the workers to stop what they were doing


    Julian''s face remained unreadable as he climbed the stairs. He pushed open the master bedroom door-only to be met with silence. The room was hollow, stripped of its usual warmth


    He rarely came home at this hour. No matter howte he returned, Rosalie would always be sitting there, waiting for him.


    Even if she had dozed off, the sound of his arrival would rouse her, and she''d greet him with drowsy eyes, a soft smile, and


    an endless stream of concern.


    But tonight, as the door swung open, the stillness that greeted him felt unfamiliar for a while.


    A strange, unceable irritation crawled under his skin. With a sharp exhale, he reached up, yanked off his tie, and tossed it aside before scanning the room.


    Nothing looked drastically different, and yet, something felt off to him.


    His gazended on the bookshelf. Half the books were gone.


    His frown deepened. He strode to the wardrobe and pulled open the doors. It was still packed with clothes. But as his eyes flicked through the neatly arranged garments, he realized something was missing. Not a single piece belonged to Rosalie.


    Julian''s jaw tightened. He refused to believe that Rosalie had really agreed to get a divorce and moved out.


    He thought, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his lips, Is she trying to y hard to get? So now she wants to use tricks on me?


    But no matter how convinced he was that Rosalie wouldn''t walk away so easily, the restless agitation creeping into his chest refused to subside. A vague sense of unease gnawed at him, unsettling in a way he couldn''t quite ignore.


    After leaving the house she had shared with Julian for the past year, Rosalie


    didn''t go anywhere else. She went straight to her own apartment downtown.


    She rarely stayed there, but the ce was always spotless-cleaned daily by hired staff, waiting for her return.


    Rosalie set down her luggage, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number.


    The call connected almost instantly. On the other end, a man''s voice, thick with sleep, rasped through the speaker. "Rosa, I just dreamt about you, and now you''re calling? Talk about being in sync."


    She ignored his teasing and got straight to the point. "I need you to look into something for me. Once you have the details,pile the evidence and send it


    over."


    Sheid out exactly what she needed him to investigate, her voice cool and measured.


    After hanging up, Rosalie lowered her gaze. A glint of icy determination flickered in her eyes.


    The next morning. Rosalie was up early. After freshening up, she gathered the necessary documents and drove straight to


    By this time, the courthouse was already open, and people were steadily trickling in to finalize their divorces.


    Bosalie stood at the entrance, waiting. An hour passed, and there was still no sign of Julian Gradually, her patience was wearing thin


    She pulled out her phone and called himno answer. She tried n next, but his phone was off too.


    Rosalie checked the time. The courthouse would close for the day in an hour.


    She had enough. She climbed back into her car and drove straight to Galloway Group''s headquarters.


    In thepany parking lot, she pulled into a spot, killed the engine, and stepped out with a purpose. As she headed toward the entrance, she bumped into a


    woman.


    Tall, curvy, and dressed to impress, the woman strutted toward her, her bleached blonde hair tumbling over one shoulder. Her face was unmistakably enhanced- overfilled lips, sharply arched brows, and the taut, unnatural smoothness of excessive cosmetic work.


    Her tailored business attire clung in all the right ces, strategically altered to highlight every seductive curve.


    Rosalie recognized her instantly. She had seen this woman a few times before- back when she used to bring Julian lunch at


    the office.

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    Chapter 5 Chapter 5


    The woman standing in Rosalie''s path was Tiana West, a secretary from the


    Office of the Secretary under Julian''smand. On asion, Julian would bring her along to business gatherings, and after a few such outings, her arrogance had grown unchecked.


    The way she looked at people carried an unmistakable air of superiority, as if she had already secured her ce as the future Mrs. Galloway, merely waiting for Rosalie to be cast aside,


    "Mrs. Galloway, here you are again." Tiana lifted her chin ever so slightly, emphasizing the unnatural plumpness of her surgically enhanced features.


    Her gaze swept over Rosalie with an edge of disdain, but what stood out most was the way she deliberately stressed the word "again", as if Rosalie''s presence was nothing more than an unwanted intrusion.


    Rosalie met her gaze with a poised smile, her tone perfectly measured as she greeted, "Tiana


    Tiana''s eyes flickered to Rosalie''s empty hands, a glint of contempt shing through them. "No homemade lunch for Mr. Galloway today?" she sneered. "Did you finally figure out that he throws away everything you make?


    The condescension and mockery in her voice was tant, dripping with the kind of malice that only came from someone who reveled in another woman''s downfall.


    In the past, Rosalie had held back for Julian''s sake, not bothering to engage with petty secretaries who overestimated their importance.


    But now that she didn''t even care about Julian anymore.


    There was no reason for her to hold back. A mere secretary was no longer worth her consideration.


    A cold smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she mused, "Tiana must have mistaken my patience for weakness.


    Meanwhile, Tiana was carefully sizing Rosalie up, but the more she looked, the more unease crept into her gut.


    Rosalie was dressed in a sleek, perfectly tailored dress-simple yet effortlessly elegant. And even if Tiana seethed with jealousy, she had to admit that Rosalie''s beauty was unparalleled.


    But beyond that, there was something else-something more unsettling. A quiet authority radiated from Rosalie, a presence sharp enough to make Tiana instinctively wary, though she refused to acknowledge why.


    Tiana scoffed inwardly, ''She''s nothing more than a trophy wife Julian married to appease his grandfather-a woman whose only skills are cooking for her husband and ying the dutiful wife, yet he doesn''t love her.


    ''How could someone like her everpare to me? I graduated from an elite university and hold a high-ranking position in a major corporation. She''s leagues beneath me.''


    And yet, despite convincing herself of Rosalie''s insignificance, she couldn''t help but let jealousy gnaw at her insides.


    It was precisely that envy,ced with an underlying insecurity she refused to acknowledge, that drove her to unt her so-called superiority in Rosalie''s presence.


    Noticing the faint smirk ying at the corner of Rosalie''s lips, Tiana was about to throw another jab at her. But the next second, a strong grip mped down on her jaw.


    Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Rosalie, who still wore that soft, almost polite smile-yet her gaze was cold enough to pierce straight through Tiana''s bones. Her heart gave a startled jolt.


    Rosalie leaned in ever so slightly, her grip tightening, chuckling, "Did I give you permission to run your mouth?"


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    Tiana''s breath hitched. In her eyes, Rosalie was supposed to be delicate, fragile, easy to push around. But right now, her fingers mped down on Tiana''s chin with an unyielding strength, rendering Tianapletely immobile.


    "Le-let go. Tiana stammered, her words garbled under the pressure of Rosalie''s grip. Her once-prized face-always maintained to perfection-now lookedically distorted, a far cry from the elegance she prided herself on.


    "I have a bit of a temper, you see. Keep squirming, and I might just dislocate your jaw." Rosalie''s tone was casual, but the glint in her icy eyes made it clear-this wasn''t an idle threat. Tiana immediately went silent, not daring to say a word.


    Rosalie let out a mockingugh. "No wonder Juli¨¢n neveres home. Turns out he''s been keeping a cheap little ything in the office."


    "You..." Tiana barely got a word out before something caught her attention- someone standing just behind Rosalie.


    Her expression shifted in an instant. A flicker of calction shed in her eyes, but she masked it swiftly with an aggrieved look.


    In a voice dripping with innocence, Tiana pleaded, "Mrs. Galloway, you''ve misunderstood. There''s nothing between Mr. Galloway and me. I''m just his secretary-attending events with him is strictly business, I swear. You''ve got it all


    wrong.


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    Tiana''s eyes turned red as she spoke, though not entirely from grievance. Part of it was genuine as her overfilled jawline ached under Rosalie''s unforgiving grip.


    But the rest was nothing more than a pathetic attempt at acting.


    Rosalie suddenly let out a soft chuckle and released her hold on Tiana''s chin, her tone light and airy as she said, "Rx, I was only joking."


    Then, as ifpletely indifferent to the exchange, she casually reached into her purse, pulled out a sanitizing wipe, and meticulously cleaned every spot on her fingers that hade into contact with Tiana-slowly, thoroughly, like she had just touched something filthy.


    Tiana watched the entire disy, her chest heaving with barely restrained fury, thinking, ''What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is this washed-up hag implying that I''m filthy?''


    In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to lunge forward and w at Rosalie''s face.


    But the presence of the man standing behind Rosalie forced Tiana to swallow down her rage, her nails digging into her palms as she bellowed inwardly, ''Go on, you wretch. Keep ying your little games. Let''s see how you clean up the mess when this blows up in your face.''


    Rosalie, entirely unbothered by the seething anger in Tiana''s eyes, even seemed to find amusement in it. She tilted her head ever so slightly, offering a slow, deliberate exnation, "Apologies. I have a bit of a cleanliness obsession. I can''t stand the stench of cheap perfume."


    With that, she flicked the used wipe into the trash can beside her, not even sparing Tiana another nce.


    Tiana''s face burned-one second flushed red, the next drained pale. But even as fury boiled inside her, she forced an aggrieved look onto her face, her voice pitifully soft.


    "Mrs. Galloway, I swear, you''ve got the wrong idea. There''s nothing between Mr. Galloway and me."


    Rosalie, feigning confusion, blinked at her. "Didn''t I just say I was joking? Wow, you''re really uptight, huh? Can''t even take a little teasing?"


    Tiana nearly choked on her own indignation. Inside, she was screaming, ''Screw you, Rosalie!''


    Tiana gritted her teeth in frustration, seething inside. She had thought she wouldn''t get the chance to set Rosalie up this time, and the realization left her simmering with irritation.


    But before she could dwell on her disappointment, Rosalie''s voice rang out again. "Julian may be blind as a bat, but even he wouldn''t stoop so low as to pick up just any trash."


    "You..." Tiana''s face twisted in rage. But then, she suddenly remembered that there was someone behind Rosalie, listening to every single word. And just like that, her fury melted into something else entirely-pure, unrestrained satisfaction. Tiana sneered inwardly, ''Rosalie, you''re walking straight into this one. Don''t me me for making things a little more difficult for you.''


    She put on a hesitant, innocent expression and said, "Mrs. Galloway, how could you say that about Mr. Galloway? Calling him blind like that?"


    Rosalie let out a cold chuckle. "Being severely nearsighted isn''t much different from being blind. But fine, let''s say he''s not actually blind. Even so, the fact that you of all people managed to be his plus-one at those events is kind of insulting to me."


    She pursed her lips as if deep in thought. Then, her expression lit up with sudden realization. "Oh, I get it now. I heard he only takes you to those run-of-the-mill social gatherings. But when ites to the high-profile, exclusive events, he always brings n instead-never you."


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    A sharp pang shot through Tiana''s chest. An uneasy feeling settled in her gut, warning her that whatever Rosalie was about to say next wouldn''t be anything good. And she was right.


    Rosalie continued, "Makes sense. He may be blind, but he''s not stupid. He knows better than to bring an empty-headed little fool like you to an elite gathering. If you blurt out something embarrassing and offend the wrong people, he''d be the one left dealing with the consequences."


    Tiana''s face darkened. "You..."


    But Rosalie wasn''t done. "As for those lower-tier events? He can''t be bothered to entertain people himself, so he drags you along. Makes sense, doesn''t it? Waste not, want not. And let''s be honest-cheap thrills have their uses in certain situations." Her voice remained effortlessly calm,pletely devoid of anger, as though she were simply stating cold, hard facts.


    And that was exactly what made her wordsnd like a knife to the gut.


    "After all," Rosalie added smoothly, "the only real value you have in the Office of the Secretary is exactly that, isn''t it?" Rosalie smiled-a poised, refined smile, not


    at all like a scorned wifeshing out at her husband''s little mistress. No bitterness, no desperation. Just effortless grace and an air of untouchable elegance.


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 Breaking Free From 7

    A few people lingering nearby, drawn in by the unfolding drama, couldn''t help but stifle theirughter when they heard Rosalie''s words.


    They tried to keep their voices down, but Tiana still caught the sound, and her face darkened instantly.


    From the moment Rosalie stepped into thepany building. Tiana had deliberately raised her voice to lure these bystanders over, hoping to humiliate Rosalie in public. Yet, ironically, she had only managed to make a fool of herself instead.


    In the Office of the Secretary, Tiana was nothing more than a secretary-she never had ess to important work. The only time she got to stand in the spotlight was when Julian needed a femalepanion for a party.


    After all, among the women in the Office of the Secretary, no one couldpare to her looks and figure.


    But now, the very thing Tiana had always relied on-the one edge she thought ced her above everyone else had been reduced to a joke by Rosalie''s effortless, detached tone.


    In the end, she was nothing more than an essory, a decorative piece Julian brought to ordinary parties, used to entertain people he couldn''t be bothered to deal with himself.


    The more Tiana thought about it, the more suffocated she felt. And the more she stewed in her resentment, the more unbearable Rosalie''sposed, indifferent smile became.


    Even if Rosalie''s words had reached the ears of the man standing behind her, at this moment, Tiana didn''t care. She was already fuming.


    Rosalie scolded with a smirk, "So instead of overestimating yourself and meddling in my business, maybe go home, take a long look in the mirror, and have a better understanding of yourself. We''re not on the same level, honey."


    With that, Rosalie turned to leave, having no interest in wasting another second on this pointless exchange. But just as she stepped forward, Tiana suddenly gasped in an exaggerated voice, "Mr. Galloway."


    Feigning surprise, she put on her awkward damsel-in-distress act, as though she had just noticed Julian standing there. Without missing a beat, she unleashed her painfully mediocre performance, letting every ounce of grievance from Rosalie''s ridicule spill onto her face.


    Her big, dewy eyes turned red at the rims, and she bit down on her luscious red lips, looking pitiful as she forced a tremor into her voice. "Mrs. Galloway seems to have misunderstood my rtionship with you."


    Tiana''s words were carefully chosen. By making such a statement in public, she put Julian in a difficult position. If he denied any connection to her and reprimanded Rosalie in front of everyone, Rosalie would still be humiliated.


    If he chose to tacitly acknowledge his rtionship with Tiana instead, it would work even more in her favor. From that moment on, no one in thepany would dare to cross her.


    She had envisioned a wless oue, but Julianpletely ignored her words.


    His eyes, devoid of warmth, passed over Tiana without the slightest acknowledgment andnded instead on Rosalie''s face, where a faint trace of indifference lingered.


    The moment Tiana called out his name, Rosalie had already turned her head. When she saw Julian and n looking as if they had just returned from a business discussion, she didn''t waste time on pleasantries.


    She stepped forward and got straight to the point. "The divorce papers are signed. Didn''t we agree to finalize everything today? I waited for you at the courthouse for an hour. You''re wasting my time."


    Her voice was calm but carried a distinct note of usation.


    14:54 Mon, 3 Mar


    This was the first time since their marriage that Julian had heard Rosalie speak to him in such a manner.


    Though he didn''t know Rosalie well, he was aware that the wasn''t the type to suffer foods dly. Her patienes was thin, her temper quick to ignite, and the small reserves of gentleness she possessed were reserved for him alone. Or so he had thought


    It was precisely because of this that he found himself momentarily unustomed to her cold demeanor. Even the sharp remark she had made earlier in front of everyone, mocking his blindness in judgment, had shipped past him withou provoking his usual irritation.


    His gaze settled on her eyes-eyes that had always been filled with love and warmth whenever they looked at him. Now, there was only detachment, a distant chill that sent an unfamiliar difort through his chest.


    That unshakable indifference stirred something dark within him, an inexplicable frustration that he had no intention of suppressing


    He took a few steps toward her, closing the distance between them. The sudden shift in his presence was oppressive, forcing Rosalie to instinctively tense.


    Her expression remained calm, but she unconsciously retreated a little as the weight of his presence bore down on her.

 Breaking Free From 8

    Rosalie barely had time to steady herself before Julian let out a low, mockingugh. "So this is what you call a waste of time? Funny. I thought all your time was spent clinging to me."


    The moment he learned that Rosalie had actually gone to the courthouse first thing in the morning to file for divorce, an unexinable rage had ignited in his chest. The more he thought about it, the stronger that anger burned, making his wordse out sharper, colder.


    But Rosalie didn''t take the bait. She wasn''t irritated at all and didn''t even flinch at the scathing edge of his sarcasm. Instead, she simply shrugged, as if agreeing with him.


    "Can''t me me," she said lightly, "I was blind before. I wasted way too much time on you. Now I have to make up for it and make every second count."


    n, standing off to the side, was utterly stunned. His mind froze for a second as he thought, ''Do women''s feelings really change this fast? Yesterday, Mr. Galloway was the love of her life, and today she''s calling herself blind for ever loving him?''


    And it wasn''t just n-several Galloway Group employees, who had been secretly eavesdropping, were just as shaken by Rosalie''s unexpected words. It was like she had casually tossed a grenade into the room, and they were all left scrambling to process the explosion.


    They all wondered, ''Mrs. Galloway is divorcing Mr. Galloway? And, wait, she''s the one who wants out? How is that possible? Mr. Galloway is the definition of perfection-rich, powerful, devastatingly handsome. What more could she possibly want? Is she really leaving him over some misunderstanding about Ms. West?''


    But then another thought hit them as they pondered, ''Didn''t Mrs. Galloway herself say that he wouldn''t even look at someone like Ms. West? If she truly didn''t see her as a threat, why is she suddenly so determined to leave?''


    None of them could make sense of Rosalie''s reasoning. From their perspective, marrying Julian was like winning the ultimate jackpot-something any woman would kill for. And yet, here she was, willingly throwing it all away. To them, her actions weren''t just shocking. They were downright irrational.


    The onlookers couldn''t wrap their heads around it. They wondered, ''So what if a man has a few scandals? Every guy fools around a little-it''s just how things are. And Julian? He''s not just any man.


    ''He''s a Galloway, one of Hasmond''s most elite figures, the CEO of Galloway Group. Of course, he''s going to have women throwing themselves at him. That''s normal. She seriously can''t handle that and wants a divorce? She thinks she''s going to find someone better?''


    Most of the people present shared the same thought except for Rosalie. That was why, when Rosalie brought up divorce, their shock was palpable. It was as if she had dered something utterly unfathomable.


    Rosalie noticed how Julian''s expression darkened, but he remained silent. His stormy gaze was filled with barely restrained fury, a warning of the explosion simmering beneath the surface.


    Rosalie, however, no longer had the patience to tiptoe around his emotions, to carefully decipher every shift in his mood like before. She nced at her watch and said matter-of-factly, "There''s still an hour before the courthouse closes. If we leave now, we''ll make it in time. Let''s go."


    With that, she turned on her heel and strode toward the exit of Galloway Group''s towering headquarters, not sparing Julian another nce,pletely ignoring the look on his face.


    It wasn''t until she stepped outside and noticed he hadn''t followed that she finally stopped and turned around. Their eyes met-his gaze was ice-cold, razor-sharp. Once upon a time, the sight of that look would have made her heart clench with fear. She would have second-guessed herself, worried that she had somehow upset him, desperate to make things right.


    14:54 Mon, 8 Mar (9


    Chajaer #


    Hut not anymore. Now that she had made up her mind about leaving this emotional wastnd behind, wing her way out of the pit Julian had kept her trapped in for years, she realized she had nothing to fear.


    The only power Julian had ever wielded over her was her love for him. But if that love no longer existed, then neither did his ability to hurt her


    Rosalic''s expression remainedposed as she met his gaze. "Noting?" she asked, arching a brow. "Don''t tell me you''re suddenly having second thoughts." She crossed her arms over her chest, exuding an air of casual indifference, smirking, "You were so desperate to divorce me that you were willing to split half your assets just to get rid of me. Now that I''ve agreed, you''re hesitating? What''s this about?" She let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head slightly. Her delicate features were breathtaking as always, but the amusement in her expression wasced with a biting, icy sarcasm.

 Breaking Free From 9

    hapter 9


    Rosalie scoffed, deliberately provoking him, "Having second thoughts now that we''re at the finish line exzed I''m not wh a bad wife after all?"


    She knew Julian wasn''t someone who could be easily manipted by cheap tricks. But he was also a man of immense pride -arrogant to the core, like so many men born into old-money families. And if there was one thing futian coddi" where, it was losing face.


    Her words hit their mark. Julian couldn''t just let it slide, especially with so many of his employees around.


    Sure enough, the moment the words left her lips, Julian''s already dark expression turned even more or


    Without a word, he strode toward her, his presence sharp and oppressive.


    Rosalie saw him move but didn''t bother waiting. She simply turned and made her way toward the parking lot, her heek clicking against the pavement with an unhurried rhythm.


    She reached her car and pulled the door open-only for it to be stopped midway. A strong hand pressed against the edge, preventing her from getting in. She lifted her gaze and met Julian''s eyes-cold, assessing, brimming with unspoken tension.


    "Still have something to say?" she asked, arching a brow, azy smile curving her lips.


    "What exactly are you ying at?" His voice was deep, rich,ced with an authority that came naturally to him-an innate pressure that made people instinctively fall in line.


    Rosalie had once loved the sound of his voice. Every word he spoke had felt like music, each syble carrying a weight that drew her in.


    But Julian had always been stingy with his words, especially when it came to her. He hardly ever engaged in conversation with her, and when he did, it was always brief. If he could say something in one word, he wouldn''t waste two.


    "I''ll buy the five percent of Galloway Group''s shares that Grandfather left you-at market price. No need for you to gift it to me," Julian said, his piercing gaze locked onto her face, searching for any flicker of hesitation, any trace of pretense in her indifferent expression.


    But whether she had mastered the art of concealment too well, or whether she had genuinely let go and given up on the marriage, there was nothing for him to find.


    Her expression remained almostpletely unchanged while he spoke. It was as though she were entirely indifferent to him.


    Julian swallowed his frustration and continued, his voice steady butced with underlying tension, "Since we''re getting divorced, I won''t shortchange you. You''ll get what''s rightfully yours. So, there''s no need to put on an act and pretend to be


    SO


    selfless in front of me."


    Rosalie couldn''t help butugh at his self-righteous assumption-sharp, incredulous, with a trace of biting amusement. "Julian, I already signed the divorce papers. I was waiting at the courthouse, ready to end this marriage.


    "If you hadn''t stood me up, we''d already be divorced. So tell me, exactly who am I supposed to be pretending for? You?"


    Her gaze locked onto his grim, brooding eyes, unwavering and fearless. A slow smile curled on her lips as she added, "I spent a whole year by your side, and it still wasn''t enough to change your mind.


    "Do you really think a little generosity now would suddenly make you reconsider? Or is it that you don''t even trust your own resolve?"


    For a moment, Julian found himselfpletely caught off guard by her question, unable to muster a single retort.


    14:55 Mon, 3 Mar


    She was right. If he had truly made up his mind to divorce her, then even if she had handed over everything she owned, it wouldn''t have swayed him in the slightest.


    He thought, his mind turning over the implications, ''So she really does want this divorce? She''s even more eager than I am? She went to the courthouse first thing in the morning, waited for me, and when I didn''t show, she tracked me down at thepany?''


    For a fleeting moment, something in him resisted the conclusion, but he crushed that impulse before it could take shape.


    "So you''re really going through with this?" His voice, usually soposed and cutting, carried an almost imperceptible rasp, a crack in the icy veneer. "You don''t want anything at all?"


    From the very beginning, he had never believed that Rosalie married him without expecting something in return.


    But now, she was willingly giving up everything that should have been hers.


    And for the first time, the certainty he had always clung to-his irond belief about her-began to waver, just the slightest bit.


    Ìï

 Breaking Free From 10

    Rosalie let out a coldugh. "That''s right. I want nothing. I just want to divorce you


    +4210


    The words Julian had uttered so ruthlessly in her past life, right before her death, still echoed in her ears like a relentless torment. Every time the memory surfaced, it felt like a de slicing through her heart, again and again.


    She didn''t know how much more of this heartbreak she could endure if she didn''t make a clean break with Julian now. Her heart had already been shattered once- she refused to let it be reduced to dust.


    She thought, ''Some ties, once severed, may bleed profusely, but at least there''s still a chance for healing. That''s far better than nursing old wounds, only to have him carve fresh ones over them. If that happens, the scars will never close, not in this lifetime.


    Rosalie spoke of divorce with a calm, detached ease, as if discussing something as trivial as the weather.


    Watching her like this, Julian felt an unfamiliar uncase wing at his chest-an emotion that had taken root the moment she signed the divorce papers yesterday and had only grown stronger since. He wasn''t sure he wanted to name it and he didn''t dare acknowledge it.


    Outwardly, his expression remained as impassive as ever, but the shadows in his eyes darkened, deepening into something dangerous like a storm brewing in the depths of the ocean, waiting to pull Rosalie under and shatter herposure entirely.


    Rosalie continued, "Those shares were never really mine to begin with. When I married you, Isaac gave them to me as a way to secure my footing-just in case you ever tried to push me around. At least with them, I had some leverage."

 Breaking Free From 11

    She paused for a moment before adding, "But even though you never had feelings for me, you weren''t cruel enough to leave me starving or homeless. And now that we''re divorcing, I want a clean break. There''s no reason for me to hold onto those shares anymore."


    Even though that mere 5% of shares were worth billions of dors, Rosalie spoke as if it were nothing, as if wealth had no power over her.


    And to Julian, her indifference didn''t just sound like detachment-it felt like she couldn''t wait to sever everyst tie between them, once and for all.


    Rosalie said, "As for the divorce settlement you''re offering me, I don''t need it either. It''s yours. Now that we''re getting divorced, let''s keep things neat and simple-don''t you think, Mr. Galloway?"


    Her voice was steady, devoid of any emotion, as if she were stating a simple fact rather than cutting ties with the man she once called her husband.


    Even the way she addressed him had changed-from Julian to Mr. Galloway, a shift so distant and formal that it made his stomach twist with an inexplicable sense of rejection.


    The more indifferent she seemed, the more that unsettling panic inside Julian wed its way to the surface.


    He couldn''t understand why he felt this way, why his chest felt tight, why his breath felt just a little too shallow. But the feeling was there, pressing against his ribs, relentless and suffocating.


    Rosalie had said her piece. When Julian remained silent, his face unreadable, irritation flickered in her expression.


    She nced at her watch, her brows knitting together slightly. "There''s less than


    an hour before the courthouse closes. Let''s go. Don''t waste time."


    Without waiting for a response, she turned and got into the driver''s seat, mming the door shut with finality.


    Meanwhile, chaos erupted at Galloway Group. Whispers spread like wildfire through the office.


    The employees couldn''t help but think, ''Mr. Galloway is really getting a divorce? Mrs. Galloway said it herself, so it must be true, right? Didn''t we see Mr. Galloway walk out with her? Looks like it''s really happening!


    Regardless of how Julian himself felt about the situation, some ambitious female employees were already making calctions in their heads.


    Having a handsome, wealthy, and powerful bachelor like Julian right under their noses was too tempting for many to resist. After all, if they seeded, they could be the next Mrs. Galloway, living a life of luxury and prestige with billions at their fingertips.


    Among them, Tiana was practically vibrating with excitement, having already forgotten the humiliation Rosalie had just dealt her.


    She thought, ''Out of all the women at Galloway Group, I''m the only one he''s ever taken as his plus-one to events. My chances are the best. Once I be Mrs. Galloway, Rosalie will be nothing more than a footnote.


    3


    14:55 Mon, 3 Mar 0

 Breaking Free From 12

    42%


    Tiana thought to herself, ''One day, I''ll make Rosalie pay for the humiliation she''s put me through today!


    As this thought took root, her desire grew stronger, and the gleam in her eyes-an unmistakable hunger for power- intensified. She wanted nothing more than to be the next Mrs. Galloway.


    Just as she lifted her gaze, however, she was startled to see that Julian wasn''t doing what she had expected. He wasn''t heading to the courthouse with Rosalie to finalize the divorce. Instead, he was walking back alone with a stormy expression on his face.


    Tiana''s eyes darkened imperceptibly, disappointment shing through her. As Julian drew near, she quickly schooled her features and put on a pitiful expression she believed would make him feel sorry for her-a look she thought might even move him. She walked up to him, her voice soft. "Mr. Galloway."


    Julian lowered his gaze, his silence speaking volumes. He stood there, cold and distant, staring at her in a way that sent a rush of exhration through Tiana''s chest.


    Her heart raced, and her cheeks flushed with excitement. She tightened her fists, trying to hold it together.


    She thought, ''I knew it. Mr. Galloway''s definitely into me. Otherwise, why would he stay silent when Rosalie misunderstood our rtionship? He didn''t correct her or deny it. That''s basically an admission, right?''


    With that thought, Tiana''s mind already wandered to the future-her future as Mrs. Galloway, living a life of opulence and power by Julian''s side.


    But before her fantasies could fully unfold, she heard Julian''s voice-cold, distant, and devoid of any warmth. "What did you say to her when Rosalie arrived?"


    Tiana''s eyes widened in an instant. Panic flitted through her as she lowered her gaze, trying to hide the fear in her eyes.


    She stammered, "I didn''t say much. When Mrs. Galloway arrived, she called me a slut, saying that it''s because of me that you''ve been staying away from home all the time."


    Though Tiana spoke hesitantly with trembling caution, there was no mistaking the subtle hint of self-satisfaction in her voice as she delivered the second part of her statement.


    Julian did not press further. Instead, he simply moved past her, heading forward without another word.


    14:55 Mon, 3 Mar D

 Breaking Free From 13

    42%


    Just when Tiana thought he might have been convinced by her words, Julian''s voice cut through the tension like a de. "Tell her to go to the Finance Department and settle her sry. She''s fired. She needs to leave Galloway Group immediately


    At that, Tiana''s face went deathly pale. She jerked her head up, eyes darting toward Julian, but all she got in return was the cold, unyielding sight of his retreating back. His posture was rigid, his steps steady-utterly indifferent, as if she didn''t even exist.


    "Mr. Galloway," she called out, desperation creeping into her voice as she tried to chase after him. Before she could take another step, n, who had been trailing a few paces behind Julian, blocked her path.


    "Mr. Barker." Tiana turned to him, clutching at onest shred of hope.


    n remarked, "Mr. Galloway despises people who overstep their bounds and don''t know their ce. Thispany has no shortage of secretaries to apany him to parties. I arranged for you before, and I can just as easily arrange for someone else. You are not that special to him.¡±


    His words were merciless, cutting through thest of Tiana''s delusions like a de. The ambition she had so carefully nurtured and the fantasy she had built about Julian all came crashing down in an instant.


    n''s meaning couldn''t have been clearer-Julian''s choice of a femalepanion had nothing to do with preference or importance. It was simply a decision made by his assistant, nothing more.


    n continued, his tone sharp, "Mrs. Galloway was right. You''re too foolish to handle high society. But your biggest mistake was thinking you could deceive Mr. Galloway. You just lost yourst chance toe clean with him."


    A chill ran through Tiana''s spine. Gone was her usual arrogance, the smug confidence she always carried. In its ce was raw fear-an all-consuming panic that tightened around her chest.


    Losing her job at Galloway Group wasn''t the end of the world, but what truly terrified her was the fact that she had been personally dismissed by Julian himself. With that kind of stain on her record, no prestigiouspany would ever consider hiring her again.


    She couldn''t ept it, nor could she understand it. Julian seemed to despise his wife so much, yet without asking a single question, he had already assumed Tiana had offended Rosalie. He''d even gone so far as to fire her for Rosalie''s sake.


    Tiana thought bitterly, ''Didn''t Mr. Galloway hear all the bad things Rosalie said about him?"


    Panic surged through her as she grabbed at n''s sleeve, pleading, "Mr. Barker, I know I was wrong. Please, help me. I swear it won''t happen again.¡±


    14:55 Mon, 3 Mar 000.

 Breaking Free From 14

    42%


    There was no way n would risk provoking Julian over an airheaded fool like Tiana-especially when Julian was already in such a foul mood.


    n had assumed that anyone who managed to enter the Office of the Secretary had at least some intelligence. Yet, Tiana had proven to be an absolute idiot.


    n thought grimly, ''In the end, it''s always the same. These women let their blind ambition inte their egos beyond


    reason.


    He cast an indifferent nce at Tiana and delivered his final verdict without a shred of sympathy. "Resign on your own terms. If you insist on staying, you''ll just end up being dragged out by security. At least this way, you can salvage what little dignity you have left."


    "Mr. Barker, Mr. Barker!" Tiana''sposure shattered. She no longer cared about appearances as she broke down in the middle of the Galloway Group lobby, sobbing uncontrobly.


    The employees who had been watching the spectacle unfold showed no intention of offeringfort.


    Tiana had strutted around with her nose in the air just because Julian had taken her to a couple of events. But now that she had fallen out of favor and got fired by him, no one was foolish enough to get involved and risk trouble for themselves.


    n, having dealt with her, wasted no time heading for the elevator.


    But as the doors closed and he recalled the stormy expression on Julian''s face before going upstairs, a headache started creeping in.


    n couldn''t wrap his head around why Rosalie had suddenly be so eager to divorce. And what seemed even more baffling was that Julian, who had been the one to initiate the divorce in the first ce, now seemed downright displeased that she was pushing for it.


    The moment n stepped onto Julian''s floor, his phone rang. A quick nce at the screen made his breath hitch-it was Rosalie.


    Rosalie had called him before, usually when she couldn''t reach Julian. But something about this call made every instinct in n''s body scream that this was a disaster waiting to happen.


    As he hesitated, debating whether to answer, a secretary hurried toward him and said, ¡°Mr. Barker, Mr. Galloway is looking for you."


    "Okay." n still hadn''t answered the call when he stepped into Julian''s office. His phone was still ringing.


    Julian''s gazended on the device, and the icy chill in his eyes was enough to freeze the air in the room.


    n immediately picked up on the shift in the atmosphere. His heart pounding, he stepped forward, offering the phone with both hands as he murmured, "It''s Mrs. Galloway calling."


    Julian''s face remained impassive, his silence as chilling as ever. n, who usually prided himself on understanding Julian''s every move, now found himself at a loss.


    14:56 Mon, 3 Mar

 Breaking Free From 15

    With utmost caution, n asked, "Mr. Galloway, should I take the call?"


    At that moment, n fully understood what it was like to walk on eggshells.


    ????, 42%-


    Julian lifted his gaze, and the storm swirling in his eyes intensified with each ring of the phone. The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with the tension he exuded. "Take it," Julianmanded, his voice low, like the calm before a thunderstorm.


    "Yes, sir." n pressed the answer button, his fingers trembling slightly as he put it on speaker.


    Rosalie''s voice came through, dripping with clear irritation. "n, tell Julian my time is not to be wasted. If he can''t make it to the courthouse today, he better give me a clear time. I''m not sitting around waiting for him."


    "Well, Mrs. Galloway..." n nced nervously at Julian, but with no words from him, he was forced to tread carefully. "Mr. Galloway has very important matters to handle today. Perhaps you could wait a little longer? Once he''s finished, I can check with him again. What do you think?"


    Rosalie''s tone was sharp, filled with growing impatience. "Fine. Tell him to hurry up. Divorce is supposed to be quick, not dragged out like this. Is he even a man?"


    n was stunned into silence. The words hit him like a p, but what really struck him was the darkening storm on Julian''s


    face.


    Before n could react, Julian snatched the phone out of his hand with a swift movement.


    "Ro-" Before Julian could finish, all that was left in the air was a loud beep- Rosalie had already hung up.


    n froze, fear creeping in as he watched the furious storm clouds gather on Julian''s face. The tension in the room was palpable, and n couldn''t help but feel the weight of the impending explosion.


    For the first time, Julian felt the sharp sting of being hung up on by Rosalie. The frustration and rage that had been building inside him now surged violently, making his hands curl into fists. ''She''s got some nerve. She''s gone too far this time,'' he thought.


    14:56 Mon, 3 Mar

 Breaking Free From 16

    42%


    Rosalie had already been stood up twice by Julian, and frustration simmered in her chest. Without bothering to say much to n, she simply ended the call. What she didn''t know was that just as she hung up, Julian had finally taken the phone, about to speak.


    Seated in her car, Rosalie furrowed her brows. If even n was confused, then she was even more baffled. Just days ago, Julian had been eager enough to summon awyer to discuss the divorce, yet when it came down to it, he was dragging his


    feet.


    She wasn''t naive enough to believe he suddenly couldn''t bear to let her go. Since she couldn''t figure out the reason, she simply stopped trying.


    She thought that one way or another, Julian wanted this divorce, and it was going to happen sooner orter. Right now, she had more pressing matters to attend to.


    Turning the wheel, she changed direction and headed home. Halfway there, her phone rang.


    "Rosa," the voice on the other end said, "I''ve looked into what you asked. The results are ready. Should I send them over now?"


    "Yeah," Rosalie replied, her voice steady. "Email them to me. I''ll be home soon."


    As she hung up, a glint of cold determination surfaced in her eyes. Her fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel as she pressed her foot a little harder on the gas.


    Back at her downtown apartment, she wasted no time opening herptop. The moment she logged in, a new email notification popped up.


    Clicking on the attachment her subordinate had sent her, she scanned through the document. By the time she finished reading, a slow, sharp smirk curled at the corners of her lips. "Just as I expected."


    It was a detailed report on her stepsister Helena Graham''s true parentage.

 Breaking Free From 17

    Ronalie''s father, Edward Graham, hade from an entirely different worldpared to the Talley family. After his marriage, he had relied heavily on his wife''s support, which was why Ronale had taken her mother''s surname-Talley. Her mother, Beta Talley, had passed away from a neurological illness when Rosalie was just two years old.


    For the next two years, Edward had raised her alone without any scandals or romantic entanglements. Eventually, his devation moved Rosalie''s grandfather enough that he finally relented and encouraged Edward to remarry.


    Eventually, Edward married udia Graham, Helena''s mother, bringing her into his home. Helena, as the "baggage" udia brought along, naturally adopted her new stepfather''s surname, Graham.


    In Rosalie''s past life, no one had ever questioned the true rtionship among these three people-Edward had yed his role too well.


    And Rosalie, having lost her mother at such a young age, had trusted udiapletely. After all, from the moment udia married into the family, she had always treated Rosalie like her own child. Or so it had seemed.


    It wasn''t until Rosalie''s final moments in that life that she stumbled upon an old, yellowed photograph in Edward''s study. The photo showed Edward and udia, looking much younger.


    The realization struck Kosalie-this was from a time long before Edward had married Be. Rosalie couldn''t help but wonder if Edward and udia had been involved even before he married Be.


    And Helena, the so-called "stepdaughter", might not even be a true stepdaughter. She could very well be an illegitimate child born of an affair between Edward and udia during his marriage to Be.


    But before Rosalie could dig any deeper, fate had intervened. She died in a car ident before she could uncover the truth.


    Now, staring at the detailed report in her hands, Rosalie felt a cold, mocking amusement rise within her.


    Her slender fingers brushed over Helena''s name on the document, a cruel smirk ying at her lips. "If you love being the annoying ''baggage so much," she murmured, "then let''s see how you like it when you have no way out."


    The sterile smell of disinfectant hung in the air as Rosalie walked down the long, white-tiled corridor of Westfield Medical Center. The faint hum of fluorescent lights and the soft shuffle of footsteps echoed, creating an almost eerie stillness that contrasted with the bustle just beyond the walls.


    A nurse at the front desk looked up and greeted her with familiarity, smiling, ¡°Ms. Talley, you''re here."


    Rosalie gave a slight nod. "Hi. How''s my uncle today?"


    "Mr. Talley is the same as before. You can go in and spend some time with him. Talking to him might help."


    "Alright, I''ll head in now."


    She walked past the nurse, her footsteps soft against the polished floor, and made her way to the ICU. As she pushed open the door, her eyes immediately settled on the figure lying motionless in the bed.


    Her uncle, Dominik Talley, was hooked up to various machines that beeped softly, keeping him tethered to the fragile


    thread of life.


    Two years ago, Dominik had retired from the military. Not long after, he had suddenly fallen into aa. Now, two years had passed, and he remained in a vegetative state.


    Mon,


    Her grandfather George Talley had once told her that this was exactly what had happened to her mother before she died

 Breaking Free From 18

    The doctors couldn''t pinpoint the exact cause of the condition, so they simply attributed it to a rare, unidentified recessive gic disorder within the Talley family. Both Rosalie''s mother and uncle had, unfortunately, fallen victim to it.


    This gic w led to the progressive loss of cortical brain function, eventually leaving its sufferers in a vegetative state.


    For the past two years, Rosalie had been working on developing a drug aimed at repairing damaged neural cells in the cerebral cortex.


    If sessful, it would give Dominik a real chance of waking up. More than that, it could offer hope to other patients trapped in the same unresponsive state.


    As usual, she sat by Dominik''s bedside and talked to him for a while.


    With theb not requiring her immediate presence these days, she finally had time to pay a visit to Graham Vi and settle some overdue ounts.


    Stepping out of the hospital building and heading toward the parking lot, she unexpectedly ran into someone at the


    entrance.


    "Rosalie?" The surprised voice made her look up.


    A gorgeous young man with striking features was walking toward her, his expressionced with disbelief.


    She recognized him immediately-Sean Perry, the heir to the Perry family, one of Hasmond''s four most powerful families. More importantly, he was one of Julian''s closest friends.


    "Hi, Mr. Perry," she greeted politely.


    Sean chuckled, waving off the formality, "Come on, Rosalie, no need to be so distant. Just call me Sean. If you keep calling me Mr. Perry, then I''d have to call you Mrs. Galloway, wouldn''t I?"


    His tone was easygoing, filled with warmth. He had clearly already guessed why she was here, given that she wasing from the direction of the inpatient ward. "You came to see your uncle?"


    "Yes." Rosalie nodded before something crossed her mind. "Mr. Perry," she added, her voice calm but firm, "Julian and I are divorced now. From now on, you can call me Ms. Talley or just Rosalie."


    She thought to herself, "That title-Mrs. Galloway-no longer belongs to me. Julian wouldn''t like hearing it, and frankly, neither do I.


    Sean visibly froze for a second, his eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°What? Julian actually went through with the divorce?"


    Last week, Sean had heard from his friend Matteo Robinson that Roseanne Palmer wasing back from abroad, and Julian was nning to divorce Rosalie. At the time, Sean had scoffed, refusing to believe it.


    Now, seeing Rosalie standing before him, he thought, Julian actually divorced the girl who truly loved him for an ex who dumped him? What an absolute jerk.''


    His gaze lingered on Rosalie''s calm expression, and another thought surfaced. He wondered, ''She''s not even angry, notining, just standing there like it doesn''t faze her at all.


    If I were in Julian''s shoes, I''d be counting my blessings every day to have a wife like her. Who in their right mind would throw away something so good for a past that''s already gone?''


    "Yeah, it''s done. I''m no longer Mrs. Galloway," Rosalie said, shrugging as if the whole thing was nothing more than a trivial matter. She gave Sean a casual reminder before saying goodbye and turning to leave.


    It wasn''t until she was nearly out of sight that Sean suddenly remembered something. He pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos of her retreating figure.

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    Graham Vi was avishly decorated estate, a perfect disy of wealth. The air carried the faint scent of expensive wood polish, mingling with the rich aroma of dinner being prepared.


    Mrs. Galloway, wee home," a maid greeted at the entrance.


    Inside the grand dining room, the Graham family, who had just sat down for their dinner, were momentarily stunned by her arrival. But the surprise onlysted a beat before they all stood up, greeting her with enthusiastic smiles.


    "Rosalie, sweetie, you''re back," udia beamed, reaching out to grasp Rosalie''s hands in a gesture of affectionate wee. "Why didn''t you tell me in advance?" She was ying the part of the doting stepmother to perfection, her eyes soft and her tone sugary sweet.


    If Rosalie hadn''t uncovered the truth, she might have actually been touched by this warm reception. But now, as she met udia''s sickeningly sweet smile, her own expression remained indifferent.


    With practiced ease, Rosalie withdrew her hands from udia''s grasp and curved her lips into a cool smile. "This is my home. I cane back whenever I want. What, do I need to notify you in advance now?"


    udia stiffened, momentarily at a loss for words. A flicker of displeasure shed in her eyes.


    For years, she''d yed the role of the loving stepmother so well that it had be second nature. And with how useful Rosalie still was to them, she


    couldn''t afford to drop the act just yet. So, udia swallowed her irritation and forced her usual warmth back onto her face.

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    udia struggled to maintain her fake, syrupy smile. "Sweetie, you''ve got it all wrong. That''s not what I meant. I''m just so happy you''re home. If you''d told me in advance, I could''ve had the staff prepare some of your favorite dishes."


    The way she kept calling Rosalie sweetie, as if she really thought of herself as Rosalie''s mother, made Rosalie sick to her stomach.


    She didn''t bother responding and simply stepped past udia, heading further into the hall. Her gazended on the young woman seated on the sofa.


    The girl''splexion was unnaturally pale, her cheeks sunken, and her lips devoid of any color, a telltale sign of chronic illness.


    This was Helena-the illegitimate daughter Edward and udia had conceived behind Rosalie''s mother''s back.


    Rosalie had once pitied her. As a child, she had genuinely felt sorry for Helena, thinking her little stepsister was unfortunate -fatherless, frail, and sickly. She had even treated Helena like a real sister, showering her with care and affection.


    But reality had proven her foolish. Helena wasn''t some helpless damsel in need of sympathy. She wasn''t even that much younger than Rosalie-just a few months, in fact. A detail that, in hindsight, should have made everything ringly obvious. Tonight, Helena was dressed in a pristine white cashmere sweater paired with a light brown knit skirt. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her delicate, sickly features, making her look every bit the fragile, pitiable beauty. Helena could feel Rosalie''s gaze on her, unwavering and silent. As shepared Rosalie''s radiant, stunning face with her own pale, frail appearance, a wave of envy surged within her. She had long been consumed by jealousy toward Rosalie.


    Helena envied Rosalie''s prestigious lineage, the fact that she was the legitimate daughter and not an illegitimate child. She envied Rosalie''s beauty, how she was effortlessly alluring, a woman who could turn heads wherever she went.


    Meanwhile, Helena, though also Edward''s daughter, could never im her rightful ce as the heiress to the Graham family. She was nothing more than a burden, an unwee afterthought, living in the shadows of her father''s world. She thought bitterly, ''Why? Just because her mother was Dad''s first wife?''


    Now, as Rosalie gazed at her with that detached expression, Helena felt like nothing more than an object being scrutinized, weighed, and dismissed.


    Helena''s deep-seated insecurity, buried beneath years of resentment, surged to the surface all at once.

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    The facade of sisterly affection was no longer worth maintaining. With a cold expression, she said sharply, "Rosalie, why are you looking at me like that?"


    Rosalie smirked, "Oh, nothing. Just realizing you''ve somehow managed to look even uglier than thest time I was home. The moment the words left Rosalie''s mouth, Helena''s face was contorted furiously for a moment.


    Hearing Rosalie speak so inly and frankly felt far more cutting than any sarcastic tone she might have used. It was as if each word from Rosalie was a blunt reminder of an undeniable truth.


    Her already pastyplexion turned an even ghastlier shade of pale, her entire body trembling with barely contained fury. Edward and udia, who had been silent until now, stiffened at Rosalie''s words. A flicker of anger shed in their eyes.


    "Rosalie, how can you talk like that? Helena isn''t in good health, and as her big sister, how can you say something so cruel?" Edward''s voice was stern, his expression cold as he looked at Rosalie. As her father, he clearly felt more entitled to lecture Rosalie than udia did.


    But Rosalie, upon hearing his rebuke, showed not even the slightest trace of remorse. Instead, she blinked up at him with feigned innocence and said, "Dad, I was just telling the truth.


    "How did that sound cruel to you? You know, they say once a man remarries, he stops being a real father to his own child. I never believed that before, but now I see they were absolutely right."


    She shifted her gaze to udia, whose expression had darkened considerably. Letting out a soft, mocking chuckle, Rosalie continued, "Ever since this stepmother of mine came into the picture, I can''t even speak the truth without being scolded."


    "Rosalie, how can you say that?" udia''s voice trembled with emotion, her eyes turning red with unshed tears. "Have I ever treated you badly? Have I ever deprived you of afortable life? Have I ever raised a hand against you?"

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    Rosalie cast a sidelong nce at udia, her voiceced with mockery. "Oh, you''d love to, wouldn''t you? But do you dare?"


    udia fell silent, Rosalie''s words striking her like a sharp p to the face. ''I do. I''ve wanted her dead from the moment that little wretch was born,'' udia thought viciously.


    But back then, Edward still relied on the Talley family. Even after Be''s death, Rosalie''s grandfather George continued to shield her. No matter how much udia loathed Rosalie, she couldn''ty a finger on her, not even after bing her stepmother.


    Rosalie had always been spoiled, doted on by Edward and George. She had a naturally headstrong personality.


    Yet surprisingly, she''d epted udia as her stepmother without much resistance. She even listened to her most of the time, and on asion, there had been a trace of affection in her gaze.


    udia had assumed it was because Rosalie had lost her mother so young and was desperately trying to find a maternal figure to cling to.


    Rosalie had treated Helena, her so-called "stepsister¡°, like a real sibling, always giving her the best of everything.


    udia thought, her unease deepening, ''But I don''t know what''s gotten into this little wretch today. She''s been throwing a tantrum since she walked through the door, spitting venom with every word. Could she have found out?''


    The mere possibility sent a jolt of panic through her. Her gaze instinctively darted toward Edward.


    Edward, too, looked unsettled, suspicion flickering in his eyes. But with Rosalie standing right there, neither of them dared to discuss it openly.


    Instead, Edward turned to Rosalie, adopting a cautious tone. "Rosalie, what''s the matter with you today? Did udia do something to upset you? Why are you speaking so harshly the moment you step through the door?"


    He wasn''t the least bit worried that Rosalie had uncovered the truth-that Helena was the product of his affair. To him, that was simply impossible.

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    He thought, ''If she had found out, with her temper, she wouldn''t just be throwing a few jabs. She''d be burning the whole house down."


    udia seized the moment to chime in, her voiceced with feigned concern, "That''s right, Rosalie. If I''ve done something to upset you, just tell me. There''s no need to say something so hurtful, okay?"


    udia shot a nce at Helena, whose face had turned deathly pale, her eyes brimming with resentment. Then, udia continued in a soft, measured tone, "Helena has always been frail since she was a child-you know that. What you just said was truly too cruel."


    Watching Edward and udia put on their pathetic little performance, Rosalie couldn''t even muster the interest to enjoy the show. She responded tly, "Nothing. Just in a bad mood."


    She strolled over to the couch and sat down, crossing her legs leisurely. "And when I''m in a bad mood, I need an outlet. You two have been living off my family all these years, yet you''ve never contributed anything worthwhile.


    "Now that I happen to be feeling upset, why don''t you let me vent a little? Think of it as finally repaying me for over a decade of rent. At least you''d be of some use for once."


    "Rosalie." Edward could no longer tolerate her sharp tongue. His voice cracked like a whip, his anger spilling over. "Have I spoiled you too much?


    "When did you be so vicious and mean? Do you even know what respect is? She''s your stepmother. Did all those etiquette lessons you learned as a child go to waste?"


    Seeing Edward''s fury explode at Rosalie, udia and Helena both felt a wave of satisfaction wash over them.


    udia sneered internally, "That wretch has such a nasty mouth. She deserves to be put in her ce.


    But outwardly, she maintained her facade of gentle kindness, ying the ever- gracious peacemaker. She sighed and reached out to lightly tug at Edward''s sleeve, pleading, "Forget it, Edward. Rosalie already said she''s in a bad mood. Let''s not me her, okay? Come on, let''s eat."


    Her voice was soft and forgiving, but at just the right moment, her eyes turned red, misting over with unshed tears. The unspoken grievance in her expression was heartbreakingly pitiful, making Edward''s heart twist with pain.


    He nced at his tender, understanding wife, then at his cold, sharp-tongued daughter. The contrast infuriated him further, and heshed out at Rosalie with even harsher words.


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    "Look at yourself. udia has done so much for you, and this is how your repay her?" Edward pointed a furious finger at Rosalie, his anger intensifying at her indifference andpleteck of remorse.


    Rosaliezily lifted her gaze, casting him a slow, mocking look. A smirk tugged at her lips. "She and Helena have freeloaded off our family for decades. I never asked them to repay me. And now, Dad, you have the nerve to ask me to repay her?


    Her smile remained infuriatingly "smug" as she turned to udia and Helena, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Helena already looks like she''s on death''s door. You want me to repay her? Aren''t you afraid she won''t live long enough to enjoy it?"


    "Rosalie." Edward''s face darkened with rage. Her mocking words were thest straw to him. His hand shot up. poised to strike her across the face.


    Just then, a deep, authoritative voice rang out from the doorway. "What''s going on here?"


    It wasn''t loud, yet it carried enough weight to freeze Edward mid-motion.


    All eyes turned toward the entrance. A tall figure, d in a te-gray suit, stepped inside, exuding a quiet yet unmistakable dominance.


    Julian strolled in, being led in by a maid, his posture rxed, but there was an invisible force in the air that made people instinctively straighten their backs.


    Even Edward, the head of Talley Group and Julian''s father-inw, found himself unable to maintain his usualmanding presence in front of this younger man. Forcing down his fury, Edward let out a forced chuckle and stepped forward to greet him, saying, "Julian, what brings you here?"


    Julian ignored the question, his long strides carrying him into the room. His gaze quietlynded on Rosalie, who remainedzily draped across the couch, utterly unbothered by the chaos around her. His brows furrowed ever so slightly.


    Julian thought, "Two days apart, and she already feels like a stranger to me.


    He had heard every single word of that biting remark just now, and it left him momentarily taken aback.


    Julian had never paid much attention to the Graham family''s inner workings. He only knew that Edward''s current wife was Rosalie''s stepmother-a woman who had brought along a daughter from her previous marriage, Helena, andter had a son with Edward.


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    From what little he remembered, Rosalie had always seemed to get along with udia and Helena well enough. But the scene before him didn''t quite match the image he had in his mind.


    "I heard Rosalie went back to her family''s house, so I decided toe, Julian said, his gaze falling on Rosalie''s face as he walked over to stand beside her. He didn''t dwell on theplicated dynamics of the family.


    Rosalie hadn''t expected Julian to show up at Graham Vi. If memory served her correctly, since their wedding, Julian had only visited once-on that one asion when Isaac had practically forced him toe. He hadn''t stepped foot in the vi since then.


    A bitter smirk yed on Rosalie''s lips. ''Now that we''re about to divorce, he suddenly finds the time to grace this ce with his presence. How generous of him, she thought with a touch of irony.


    Julian, pretending not to notice the sarcasm in her eyes, nced at her for a moment before turning his attention to Edward.


    Julian''s voice was calm and casual, as if he were asking about the weather. "I saw you about to p Rosalie earlier. What did she do to deserve such a response? What could she have done to make you so furious?"


    Julian''s question, though innocent on the surface, made Edward''s blood boil. The memory of Rosalie''s biting words came flooding back, and the anger he had been suppressing surged anew.


    udia, noticing the tension, quickly assessed the situation. Her eyes flickered with a calcting gleam, and before Edward could speak, she stepped forward and intercepted him.


    Her voice was smooth, seemingly attempting to defuse the situation. "It''s not worth it, Edward. It''s nothing. Don''t let it ruin the mood. Rosalie and Julian don''t visit often, so let''s not make a big deal out of this."


    The more udia feigned understanding and tried to smooth things over with her false sense of diplomacy, the more it tugged at Edward''s heart, deepening his frustration.


    Meanwhile, udia, in her own mind, couldn''t help but think that the more she tried to stop Edward from exining what had happened, the more she stoked Julian''s curiosity. She thought her attempts to silence Edward would only fuel Julian''s desire to uncover the truth.

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    udia smirked inwardly, ''Once Julian sees just how rude and uncultured that little brat Rosalie truly is, and thenpares her to me, a gentle, kindhearted stepmother who never holds grudges, he''ll despise her even more.


    And then there''s Helena. My daughter, my delicate, fragile flower. She''s the picture of grace, effortlessly evoking sympathy. And with a kind, sensible mother like me by her side, how could Julian not choose Helena instead?''


    Feeling pleased with her n, udia was convinced she was killing multiple birds with one stone.


    With her mind made up, she threw herself even further into the act, perfectly portraying the role of a selfless stepmother willing to let herself and her daughter endure endless humiliation to protect her stepdaughter''s reputation.


    Edward''s face darkened with frustration as he snapped, "udia, stop indulging her. The more you tolerate her behavior, the more insufferable she bes.


    "It''s bad enough that she acts like this in our own home, but now she''s married into the Galloway family. She represents them now, and if she keeps carrying on like this in public, she won''t just be embarrassing herself-she''ll be disgracing the entire Galloway family."


    Rosalie let out a cold chuckle, arching a brow as she cast Edward a sidelong nce.


    She mused, ''What a hefty usation to throw at me. I''d hate to disappoint him. But I wonder how he will keep up this act once he finds out I''m about to divorce Julian.


    ''For years, I never realized my dear father was such a brilliant actor. Honestly, it''s a tragedy that the entertainment industry never imed him. He could''ve won an award or two.''


    Rosalie picked up the freshly brewed coffee the maid had ced before her, taking an unhurried sip as she watched Edward''s performance with quiet amusement. The rich, velvety aroma lingered on her tongue, a stark contrast to the ridiculous disy unfolding before her.


    Julian flicked his gaze toward Rosalie, his expression unreadable. Then, shifting his gaze to the overly dramatic Edward and udia, he smirked slightly but made no move to interrupt their little act.


    "Edward, just let it go. We''re all family here, and Rosalie is still young. There''s no need to hold it against her," udia said with a look of feigned helplessness, casting a seemingly worried nce at Rosalie.


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    But the moment she saw Rosalie sitting there, utterly indifferent and showing not even a shred of remorse, a cold sneer flickered in udia''s eyes.


    udia thought. Julian''s right here, and she can''t even be bothered to put on a show? Does she really think she can do whatever she wants just because she''s Mrs. Galloway now?


    Tssac''s dead. There''s no one left to keep Julian in check. And I called Rosalie young on purpose, yet Helena is even younger than her by a few months, and look how sweet and considerate she is


    Every word out of udia''s mouth was a carefullyid trap, designed to make Rosalie look bad.


    If Rosalie were still the same foolish girl who couldn''t live without Julian, she might''ve been worried about how they were trying to turn him against her. But now, she couldn''t care less.


    Rosalie thought, a slow, amused smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, ''Go on, keep up the performance. I have to admit, these two are damn good at ying their roles.


    Sure enough, the moment udia finished speaking, Edward''s face darkened with irritation. "Young? She''s twenty years old. How is that still young? Helena is even younger than her, and just look at the difference between them."


    udia put on a bitter smile, her expression tinged with helplessness. She even cast Rosalie an apologetic nce, as if silently conveying that she had done everything in her power as a stepmother-if Edward refused to listen, there was nothing more she could do.


    After all, Edward was Rosalie''s biological father. It was only natural for him to discipline her.


    Rosalie,pletely unmoved by udia''s sickeningly insincere disy, simply stirred her coffee in a slow, idle rhythm, the tiny silver spoon clinking softly against the porcin.


    Edward ignored udia''s supposed attempts to mediate and proceeded to recount the entire matter to Julian in detail. Julian finally spoke, his voice calm butced with an edge of something unreadable, "She said all that?" His expression remained impassive, but the slight furrow of his brows gave him away-he was displeased.


    Everyone in the Graham family immediately perked up, feeling a surge of satisfaction.


    Especially udia and Helena. They were practically reveling in the moment, convinced that they had finally made Julian see Rosalie''s cruel, sharp-tongued nature. The thought of him growing disgusted with her filled them with unspeakable joy.

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    "Ask her yourself and see if I''m wrong," Edward snapped, his frustration palpable.


    He had always maintained the image of a doting father, never once losing his temper with Rosalie. But now, his outburst was deliberate meant to highlight just how outrageous her words must have been tonight. The angrier he seemed, the more damning her remarks tonight would appear.


    Julian turned his head slightly, casting Rosalie a nce.


    But from start to finish, she remained asposed as ever, utterly unruffled. Even with Julian now aware of her sharp- edged remarks, she showed not the slightest hint of anxiety or guilt. It was as if his opinion no longer held any weight in her world.


    A thought surfaced in Julian''s mind before he could stop it. He pondered, ''I''ve heard that when someone truly stops caring about another person, they also stop caring about their opinions, their thoughts-anything they say or do ceases to matter. Is that where Rosalie is now?''


    As the realization settled, an inexplicable heaviness pressed against his chest. A flicker of displeasure stirred within him, darkening his gaze as his brows knitted together.


    udia and Helena, watching closely, were ted to see Julian''s frown, convinced that he was displeased because he had just discovered how cutting Rosalie''s words had been.


    Rosalie had just taken a sip of her coffee when Julian''s deep voice reached her ears. "Did you really say that?" Julian asked. "I did." Rosalie didn''t even hesitate. Her expression remained as indifferent as before,pletely unbothered by the idea that admitting it might worsen Julian''s impression of her.


    At that, Julian''s frown deepened. udia and Helena had expected Rosalie to deny everything, but her swift and unapologetic admission caught them off guard. For a split second, they were stunned-before delight quickly took over. Especially Helena. Helena had been consumed by jealousy toward Rosalie ever since they were little.


    No matter how hard Helena tried, she could never be the rightful heiress of the Graham family. In the eyes of outsiders, she was forever just an unwanted burden-a stepchild brought into wealth by her mother''s second marriage.


    Her background couldn''tpare to Rosalie''s. Her looks fell short as well. But what twisted the knife the deepest, what made every inch of her seethe with envy, was that Rosalie had something she could only dream of-Julian.


    Rosalie had married into the Galloway family, the undisputed pinnacle of Hasmond''s elite. She was the wife of a man with staggering wealth and immeasurable power. There was no way this wouldn''t make her burn with envy.


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    Helena''s gaze lingered on Julian''s face. Tall, broad-shouldered, devastatingly handsome-he had a presence that dominated the room. Even if he were in the entertainment industry, a world filled with countless heartthrobs, he would still reign at the


    very top.


    And beyond his looks, there was the unfathomable wealth, the elite status, the untouchable influence that only a handful could ever dream of reaching, and connections to the highest circles.


    Helena stared at him in a daze, her heart aching with longing. She thought, her chest tightening with desperation, ''If only he were mine. If that wretched Rosalie were dead, would I be able to take her ce and marry Julian then?''


    The intensity of Helena''s gaze burned hotter and hotter as she stared at Julian.


    At that very moment, Julian''s eyes lifted and met hers. A sharp jolt of panic shot through Helena, nearly making her forget to mask her expression. Her heart mmed against her ribs, and she quickly forced herself to recover.


    Within seconds, she rearranged her face into one of delicate vulnerability, her voice soft and hesitant as she murmured, "Julian."


    Her entire demeanor was so fragile that it seemed as if the slightest breeze could send her crumbling to pieces.


    Julian, however, didn''t even spare her a response. His attention shifted to Edward, who was still fuming with rage. A slow, knowing smile curved Julian''s lips. "Didn''t take you for such a strict father," Julian said with amusement.


    Edward barely had time to process the remark before Julian continued, "All Rosalie did was speak the truth, and that was enough to set you off like this?"


    Rosalie nearly choked on her coffee. A violent coughing fit overtook her. The coffee she had just taken a sip of nearly sprayed out, and the words had caught her so off guard that the liquid almost went down the wrong pipe, burning her throat in the process.


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 Breaking Free From 30

    Rosalie had fully expected Julian to react the same way Edward did-to point a finger at her, reprimand her for being rude and ill-mannered, and use her of being sharp-tongued and disrespectful.


    After all, for the past year, Julian had made it no secret that he loathed her. But with his grandfather Issac pressuring him, he hadn''t been able to do much about


    it.


    Now that he finally had the perfect opportunity, Rosalie had assumed he would seize it and tear into her without holding back.


    She never imagined that, instead, Julian would take her side and defend her.


    Rosalie was stunned. And across from her, the trio of Edward, Helena, and udia were even more dumbfounded. They had thought Rosalie was already shameless enough, but now, Julian had just proven to be even more outrageous.


    Julian, you also think I''m just a burden, the stepchild that no one wants?" Helena''s voice trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened for real this time.


    She thought bitterly, ''I don''t care what Rosalie says about me. She''s just a pathetic little wretch who lost her mother. Once Dad fully takes control of Talley Group, that bitch will be thrown out like the trash she is.


    But to Helena, Julian''s opinion of her mattered. She didn''t want him to see her as nothing more than a joke, an unwanted outsider.


    Julian barely spared Helena a nce before retracting his gaze, showing no interest in entertaining her theatrics.


    Edward''s heart ached at the sight of his favorite daughter looking so wounded. His anger red instantly-Julian had humiliated Helena under Edward''s roof, and that was uneptable to him.


    Helena had always been fragile, born prematurely and struggling with health issues ever since. Her heart had never fully developed, and she''d been born with congenital heart disease. The weight of those medical struggles had shaped her entire life, making her weaker than others.


    On top of that, because of Edward''s need to maintain his image, she had spent over a decade living under the title of "stepdaughter" instead of being openly acknowledged as his own flesh and blood. He had always felt guilty for that. Seeing Helena suffer now hurt him more than if he had taken the blow himself. "Julian," Edward said sharply, his voice tinged with fury, "no matter what, Helena is still your sister-inw. How could you say something like that?"


    The faint smirk that had been lingering on Julian''s lips vanished entirely. His gaze, once indifferent, turned sharp as he looked at Edward, his eyes narrowing slightly.


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    The moment their eyes met, Edward felt a crushing sense of pressure descend upon him, as if an invisible force had sucked the air from his lungs. The imposing aura radiating from Julian was overwhelming. Edward''s confidence wavered, his momentum faltering under the weight of Julian''s silent dominance.


    Julian arched a brow, his voiceced with an icy edge. "Edward, are you using me of siding with my wife to bully my sister-inw?"


    Edward was caught off guard by the question. His lips parted slightly, but before he could respond, his gaze met Julian''s brooding, piercing eyes, which were shrouded in an ominous chill. A wave of unease crept up Edward''s spine.


    Julian shifted his position, leaning back against the sofa in azy yetmanding posture. His broad frame stretched effortlessly across the space, and as he casually draped his arm over the back of the couch, it nearly encircled Rosalie''s shoulders.


    At a nce, the gesture appeared intimate, as if he were pulling her protectively into his orbit.


    "If I were siding with my sister-inw against my own wife," Julian continued, his voice smooth yet carrying a weight of dominance, "shouldn''t that be your real concern?"


    His tone was calm, almost leisurely, but there was an unmistakable sharpness beneath the surface. Even though he was smiling, it did nothing to ease the suffocating tension in the room. No one facing him could find it in themselves to return the expression.


    Julian''s gaze flickered over Edward as he spoke again, his voice light yet unsettling, "Or perhaps, are you hoping that I would help my sister-inw bully my wife?"


    The words weren''t spoken in anger, but the underlying weight of them was enough to send a jolt of fear through the Graham family. All three of them stiffened, momentarily frozen in ce.


    Edward''s brows twitched involuntarily. He did want Julian to put Rosalie in her ce for humiliating Helena, but there was no way he could openly admit that


    now.


    "Julian, that''s not what I meant," Edward said stiffly, forcing a strained smile. His frustration simmered beneath the surface, but he dared not let it show. "Don''t you think Rosalie''s words were a bit too much?"


    Julian turned his head slightly, his gazending on Rosalie, who sat there lookingpletely unbothered, as if none of this had anything to do with her. His eyes darkened as he murmured, "Too much?"


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    Julian let out a low chuckle, utterly indifferent. "Rosalie is my wife, thedy of the Galloway family. If she doesn''t even have the right to speak her mind freely, then what''s the point of being Mrs. Galloway at all?"


    Seated quietly to the side, Rosalie, who had remained silent for a while, was visibly stunned for a few seconds upon hearing those words. Her gaze instinctively flickered toward him, her lips curling into a wry, mocking smile,


    From the moment Julian stepped through the doors of Graham Vi, she hadn''t been able to figure out his intentions.


    And now, standing firmly on her side, defending her so brazenly in front of the entire Graham family, he left her even more bewildered.


    She figured if she hadn''t lived through thest lifetime, where they had been nothing more than strangers under the same roof, she might have believed that Julian was doing this out of love.


    She might''ve actually thought that because he loved her, he would shield her unconditionally, without rhyme or reason. But now, his so-called protection did nothing to make her feel happy. If anything, it only deepened her confusion. Meanwhile, Julian''s words had struck like a whip across udia and Helena''s faces, making their expressions shift instantly.


    They had been certain that once Julian learned of Rosalie''s sharp tongue and callous nature, he would only despise her more. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect him to defend her so irrationally.


    Helena seethed inwardly, her nails digging sharply into the plush fabric of the sofa. It was the only way she could suppress the tidal wave of jealousy surging inside her.


    She couldn''t envy Rosalie more. Watching the man of her dreams protect Rosalie like this made her want to grind her teeth to dust.


    "And besides," Julian continued, his voice casual yet merciless, "Ms. Graham here isn''t even my real sister-inw."


    Each wordnded like a dagger. The moment the sentence left his lips, Helena''s face drained of all color.


    There was no mistaking Julian''s meaning. He wasn''t even trying to be subtle-he was making it clear that Helena was nothing more than a stepdaughter brought into the Graham family, an outsider through and through.


    15:14 Mon, 3 Mar

 Breaking Free From 33

    Helena could no longer hold back her emotions. Covering her mouth with her hand, she let out a muffled sob. "Julian, do you really hate me?"


    Her eyes, rimmed red, shimmered with unshed tears as she bit her lower lip, looking at Julian with a pitiful expression. Her voice was soft, trembling slightly, as if she had just been abandoned by a heartless lover.


    Seated beside them, Rosalie watched the scene unfold in silence, but inwardly, she couldn''t help rolling her eyes.


    Julian''s response was brief and cutting. "Sorry, but we''re not that close." The meaning was clear-Helena wasn''t even worth his dislike.


    Helena had always been sensitive since she was little, and there was no way she could miss the implication. The moment the words left Julian''s mouth, her body swayed unsteadily, as if the blow had drained all strength from her limbs.


    She had foolishly assumed that since Julian was technically her father''s son-in-w, he would at least show some restraint, that he wouldn''t be too cruel with his words. Clearly, she had overestimated his emotional intelligence.


    Helena clenched her jaw, forcibly swallowing down the burning resentment that threatened to consume her. Deep down, she wanted nothing more than to tear Rosalie apart, limb by limb. ''If it weren''t for Rosalie, Julian would never treat me like this, she thought bitterly.


    Her fingers curled into fists, her sharp nails digging so deep into her palms that they left crescent-shaped marks. Only when the sharp sting of pain registered did she snap back to reality, realizing that her face was already streaked with tears.


    udia, ever the opportunist, had a keen sense of when to retreat. She could tell that their family wasn''t gaining any ground here-if anything, they were only making Julian more displeased. So, without hesitation, she reached out and gently grasped Helena''s hand in silent constion.


    But her voice remained smooth andposed, as if she were the perfect mediator. "Alright, Edward, it''s just a little misunderstanding between the kids. Helena isn''t even holding a grudge, so why are you still making such a fuss?"


    Hearing that, Rosalie lifted her eyes, ncing at udia with a faint, amused smirk that didn''t quite reach her eyes.


    15:14 Mon, 3 Mar

 Breaking Free From 34

    Rosalie mused, ''udia really is something else. After Julian humiliated her and Helena like that, she can still hold her tongue. Maybe mistresses just have an extraordinary tolerance for swallowing their pride!


    Edward was furious, but after spending over a decade pretending to be the perfect son-inw, he had honed the skill of reading the room. He knew exactly when to push and when to back down.


    With Julian here, Edward couldn''ty a finger on Rosalie, no matter how much he wanted to. He had no choice but to cut his losses.


    But that didn''t stop him from putting on his fatherly airs, using his status to lecture her. "Helena is generous enough not to hold today''s incident against you.


    "As her big sister, you''d better not overstep your bounds. You''re already married. Don''t bring shame to our family and let people think weck manners."


    Rosalie cast him a sideways nce, his self-righteous stance barely worth her attention. With a light scoff, she ignored his words entirely and instead turned to Julian, who had been sitting beside her and silently backing her up all evening.


    Tilting her head slightly, she asked, "Do you think my familycks proper manners?"


    It was the first time since Julian had stepped foot into Graham Vi that Rosalie had spoken to him voluntarily.


    Strangely enough, those few simple words seemed to sweep away the suffocating tension that had been weighing on Julian''s chest for days. He answered without hesitation, his voice steady, "No."


    Satisfied, Rosalie shifted her gaze back to Edward, a smirk ying at her lips. "Did you hear that? He doesn''t think so."


    Edward was at aplete loss for words.


    udia and Helena were just as infuriated, their minds buzzing with resentment.


    They both thought, ''Is this bitch deliberately trying to provoke us? Has Julian lost his mind? How can he keep standing up for this worthless tramp so stubbornly, refusing to see her for the snake she really is?''


    But Rosalie had no interest in deciphering what the three of them were thinking. She didn''t quite understand why Julian had suddenly decided to stand firmly on her side tonight, but if he wanted to be useful, she certainly wasn''t going to stop him.


    Julian, with his sharp wit and unyielding support, was like a finely honed de- deadly and precise, capable of cutting deep and leaving wounds that festered long after.


    With that, Rosalie rose from the sofa, her movements elegant yet unmistakably dominant. Without sparing another nce at the others, she turned to one of the maids, Hollie Hart, and said casually, "I''m hungry, Hollie. Serve dinner."


    Mon, 3 M

 Breaking Free From 35

    hapter 35


    At that moment, it was as if she were waiting on hermand.


    the true master of the house, the one calling the shots, while everyone else was merely


    Edward''s face had turned an angry shade of red, but he couldn''t bring himself to take any action against Rosalie. It wasn''t just because she had Julian there to protect her, but because she also held a significant forty percent stake in Talley Group.


    He wanted to control Talley Group entirely, which meant he needed to get his hands on those shares. Until he did, he couldn''t afford to push Rosalie too far and had to y his cards carefully.


    Realizing this, Edward took a deep breath, his shoulders stiff with the effort of containing his frustration. "Alright, let''s eat," he said, his voice tight, trying to move past the tension..


    He thought the matter was settled, and the family could finally head to dinner, but just as they were about to leave, Julian''s casual voice broke through the air again. "Edward."


    The sound of his name on Julian''s lips made Edward''s heart lurch unexpectedly. A cold chill ran down his spine, and something in his gut told him that whatever Julian was about to say, it wouldn''t be pleasant.


    Sure enough, Julian rose from the sofa, his expression almost amused, though the smile on his lips seemed more distant than before.


    He said, "I know you''re Rosalie''s father, but she''s still my wife-thedy of the Galloway family. I don''t want to see youy a hand on her again."


    Edward froze, his face going stiff with shock. It was clear that Julian hadn''t forgotten what he''d seen when he entered earlier -the moment when it seemed Edward was about to raise his hand against Rosalie.


    Edward hadn''t intended to hurt her. He''d just been so enraged by her sharp, cutting remarks toward Helena that he momentarily lost control.


    But now, as a father, being openly warned by his son-inw like this, Edward couldn''t help but feel his pride take a hit. The sting of Julian''s words was impossible to ignore.


    15:14 Mon, 3 Mar?

 Breaking Free From 36

    But of course, Edward''s son-inw Julian was no ordinary man, no one to be easily intimidated or controlled by a mere show of authority.


    38%


    Julian''s status as the CEO of Galloway Group and heir to the Galloway family was more than enough to overshadow Edward, who was merely a coward who had climbed thedder of sess thanks to his wife''s family.


    Edward''s smile faltered, his lips stiff, unable to hide the tension coursing through him. His attempts to assert himself were futile in the face of Julian''s unwavering presence.


    Even Rosalie hadn''t anticipated that Julian would bring up the matter so pointedly. She watched him, his face set in a serious expression, and for a moment, she felt a swirl of emotions she couldn''t quite ce.


    At that moment, the sharp voice of the maid, Hollie, broke the ufortable silence. "Mr. and Mrs. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway, dinner is served."


    The warning had been delivered, and Julian didn''t press the matter any further. He hadn''t even realized the simmering anger that had been coiled inside him earlier, a raw, uncontroble surge that hade to the surface when he had warned Edward.


    It was the same surge of anger that had red up the moment he just got here and saw Edward raise his hand to p Rosalie.


    That was when Julian had felt the impulse to act, and he knew deep down that had that pnded, he might have been capable of turning Graham Vi upside down.


    "I''ll go wash my hands first," Rosalie murmured, making her escape toward the bathroom, her footsteps quick and deliberate. She needed to distance herself from the whirlwind of emotions Julian had stirred within her.


    Once inside the bathroom, she stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her delicate features stared back at her, but her thoughts were anything butposed.


    Earlier, as she watched Julian defend her so fiercely in front of the Grahams, something inside her had cracked. Beneath the calm mask she wore, waves of confusion and disbelief crashed against her.


    She hade to Graham Vi with a clear purpose-ready to deliberately provoke udia and Helena, armed only with her wit and resolve. She had prepared herself to fight alone, knowing she could handle them on her own.


    She never expected someone to stand by her side, to be her ally in the midst of her battle.


    What surprised her even more was that the person who had unexpectedly be her shield was Julian-the man who, even after a year of marriage, hadn''t shown her much attention, the man who had once wished for her death in the past life.


    And just a few days ago, Julian had handed her a divorce agreement.


    She stared at her reflection for what felt like an eternity, lost in thought until her legs grew numb from standing too long. When she finally snapped back to reality, she turned away from the mirror and exited the bathroom, her mind still tangled in theplexity of her emotions.

 Breaking Free From 37

    Rosalie returned to the dining room and saw that both the Grahams and Julian were already seated at the t


    table.


    Helena''s seat was the one Rosalie had always upied before her marriage-the spot that had always belonged to her in Graham Vi. Rosalie couldn''t help but think. Even though I''m married now, no one can take my ce.


    She walked up to Helena, her gaze unwavering as it fell on her.


    Helena, sensing the weight of Rosalie''s stare, looked up at her with a soft, almost hesitant expression, asking in a quiet voice, "Rosalic, what''s wrong?


    Despite the burning hatred Helena harbored for Rosalie, despite the fantasy of seeing her torn apart alive, there was one thing she feared above all -crossing Julian. She dared not show a single ounce of disdain in his presence.


    All Helena could do now was hope Julian would eventually see through Rosalie''s facade and grow disgusted with her.


    "Get up. This is my seat. Rosalie''s voice was firm, her words cutting through the tense air like a sharp de.


    Helena''s grip tightened on her utensils. She red at Rosalie, her pride stung by Rosalie''s proud, unapologetic stance. Finally, unable to hold back.. Helena spoke up, "Rosalie. I''m used to sitting next to Dad. There''s an empty seat over there. You can sit there."


    Helena''s seat was to the left of Edward, a position she had always considered somewhat special.


    While these days there wasn''t a strict hierarchy in seating like in the old days of nobility, where the cement at the table reflected one''s social standing. Helena still believed that sitting here made her feel superior to Rosalie


    She had lost so many battles to Rosalie already, and she wasn''t about to lose this one too.


    Rosalie stood before her, arms crossed over her chest, towering above her as if to emphasize the power she still wielded in this house. This seat has always been mine. Just because I''m married doesn''t mean I''m willing to give it up for you


    "What''s this? You''ve been living under our roof, spending our money, and now you t


    you think you can just waltz in and take my ce? How dare you

 Breaking Free From 38

    Rosalie s lips curled into a mocking smirk. ¡°Looks like all these years of being a tag-along have really spoiled you. Do you actually think you''re the heiress of the Graham family?


    Helena was so provoked that she lost all reason. The words she had buried deep in her chest burst out before she could stop them. "I am the heiress of the Graham family"


    The moment those words fell, the dining room plunged into a brief but heavy silence.


    Edward and udia, who had just been fuming at Rosalie''s sharp tongue, suddenly had their expressions wiped clean, reced by guilt and panic. Their faces stiffened as if Helena had struck a nerve.


    Almost instinctively, they both turned to Rosalie, as if waiting to see how she would react.


    Rosalie arched a brow, amusement flickering in her eyes. A slow,zy smile tugged at her lips as she rubbed her ear, as if she wasn''t sure she''d heard. correctly. Then, narrowing her gaze at Helena, she asked. "What did you just say?"


    The rush of anger that had clouded Helena''s mind finally cleared, the fury from being so enraged by Rosalie now subsiding. When she met Rosalie''s teasing gaze, a shiver ran down her spine. Helena''s heart clenched, and her eyes flickered with hesitation, unable to meet Rosalie''s.


    Rosalie, however, wasn''t in the mood to wait for Helena to exin herself. Rosalie''s attention shifted to Edward, her voiceced with quiet amusement as she chuckled. "If I didn''t mishear, she just imed to be the heiress of the Graham family, right?"


    "No, that''s not what Helena meant Edward was in such a hurry to smooth things over that hepletely abandoned his earlier anger toward Rosalie''s sharp remarks.


    He turned to Rosalie, rushing to exin, "What she meant is that, as my stepdaughter, she''s technically part of the Graham family now. That makes her half an heiress.


    udia, desperate to contain the situation, quickly chimed in, "That''s right. Helena didn''t mean it that way


    y at all.


    "Really?" Rosalie let out a short, coldugh. Her gaze swept back to Helena, ignoring the resentment


    at and unwillingness burning in her eyes.


    Then, Rosalie''s lips parted, voice as light as a feather but sharp as a de. "That''s a relief. For a moment there, I thought you were admitting that Dad cheated on my mother back then


    Edward''s forced smile froze midair, his jaw tightening. His Laugh came out stiff, almost forced. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

 Breaking Free From 39

    Seated at the table, Julian cast a quiet nce at Edward''s rigid expression. That single look was enough for him to piece things together.


    His brooding eyes darkened with an icy hue, and his lips curled ever so slightly in a subtle, unreadable smirk. ''Looks like Rosalie must have dug something up. That would exin why she''s acting differently todaypared to the rumors about her, he thought.


    His gaze shifted back to Rosalic, observing her closely. Unexpectedly, she didn''t press the issue further. Instead, she reached for the chair Helena had just been sitting in. With deliberate care, she grabbed a napkin and wiped it down meticulously before finally sitting


    Lifting her gaze. Rosalie met Helena''s eyes with a half-smile, making no effort to conceal the disdain and mockery in her expression. Her voice was cabin butced with unmistakable derision.


    "You''re only Dad''s stepdaughter. There''s a difference between that and being born into the family," Rosalie said leisurely. "When you''re under someone else''s roof, you''d do well to keep your head down and know your ce. Don''t ever forget where you actually stand. Got it?"


    Her words were spoken lightly, her tone almost yful but every syblended on Helena''s heart like a crushing blow. The weight of them was suffocating, so sharp they seemed to slice through her very being. Helena''s chest tightened painfully, rage twisting inside her.


    Helena thought bitterly. Why? Why do I have to keep hiding my identity and swallowing my pride after all these years? I''m Dad''s daughter too. So why does Rosalie get to do whatever she pleases while I don''t even have the right to fight back!


    Her breathing turned uneven, her eyes burning with unspoken fury as she red at Rosalie''s mocking smirk. I can''t ept this. And I won''t, Helena thought, her rage boiling over inside her. I refuse to let this go"


    Her hands clutched at her chest, the searing pain spreading like wildfire. Herplexion paled, her body swaying precariously, barely able to remain standing.

 Breaking Free From 40

    Edward and udia immediately noticed that something was wrong with Helena rmed, they jumped up from their seats and rushed to her side


    "Helena, are you okay?" Edward asked, his voice thick with concern.


    Helena''s face had gonepletely pasty, her lips


    is turning a worrying shade of blue-ssic symptoms of a heart condition ring up


    get Dr. Gibson. Now, hurry?


    Panic took hold of udia as she whipped around and shouted at the maids, "Go get


    Barney Gibson had originally been the Talley family''s personal physician. After Rosalie''s grandfather George passed away, Barney didn''t leave the Talley family. Instead, following George''s dying wish, he was sent to Graham Vi to take care of Rosalie.


    Even after Rosalie married Julian, Barney remained at Graham Vi as the Graham family''s designated doctor.


    Now, with Helena copsing out of nowhere, the entire dining room was thrown into chaos. Tension crackled in the air as the household erupted into a flurry of movement, faces filled with worry and urgency.


    Only two people remained unaffected-Rosalie and Julian


    Rosalie sat calmly at the dining table, her gaze cold and indifferent as she watched themotion around Helena. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was smooth yet cutting


    She said, "Dr. Gibson is my personal doctor. His sryes from my pocket. Since when has it be eptable for just anyone to start ordering him around!"


    udia, already frantic over Helena''s condition, was too shaken to maintain her usual pretenses. The mask of the gentle, self-sacrificing stepmother shattered in an instant.


    Face flushed with anger, udia turned to Rosalie, her voice rising in fury. ¡°Rosalie, what the hell is that supposed to mean? I raised you s were a child. I''ve yed away for you, and this is how you repay me!"


    since you


    Rosalie met udia''s burning gaze, but her own eyes only grew colder, a dark glint flickering within them. A cheap little homewrecker like you dares to lecture me? Rosalie thought, her lip curling in disdain.


    Her voice was light, almost amused, but every syble dripped with scorn. "I was raised by the maids, udia, You, on the other hand, waltzed into our home and lived like a queen. Forgive me, but I don''t quite see how that qualifies as ving away"


    Rosalie''s gazended on udia''s face, sharp as a de, as if she


    - WETE


    peeling away udia''s hypocritical mask, strip by strip


    to this family. If you really think you''ve been ''ving away, then you''ve


    Rosalie''s voice carried an icy disdain as she said, "You made no contribution been doing it all wrong"

 Breaking Free From 41

    udia''s teeth clenched, rage burning in her eyes as she red at the


    nonchnt smirk on Rosalie''s lips. Before she could retort, Rosalie casually pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, then turned it toward udia with a dow, taunting smile.


    Rosalie sneered, "See this? This is what you actually look like. Stop trying to paint yourself as some noble martyr. It''s disgusting."


    The video Rosalie yed was of a pig greedily devouring its feed, chomping and smacking its lips with an obnoxious, gluttonous enthusiasm. The wet, slurping noises stabbed straight into udia''s heart like a knife.


    To udia, this wasn''t just an insult-it was outright humiliation. Rosalie wasparing her to a filthy, lowly pig


    udia''s face flushed red with fury. Her whole body trembled as she gritted her teeth, her bloodshot eyes locked onto Rosalie with seething hatred, as if she wished she could tear her apart and swallow her whole


    Edward, having tolerated Rosalie''s increasingly ruthless remarks up to this point, finally lifted his gaze, barely suppressing his anger as he shot her a cold re. His voice was sharp with fury. "Rosalie, you''re going too far. If anything happens to Helena, you''ll pay for it


    The moment the words left his mouth, Rosalie let out augh, utterly unbothered. She arched a brow, meeting his gaze with a teasing smirk. "Oh And how exactly do you n to make me pay?"


    "You" Edward stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing the bitter truth-there was nothing he could do to her. At least, not for now.


    As long as Talley Group wasn''t fully under his control, he would always be at Rosalie''s mercy.


    The thought gnawed at him filling him with even more frustration. He had thought that with Be dead, Dominik in a vegetative state, and George gone, he would finally be able to take full control of Talley Group.


    In his eyes, Rosalie was just a 20-year-old girl, pampered her whole life, her


    head filled with naive fantasies of love. He''d thought she was supposed to be the easiest to manipte.

 Breaking Free From 42

    Edward hadn''t expected Rosalie to pull


    unt like this today. She had caught himpletely off guard.


    The Gibson is here, someone called out, suipping Edwards furious gaze away from Rosalie


    The Gilsum please check in Helena" udia''s voice trembleil as teaES


    ramed down her face.


    Helena had been both with a weak hear Over the years, she had relied on an endless supply of supplements and medicine just to maintain a sembner et normal life


    But she couldn''t withstand any emotional surmoil. The family had always tiptoed around her, ensuring she was never upset. Yet today, every word our of Jamalie''s mouth had been like a dagger aimsed straight at her, as if the were determined to push Helena to the brink.


    Chudu shot Rosalir a venomous re, her eyes grim with malice: "I won''t let this little bitch get away with it, she thought, a sinister chill, running though her. I made sure He died without a trace. Killing this wretched brat would be just as easy!


    "Take Ms. Graham back to her room and have her lie t." Harney instructed. The maids quickly stepped in, carefully carrying Helena upstairs. "Hollie, serve the food" Rosalie''s unbothered voice rang out at that moment, slicing through the tension in the room.


    seeing that Rosalie still had the nerve to eat at a time like this, both Edward and udia felt their anger begin to bubble up uncontrobly.


    As he ascended the stairs, Edward couldn''t help but throw onest parting shot over his shoulder. "Rosalie, you''ll pay for your cruelty. Karma will ratch up with you"


    Rouse let out a disdainful scoff and said. "Dad, listen to yourself. If it weren''t for us-the Talley family-spending a fortune on Helenas treatments, she would ve bien dead several times over by now,


    "It''s only because of our family money that she''s lived this long: By that logic, I''d say I''m Helena''s savior.


    Her smile remained unfazed, sharp as the edge of a de. After I did such a good deed, how could karma possiblye for me? Don''t you think¡±

 Breaking Free From 43

    Every time she uttered the Talley family, it was like a resounding p to Edward''s face.


    Edward had climbed his way up by clinging to the Talley family''s wealth, and thest thing he wanted was for anyone to remind him of his past as a coward


    No matter how much power he held now, no matter that he sat at the helm of the corporation, thepany was still called Talley Group, not Graham Group. In the end, he was nothing more than a glorified employee of the Talley family.


    As Edward gazed at the smile on Rosalie''s face, the thought that she bore the Talley name sent a flicker of murderous intent shooting through his


    eyes


    As long as Rosalie existed, she was a constant reminder of his humiliating past. It was as if only by erasing her from this world could he finally erase his own disgrace,


    Meanwhile, the entire Graham Vi was in an uproar, with nearly everyone rushing to Helena''s room. Only about three maids remained in the dining hall to attend to Rosalie.


    Even so, their gazes toward her carried undisguised disapproval.


    They


    thought. "Mrs. Galloway is too cruel. Even if Ms. Graham isn''t her biological sister, they grew up together for over


    over a decade.


    Ms. Graham''s seriously ill, yet Mrs. Calloway still treats her so coldly? Ms. Graham''s life is hanging by a thread, and she actually has the appetite to


    sit here and eat?


    Though the maids dared not voice their opinions aloud, their dissatisfaction was evident. When they ced the dishes in front of Rosalie, the tter of tes was just a little too loud, a silent act of defiance.


    Rosalie''s eyes narrowed slightly as she nced at the food in front of her. Then, she lifted her gaze to the maid who had just served her and said, her voice cool and unwavering. "If serving me is such an unbearable task, then you''re free to leave. Right now

 Breaking Free From 44

    Rosalie remained as indifferent as ever, idly brushing the messy bangs from her forehead. With a faint smirk, she said, "You don''t actually think my father would make a scene with me over a maid like you, do you?


    Her words sent a chill straight down the maid''s spine, draining the color from her face.


    The maid thought anxiously, ''Mrs. Galloway already pushed Ms. Graham to the point of falling ill, and even then, Mr. Graham couldn''t do anything about it. If she really kicked me out, why would he stand up for me?


    "There''s no way he''d argue with her over someone like me. I worked so hard tond this cushy job with such great pay. I can''t lose it just like that Her eyes turned red with panic, and she quickly stammered out an apology, "I''m sorry, Mrs. Galloway. I didn''t mean to offend you just now, Rosalie nced at her briefly but didn''t bother to pursue the matter any further. Instead, she picked up her utensils and started eating as if nothing had happened,pletely unconcerned with the judgmental stares directed at her from all around


    She didn''t even spare Julian a single nce.


    No one could know that, beneath the calm exterior, her heart was breaking when she learned that Helena was Edward''s illegitimate daughter.


    That was her father-the man who had showered her with love since she was a child. And yet, she had discovered that he had spent over a decade lying to her, colluding with his mistress right under her nose,


    Rosalie understood all too well that in Edward''s heart, Helena and Riley Graham were probably his real children. As for her, she was nothing more than a living reminder of his shame-proof that he had survived off the Talley family''s wealth.


    Everyone saw Rosalie as sharp-tongued and cruel, but not a single soul realized how much pain was buried beneath her mean, ruthless exterior.

 Breaking Free From 45

    She forced down the storm of sorrow and rage rising in her chest, suppressing the burning redness in her eyes. Swallowing hard, she pushed back the ice-cold tears that threatened to fall.


    Bite by bite, she ate in silence, never lifting her gaze. She was so absorbed in keeping herselfposed that she failed to notice Julian watching her silently from the side.


    From the moment Rosalie had started arguing with Helena, Julian had remained silent


    He had watched Rosalie stand alone, facing a crowd of opposition, battling them all with nothing but her sharp words. On the surface, she seemed untouchable, victorious even.


    But somewhere deep in Julian''s chest, an unfamiliar ache had settled in. It was subtle but persistent, a difort that lingered-one he couldn''t quite ce, yet couldn''t ignore.


    Rosalie''s icy indifference was like an imprable shield, wlessly concealing the vulnerability buried deep within her. She looked utterly untouchable, as if nothing in the world could shake her. And yet, the more she appeared this way, the more suffocating the tightness in Julian''s chest became.


    You''re not


    ''re not going to check on her!" The question slipped from his lips before he even understood why he was asking.


    Rosalie''s hand, which had been lifting her utensils, paused for the briefest moment. Then, her expression remained unreadable as she slowly raised her gaze to meet his. A cold, mocking smile tugged at the corners of her lips.


    "Mr. Galloway," she said, her tone dripping with irony,


    you


    you''re so worried, you''re free to go upstairs and check on her yourself. No one''s stopping


    Her delicate features were utterly devoid of warmth, her eyes sharp with disdain and sarcasm. ¡°In fact, if you do, they''ll all be thrilled." Rosalie thought bitterly. They''d probably love nothing more than to see Helena take my ce and marry into the Galloway family.


    Julian could hear the sharp edge in her voice, but what truly got under his skin was the s gaze darkened with anger.


    sheer derision in her eyes-undisguised, deliberate. His own


    was so furious. But hearing her so casually lump him together with another woman sent a sharp, inexplicable


    He didn''t even understand why he was so f irritation coursing through him.


    And before he could stop himself, the words left his mouth, blunt and cutting. "She got sick because of you, and you''re still sitting here eating like nothing happened? I have to say, I''m curious-are you really this cold-blooded?"


    He couldn''t care less about Helena''s condition. To him, she was nothing more than a background figure, someone entirely insignificant. But what did matter to him was the way Rosalie was treating him right now.


    Time and time again, he tried to search her seemingly calm and detached gaze for the admiration she once had for him, the glimmer that used to light up her eyes when she looked at him.


    But no matter how hard he searched, he couldn''t find even the slightest trace of it

 Breaking Free From 46

    The realization hit Julian like a punch to the gut, sparking a furious fire inside him. But what was even more intense than his anger was the growing uncase and pame that had been creeping into his chest for days,


    Even with Rosalie sitting right there in front of him, it felt as though she was slowly, imperceptibly, pulling away


    from him.


    Rosalie listened to Julian''s usations, a deeper sneer tugging at the corners of her mouth. She chewed her steak slowly, bite by bite, the lump in her throat making each swallow difficult. It was as if, only by grinding the food down to dust, could she force it down.


    Slowly, she set down her utensils. Her gaze lifted once more to meet Julian''s face, and she spoke with quiet finality, her voice cutting through the thick atmosphere between them. ¡°I once had feelings too. But they''ve all been drained away, leaving nothing behind."


    Julian''s hand, resting idly beside his te, trembled ever so slightly before he clenched it into a tight fist.


    She hadn''t said it directly, but he understood the weight of her words. She had once been full of passion for him, perhaps the only passion she had to give, and he had drained it from her over time with his indifference.


    His feelings were a confusing mess. His usually cold heart, so ustomed to distance, now felt an unfamiliar heat at the sting of her words.


    He opened his mouth, as if to say something in response, but Rosalie had already turned away. She no longer cared about his response. Her words were said, and she had moved on.


    She stood from the table, her movements graceful but deliberate, heading for the door without another nce in his direction. As for Helena''s fate -she didn''t give a damn.


    When Rosalie''s heart was full of warmth and affection, it could offerfort to those around her. But when it turned cold, it could freeze anyone in its path.


    And now,


    it was painfully clear that there was no one left in her life who was worth the effort of reigniting that warmth for.


    Rosalie''s voice rang out from the living room, cold and detached. "It''s good you''re here. Now I won''t have to waste my time looking for you.

 Breaking Free From 47

    She turned to Julian and asked. "When do you n on going to file for our divorce?"


    Hearing the word "divorce" slip from Rosalie''s lips again, Julian stiffened and his face, which had only just softened, instantly darkened. His deep, intense eyes clouded over with a shadow of grinness as he began walking toward her.


    The brief warmth that had stirred in Julian''s heart from Rosalie''s earlier words, about once having feelings that were now gone, was quickly swept away by the coldness brought on by her insistence on divorce.


    He stopped in front of her, his brooding gaze locking onto her cold, indifferent expression. He took a step closer, the space between them


    shrinking, his presence looming over her like an unshakable force. The air between them grew thick with unspoken tension as he looked down at


    her


    Rosalie instinctively stepped back under the weight of his gaze, but she forgot about the coffee table behind her. Her foot caught, and she stumbled


    backward.


    In an instant, she reached out, her hand grasping Julian''s arm, steadying herself.


    Before she could even exhale in relief, Julian''s mockingughter cut through the silence. "You rush me to divorce you, yet you throw yourself at me, Rosalie, your linle act is starting to confuse me,"


    His words,ced with scorn, dripped with bitterness as he studied her unchanged face. His eyes darkened, bing heated and intense, burning with a mix of frustration and disbelief.


    What irked him most was that, in the past, Rosalie had cared about his opinion more than anything. Now, no matter what he said, she wore the same indifferent expression, as if his words held no weight, even when he was mocking her.


    His strong fingers brushed across Rosalie''s chin with an unsettling gentleness, the callouses on his fingertips sending a shiver through her tender, wless skin. The sensation was electric, sparking a twinge of tension in her body, making her instinctively stiffen

 Breaking Free From 48

    Julian scoffed, "You know, there''s a perfect name for this little game of yours- ying hard to get


    His deep-set features, always cold and unreadable, carried a sharp edge of mockery. The words pricked at Rosalie, awakening a familiar ache that crept through her chest like a thousand tiny needles


    But no matter how tant his ridicule, she remained impassive, her expression smooth, not a flicker of embarrassment or anger in sight.


    Julian''s eyes darkened, turning even colder, a storm brewing beneath their surface.


    Rosalic, unfazed, casually brushed aside a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Then, without warning, she lifted her foot and aimed a swift, ruthless kick at the softest part of his knee.


    Caught off guard, Julian instinctively reached out, grabbing hold of her arm to steady himself. His grip was firm, but his brows furrowed as he met her gaze-a gazeced with amusement and just the right amount of icy provocation.


    closest to the


    them. Mr.


    Rosalie let out a cold chuckle. "See that? When faced with danger, people wall instinctively reach for whatever-or whoever is clos Galloway, aren''t you the same?"


    Her eyes flickered toward his hand, still gripping her arm. Her smirk deepened, the mockery in her gaze unmistakable. Tell me, would this count as you throwing yourself into my arms?"


    Julian had been married to Rosalie for a year, and the Rosalie he knew was always gentle and considerate toward him. This was the first time he had seen her so difficult to deal with..


    She hadn''t hesitated for a second before kicking him just now, as if even if she''d shattered his leg in the process, she wouldn''t have batted an eye. Julian studied the faint, yful curve at the corner of her lips. A glint of something dangerous flickered in his gaze, a quiet, simmering warning lurking just beneath the surface.


    Just when Rosalie thought Julian would be so provoked by her words that he''d let go, the grip on her arm tightened. With a forceful tug, she was pulled forward- straight into his embrace.


    Her face darkened instantly. This was the first time tonight that Julian had seen her expression change.


    His broad palm pressed against the back of her head, holding her firmly in ce, refusing to let her pull away. Rosalie''s eyes red with fury as she red up at him.

 Breaking Free From 49

    Julian''s voice was deep and slow. "This isn''t what you''d call throwing myself into your arms. This is what they call a devoted husband following his


    wife''s lead"


    Rosalie struggled, twisting in his arms, but no matter how much she fought, she couldn''t break free. Her anger only grew, burning hotter with each failed attempt.


    Julian, let go." Her voice was low and taut with restrained fury, her teeth clenched.


    "Why are you mad? We''re at your father''s house. What''s so scandalous about a man holding his own wife?" Julian''s deep, smooth voice slid through the air, unhurried, as if savoring the moment.


    Rosalie''s face turned even gloomier. She gritted her teeth, voice dropping into a biting whisper. "Ex-wife, actually."


    Julian narrowed his eyes, something sharp shing through them. "Did the paperwork go through?"


    Julian thought, watching her with an unreadable expression, "We''ve been married for a year, and I never realized she had such a talent for getting under my skin. She''s turned it into an art form-perfection, really''


    Hearing that, Rosalie was momentarily speechless. His words hit her like a sucker punch, leaving her chest tight with frustration


    This time, she didn''t struggle. Instead, she wentpletely still in his arms, falling into an unsettling silence.


    Her sudden quiet andpliance made Julian''s eyes flicker with surprise. He lowered his gaze, studying her expression.


    And then, she let out a soft scoff. A smirk curled at theer of her lips, cold and mocking.


    Looking up at him with an arched brow, she smirked, "As for whether my little act just now was ying hard to get, I know that better than But you, Mr. Galloway, I can''t quite figure out why you''re doing all this."


    anyone,


    Julian''s gaze deepened slightly, something unreadable flickering beneath its surface.


    Rosalie continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "You''re the one who sent awyer to push for the divorce a few days ago. I signed the without making a fuss.


    papers


    "But now, you refuse to finalize it. And on top of that, here you are, acting all intimate with your so-called ''soon-to-be ex-wife.

 Breaking Free From 50

    Rosalie paused for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle, her tone dripping with contempt. "Mr. Galloway, what exactly do you think you''re doing


    She felt the grip around her waist tighten, Julian''s fingers pressing into her as if her words had struck a nerve. His frustration was palpable, like a storm brewing beneath the surface.


    But Rosalie wasn''t the least bit intimidated. If anything, the amused curve of her lips deepened. She tilted her chin slightly, deliberately adding fuel to the fire. "You know, Mr. Galloway, there''s actually a perfect word to describe this line art of yours-shameless"


    Julian was finally pushed over the edge by Rosalie''s indifference. His gaze darkened, as though a storm were swirling behind his eyes, threatening to crush her into nothing at any moment


    He didn''t want to admit it, but Rosalie''s words had struck a nerve, pinpointing a truth he wasn''t ready to face. Just like days ago, when Rosalie had signed the divorce papers as he''d wished, yet now he couldn''t bring himself to let go. And he didn''t understand why


    In the past few days, Julian had asked himself that question over and over again, but the answer remained elusive.


    Whenat had used Galloway Group''s inheritance as leverage to force Julian into marrying Rosalie, Julian had devised her.


    To Julian Roulie had been nothing more than the pampered, spoiled heiress of the Tulley family. And yet, Isaac had been willing to use the entire Galloway Group as a bargaining chip just to make him marry her.


    Julian had never feared Josing Calloway Group. If it came down to it, he''d rebuild has empare from the ground up. But what he couldn''t stomach was watching everything he had built for thepany be handed over on a silver tter to those traitorous leeches within the Galloway family.


    Those so-called uncles of his were nothing more than illegitimate children Isaac had fathered in his younger years, bastards with no true im to the Galloway name. As far as Julun was concerned, they weren''t worthy of taking anything that belonged to him.


    In the end, Julian had given in to saar''s wishes and married Rosalie. It made no difference to turn who he married. He figured that if marrying the woman his grandfather approved of spared him unnecessary trouble, then so be it


    And for the past year, he had indeed been free of trouble. As for Rosalie''s clinginess, he simply ignored it.

 Breaking Free From 51

    Now, with Isaac gone, the divorce Julian had intended from the moment he got married was finally y set in motion.


    But what Julians hadn''t expected was that the woman who had once clung to him so persistently was now letting go without a fight. Rosalie agreed to the divorce without hesitation, without drama, as if it didn''t matter to her at all


    What he hadn''t anticipated even more was that when she stopped chasing him, his own heart became unsettled, disoriented.


    Rosalie saw him standing there, face darkened with silence, but she had no interest in whatever thoughts were racing through his mind. Seizing the moment while he was distracted, she swiftly pulled herself out of his


    She smoothed down her blouse, which had been creased from his grip, and steadied the faint, erratic heartbeat that had been stirred by the unexpected embrace.


    Then, in a voice that was as calm as ever, she said, "Mr. Galloway. I hope you can cooperate and finalize the divorce as soon as possible. I''ve already wasted far too much time on you. I''d rather not drag this out unnecessarily."


    With that, she didn''t spare him another nce. She turned on her heel and walked out.


    This house, with all its warmth, had never belonged to her. No matter how cozy it seemed, it had only ever felt suffocating.


    Julian listened to her words, cool andposed, each syble delivered without the slightest tremor. There was no resentment in her tone, no bitterness, no childish attempt to provoke him. It was merely a statement of fact, a notification. Once the notification was given, there was no for negotiation


    room


    At that moment, a familiar sense of panic crashed over Julian like a tidal wave. Before he could think, his hand shot out, gripping Rosalie''s wrist with an rming force


    She winced, her brows knitting together in pain as she turned back to face him, her gaze locking onto his. His expression was as cold as ever, but beneath the surface, a storm was brewing-something dark, somethingplicated.


    "Is there anything else?" she asked, her voice steady despite the slight crease between her brows.


    Then she added, "If you have any further issues regarding the divorce, you can ask Mr. Carson to discuss them with me. As for Graham Vi, I suggest you stoping here. You don''t need all this mess cluttering up your life, Mr. Galloway

 Breaking Free From 52

    Hearing Rosalie repeatedly spit out the word "divorce, addressing him so distantly as "Mr. Galloway, Julian felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest. He wasn''t even sure if it was anger or something else entirely.


    What infuriated him even more was that even now-even when discussing divorce-she couldn''t be bothered to talk to him directly. She wanted to handle everything through thewyer..


    Ironically, he had conveniently forgotten that just a few days ago, he was the one who refused to speak with her in person, sending awyer on his


    behalf instead


    Julian took one look at Rosalie''s detached expression, and a humorlessugh escaped his lips. He was so angry he actually found it funny. "Rosalie, is there really nothing else you have to say to me besides divorce?"


    Rosalie lowered her gaze slightly, not hesitating for even a second before replying. "No."


    She thought, "We were married for a whole year, and he barely had anything to say to me then. Now that we''re divorcing, what the hell is there left to talk about!''


    Without another word, she turned and started walking toward the door. But just as she was about to leave, she realized something-Julian still hadn''t let go of her wrist.


    Her patience wore thin in an instant. She frowned, her sharp gaze locking onto him, the indifference in her eyes giving way to open coldness. "What exactly do you want?"


    Julian didn''t have an answer-not for her, not even for himself. All he knew was that looking into her eyes, which held not a shred of emotion for him anymore, made it impossible for him to let go.


    look back. She would leave him behind, further


    Something inside him screamed that the moment he released her, she would walk away and never look b and further, until he could never reach her again


    He hated this feeling. But his damn pride wouldn''t let him admit it. And so, he stood there in stubborn silence, gripping her wrist as if that alone could stop her from leaving.


    Rosalie, seeing him freeze up yet again, grew even more impatient. Without hesitation, she forcefully yanked her wrist free from his grasp strode toward the door. She didn''t spare him a single nce as she walked away.

 Breaking Free From 53

    At that moment, inside Helena''s room, Barney finished his examination, his already grim expression deepening further.


    Dr. Gibson, how is Helena!" Edward asked, his voiceced with tension.


    The thought that all of this was Rosalie''s doing made his blood boil, rage and murderous intent surging uncontrobly within him


    Edward thought. That wretch, Be, has been dead for years, and yet she still finds ways to haunt me. She left behind this scourge of a daughter, Rosalie, who nearly cost Helena her life. One day, I swear, I''ll send that brat straight to hell to rot alongside her mother


    His eyes darkened with unconcealed malice and murderous rage, as if the girl he was cursing wasn''t his own flesh and blood, but a sworn enemy he was determined to destroy.


    Barney''s unhurried voice broke the heavy silence. "Ms. Graham''s condition is far from optimistic. Aside from maintaining her current treatment with medication, our only real option is a heart transnt. Even if she undergoes the surgery, she''ll have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life.


    udia, who had been standing quietly at the side, let out a soft sob. Tears streamed down her face as she wept helplessly. She had no solutions, no power to change Helena''s fate.


    If Edward hadn''t married into the Talley family and taken control of Talley Group, she would never have been able to afford Helena''s treatments or medication.


    But as for the heart transnt, finding a matching donor was no easy feat. Helena had been on the waiting list for so long, and yet, the right heart had nevere.


    Through her sobs, udia choked out the question trembling on her lips. "If there''s no donor, does that mean Helena has no choice but to wait for death?"


    Barney hesitated for a moment before speaking. ¡°Not necessarily. Recently, Dr. Rotello published a paper on cardiac surgery proposing a new theoretical approach.


    "Instead of a traditional heart transnt, this method could potentially rece the need for a donor by surgically restructuring the heart itself. If sessful, it could not only correct congenital heart defects but also eliminate the risk of transnt rejection"


    As soon as Barney finished speaking, both Edward and udia''s eyes lit up with renewed hope.

 Breaking Free From 54

    Edward and udia might not have been doctors, but even they understood that if the surgery was sessful and Helena could avoid transnt rejection, it would mean a new lease on life for her.


    Edward''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Is there really such a procedure?"


    Barney said. "Not yet. But since Dr. Rotello has already published a paper on it, I believe it''s only a matter of time before this surgical method bes a reality. When that happens, it''ll be an opportunity for Ms. Graham


    As he spoke, Barney hesitated for a moment, ncing at the hopeful expressions an Edward and udia''s faces.


    He couldn''t bring himself to tell them the truth-that almost no one knew who Dr. Rotello truly was, let alone had met her in person. Even the papers attributed to Dr. Rotello had all been published under the name of her assistant


    And even if Dr. Rotello did one day sessfully perform such a groundbreaking surgery, getting her to operate on entirely.


    Helena was another matter


    udia clutched Edward''s hand tightly, her voiceced with urgency. "Edward, when the timees, you have to make sure Helena gets Dr. Rote"


    Edward''s expression hardened with determination. "Don''t worry. No matter how much it costs. I''ll make sure Dr. Rotello treats Helena.


    Barney cast aplicated look at the couple but chose to say nothing more. If Dr. Rotello were that easy to find, he wouldn''t have spent year chasing nothing but rumors and dead ends,


    After seeing Barney out, Edward and udia returned to the living room and sat down. The atmosphere was heavy, their thoughts lingering on Rosalie''s bizarre behavior tonight. Neither of them looked pleased


    udia broke the silence first, "Edward, do you think Rosalie knows?"


    Her fingers clenched slightly, her voiceced with unease. She was terrified that Rosalie had somehow discovered the truth-that Be had barely been pregnant before Edward and udia had gotten together behind her back.


    It wasn''t exactly a glorious past, so udia refrained from stating it outright. But Edward knew exactly what she meant.


    His face darkened for a moment, but then he shook his head. "No. If she knew, with her temper, she wouldn''t have just thrown a few words at us and left. It wouldn''t have been that simple:

 Breaking Free From 55

    Edward thought to himself, That damn Rosalie has been spoiled rotten since she was a kid. The only person she ever acts decent around is Julian,


    If a brat like her ever found out that I cheated on Be while she was pregnant,


    had a daughter behind Be''s back, and kept it from Rosalie for over a decade, she wouldn''t just throw a tantrum.


    ''She''d tear the whole damn house down. There''s no way she''d settle for just throwing a few sharp words at dinner.


    udia thought about it and agreed, pondering. That little bitch Rosalie is an absolute menace. If she ever finds out I was the mistress who took her mother''s ce, she''ll never let me live it down"


    udia asked, her teeth grinding in frustration. Then what the hell was her problem tonight! She''s always been polite to me before, but the second she steps through the door today, she''s got her ws out, spitting venom at every turn.


    "If it weren''t for her nasty mouth, would Helena have been so upset that she fainted?"


    "It''s just not fair to Helena, udia continued, her voice trembling with resentment as her eyes welled up. "She''s your daughter too, yet she always has to walk on eggshells around Rosalie. Why should she have to live in Rosalie''s shadow?"


    Edward had always been weak to udia''s tears. He was, after all, nothing but a man who''d always been morefortable living off others. Be, being George''s eldest daughter, had always been domineering, making Edward feel like he would never truly measure up to her.


    But with udia, things were different. With her, Edward finally felt like a man¡ªa man who was needed, relied upon, someone strong enough to protect the woman he loved.


    udia was always gentle and sweet with him, always looking to him for help when things went wrong. She made him feel valued, like he was worth something-


    That was why, even after all these years, his heart still belonged to her. It was also why he doted on Helena and Riley, giving them everything they wanted


    But every time he looked at Rosalic, all he could think of was those humiliating years under Be''s thumb. If it weren''t for the 40% shares Rosalic held in her hands, he would''ve cut ties with her a long time ago.


    Edward exhaled sharply and said, "udia, don''t worry. I''ll make things right for Helena. Everything I have will belong to Helena and Riley in the future. I won''t let them suffer.

 Breaking Free From 56

    Edward tightened his grip on udia''s hand, his voice steady as he made his promise.


    That was exactly what udia wanted to hear, but it still wasn''t enough. She thought, The little bit of wealth Edward has? That''s nothing. What I want is the entire fortune the Talley family left for Rosalie. That''s the kind of money that couldst for generations.


    But, of course, she wouldn''t let Edward see the greed and ambition lurking beneath her gentle exterior. Instead, she put on a soft, understanding smile and said. ¡°Helena doesn''t care about inheritance. What she truly wants is your love and care."


    Edward nodded without hesitation. 1 know. Helena is such a good girl. That''s exactly why I want to give her everything I have


    The couple sat on the plush sofa, wrapped in their own world of whispered affection, before the conversation inevitably shifted back to Rosalie''s unusual behavior tonight.


    udia frowned slightly. "But something was really off with Rosalie tonight. She''s always been good to Helena. Why would she suddenly act like this! Could it really be just a bad mood, like she said?"


    Though Edward had always harbored resentment toward Rosalie, he knew her well enough.


    Rosalie had a temper, sure, but she wasn''t the type tosh out at others without reason. If she was upset, she usually kept it to herself.


    But tonight, she had torn into both her stepmother-who had always "doted on her-and her so-called "beloved" stepsister with no restraint. That wasn''t like her at all.


    Just then, a voice cut through the air. "Mr. Graham, Mrs. Graham, Hollie spoke up from the side. "Earlier, when you sent Ms. Graham upstairs, I overheard Mrs. Galloway and Mr. Galloway discussing their divorce


    Hollie wasn''t just any maid. She hade to Graham Vi with udia after udia married Edward.


    For years, through all the time Edward had kept udia as his mistress, Hollie had been there, tending to udia and Helena''s every need. Naturally, she knew all the dirty secrets-their hidden affair, Helena''s true parentage.


    "Divorce?" udia shot up from the sofa, her face twisting in shock. "You''re saying Julian wants to divorce Rosalie?

 Breaking Free From 57

    Upon closer inspection. udia''s eyes sparkled with a glint of excitement. She thought, ''If Julian divorces Rosalie. Helena''s chances just got a whole lot better.


    More importantly, now that George and Issac are both dead, if Julian leaves Rosalie, without the Galloway family backing her, what''s that little slut even worth'' I could destroy her without lifting a finger


    Hollie chimed in. "Yes, they didn''t bother to be discreet around us maids while talking. I could hear everything clearly. Mr. Galloway sent awyer to discuss the divorce with Mrs. Galloway, and Mrs. Galloway has already signed the papers." Both Edward and udia knew Hollie wouldn''t be about something so serious without reason. The thrill on their faces was impossible to hide.


    They both thought in unison, Without Julian, what can Rosalie possibly do? Taking the 40% stake in Talley Group from her will be a walk in the park.


    Looks like she wasn''t lying after all. She''s really in a bad mood," Edward remarked with a grin, unable to hold back his amusement. "She worked so hard to marry Julian, and now he''s divorcing her. It''s no wonder she''s upset"


    Edward smirked inwardly. Only Julian could make her so upset that she would spew such nasty, vicious words.


    As they confirmed that Rosalie had no idea about the skeletons in their closet and learned of Julian''s ns to divorce her. Edward and udia could hardly contain their joy.


    But then udia''s expression soured when she recalled how Julian had gone to such lengths to protect Rosalie tonight.


    She pursed her lips, a look of disdain creeping over her face, and sneered, "He''s about to divorce Rosalie, yet he still acts like her knight in shining armor tonight. Helena''s been head over heels for him, and seeing him defending Rosalie like that will surely drive Helena crazy?

 Breaking Free From 58

    udia spoke with an air of frustration, as if the entire world should revolve around her and Helena.


    She seemed to believe that Helena''s affection for Julian meant he couldn''t possibly upset her-not even to protect Rosalie.


    It never urred to udia that, even if Julian were to divorce Rosalie. Helena should have nothing to do with it.


    Edward nodded in agreement, his displeasure evident. "I don''t know what he''s thinking. To protect Rosalie, he actually went so far as to warn me with those words."


    Edward''s thoughts simmered with resentment as he pondered, ''No matter what, I''m Julian''s father-inw, his elder. How dare he show me no respect


    Rosalie, leaving Graham Vi behind, had no idea what the ridiculous couple was plotting in their minds. She had barely driven a short distance when her phone rang, sitting innocently on the passenger seat.


    Without checking the caller ID, she pressed the button on her Bluetooth headset and answered, "Hello!"


    A female voice greeted her on the other end, saying, "Rosalie, I heard from Sean that you''re divorcing that jerk Julian. Is that true?"


    At the sound of the voice, Rosalie couldn''t help but chuckle.


    The only person with enough guts to call Julian a ¡°jerk¡± was his big sister, Anya Galloway.


    Anya was the only member of the Galloway family, aside from thete Issac, who had ever treated Rosalie like family, like one of their own.


    "Yeah, I''m getting a divorce," Rosalie replied without hesitation, not trying to hide anything from Anya.


    Anya''s voice crackled with barely contained excitement. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get over here and let''s celebrate."


    Rosalieughed, "Sure, I''ll be right there. Wait for me."


    After hanging up, Rosalie followed the directions Anya had given her, driving directly to Anya''s Lounge,


    As the name suggested, Anya''s Lounge was more than just a ce-it was a club and a haven, owned by Anya. It had been a gift from Anya''s husband, Kaleb Perry, for their wedding anniversary.

 Breaking Free From 59

    As Rosalie stepped inside, she immediately spotted Anya sitting in a private room, her husband Kaleb by her side.


    In both this life and thest, Rosalie couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy every time she saw Anya.


    Anya had always been well-protected-first by her brother, Julian, and now by her husband, Kaleb, who doted on her endlessly. With two such strong protectors behind her, Anya lived her life exactly how she wanted, never having to worry about a thing,


    Rosalie, on the other hand, had everything that seemed enviable to the outside world. She was the heiress of the Talley family, the mistress of the Galloway family.


    To everyone else, her status was untouchable. But only she knew the truth-this past year of marriage had drained her, suffocating her, making her feel like she was living a be,


    The thought darkened her eyes, pulling the light from them.


    "Rosalie, you''re here. Come on over." Anya''s voice broke through her thoughts, cheerful and inviting..


    Rosalie snapped back to reality, forcing a smile on her lips as she stepped forward. "Anya, Kaleb


    Although Rosalie and Julian were preparing for divorce, she couldn''t help but maintain the usual warmth she felt toward Anya and Kaleb. They were like her best friends, after all.


    "Come on. The moment I heard Scan mention you''re divorcing that jerk Julian, I couldn''t help but get excited and want to celebrate" Anya poured Rosalie a drink, handing it to her. "What made you finallye to your senses and want to divorce that douchebag?"


    As Julian''s big sister, Anya couldn''t stand the way he treated Rosalie


    Anya thought to herself, Julian''s never loved Rosalie in the first ce. So why did he marry her? He married her and then treated her like an afterthought- demanding she cater to him like some sort of saint. What a joke


    As the older sister, Anya couldn''t stand to see her spoiled little brother act so foolishly.


    She''d tried to talk some sense into him multiple times, but Julian never listened- her words went in one ear and out the other. He never took her advice seriously.

 Breaking Free From 60

    Even though Julian was her brother. Anya couldn''t help but urge Rosalie to divorce him multiple times.


    Damn it. What a worthless piece of garbage: Anya thought, her anger ring up again.


    Every time Anya thought of Julian, she couldn''t help but curse under her breath, her frustration boiling over.


    Rosalie epted the drink Anya handed her with a smile, masking the bitterness swirling inside her, and without hesitation, she took a gulp. The sharp burn of the strong liquor spread across her mouth, its spiciness stinging her senses and making her cough uncontrobly.


    The fiery rush hit her like a thunderp, jolting her brain, and the heat seemed to travel down her throat in a ze, straight to her stomach.


    "Whoa, Rosalie, this is high-proof whiskey. You can''t just m it like that," Anya eximed, her eyes wide with concern at the sight of Rosalie''s reddened cheeks. Anya quickly reached out and patted her back, looking worried as she asked, "Are you okay!"


    sh it off. "Im


    It took Rosalie a few moments to recover from the shock to her system. She shook her head and smiled weakly, trying to brushi thirsty when Tarrived and drank too fast, Rosalie said.


    "I''m fine, just


    Her eyes lowered, hiding the emotions flickering beneath them, especially the bitterness that had appeared when Anya mentioned Julian''s name. Rosalie grabbed the bottle of vodka by her side and poured herself another shot, letting the cool liquid settle in the ss before she answered Anya''s question, I''ve known for a long time that Julian doesn''t love me. He might even hate me, but


    She paused, a self-deprecating smile curling on her lips. I guess, just giving up so easily didn''t sit right with me."


    That was the truth. Her stubborn pride had kept her in that hollow marriage for an entire year, one that had never been anything close to seemed.


    what it


    If Rosalie hadn''t overheard, in her previous life, Julian''s outright wish for her death, she probably would''ve stuck it out forever, even if Julian had shoved the divorce papers in her face.


    Anya watched Rosalie''s bitter smile, her frown deepening with sympathy, but also a fresh surge of fury for Julian What a jerk, Anya thought, the words echoing in her mind.


    Rosalie brought the ss of vodka to her lips, but this time she didn''t drink it as hastily as before.


    Looking at Anya, Rosalie felt as though a floodgate had opened. All the emotions she''d been holding back came pouring out, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and resignation.


    Julian gave me the final blow, Rosalie said, her voice heavy with resignation, "and it''s finally killed any hope I had left. If I drag this on any longer, it''s only going to end badly."


    In her past life, Rosalie had stubbornly refused to divorce him, clinging to a sinking ship for another year, until she managed topletely destroy whatever tiny shred of affection remained between her and Julian


    Rosalie thought bitterly. This is probably why, in my past life, when the paramedic called him as I was dying, he was so die already.


    impatient, hoping I''d just


    Anya had no idea that Rosalie had died once and then been sent back a year in time. When she heard Rosalie mention the "final blow": assumed Rosalie was referring to the conversation Julian had had with Martin a few days ago about the divorce.


    Anya


    Anya reached out, patting Rosalie''s back in a gesture offort. ¡°You should''ve divorced him a long time ago. You''re too good for someone like Julian. Why waste any more time on a jerk like him? A man like that doesn''t deserve to be with you."


    Kaleb, who had been quietly sitting nearby, suddenly f he listened to his wife hurl insult after insult at Julian. His feelings wereplex, to say the least.


    found himself dumbstruck. His expression became a mixture of amusement and confusion as


    Kaleb thought. Of course, she''s Julian''s sister. Anya''s not holding anything back, is she? Not even a little soft on him!


    to treat me like that, I''d break his legs, kill him with poison, and then take his money to hire a new


    Anya then casually added, "If Kaleb ever dared to handsome


    ruy


    for


    Company every day?


    Both Rosalie and Kalebs were rendered speechless.


    Kaleb, sitting quietly and obediently in his seat, couldn''t help but think to himself,


    ''How did I end up getting dragged into this?

 Breaking Free From 61

    Kaleb couldn''t help b


    but think. I''m a good guy. I listen to my wife. I love her-what''s the dealparing me to that jerk Julian?


    At that moment, Kaleb had no clue that his own nickname for his brother-inw, Julian, was starting to sound more and more like something Anya would say.


    Just then, Kaleb''s phone rang. He nced at the screen, his expression turning strange. He quickly stole a nce at Anya, then stood up and walked. into the corner to answer the call Julian Kaleb said.


    Julian''s voice came through. "Kaleb, where are you?"


    Tm at Anya''s Lounge, with your sister."


    "I''ming over. Let''s have a drink."


    Kaleb''s response was a silent sigh, his mind racing as he looked back at Anya. He pondered, You''reing over? It''s definitely not just for drinks. Your sister could probably kill you for this -no joke.


    But Kaleb, ever the pushover when it came to Anya''s wrath, kept that thought to himself. Instead, he just said, "Alright,e on over"


    After hanging up. Kaleb returned to his seat, only to be met with Anya''s sharp gaze, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized him. "Who was that?" she


    asked


    Kalebzily waved his phone in the air. "Your brother."


    Anya''s brows furrowed, her face twisting with an obvious distaste for Julian. What does he want?"


    Her eyes


    narrowed even further, turning into a warning as she red at Kaleb, "Don''t get too close to him. If he leads you astray, you''ll be in big trouble with me"


    Kaleb couldn''t help butugh, but there


    was a


    a nervous edge to it.


    After her warning. Anya turned her gaze to Rosalie, who had been quietly sipping her drink, her expression unchanging at the mention of Julian. Anya couldn''t shake the feeling that something about Rosalie''s silence seemed off.


    Anya called out her name, "Rosalie?"


    But there was no response.


    "Rosalie Anya called again, her voice more insistent this time.


    Finally, Rosalie turned her head towards her, her eyes hazy and clouded by the effects of alcohol, a faint, seductive kind of confusion hanging in her gaze. Her eyelids were slightly drooped, theers of her eyes and brows flushed a deep red from the alcohol.

 Breaking Free From 62

    "What is it. Anya?" Rosalie''s voice was steady, but the dazed look in her eyes told Anya everything she needed to know-Rosalie was drunk, and it wasn''t just a little.


    Anya''s eyes fell to the empty vodka bottle in Rosalie''s hand, and she couldn''t help but shout, "Rosalie, you drank the whole bottle?"


    Rosalie had polished off the entire bottle of 96% proof vodka in a matter of minutes.


    in


    She''s crazy. Does she even care about her health? Anya thought, her worry creeping it


    Rosalie, startled by Anya''s outburst, pouted as if deeply wronged. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her voice quivered. "Anya, do you also hate me now!


    Anya stared, speechless. She could tell now that Rosalie was really, truly drunk. This wasn''t the Rosalie she knew. When sober, Rosalie wasn''t like this at all


    Anya immediately softened, trying to reassure her. "No, no. Rosalie, you''re amazing. You''re my favorite, Anya cooed.


    Rosalie''s lips quivered as she continued, her quiet voice tinged with hurt and sorrow, "If I''m so great, why doesn''t Julian love me? I love him so much, but why doesn''t he love me back?"


    "How could he want me dead" she whispered, as if to herself. I love him so much. I love him so much... Her words broke into a soft sob, tears beginning to well up in her eyes


    It was clear to anyone with eyes that Rosalie loved Julian, but she had hardly ever voiced it so openly. If not for the alcohol, she might have never admitted it aloud.


    She loved Julian, but she also had her pride.


    Anya''s heart (wisted as she watched Rosalie quietly sob, and a fresh wave of anger toward Julian surged within her. How could he treat her like this?" Anya bellowed inwardly


    Rosalie sniffled again, her voice fragile. "Anya, if I''m so great, why doesn''t he love me?"


    Anya''s response was blunt, her frustration leaking out, "Because he''s a jerk."


    Rosalie''s expression froze for a moment as she processed Anya''s words. Then, tilting her head slightly, she seemed to ponder it, before suddenly bursting out in giggles, covering her mouth like a child who had just heard something funny.

 Breaking Free From 63

    Roulic,pletely drunk, giggled uncontrobly, her voice lilting with a mix of amusement and bitterness. She said, "No wonder he doesn''t like me. He''s a jerk. A total idiot, a bastard.


    "He''s too stupid to see how great I am. I''ve been trying so hard just to please that fool. This is a toxic rtionship, and we should never be together."


    As she watched Rosalieugh so innocently, almost childishly. Anya''s heart sank. Anya wasn''t sure what to make of the absurdity of the situation. It was clear Rosalie was very drunk, but the bitterness beneath her words hit Anya harder than expected


    Suddenly, Rosalie''s hand grabbed hers with a firm grip. Her face, now serious, was a sharp contrast to her earlier yful demeanor. "Anya, I''ve made up my mind." Rosalie said, her tone fierce and resolute. I''m done loving him. I won''t love that jerk Julian anymore.


    Thest part of her sentence came out louder, her voice growing more defiant as she repeated, "I won''t love that jerk Julian anymore!


    Before Anya could respond. Rosalie abruptly stood up from the sofa. She nted one foot on the coffee table and held the now-empty vodka bottle. aloft. her eyes burning with a mix of rage and drunken rity. "Next time I see Julian, Ill smash his face in


    With a violent thud, the bottle crashed onto the coffee table, shattering into a dozen jagged pieces.


    Anya and Kaleb stared dumbstruck, and even Julian, who had just walked in, was left speechless.


    Rosalie casually tossed the broken bottle aside, her foot shifting from the table back onto the floor. But just as she did, Anya''s eyes widened in horror "Rosalie


    It was toote. Rosalie''s footnded directly on the ss shards.


    Even as Julian sprinted toward her, trying to catch her before it was toote, the damage was done.


    Anya''s Lounge provided hotel-style slippers in every private room-soft, but not made to withstand anything like this. With Rosalie''s weighting down, the delicate fabric couldn''t protect her, and instantly, her foot was drenched in a wave of crimson.


    For a few seconds, Rosalie stood frozen, the pain registering toote, and then a soft, wailing cry escaped her lips. "Ow, that hurts."

 Breaking Free From 64

    The room fell into a heavy silence. The reality of the situation hit them all-no one had expected the alcohol to take such a toll on Rosalie, but the aftermath was now painfully clear.


    Julian''s face was a storm cloud as he scooped the drunken Rosalie up p from the ss shards, settling her onto the sofa. His eyes zed with a mix of anger and concern as he barked at the stunned Anya, "What are you standing there for? Call a doctor. Now,"


    "Okay" Anya blinked, still in a daze from the shock of what had just happened. She didn''t even take offense at her "jerk of a brother yelling at her. Instead, she scrambled to dial the doctor''s number in a panic, her fingers trembling as she pressed the buttons.


    Anya''s Lounge had a full-time general practitioner on call, and within minutes, a doctor and his assistant arrived, carrying a medical kit.


    Seeing the scene in front of him, even the doctor was momentarily stunned.


    ''Quick check on Rosalie, Anya said urgently, her voice tight with anxiety.


    The doctor didn''t waste a second, signaling for the assistant to follow as they rushed over to Rosalie. They knelt down in front of her, moving with practiced efficiency


    The cleaning crew had already cleared away therger shards of ss, but the bright red stains on the carpet were still ring, an unsettling reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.


    Julian''s face remained grim and unreadable, a storm brewing behind his eyes He held Rosalie carefully in his


    "Remove the ss shards from Ms. Talley''s foot, the doctor instructed the assistant, his voice professional, yetced with urgency.


    "Got it," the assistant replied, nodding as she reached for a pair of tweezers.


    Just as the assistant was about to begin, Julian''s voice, low and sharp as a de, cut through the air. "Be gentle."


    The quiet pressure in his tone made the assistant flinch, the tweezers in her hand trembling for a brief moment. "Understood," she stammered. With the doctor''s arrival. Anya finally exhaled in relief. But as the situation began to settle in, her mind caught up with everything. Her gaze to Julian, his mood as dark as a thunderstorm, and she couldn''t help but ask Kaleb, "Did this jerk just yell at me?"


    turned


    Kaleb


    was at a loss for words, thinking to himself, Is your b brain working in slow motion? It''s been ten minutes since he yelled at you, and you''re just now catching on?

 Breaking Free From 65

    Of course, Kaleb wouldn''t dare voice his sarcastic thoughts in front of Anya-being the loyal husband he was.


    Kaleb gave Anya a serious nod. "Right."


    "Good, then he''s a dead man walking. Anya dered tly, her gaze returning to Julian


    At that moment, Julian''s entire focus was on Rosalie''s injured foot. He didn''t even register his sister''s dramatic threat. He was too busy tending to the delicate situation in front of him


    Meanwhile, Anya, noticing the deep furrow in Julian''s brows and the flicker of panic in his eyes, raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. She turned to Kaleb,


    whispering. "What''s he doing now? Didn''t he im he didn''t love Rosalie? Look at him now, all tight-lipped and nervous. Who''s he trying to fool?"


    Anya couldn''t help but scoff at Julian''s ''self-absorbed demeanor. Every time she saw him, she felt an urge to p some sense into him.


    Of course, in all of Hasmond-and probably the whole country-only Anya would dare to do such a thing.


    Kaleb shot a silent nce at Anya, before his eyes lingered on Julian. He pondered, Julian''s behavior right now doesn''t look like someone who''s sick


    of Rosalie. Not at all


    "Is he too close to the situation to see it?" Kaleb finally concluded.


    Anya wasn''t having any of it. She pursed her lips in disdain. "What, ''too close? He''s just being pathetic. Rosalie''s not putting him on a pedestal anymore, and now he''s all flustered"


    "You''re right, babe, Kaleb agreed without argument, though inwardly, he couldn''t help but sigh.

 Breaking Free From 66

    He was five years older than Julian, and they''d grown up as neighbors, practically brothers. Now, as Anya''s husband and Julian''s brother-inw, Kaleb knew him like the back of his hand just like Anya did


    Kaleb thought to himself. If Julian didn''t care about Rosalie, why on earth would he be so worked up seeing her like this?


    By the time the assistant finished cleaning the ss shards from Rosalie''s foot, Julian had been holding Rosalie close for a while now, his nerves on edge. Each time she whimpered, it was like a knife to his gut, his heart leaping into his throat.


    "Didn''t I tell you to be gentle?" Julian''s face was stone cold as he looked at the young medical assistant, who was now drenched in sweat, clearly under the pressure of his intense gaze.


    "Enough, Julian. Are you serious? This mess is all because of you, so why take it out on her?" Anya interjected, stepping in to defend the poor girl. "With the stupid way you''re acting, someone might think Rosalie''s foot got chopped off, not just scratched."


    Julian rolled his eyes inwardly, thinking to himself,


    elf, What do you mean, this mess is all because of me? What exactly did I do?


    At that very moment, Rosalie, who had been quietly whining in Julian''s arms, suddenly lifted her head. Her dazed eyes, tinged with a hint of irritation, locked onto him. Julian''s here? Then where''s that jerk?" she muttered.


    Julian was rendered speechless. His mind raced, but he simply couldn''t find the words.


    Rosalie began to squirm in his arms, trying to sit up. She rolled up her sleeves, grumbling as she did. "Tell him toe here. I''m going to smash that jerk''s head in," she mumbled


    Julian didn''t say a word. Silently, Anya and Kaleb exchanged an awkward nce, both sensing the tension in the air. Even the doctor and assistant were at a loss for words.


    Seeing Rosalie struggle to free herself, Julian tightened his grip on her, his voice low andmanding. "Sit still. Don''t move."


    To his surprise, Rosalie immediately went still, her body rxing in his arms.


    After finishing the bandaging, the doctor handed Julian some ointment and carefully instructed. "This medication will help Ms. Talley''s foot heal Since the wounds are on the bottom of her foot, she should keep it dry, avoid walking on it, and stay away from seafood to prevent any infection."


    Julian didn''t respond, but he silently absorbed every word the doctor said, making sure to remember every detail.

 Breaking Free From 67

    Even after the doctor left, Julian still looked grim.


    Rosalie waspletely wasted. Now, she was quietly resting against Julian''s chest, her lips asionally moving as if she was murmuring something in her sleep.


    Julian adjusted his hold on her, stood up from the couch, and said to Anya and Kaleb, Tm taking her home."


    Kaleb raised his eyebrows and asked, "Weren''t you here to drink with me?" Julian hesitated for a split second. His grip on Rosalie instinctively tightened. "Some other time," he said and started walking away.


    Anya shot him a sharp look and snapped, "Where exactly do you think you''re taking Rosalie? You''re nothing to her now. This is harassment, you know!


    Julian took several deep breaths. It was the only thing stopping him frommitting murder right now.


    Keeping his tone as even as possible, he said, "Anya. Rosalie is my wife?


    Anya''s words hit his nerve. If Anya weren''t his sister, she''d be dead a hundred times over by now


    "Oh, so you finally remember she''s your wife, huh?" Anya rolled her eyes and added. "Funny, because Rosalie told me she''s divorcing you. She''s already signed the damn papers and everything


    The more Julian''s expression darkened, the more delighted Anya seemed. She leaned in, deliberately pushing his buttons. "You know why she got drunk tonight? She was celebrating getting rid of you. She was so thrilled and had a few too


    many.


    "I mean, seriously, Julian, your ex-wife is that desperate to be free of you. Doesn''t that tell you something? You''re really a jerk, don''t you think!"

 Breaking Free From 68

    Julian''s jaw tightened. He replied with a cold and clipped voice, "She''s not my ex-wife?


    Anya stared at him and was caught off guard by his sudden retort.


    She thought, "Wait, out of everything I just said, he only notices that word? He even corrects me?"


    Julian looked her dead in the eyes and continued. "As long as I don''t sign those papers, Rosalie will remain my wife"


    His thoughts were ruthless. "Ex-wife'' She can dream about it.


    Anya let out a mockingugh. "Oh, what now? Sudden epiphany? You do know you owe Rosalie too much, huh?"


    Julian ignored her and turned to Kaleb instead, the one person in the room who wasn''t actively trying to start a war.


    "Kaleb," he said in a serious tone. "if you ever decide to divorce Anya, let me know. I''ll fully support you."


    With that, Julian carried Rosalie out of the room.


    A pillow flew across the room and smacked him in the back of his head. Then, Anya''s sharp voice sounded. "You bastard! Your own marriage is a disaster, and you''ve got the nerve to drag my husband into it? You''re looking for a beating, huh?"


    The door shut with a huge bang, Julian didn''t even turn around and give Anya a nce,


    Kaleb, who had been dragged into this mess for no reason, immediately stepped up to do damage control. "Babe, don''t worry. You''re the love of my life. Divorce will never happen."


    Anya scoffed with rolled eyes, "Exactly. He''s just jealous. Can''t stand the fact that we''re happier than he is."


    Kaleb chuckled and rubbed her shoulder. Then, he casually asked, "You sure about pushing him like that? What if he really does divorce Rosalie?" Anya said with a snort. "Rx. Maybe then he''ll finally realize what an idiot he''s been. He had a perfectly good wife and treated her like crap.


    "If he wants to keep ying stupid games, let him. Maybe when he loses her for real, he''ll finally get a taste of what regret feels like."


    Anya might talk big, but deep down, she cared about his younger brother very much. After all, she''d spoiled him since they were kids. She knew all too well


    Il that Julian was way too calm and cool.


    She just wished he''d stop acting like an emotionless robot for once. The way he handled rtionships was always cold, calcted, and distant, No wonder every woman who got close to him ended up hurt.

 Breaking Free From 69

    Julian had everything -power, wealth, and status. As his sister, Anya only wanted one thing for him happiness. She hoped he would find a girl who loved him for who he was, not for what he had. And Roulic was that girl.


    But Julian had been put on a pedestal for so long and spoiled by the world around him that he had forgotten what it meant to fall. When one was used to looking down on everyone, they would never really understand how much it hurt to hit the ground.


    Thinking about how anxious Julian had been over Rosalie tonight. Anya sighed inwardly.


    As someone watching from the sidelines, she could see it crystal clear. But Julian? That emotionally stunted nerd would probably never even realize what he was feeling. If no one gave him a good shove, he''d stay blind to it forever.


    "Maybe divorce is exactly what he needs Sometimes, one has to lose everything before they finally get what''s important to them." Anya murmured. took a slow sip of her drink, and continued. He needs to chase Rosalie. Only then will he understand the feeling of being ignored."


    Kaleb didn''tment on that. He just sat in silence for a moment before casually dropping, "I heard... the Palmer family ising back."


    Anya''s expression shifted upon hearing the key words, the Palmer family.


    The first person that came to mind was Roseanne Palmer.


    Anya had never liked that woman. She couldn''t even say exactly why, but there was just


    something about her that rubbed Anya the wrong Thinking back to the mess Roseanne stirred up back then still made Anya''s stomach turn.


    E way.


    Now that Roseanne wasing back. Anya couldn''t help but think of the past rtionship between Roseanne and Julian. Anya wondered, ''Could it


    With that thought in mind. Anya knitted her brows and showed a disgusted expression


    She snapped. The Palmer family couldn''t make it overseas, huh? Now they want toe back?"

 Breaking Free From 70

    With a smirk, she leaned back into the couch. The yful case she usually carried around her family was gone. In its ce was something colder, sharper-a vibe like her brother''s.


    She had been raised to stand above the rest, and when she dropped the act, that pressure was impossible to ignore.


    They lost the family feud years ago. The second son of the Palmers runs Palmer Group now. Even if theye back, they won''t be getting much


    out of it.


    But Anya wasn''t naive. She knew how shameless Roseanne could be. Back then, she could ask Julian to help her snatch her family property from ber uncle, and this time, she wouldn''t just y nice and do nothing


    While Anya wasn''t worried about anything else, she was concerned about Roseanne trying to pull something with Rosalie.


    As far as Anya was concerned, there was only one woman worthy of being Julian''s wife, and that was Rosalie. That title was not up for grabs, and she sure as hell wasn''t letting just anyone take a shot at it.


    "I couldn''t care less about the Palmers, Anya said tly. But if Roseanne thinks abouting for Julian, I''ll make her regret it."


    A sharp glint shed through Anya''s eyes.


    She could mess with her brother all she wanted. That was her right as his sister. But outsiders? They were dead meat the moment they tried. Kaleb hesitated for a few seconds and finally said, "Sean mentioned something the other day... He thinks Julian only pushed for the divorce because Roseanne''sing back"


    Anya''s hand froze in the air, her ss still in her grasp. With a frown, she asked, "Who told him that?"


    Kaleb didn''t answer directly. Instead, he asked, "You ever notice how much Rosalie looks like Roseanne?"


    The words hit Anya like a punch to the gut. For a long moment, she said nothing


    If Kaleb hadn''t pointed it out, she wouldn''t have thought of it. But now that he had, Anya realized that Rosalie did look like Roseanne,


    And the timing was too much of a coincidence. Right when Roseanne was set to return, Julian suddenly wanted a divorce, Anya couldn''t help but suspect if the divorce had anything to do with Roseanne.

 Breaking Free From 71

    Anya''s


    ya''s face hired even more gloomy. After a long ulener, she suddenly shot up from the couch, her voice low but seething with


    "If that bastard is divorcing Rosalie because of Roseanne, then he has to go through with it. Rosalie is perfect. Why the hell should she be some second-rate substitute for that woman?


    Even if they did split up. Anya would never let Roseanne step foot into the Galloway family.


    Julian took Rosalie back to Rosalian Manor


    ra immediately came up to greet them. "Sir, you''re back. Maiam Wait, sir, what happened to her?"


    ra was stunned when she saw Julian walk in with Rosalie in his arms. His face was dark, and his whole presence was heavy. But what really made her blood run cold was the stark white bandage wrapped arouad Rosalir''s foot, which waspletely soaked through with blood


    "She s drunk" Julian said, his tone clipped "Make her something for the hangover."


    Without another word, he carried Rosalie upstairs.


    The


    se moment Julian ted Rosalie on the bed, Rosalie suddenly shot up and grabbed his arm with surprising force. Her eyes were zed over from the alcohol, but they were shining with excitement.


    She blurted out, "Anya, I just came up with the best idea ever. It''s gonna piss Jerkian off so badly


    The nickname made Julian''s eyes narrow dangerously, but he said nothing


    He simply stared at the woman in front of him, whose face brimmed with smug delight, and she waspletely oblivious to who she was talking


    Then, without warning, Rosalie leaned in close. Her warm breath,ced with the scent of wine, brushed against his car. Her voice was soft, teasing. like the delicate stroke of a feather, setting every nerve in his body on edge


    "You know, I have a lot of money. Like, a lot a lot she whispered. "I can totally start collecting hot young celebrities. Sleeping with a different one every night sounds nice, right? Jerkian will definitely be pissed off."


    She giggled, covering her mouth like a mischievous child. "Anya, is it the most brilliant idea ever?"


    She looked at Julian expectantly, her eyes gleaming, waiting for praise.


    Julian and Anya had simr features, though his were sharper and more defined. But Rosalie was far too drunk to tell them apart. In her mind, she was still in that lounge, chatting with Anya


    Julian''s expression remained impassive. He simply stared at her smirk and had forgotten the new nickname she gave him


    "Strep with a different one every night, huh?" he murmured, his voice dangerously low. "Piss me off, right?"


    His long fingers curled under her chin and tilted her face up. His deep eyes locked onto hers, trapping her dazed gaze


    "I had no idea you had such... interesting ns he said through gritted teeth


    Rosalie''s eyes were beautiful-normally clear and bright, but right now, they were hazy from the alcohol Her flushed cheeks and the slight redness at the corners of her eyes gave hier an unintentionally seductive look.


    Julian stared at Rosalie, and his eyes darkened, his pupils swallowing what liute light remained. A heat started creeping up his spine, unexpected,


    He swallowed, has Adam''s apple hobbing slightly, and he tried to suppress the sunklen warmth pooling in his chest. But his grip on her chin Kradually tightened. "Tell me, Anya" Rosalie urged, clearly frustrated that "Anya" said nothing to reply With a pour, she stared at julian and said again. "Say my idea is brilliant."


    Still getting no reaction, she reached out and hooked her arms around his neck. With a sharp tog, she pulled hun closer, until their faces were nearly touching


    Julian never expected this to happen, and hepletely froze


    Even after a year of marriage, they had never been this close.

 Breaking Free From 72

    Julian kept swallowing hard over and over, as if that was the only way to suppress the heat steadily rising in his chest.


    "Come on, answer the. Say I''m brilliant, Rosalie demanded again, stubborn as a child who refused to back down without a word of praise.


    Juhan had no idea she was like this when she was drunk. She wasn''t throwing a fit or causing a scene, yet somehow, dealing with her was even more exhausting than if she had.


    She was driving Julian insane. However, he had no choice but to y along


    Taking a deep sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose and finally relented. "You''re brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."


    Finally hearing the answer she wanted, Rosalie beamed, and her lips curved into a satisfied, almost angelic smile.


    That was exactly when ra walked in with the hangover cure. She froze at the door, her eyes widening at the sight in front of her. The air in the room was charged, and Julian''s and Rosalie''s postures were too intimate.


    ra hesitated, unsure if she should step in or turn right back around.


    But before she could decide, Julian calmly reached up, pried Rosalie''s arms from his neck like nothing had happened, and said in his usual cool tone. "Bring it in "


    "Okay,¡± re replied.


    ra hurned forward, but as she got closer, she realized just how drunk Rosalie actually was.


    She thought, so that hug was probably just the alcohol talking: For some reason, that thought left her oddly disappointed.


    "Sir. Madam''s in no state


    in no state to take a bath. Do you need me to help" ra asked, keeping her voice soft


    In her mind, she muttered, Who the hell did she go drinking with to end up like this?

 Breaking Free From 73

    Chapter 73.


    But what really threw her off was the fact that Julian was the one who brought her home. ra had worked here for over a year and had never seen that happen before.


    Julian nced at Rosalie, his face unreadable. After a brief silence, he said something unexpected, "I''ve got it. You can leave


    "Got it, sir" ra barely contained her excitement. She had no intention of overstaying her wee. In fact, she practically sprinted out, even making sure to shut the door extra gently on her way out,


    Julian sat down beside Rosalie and looked at the woman who had been throwing a tantrum just moments ago. Now, she was curled up quietly on the bed. hugging her knees, ignoring the world around her.


    Something about the sight made himugh. Actually, he was half-amused and half incredulours


    He wondered if he had really never paid attention to Rosalie before. Because in just one night, from watching her in the Graham family to seeing her now-drunk, childish, and unexpectedly willful-he started to realize something....


    This Rosalie was nothing like the one he thought he knew. The Rosalie he knew had always been quiet, obedient, and hopelessly devoted to him. Other than the way she used to look at him with those lovestruck eyes, she had never done anything that made him truly notice her.


    But tonight, she had managed to shatter every impression he had of her. How she made a scene in the Graham family and how childish she looked after she was drunk made Julian study her in a different way.


    Julian didn''t let himself dwell on is for too long. Instead, he picked up the cup of hangover cure, tested the temperature, and held it out to her


    He said in a low tone. "Wake up and drink this."


    At the sound of his voice. Rosalie slowly lifted her head, blinking at him. For a second, her eyes flickered between confusion and familiarity, as if trying to figure out whether she knew him or not.


    Then, without question, she took the cup from his hands and obediently started drinking. She mumbled, Thanks, Anya"


    Julian just stared at her but said nothing


    He wasn''t sure if Rosalie was considered a good drunk. She had been a handful


    a while ago, but she hadn''t gonepletely off the rails. She just looked a bit different from who she used to be


    And now, as she quietly sipped her drink, she looked almost too well-behaved.

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    again.


    Once Rosalie finished drinking the hangover cure, she handed the cup back to Julian and obedientlyy down on the bed agal


    Julian set the cup on the nightstand and turned back to her, only to find that she had already closed her eyes into a fast sleep.


    Her sleep didn''t seem peaceful. Her brows were tightly furrowed, and even in slumber, her delicate features were clouded with difort and frustration.


    "Rosalie Julian reached out and gave her shoulder a slight shake, but she swatted his hand away with irritation.


    Julian urged again. "Rosalie, wake up. Take a bath first"


    Rosalie didn''t react. She simply turned over and ignored himpletely.


    Julian took a slight sigh and ultimately gave up on waking her. Instead, he headed to the bathroom, filled a basin with warm water, and returned to her side. Gently, he began removing her clothes, leaving only a few scraps of fabric.


    Then, with careful precision, he took a towel and wiped her down, making sure to clean every inch of her skin.


    After he was done, he walked over to the wardrobe to grab some clean clothes for her. But the second he opened the doors, his hands stilled. There was nothing of Rosalie''s inside.


    Only then did he remember that just a few days ago, after mming th


    that divorce agreement on his desk, she had packed up all her things and left. Julian munered, Teh, she really didn''t leave a damn thing behind."


    A sharp, humorless chuckle slipped past his lips as he turned back toward the bed. But what he saw next made his mind go nk


    Rosaliey there, half-dressed, her bare shoulders exposed. Her bra strap had slipped off her arm and dangled loosely, revealing just enough to tease without truly exposing anything. The subtle hint of skin, thezy sprawl of her limbs-it was somehow even more alluring than outright nudity.

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    Julian had beenpletely focused earlier when he cleaned her body, his mind devoid of any impure thoughts. But now, he was damn close to losing control


    His gaze darkened, the heat in his chest spreading like wildfire. His throat was dry and burning, and he swallowed hard, his Adam''s apple bobbing


    with the effort.


    And then, as if the universe was testing his limits, Rosalie rolled over and kicked off the nket in the process. One of her long legs drapedzily over the nket, and her smooth skin was stark against the dark nket.


    Rosalie''s legs were long, muscr, and unfairly enticing. And it didn''t help that she was only wearing the simplest ck cotton underwear-nothing fancy, nothing seductive-yet it still sent an unbearable wave of heat rushing through him


    Forcing himself to look away, he grabbed one of his own dress shirts from the wardrobe and mmed the wardrobe shut with a sharp bang, his patience worn dangerously thin. Storming over to the bed, he yanked Rosalie up, not bothering to be gentle this time.


    Rosalie was woken up by his grip, and her brows knitted together in protest, "Mmm What are you doing?"


    "Put it on His voice was strained, each word bitten out through clenched teeth.


    But Rosalie remainedpletely unresponsive with her eyes shut, not giving him even the slightest bit of cooperation.


    "Damn it." Cursing under his breath, Julian showed the oversized shirt over her head, working fast to button it up before his self-control snappedpletely.


    It was such a simple action, yet by the time he was done, he was already breaking a sweat


    He red at her sleeping face, frustration practically radiating off him. Unable to hold back, he reached out and gave her cheek a firm pinch. "Rosalie, you''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you?"


    His voice was now rougher and lower, hoarse with something he didn''t want to n


    He started to regret taking over ra''s job. He should''ve let someone else deal with this mes


    With a final curse, Julian turned on his heel and strode straight to the bathroom. mess. Because right now, he was the one suffering.


    It was a full hour before he emerged again,


    a, his face still taut with tension. He cast onest re at the sleeping troublemaker sprawled across his bed and then mmed the door to leave,

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    The next morning. Rosalie woke up with a pounding headache.


    The harsh sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and stabbed at her eyes, making it impossible to keep them open.


    Groaning, she pushed herself up, her body aching all over. One of her hands shielded her face from the light while the other massaged her throbbing temples.


    Her head felt like it had been stuffed with lead-heavy, shuggish, and painfully swollen. It took her a long moment to shake off the haze and gather


    her thoughts,


    She was just about to get out of bed when a sharp, stabbing pain shot through the sole of her foot, making her freeze in ce.


    Frowning, she looked down. Her foot was wrapped in gauze, and the white fabric was stained with dried blood.


    Her confusion deepened. What the hell happened to my foot? When did I get hurt? And why don''t I remember any of it?"


    Rosalie sat there in a daze, trying to piece together the fragments ofst night.


    Thest thing she clearly remembered was leaving Graham Vi and getting a call from Anya, inviting her to Anya''s Lounge for a celebration


    She went there, and Anya handed her a drink. And then, her mind went nk. She had no idea what happened after that.


    Her gaze dropped to the oversized shirt she was wearing. The moment she registered what it was, her expression shifted again. She had been married to Julian for a year. She didn''t need to check thebel and could recogniz his shirts at a nce.


    Why am I wearing Julian''s shirt?'' she asked in her mind.


    Her headache grew worse. Not just from the hangover, but from the fact that she was wearing Julian''s damn clothes. Her mind spun. Then, realization dawned.


    "Wait. I''m at Rosalian Manor!" she muttered.


    Her eyes darted around the room, confirming what she already knew. This was their bedroom, the one she had lived in ever since they got married. Though it was supposed to be their marital home, Julian had never really left his mark here. Everything in this room belonged to her.

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    "Rosalian Manor" sounded romantic. People who didn''t know better probably thought it was something sentimental, like Anya''s Lounge- something named out of love.


    But the truth was, Julian''s grandfather, Issac, had been the one to name this ce, forcibly mashing together half of Rosalie''s name and half of Julian''s. No real meaning behind it. No sentimental value. Just another illusion of something that had never really existed.


    Rosalir rubbed her temples and thought, ''How the hell did I end up here? And with an injured foot?


    The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that Anya must have been the one to send her here after she cked out.


    As for the shirt, Rosalie believed that ra must have changed her into it. After all, there was nothing else for her to wear here except for Julian''s clothes.


    Rosalie knew how much he despised her, so there was no way in hell he''d voluntarily let her wear his clothes.


    Now that she had a general grasp of the situation, Rosalie let out a breath and dropped the matter. She carefully got out of bed, making sure not to put weight on her injured foot, and then headed to the bathroom for a quick wash-up.


    Once she was done, she made her way downstairs. The moment she reached the staircase, she nearly bumped into ra, who was just about to


    "Madam, why are youing out alone? Your foot is still injured: ra hurried to her side, reaching out to support her.


    "It''s fine. I''m not using that foot," replied Rosalie.


    With ra''s help, Rosalie made her way to the dining room and sat down.


    ra said. "Madam, please have some breakfast."


    Rosalie said, "Alright."


    She picked up her utensils and was about to eat when she suddenly remembered something.


    "ra, thanks for taking care of mest night. Can you bring me the clothes I was wearing yesterday? Rosalie said while eating


    "Yes, Madam. They''ve already been cleaned. I''ll get them for you after breakfast"


    "Alright." Rosalie nodded and added, "And next time, don''t put me in Julian''s clothes. If he finds out, you''ll be in trouble."


    That jerk might not be aplete germaphobe, but she could already imagine the absolute meltdown he''d have if he found out she had worn: something of his. He''d probably kill her.

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    Rosalie scoffed inwardly, her expression barely concealing her disdain. She scooped up a small spoonful of porridge and brought it to her mouth.


    But before she could swallow, ra suddenly spoke, ¡°No, Madam, I didn''t change your clothes. It was Mr. Galloway who dressed youst night."


    Rosalie choked on the spot. Porridge went straight up her nose, but she didn''t even care about that. ra''s words had already scared her senseless.


    Her brain was about to explode the moment she thought Julian was the one who changed her clothes. The more she processed it, the harder she cosighed, each one more violent than thest.


    "What''s with the overreaction? I just changed your clothes." A cold, mocking voice rang out from above her head.


    Rosalie instinctively looked up and saw Julian standing there in a tracksuit, the faint scent of sweat lingering on him from his morning run


    His lips curled into an amused smirk as he looked down at her, his eyes full of ridicule. "Your face is turning red. Is it really that thrilling for you?"


    Rosalie pursed her lips and tightened her grip on the spoon. She took several deep breaths and finally forced herself to resist the overwhelming urge to fling the entire bowl of porridge straight at his smug face.


    Rosalie thought to herself, "Anya was right. This guy is nothing but a damn bastard. A self-absorbed mutt who loves


    Then, a horrifying thought struck her. With her eyes widened, he asked in shock. "Wait, you changed my clothes?" She screamed in her mind. Does that mean... he saw everything!


    ttering himself.


    Julian caught the shock in her eyes. His smirk deepened ever so slightly, and he teased, "Didn''t ra just tell you! Or are you trying to thank me?" Rosalie p


    retorted inwardly. Thank you, my ass!"


    She then shot him a sharp re that could''ve burned him to ashes on the spot.


    The mere thought of him seeing somethingst night made her want to die on the spot. Her face was burning, hotter than ever, as if she''d been thrown straight into a furnace.


    Julian watched the color rise in her cheeks, and for the first time in days, his mood actually improved. He teased, "Your face is so red. Are you thinking about-"


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Rosalie snapped through gritted teeth, her expression dark as a storm cloud,


    She cursed internally. The servants are still around. What the hell is this shameless must trying to say?


    Surprisingly, Julian didn''t get annoyed at being cut off. Instead, he took a step closer, leaned down, and whispered in her ear, "If you really want to know what I sawst night, why don''t youe back to the bedroom! I''ll tell you everything


    His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending an unbearable shiver down her spine.


    The low, husky tone, paired with those suggestive words, made her already burning face feel like it had actually caught fire.


    She had no idea what the hell had gotten into himtely. A few days ago, this man couldn''t wait to get rid of her. He had practically shoved those divorce papers in her face, eager to kick her out of his life.


    Yet now, he was flirting like his life depended on it.


    Rosalie met his yful gaze head-on, her expression darkening. Then, all of a sudden, she let out a coldugh.


    She raised her chin slightly and taunted, "Oh! Why go back to the bedroom? Just say it here. I''d love for everyone to hear how you took advantage


    of someonest night."


    Julian stared


    at her, momentarily dumbfounded. He thought bitterly, "Wow, ever since this woman signed the divorce papers, she''s gone bolder.

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    Julian had expected her to blush, maybe get flustered, but clearly, he had underestimated her. She wasn''t just bold-she was ruthless.


    His eyes narrowed as he took in the slight tilt of her chin, that barely there smirk, the unmistakable challenge in her gaze.


    He let out a coldugh and replied. "We''ve been married for a year. a linde marital interaction. How is that taking advantage of you?"


    Even if I had done something to you, it would''ve beenpletely normal. Just


    ra and the other house staff were practically screaming in their heads. Can you two please NOT have this conversation in front of us? This is way too personal. Do you know how awkward this ?XT


    Rosalie didn''t even blink. She just rolled her eyes at him. "Oh So you''ve suddenly recovered after being out of service for a whole year?"


    Julian''s expression turned ice-cold in an insta


    The servants were losing their minds. Wait, hold on. What did we just hear? Mr. Galloway isn''t... functional? Is that why he wants a divorce?"


    The realization hit them like a freight train. Their gazes subtly shifted, and suddenly, the way they looked at Julian was different. There was sympathy and pity in their gazes.


    Julian noticed those gazes, and his face wentpletely ck.


    "Rosalie" he said through gritted teeth, his voice low and dangerous, "are you trying to get yourself killed?


    But Rosalie wasn''t the least bit intimidated. She let out a soft scoff and retorted, Tve been married to you for a year, and we haven''t even shared a bed. Isn''t it perfectly reasonable for me to have some concerns?"_


    She shifted in her chair, resting her chin on her palm as she stared at him, amusement flickering in her eyes.


    ¡°Tell me, julian, what kind of normal married man spends an entire year avoiding his own wife" added Rosalie.


    The truth was, Julian had barely spent any time at Rosalian Manor after their wedding. Even when he did, he treated her like she was nothing more than an annoyance. So apparently, they had no intimate moments at all.


    Rosalie made suchments only because Julian stirred up the trouble first. Since he wanted to y dirty, she wouldn''t back down easily.


    Rosalie had been seething with rage just moments ago, but sering


    ing his face turn stormy and his patience wearing thin, she suddenly felt much


    better.


    And then, Julian did something that sent a chill down her spine. He smiled. But it wasn''t a real smile. It was the kind of smile that made every nerve in her body scream danger.


    Rosalies instincts kicked in, her muscles tensing as she watched him approach.


    Before she could react, his strong arm wrapped around her, yanking her up from the chair with zero warning.


    She let out a startled gasp Julian, what the hell are you doing?"


    His voice was slow, deliberate, Every word wasced with something sharp. "It seems I''ve neglected my we might as well for the problem. And since we both happen to be free today, Ill take the time to properlypensate you.


    wife for too long. If you''re that dissatisfied, The way he spat out "wife" made it clear he was barely holding back his temper.


    Rosalie''s heart sank because she knew damn well that when he said pensate, he did not mean it in a way that benefited her. And before she could even think of a response, he bent down and scooped her up into his arms in front of everyone.


    Well ship!


    p berakfast,¡± he said casually. "You wouldn''t want to be too full. It makes exercise a little inconvenient."


    A slow, wicked smak tugged at his lips as he strode toward the stairs.


    Fanie shot through Rosalie''s veins. She quickly grabbed onto the leg of the dining table, her eyes zing with fury. "Julian, do you even


    shred of shome?


    en have a


    Julian looked down at her angry face and replied in a steady and infuriatingly calm voice. "You had no problem asking me to publicly discuss what happenedst night. I figured you weren''t the type to care about things like shame."

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    Julian''s eyes narrowed with dark storms brewing in their depths. He leaned in closer, his lips moved slightly, his voice low and dangerous. "Oops,


    toote."


    was useless.


    With that, he carried Rosalie toward the stairs. No matter how much she struggled in his arms, it w


    She screamed. "Julian! Put me down! You bastard!"


    The more she thrashed, the tighter his grip became. She waspletely trapped, unable to move an inch


    The servants in the living room werepletely stunned. They honestly couldn''t tell whether the two were in the middle of a heated argument or just engaging in some aggressive forey.


    All they could do was stand there, frozen, watching as Julian carried Rosalie up the stairs.


    The bedroom door was kicked open with a sharp bang. Still struggling. Rosalie barely had a second to react before Julian threw her onto the bed. The moment she tried to sit up, he was already on top of her-fast, decisive, without the slightest hesitation.


    He was honestly furious. No one in his life had ever tested his patience the way she did.


    Julian-mmph!" Her words were cut off by his lips crashing down on hers.


    Rosalie froze. Her eyes went


    nt wide with shock, and anger momentarily gave way to disbelief.


    Even after two lifetimes as his wife.


    1. c. Rosalie had never been this close to Julian, not even once.


    In her past life, he had never so much as touched her, let alone kissed her.


    Her mind nked. Her whole body went rigid. She forgot to resist,pletely caught off guard by the sheer unexpectedness of it all.


    But the second Julian pried her lips apart, reality mmed back into her. Without hesitation, she bit down hard. Her teeth sank into his tongue, merciless and unrelenting. Instantly, the metallic tang of blood spread through her mouth.


    Julian let out a muffled grunt of pain, his grip loosening just enough for her to slip away. The moment he let go of her, she retreated to the farthest corner of the bed and put as much distance between them as possible.

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    A stear of crimson lingered at the edges of both their lips


    Julian''s eyes became even more lethal and unyielding. The streak of blood at the corner of his mouth only made him look more dangerous-like a devilishly handsome predator on the verge of baring his fangs.


    At that moment, he looked like a vampire-clegant, lethal, and utterly terrifying


    Rosalie, in contrast, was


    trast, was sprawled at the edge of the bed with her injured leg. She couldn''t put weight on her foot, so she stretched her injured leg out, while her other foot pressed firmly against the mattress, forming a sharp angle.


    The pose,bined with the oversized white shirt hanging loosely off her frame, made her look wild and effortlessly seductive.


    The trace of blood still on her lips only added to the effect. Right now, she looked nothing like a furious woman who had just been manhandled. She looked like a debauched nobleman, fresh from a night of indulgencenguid, teasing, exuding an air of untamed arrogance.


    Rosalie raised a hand,zily wiping the blood off her lips with her thumb. Then she let out a low chuckle.


    "Aw, whats wrong! Can''t handle a little pushback?" Her chin lifted slightly, her gaze filled with taunting amusement.


    The white shirt, already disheveled from their earlier struggle, slipped even lower off her shoulder. The careless way it hung on her frame was enough to make anyone''s blood run hot.


    Julian narrowed his eyes, and said in a hoarse tone, his voice thick with warning. "Rosalie, you''re asking for it"


    She had no idea how dangerously enticing she looked right now.


    But Rosaliepletely misread his meaning. Hearing the threat in his tone, she simply let out another amused scoff, utterly unfazed..

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    2005 Ords! I hit a nerve! You''ve infuriated, aren''t you?" Rosalie asked with a steer.


    Asshe was speaking. Rosalie dragged her gaze downward andnded right at Julian''s waist, She let out a chuckle. Her slow, heated scrutiny was imposable to misinterpret


    Julian followed her line of sight, and his already dark expression turned unterly stormy. Then, unexpectedly, he let out a low chuckle too-a cold and dangerous


    one


    ething unreadable as he suddenly moved to grab her ankle and ya


    yank her forward. The little distance between them


    His deep eyes gleamed with something disappeared in an instant.


    This fingers mped around her chin, firm but not quite rough, his voice dropping to a sultry, almost teasing murmur.


    "They say the only way to test the truth is through experience. Yet here you are, making wild assumptions about your husband without any mrsthand knowledge. Don''t you think that''s a little unfair?"


    His face then inched closer to hers, their noses nearly brushing, their breaths mingling in the charged space between them. The heat of his body and the scent of his skin were overwhelming.


    His voice dipped lower, seductive and deliberate. "Should we put that theory to the test!"


    As he spoke, his hand slid down, his fingers grazing her waist before giving a sudden, punishing squeeze.


    Rosalie jerked, a sharp shudder rippling through her. She was insanely ticklish, and Julian knew it. She instinctively tried to scoot back, her voice rising in rm. "Julian, don''t you dare."


    "Oh"" He let out a coldugh. His deep and threateni


    threatening gaze locked onto hers, filled with mockery.


    He said. "You spent the whole morning trying to push my buttons, practically begging me for a proper ''marital interaction. And it just so happens that I have very little patience when ites to matters of my pride. So naturally, I feel the need to set the record straight."


    His hand on her waist tightened just slightly.


    Rosalie internally cursed, "No. No, no, no, That is not what I was trying to do. I just wanted to piss him off, not-whatever this is, Julian has no redeeming qualities, but damn, he''s the most shameless bastard alive


    There''s no need to prove anything, Rosalie stammered.


    Seeing Julian was really doing something to her, Rosalie felt a bit regretful now.


    She should''ve just eaten her damn breakfast and left. She regretted wasting her time arguing with this jerk. Now she had thrown herself into an incredibly stupid situation, and it was entirely self-inflicted.

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    Julian''s face remained dark, his voice casual but firm. "I don''t recall asking for your opinion."


    His thumb brushed against her lips, slow and teasing, his calloused fingertips tracing the soft skin. It was an intimate gesture, far too intimate.


    He studied her, his eyes filled with something unreadable. "In just two days, I''ve realized something fascinating"


    He tilted his head slightly and added with a sneer, "My wife is far more interesting than I ever thought. I think it''s only fair that I get to fully appreciate her fascinating soul."


    With that, he leaned in, the tip of his tongue-still tinged with the faint sting of the bite she had given him-trailing along her trembling lips.


    Rosalie''s mind went nk for a full second. Then she cursed internally, "You shameless, walking hormone. Aren''t you afraid of breaking your waist!"


    Secing Julian''s lipse closer inch by inch, Rosalie threw up a hand to press it firmly against his chest at thest second. ¡°Julian, have you had enough fun yer?"


    His


    eyes flickered, filled with mock amusement. "Have fun?"


    He let out a low chuckle, but his voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Who told you I was having fun!"


    Rosalie raised an eyebrow and retorted. "No? Then what are you doing? You''ve actually fallen for me!


    Julian''s expression darkened instantly. His lips curved into something cold, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Well, you really are interesting. Your shamelessness makes meugh"

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    a pause, Rosalie continued. "If you don''t fall for me, why do you insist... having some so-called marital interaction with me?"


    ''seves gleamed with amusement, but the sharp edge in them was unmistakable.


    Julian''s jaw clenched, and he replied, "Rosalie, that has to be the worst joke I''ve ever heard. You sound less like aedian and more like a desperate clown, putting on a show for attention


    She had provoked him one too many times, and somehow, her words finally got under his skin.


    Julian scowled, furious at himself for even being guilty about what she had just mentioned of falling for her.


    A clown'' Putting on a show for attention! Rosalie repeated his words in her mind. Her gaze hardened, and a trace of self-mockery flickered in her


    She thought, "So that''s what I''ve been to him all this time, huh? A clown to pass the time. No wonder in myst life, when I got into that ident, he didnt even care enough to ask if I was alive.


    The only thing he was willing to do was generously wait around to make sure my body got collected.


    Julian didn''t notice the shift in her emotions. Seeing her suddenly go quiet, he assumed she was scheming something else.


    He was just about to speak when Rosalie let out a chuckle. "Oh, so it''s not feelings, huh? Then I guess it''s just... your rut, right?"


    She clicked her tongue and smirked, "Spring isn''t even here yet. Julian, I really didn''t expect you to have your rut now


    Julian''s expression grew stormy. Rosalie had shown him just how sharp-tongued she could be on this day alone.


    He barked "Rosalie, you-"


    Before he could finish, the sound of iing messages chimed from his phone, which had fallen nearby.


    Probably needing a distraction from the frustration she''d stirred up in him, Julian nced at the screen. His eyes darkened slightly, but his expression remained unreadable. Without a word, he picked up the phone and slipped it into his pocket.


    Julian thought there was no point in arguing with Rosalie anymore. He knew Rosalie might not necessarily win the battle in the end. And as much as she was pissing him off, he wouldn''t take advantage of her right here.

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    To stop himself from doing something extreme-like ripping out her sharp tongue¡ª Julian pulled away from her, his gazending on her injured


    1001


    He said in a low and dangerous voice, "Stay put and don''t move. Would be a damn shame if those pretty feet of yours ended up crippled."


    Rosalie smirked, her toneced with provocation. "Well, then you better hurry up and divorce me. Otherwise, if I end up disabled, you''ll be stuck taking care of me for the rest of my life."


    Julian didn''t respond. He just grabbed a robe from the closet and headed straight for the bathroom.


    As the door clicked shut, the yful glint in Rosalie''s eyes faded away.


    She caught a glimpse of the messages on his phone earlier-totally by ident, of course. The sender''s name was Roseanne.


    Rosalie knew that name all too well. In herst life, after Julian asked for a divorce, she had fought with him countless times because of this woman.


    Every single time she mentioned Roseanne, Julian would look at her like she was an annoyance-like she was being irrational and making a fuss over nothing "A man who only married me because I''m a stand-in for his real love even acts like I''m the unreasonable one? And yet, he always looks at me with that impatience, like I''m out of line for even bringing her up, she cursed in her mind,


    Now that she thought about it, the timing lined up. Roseanne had returned not long after Julian had asked for a divorce.


    Rosalie had always known Julian never wanted to marry her. She had just been lying to herself, convincing herself that if she stayed long enough, if she worked hard enough, maybe one day she could change his heart.


    Even when he finally asked for a divorce, she had naively thought it was just because Issac had died and Julian no longer had to keep up the charade. She hadn''t realized there was a real reason behind it. She hadn''t realized it was because of Roseanne.

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    Roseanne retumed to Caldwell that Rosalie finally learned the truth-thanks to an


    arg


    cat of the moment that Poulie had only ever been a sub¨¦stitute.


    tomalie understood everything. No wonder Julian had been reluctant to marry her at first, yet he changed his mind after just mening!


    ?i turned out that rhanging cmind had nothing to do with her. He had only agreed because she looked like Roseann


    Once again, Rosalie thought Anya had been right all along-Julian really was a shameless bastard.


    He married her as a substitute but then felt guilty for his ex-girlfriend. Instead of treating her with love, he treated her like somend of lucky charm, leaving her untouched like that somehow made him faithful to his real love.


    Presalie cmuldn''t help but sneer inwardly, Wow, what a devoted man. He sayed pure for an entire year in honor of his ex and now that the back.


    self-imposed chastity has finally paid off


    At this moment, Rosalie felt nothing but relief. She felt thankful for that text from Roseanne-it had used her from getting tangled up with ju further.


    She assumed that he was probably rushing out to see his beloved right i


    Palie''s gaze drifted to the closed bathroom door, her expression unreadable as something in her eyes darkened.


    She thought that since she signed the divorce papers, she had already let go of Julian She had convinced herself that nothing


    But Roseanne''s sudden reappearance and Julian''s fast leave brought a sharp and unexpected pain to Roulles chest

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    Julian stepped out of the bathroom, fresh from his shower, only to find Rosalie still sitting there, lost in thought,


    There was something different about her, but when he looked closer, it was like nothing had changed at all.


    He didn''t bother saying anything. He had learned his lesson. Every time he exchanged words with this wornan, he ended up so frustrated that he was about to explode


    He dressed quickly and headed for the door. But just as he stepped out, he hesitated. For some reason, he nced back at her


    Recalling the doctor''s warning from the night before, he spoke in a clipped one, "Don''t get your foot wet. Don''t walk around. If you need anything,


    "Clot it." Rosalie''s voice was calm, alinos indifferent. She didn''t even look at lu


    Once Julian was gone, Rosalie took a deep breath, pulled herself together, and called ra to bring her some clothes.


    When ra arrived and saw Houle getting dressed to go out, she immediately tried to stop her. "Ma''am, your foot is still in pretty bad shape. You should really be resting in bed. If there''s anything you need, just let me know, I''ll handle it for you!


    Rosalie buttoned up her coat and replied casually, "I will rest. But first, get in a car. I''m going home."


    ra hesitated, clearly confused. "Ma''am, are you still mad at Mr. Galloway?"


    ra assumed that since Julian brought Rosalie back to Rosalian Manor, she would finally have a reason to stay. After all, Rosalie had always been so in love with Julian. Now that she had a chance to mend things, why would she leave again!


    Rosalie looked up at ra and smiled, "Mad? What''s there to be mad about? We are divorced. I don''t have anything here. It''s not exactly the best ce to recover, don''t you think?"


    Rosalie was very clear that if she had any sense, she''d get out of here before Julian came back with Roseanne. Otherwise, things would only get really awkward


    ra didn''t understand what was going through Rosalie''s head. She figured Rosalie was just being stubborn and throwing a tantrum in the heat of


    the moment.


    She continued to persuade Rosalie, "Ma''am, if you need anything, just tell me. I''ll arrange it for you. But you should stay here and rest. If you leave now, I can''t even exin to Mr. Galloway when hees back,"


    Rosalie kept buttoning her coat, but at thatst sentence, she almostughed out loud..

 Breaking Free From 88

    Rosalie dada''t have the patience to exin anything to ra. She just ingeid. "Get me a car, please. If Julian asks, just tell him I insisted on leavingTM


    Now that Julian''s beloved ex was back, Rosalie didn''t believe that he would have the time to care about his soon-to-be ex-wife. She only felt like ra was overthinking things.


    Seeing how firm Rosalie was, ra had no choice but to do as she asked


    Rosalian Manor was in an exclusive area where only the wealthiest lives. People here all had their own chauffeurs, and regr cabs didn''t service the neighborhood. The car ra managed to call wouldn''t arrive for quite a while.


    Not wanting to stay in this bedrooms full of painful memories, Rosalie goi ra''s help to go downstairs.


    As they passed through the garden, something caught her eye, The lilies she had nted were still there.


    With a slight frown, Rosalie asked, "I thought these flowers were supposed to be removed"


    "They were," ra replied. But Mr. Galloway stopped it."


    Rosalie blinked, momentarily stunned. "Julian stopped it


    Rosalie had always loved lilies. Her grandfather once told her that her mother had loved them too. Back when she first moved in with Julian, she had a special area of the garden cleared just to nt lilies.


    Julian had never outright said he disliked them, but every time he saw her tending to them, he would frown. She figured if it wasn''t the flowers he hated, then it had to be her. So when she left Rosalian Manor, she didn''t care whether the lilies stayed or went.


    But ra clearly had a different angle. Always eager to y matchmaker, ra hesitated before saying. ¡°Ma''am, maybe Mr. Galloway isn''t as indifferent to you as you think. He just... doesn''t know how to express himself


    Likest night, be carried you back himself, made you drink the hangover cure, and even helped you bathe. He''s never done anything like that for anyone before


    The mention of the bath made Rosalie''s head prickle ufortably. No way was she going to stand here listening to ra sing Julian''s praises. Rosalie quickly cut ra off, "Alright, that''s enough, ra. No need to bring upst night."


    g care of her, she could only assume that for one brief moment, some kind of soul had possessed


    As for why Julian had gone to the trouble of taking care that bastard''s body, "Mm.." ra still wanted to say something, but just then, the car arrived.


    "The car''s here. Rosalie interrupted before ra could go on.


    Mir refused to be ay naive as she had been in her past life. Hack then, all it took was a few nice words about Julian, and she''d waver, thinking maybe there was still hope Yet in her current life, she wouldn''t allow it to happen again.


    A man with no heart wasn''t going to be moved, no matter what she did.


    Siner Rosalie was determined to leave, there was nothing ra could do to stop her. She could only


    y see her off.


    At Galloway Group''s headquarters, n was reporting to Julian.


    "Mr. Galloway, Ascend Group has been in contact with Apex Biotech''s management. They''re looking to coborate on an HIV treatment project This is


    the partnership proposal iley sent over. along with some of their current research data"


    n banded Julian the folder and then stepped back respectfully to walt for Julian''s instructions.


    Julian''s eyes narrowed slightly as he inuttered, "Ascend Group Theo Palmer''spany?"


    "Yes" n confirmed, subtly studying Julian''s expression.

 Breaking Free From 89

    Chapter 89 fight with


    Hass,


    ny vysaddict helps bout think. Boss''s ex golfierad is The Palmer''s ughter. If Roseanne hadn''t left the country back then after that Theo might''ve ended up as his father-inw. But none? His ex is his k, and his wife is on her way out. Who''s he gonna pick?


    end Group called usell a corporate giant, but in Avaloria, it barely had any influence. Bringing it into the domestic market under the pretense of Tinvesting back home" was really just a way to seek shelter after failing abroad.


    After all, back when the Palmer family was fighting over their inheritance, Theo had plenty of connections. If he hadn''t been such a useless idiot, he walifa''t have lost Palmer Group to his ysninger brother. And now that Theo was hack, the strongest connection he had left was probably Julian.


    n thought, "At the end of the day, Boss is practically Ther''s future son-inw. Even if Boss never seemed all that into Roseanne, she was still the official gullriend he admitted


    n was still lost in his thoughts when Julian''s voice broke through. "Send this data to Dr. Cooper for evaluation. If there''s real potential for coboration, we''ll go forward. If not, tell Apes Biotechs to decline. No need to waste time entertaining them"


    n was momentarily surprised. He had expected Julian to be more amodating


    But he was a seasoned assistant, used to dealing with all sorts of situations. He quickly regaines hisposure and nodded. "Understood, Mr. Galloway. I''ll ry the message."


    Julian gave a slight nod. "Okay, you can excuse yourself"


    "Yes, sir." n replied and left the office.


    Now that Julian finally had a rare moment of downtime, his mind inexplicably wandered back to that damn sharp-tongued woman at home. The more he thought about her, the more his teeth ached with frustration.


    Then, his thoughts shifted to the injury on her foot, and his brows furrowed. After a brief hesitation, he picked up his phone and dialed Rosalian Manor.


    ra answered the phone and said, "Hello, Sir?"


    Hearing ra''s voice, Julian hesitated for a second. He had no idea why he even cared enough to check on that w woman. Pressing his lips together,


    he found himself at a rare loss for words.


    ra spoke again, ¡°Sir?"


    Realizing he had spaced out, Julian cleared his throat, masking his moment of awkwardness. He forced his voice to sound casual while asking. "How''s Rolic


    ra''s voice carried a


    La hint of


    of unease, ¡°Ma''am... left shortly after you did."


    Julian''s expression instantly darkened upon hearing the news of Rosalie''s departure.


    The sudden silence on the line made ra nervous. Worried that Rosalie''s departure might anger him, she quickly tried to exin, "Ma''am said she had already taken her things with her. She felt that staying at Rosalian Manor wasn''t convenient for her recovery, so she left."


    Her attempt to smooth things over only made Julian''s expression even worse.


    He muttered in his mind bitterly, Right. How could I forget? That woman was all too eager to leave when we divorced. She even made sure to disappear without a trace!


    ra''s careful voice came through the phone again. "Sir, would you like me to prepare some of Mrs. Calloway''s daily essentials? That way, if shees back, she''ll have everything she needs;


    Julian''s jaw clenched, and his expression was unreadable.

 Breaking Free From 90

    The words "No need were right at Julian''s lips, but for some reason, he swallowed them back down. His voice became steady when he finally spoke. Do whatever you think is best


    With that, he ended the call


    His already cold expression turned even grimmer, as if the temperature in


    the n


    room had dropped a few more degrees.


    "Rosalie, you really are something else. Julian practically ground the words out between clenched teeth.


    He questioned himself, Why the hell did I even bring that ungrateful woman homest night? Why did I bother checking up on her!


    "Clearly, she doesn''t care one bit about whether I''m worried or not. She''s in such a hurry to cut ties,


    s, like my concern is nothing more than a


    The more he thought about it, the more irritable he felt. It was infuriating-even more infuriating than when Issac forced him to marry Rosalie in the first ce.


    Julian had always been someone who kept his emotions in check, but these past few days, every little thing Rosalie did seemed to stir something in him. And the worst part was that he didn''t even realize it


    With a frustrated sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned back in his chair, forcing himself to clear his mind.


    Just then, his phone buzzed with a new message. He picked it up, nced at the screen, and saw the sender: Roseanne.


    Roseanne: [Julian, my ne justnded. I''m about to get o


    off. Are you at the airport yet?]


    Julian''s face remained unreadable. He felt absolutely nothing looking at that message. Still, it reminded him of the texts she had sent earlier that morning-the ones he ignored because Rosalie pissed him off so much.


    Apparently, Roseanne had told him she was flying back today. She''d mentioned having ayover in Kamberg and that she''d be arriving in Hasmond in three hours. And just like that, she assumed he''d be there waiting for her.


    That tone-like it was only natural for him to drop everything and rush to pick her up, like he was her personal driver or something.


    After reading the message, Julian set his phone aside without replying. He


    reached for the documents in front of him, trying to focus on work, but his mind kept drifting back to Rosalie, that darnn woman, and her infuriating, arrogant attitude.


    The more he thought about her, the more irritable he felt.

 Breaking Free From 91

    At Tasmond International Airport, a tall vostus in a red dress stood tear the arrival gate, gripping her phone tightly.


    e to miss.


    Her light brown curls framed her striking features, and her bery, bold outfit made her stand out in the crowd. She was impossible to


    Plenty of passing travelers stole second nces at her since she got off the ne, and their gazes were filled with interest. However, she didn''t pay


    From the moment she stepped of the ne, her eyes had been glued to her phone, as if waiting for a message that still hadn''te.


    A pair of oversized sunsses covered her eyes, hisling the impatience and faint unease lurking beneath.


    Next to her, a well-dressed middle-aged woman studied her expression before asking, ¡°Julian hasn''t responded yet?"


    "Noge" Roseanne''s voice was low. She kept her faceposed, but there was a clear trace of dissatisfaction beneath her calin exterior, along with a Junt of anxiety she wasn''t willing to acknowledge


    The woman beside her hesitated before suggesting. "Julian is always busy. Maybe he just hasn''t seen your message yet. Why don''t you try calling

 Breaking Free From 92

    Sering Roseanne hesitate, the woman pressed further. "What are you waiting for? You''re his girlfriend. It''s been three years. How could he not rush to the au port the second he finds out his girlfriend is back? I bet he just hasn''t seen messages yet."


    Roseanne pursed her lips, her perfectly painted red lips tightening as she bit down lightly. A small crease formed between her brows.


    There were things she didn''t want to acknowledge, but that didn''t mean they weren''t real


    As Julian''s gultrend. Roseanne had always carried a certain sense of superiority over others. But when it came to Julian himself, she had never once felt like she had a firm hold on him.


    If she had, then back when her father lost the fight for Palmer Group. Julian wouldn''t have refused to lift a single finger to help her.


    Roseanne protested in a hoarse voice. "But Mom, he got married"


    Jealouss, sharp and unbidden, red in her chest as she thought of the fact that he married another woman during her absence.


    His wife is


    Sophie scoffed, unimpressed. ¡°Everyone knows Julian doesn''t care about that woman. Haven''t you heard what Matteo said? H just a substitute for you. Now that the real one is back, why would he still need the substitute?"


    Roseanne was encouraged by her mother, and a flicker of satisfaction crossed her face.


    Manco had told her long ago that Julian''s wife looked so much like her. She had even seen pictures of Rosalie, and there was indeed a resemnce between them.


    Just a few days ago. Matteo had given her even better news that Julian had already asked for a divorce. By now, the paperwork should be done. Roseanne thought in her mind. He married a woman who looks like me. And the moment he knew I woulde back, he filed for divorce. If he doesn''t love me, why would he go that far?!


    That was exactly why she had texted him so naturally, expecting already been erased.


    him to p


    pick her up. In her mind, all the unpleasant history between them had


    ophia''s voice cur through her thoughts. Julian has always been distant. He''s not the type to be sweet-talking women left and right, but that doesn''t


    be doesnt care about you. If you hadn''t stormed off back then, Roulie never would ve had a ce in his life."


    Sophie und it withplete confidence, as if Rosalie had always been a joke, a mere ceholder, as if she were already Julian''s rightful mother-in-


    Hearing that. Roseanne''s hesitation melted away, reced with certainty. "You''re right, Mom. I''m not letting Julian slip away again. He''s mine. He always has been and be always will be


    A sudden ry washed over Roseanne, and she thought to herself. That''s right. Julian has always been the cold and reserved type. Even with his closest childhood friends, he is never the overly affectionate kind


    So why did I ever think he didn''t love me! If he didn''t care, why would he marry someone who looks like me! Why would he divorce her the


    any years!


    Back then. I was too impulsive. Thats why I let him slip through my fingers for so many


    Seeing that her daughter had fully gured things out, Sophie nodded in satisfaction and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "It''s good you


    i finally figure out everything. Now call him. Tell him toe pick us up"


    seanne nodded her mood having lifted conderably. With renewed confidence,


    she picked up her phone and dialed Julian''s number


    Yes to be werprise, the call barely rangwice before it was declined.


    Rosane froze on the spot. Her grip on the phone tightened, and a look of disbelief flickered across her face.

 Breaking Free From 93

    voice dropped with disappointment as she replied. "He hung up on me."


    Sophie faltered for a second but quickly recovered to offer a smooth exnation. "It''s a weekday. He''s busy. Maybe he''s in a meeting, right?"


    nced at her daughter and continued in a reassuring tone, "Look, sweetie, let''s just have the driver pick us up for now, You can reach out to umser maybe after work.


    "And this time, don''t be stubborn like you were three years ago. Apologize to him properly and make it up with him, you know?"


    With the whole lookalike wife and sudden divorce situation in mind, Roseanne actually felt more confident than ever. So when her motherforted her, the easily bought into it.


    Roseanne huffed. Tm not apologizing to him. We''ve lost contact for three years. Now I''m the one reaching out, and he doesn''t eve


    next time I see him, I''m not speaking to him first.


    Despite her words, the yful lift in her voice and the slight curve of her lips told


    a different story.


    answer my call.


    Sophie saw the teasing smile on her daughter''s face and knew she had sessfully convinced her.


    To be honest, if Sophie hadn''t already found out that Rosalie looked like her daughter, or if Matteo hadn''t assured them that Julian filed f right after hearing Roseanne wasing back, even she wouldn''t be so sure about Julian''s feelings.


    for divorce


    Good thing we still have time to fix things. Roseanne just needs to secure Julian''s heart once and for all. If she does, Ascend Group will have a solid foothold in Hasmond. As for Palmer Group, we''ll take it back sooner orter, thought Sophia.


    The thought sent a flicker of greed and ambition through Sophie''s eyes

 Breaking Free From 94

    At Westbeld Medical Center, a doctor sand to


    removed. Just be mindful of it in the lie, "Ms. Talley, your wound is healing well. In two days, you cane back to have the dressing


    "Thank you, doctor. Rosalie replied with a gentle smile,


    Though the injury on Rosalie''s foot looked nasty, it was mostly superficial¨Cnothing deep enough to causesting damage. After two days of treatment, it had already improved significantly.


    As she stepped out of the treatment room, she ran into Sean, who was doing his hospital internship.


    The Perry family was a well-known medical family. Most of their family members pursued medicine, and even those who didn''t be doctors still ran businesses in the medical industry.


    Westfield Medical Center was one of their assets, so it wasn''t surprising to see Sean there.


    Seeing Rosalie, Sean immediately came up to greet her. "Oh, Rosalie, you hurt your foot?"


    Rosalie nodded and said casually, "Yeah, cut it on some ss a few days ago.¡±


    Sean frowned, "Why''d youe to the hospital alone? Julian didn''te with you?"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, he mentally kicked himself and cursed himself. What a dumb question. They are divorced. Hell, even if they are not, Julian isn''t exactly the type to apany his wife to the hospital


    Rosalie shook her head and replied. "It''s just a small injury. It''s already healing


    She adjusted her grip on the crutch and started heading toward the exit. Sean quickly fell into step beside her.


    Forget the fact that Rosalie was his childhood friend''s ex-wife-she was also Anya''s sister-inw. Since he had run into her here, there was no way he was letting her leave alone.


    "Let me drive you home, Sean suggested.


    Rosalie replied, "Thanks, but no need. My friend is picking me up."


    "At least let me walk


    you downstairs."

 Breaking Free From 95

    Afraid Rosalie would refuse again, Sean immediately spoke up. "If Anya finds out


    I let you walk off alone, she''s gonna kill me."


    Thinking of Anya''s heree, no-nonsense attitude, Rosalie chuckled. "Alright, thanks."


    Judging by the way Sean was acting, he wasn''t about to take no for an answer anyway, Rosalie couldn''t be bothered to argue with him, so she just went along with it.


    As they made their way downstairs, Sean asked, "So how''d you get hurt?"


    probably something stupid


    Rosalie frowned slightly, thinking back. Honestly, she couldn''t even remember the exact moment it happened. It was p most likely from that night at Anya''s Lounge when she got wasted.


    She replied in a casual tone. "I drank too much the other night. Didn''t watch where I was going and stepped on some ss."


    Hearing that she got wasted. Sean raised his brows and asked, "You were drinking because of the divorce, weren''t you!"


    Rosalie internally rolled her eyes and retorted, ''Geeze, nobody asked you to y detective. Maybe try not running your mouth for once and just walk, okay!


    She already regretted lening Sean walk her downstairs because Sean talked way too much.


    She had always wondered how someone like Julian, who barely spoke a hundred words in a day, managed to get along with this guy.


    Seeing that Rosalie wasn''t responding, Sean assumed he''d hit the nail on the head. He continued, "I knew it. Julian''s a piece of shit. Roseanne left him ages ago, and he''s still hung up on her? He''s such a jerk."


    Hearing Sean''s curse, Rosalie almostughed. She mused, Wow. This guy really knows how to rub salt in a wound.


    If I were still the same Rosalie from myst life, I''d probably be fuming right now. Hell, I''d probably storm into Julian''s office and start a fight. But this is just aedy to me now.


    Before


    re Sean could keep running his mouth, Rosalie cut him off, "My ride''s here. You can go back to work"


    She waved toward a striking red Ferrari that had just pulled up. A man stepped out, and the moment Sean saw him, his expression shifted.


    The guy was just as shy as his car. Dressed in a pastel pink suit-bold but not the least bit tacky-he had the kind of sharp, effortless g that could hold their own even standing next to Julian.


    good looks


    Sean''s eyes widened. He nced from the man to Rosalie, and an rm went off in his head. He muttered inwardly, ''Shit, Julian''s about to get seriously cheated


    on.


    The man greeted her casually. "Hey, Rosalie"


    Rosalie handed him her crutch without hesitation and said, "Come on and help


    me.


    Her tone was easy and familiar, like she instructed him all the time. That only made Sean''s internal panic worse.


    Julian might be an ass, but as his childhood friend, Sean couldn''t just stand by and watch his best friend''s wife be snatched away,


    Rosalie, of course, had no idea what was going through Sean''s head. She turned back to him and said, "I''m leaving. You should go back."


    "Uh, yeah. Okay, be careful; Sean replied, but his gaze lingered on the man, his expression subtly wary.


    Once they got into the car, Eden nced in the rearview mirror thoughtfully and asked, "Who was that guy! He looked at me with hostility in his


    "He''s Sean Perry." Rosalie replied while pulling her have hostility against your"


    seatbelt across herp to click it into ce. "He doesn''t even know you. How could be possibly

 Breaking Free From 96

    Eden thought about it and figured he was probably overthinking things. He didn''t dwell on it any further, but soon Rosalie''s voice pulled him back.


    "How''s everything going at theb?" asked Rosalie


    "Smooth sailing, no issues" Eden thought for a moment and added. "Galloway Group is working on the same project. From the data I''ve seen, their


    is about the same as ours


    He nced at Rosalie with a smirk, his tone teasing. That''s your husband''spany. Should we go easy on them?"


    Rosalie finished fastening her seatbelt and shot him a side-eye. ¡°Go easy? Julian? You think he''s worth it?"


    Eden wasnt aware Rosalie was already set on divorcing Julian, so her response caught him off guard.


    If he hadn''t been working for Rosalie for years, he would''ve thought she was joking. The way she used to act around Julian was a pure lovestruck Tool


    As her assistant, Eden had often wondered how someone so brilliant-an absolute genius in every aspect-could turn into a total airhead when it came to rtionships


    That was why, after years of seeing her stuck in the same cycle, Eden found it shocking to hear her speak about julian with such tant disdain. Then Rosalie casually dropped another bomb. "Oh, Julian and I are getting divorced. So from now on, him:


    don''t ever mention me in the same breath as


    Eden, still reeling from the first shock, was utterly blindsided by this one. He asked with his eyes wide open. "You''re getting divorced?"


    He could hardly believe that the same woman, who had practically downgraded herself from a powerhouse to a clueless romantic because of Julian, was walking away from him


    Eden asked again. "What changed your mind?"


    Rosalie shot him a nce but didn''t answer. Instead, she reminded him, "Less talking. Drive


    What changed her mind: Anya had asked her the same question. But it wasn''t something she could exin.


    If she hadn''t lived through thest moments of her past life, if she hadn''t been crushed by the sheer weight of it all, she probably would''ve stayed stuck on Julian forever and would''ve chased after him like a fool.

 Breaking Free From 97

    1 den could tell she wasn''t going to borate, so he wisely let it go. Without another word, he started the engine and drove out of the hospital''s


    As they hit the road, Eden brought up another topic, ¡°Aside from Galloway Group, there''s anotherpany involved in the AIDS treatment project


    Maloria-based firm called Ascend Group. Lately, their person in charge has been in talks with Apex Biotech


    tosape rassed her brows and repeated, "Ascend Group!"


    She thought in her mind. Tin''t that the business of julian''s ex-girlfriend''s family?


    Eden added. "Yeah. It''s a publicly listedpany in Avaloria, but their research division looks pretty sketchy. I doubt they can bring anything


    while to the table. If Apex Biotech partners with them, they''ll just give them a free ride."


    Role lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment before replying. "Doesn''t matter. Let them do their thing. We''ll focus on our own work."


    Avernd Group''s so-called research facility was nothing more than a glorified backroomb with no real credibility. Theo reaching out to Apex hiotech had nothing to do with science-it was purely about Roseanne''s connection to Julian.


    In Rosalie''sst life, Julian had never let Ascend Group get involved with Apex Biotech''s projects. This time around, he probably wouldn''t either. Rtionship was one thing, but Julian wasn''t the type to lose his mind over a woman-at least not enough to risk hispany''s interests.

 Breaking Free From 98

    Thinking about it. Rosalie shook her head and let out a mocking chuckle


    "Oh, by the way," Eden added, "Mr. Dustin Byers from Hawthorne University has sent multiple invitation emails. He wants you to join their Medical Sool as a professor. Name your terms, and they''ll agree to whatever you want


    Hawthorne University was one of Caldwell''s most prestigious institutions, producing countless world-renowned figures across various fields.


    Its Medical School was particrly famous, having trained top-tier doctors who now worked in the best hospitals and research centers worldwide.


    For someone like Dustin Byers, a heavyweight in the academic world, to personally reach out to her several times... Rosalie had a good idea why.


    A while ago, she published a research paper under her institute''s name, proposing a surgical repair method as an alternative to traditional heart transnts for congenital heart disease.


    The moment it was released, various influential figures had been trying to get in touch with her through Eden.


    This had actually happened in her past life too, but back then, she turned down Dustin''s invitation. Partly because she was focused on developing a treatment for her uncle''s cerebral cortex nerve damage, and partly because she foolishly wanted to spend more time cultivating her so-called bond with Julian.


    But now, she was about to get divorced. Other than managing her research institute, she had plenty of free time. Since love didn''t work out, at least her career sess should still be on the table.


    With that thought in mind. Rosalie said. "Reply to Mr. Byers. Tell him I''ll visit him once I''ve recovered."


    Eden was surprised by her response, and he asked, "Wait, you''re actually considering it?"


    Rosalie raised her brows and asked back, "Why not?" Then, with apletely straight face, she added, "Educating the next generation of medical talent is a duty and responsibility of every Caldwell citizen."

 Breaking Free From 99

    Eden pursed his lips and said nothing. If Rosalie hadn''t spent years acting like a lovesick fool over Julian, he might''ve actually believed her noble


    reason


    Een added. "Oh, right. Besides Mr. Byers, you''ve also got a few emails from your father"


    Eden had been the one investigating Edward and Helena for Rosalie a while back, so he was fully aware that Helena wa daughter.


    was Edward''s illegitimate


    Having worked for Rosalie for years, he knew one thing for sure-she might seem easygoing, but deep down, she was a nightmare to deal with. Even as Rosalie''s father, Edward wasn''t going to end well


    Sure enough, at the mention of Edward, Rosalie''s face twisted with unmistakable disdain. She let out a coldugh and said, "Let me guess, he reaches out because of Helena''s illness, right?"


    She was sure that Barney had probably told the Grahams about her paper, since her research was directly rted to Helena''s illness.


    But Edward had no idea that Dr. Rotello, the author of the paper, was actually his birth daughter. So instead of contacting her directly, they tried to contact Eden


    Eden''s public email was essible to the outside world. Even if they didn''t know him personally, reaching out to him wasn''t difficult. Of course, whether Eden actually bothered to reply or not was another thing-


    "Bingo," Eden confirmed. "He wants me to help him get in touch with you. He said that if the surgical method is sessful. Helena wants to be the first patient to receive the procedure. Money isn''t an issue."


    He scoffed at the memory of the email, particrly Edward''s arrogant tone, like he genuinely believed money could help them with everything. Internally, Eden rolled his eyes and thought, "When this procedure does be avable, do they have any idea how many clite families and billionaires will be lined up and pay any price to get it done!


    And they really think it''ll just magically be handed to the Graham family''s illegitimate daughter? Even if, by some miracle, she made it onto the list, Boss would never personally operate on her.

 Breaking Free From 100

    Rosalie let out a cold chuckle, her eyes filled with unmistakable sarcasm. "So my dear father is using our family''s money to treat an illegitimate child'' Impressive. He''s really outdone himself this time?


    Eten picked up on the icy undertone in her seemingly different voice and couldn''t help but shiver.


    A secondter, Rosalie spoke again. "Edward isn''t the type to settle for just working at Talley Group. Dig deeper and find out if he has any other businesses under his name. I want every detail"


    "Got it replied Eden.


    Tll visit thebs in a few days. Keep an eye on shings while I''m away."


    "No problem, leave it to me.


    When Julian returned to Rosalian Manor, it was fairly early.


    carly. ra, who had been working here for a year, felt surprised yet again.


    Julianing home early was practically unheard of over


    er the past year. Ever since Rosalie moved out, though, he had beening back on time for several days in a row,


    ra thought, "Maybe Madam was right all along. Maybe Mr. Galloway really hates her that much. He barely set foot in this house for over a year, and even when he did, it was always in the middle of the night,


    Now that she''s gone, he starts toe home early. Looks like Mr. Galloway really despises Madam


    ra figured she should stop hoping the two would ever get back together. If she tried to convince Rosalie to be the bigger person and forgive Julian again, she thought she''d get punishment from heaven. With that in mind. ra resolved to never bring up Rosalie again.


    However, the


    e man who supposedly couldn''t stand his wife suddenly asked, "Rosalie isn''t back yet?"


    ra froze for a second before answering seriously. "Sir, Madam already signed the divorce papers. She''s noting back."


    Her words hit Julian like a sharp, unexpected stab to the chest. Even after all these days, he still hadn''t fully epted that Rosalie was truly leaving


    him


    He was the one who pushed for the divorce. Yet now, he was the one regretting it


    Julian hated this feeling of losing control. Ever since Rosalie agreed to leave, for the first time in his life, he felt powerless. The thought of herpletely vanishing from his world left a suffocating weight on his chest.


    At first, he believed that getting rid of her would be like removing an irritating thorn from his side. Once she was gone, he''d finally feel relieved. But reality was cruel. She was gone, and now, it felt like a part of him had been ripped away along with her. Every night, when hey there alone, thoughts of her would creep in, leaving him restless and unsettled,


    He hated this feeling, yet no matter how much he fought it, it kepting back.


    "She''s noting back? Good. One less eyesore, Julian said, his face expressionless.


    Then, without another word, he turned around and stormed upstairs, his anger barely concealed.


    Watching him go, ra rolled her eyes in exasperation and muttered, ''If she''s such an eyesore, why was she the first thing you asked about the serourd you walked u


    Upstairs, Julian stepped into his room and yanked off his tir, frustration surging through him again at the mere thought of Rosalie.


    Just as he finished changing into morefortable clothes, his phone lit up. A group chat titled ¡°Tros Behind the Wheel¡± started blowing up with messages

 Breaking Free From 101

    Julian pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, about to exit the chat when Sean''s message caught his eye.


    Sean. [Julian, red rm, you''ve been cuckolded. You''ve been cuckolded. Julian)


    Sering the word "cuckold", the first person that came to Julian''s mind was Rosalic. His gaze lingered on the word as a dangerous glint flickered through his eyes.


    He tapped on the chat, and right below Sean''s message, there were several attached photos. The background was the parking lot of Westfield Medical Center. And in those photos, one of the people captured was Rosalie.


    As for the man in the pink coat holding her up, Julian had no clue who he was. But seeing Rosalie sh that bright, carefree smile while chatting with another man made Julian''s stomach turn.


    And the worst part was that man wasn''t just standing next to her he was holding her. From the camera''s angle, it almost looked like she was nestled in his arms.


    The more Julian stared at the photos, the darker his expression became. His face was so cold it could freeze over.


    Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Rosalie, you never fail to surprise me."


    He was unwilling to admit how jealous he was, but right now, his sharp eyes could easily kill anyone who appeared in front of him.


    Just


    when he thought he couldn''t get more irritated, Sean kept tagging him in the group c chat.


    Sean: [Man, you don''t even know how good you had it, I mean, sure, Rosalie kinda looks like Roseanne, but let''s be real, she''s on a whole different level. Rosalie''s way ssier and way more your type]


    Sean. [I don''t know how to exin it, but Rosalie just has that same energy as you. It''s like you two look perfect. Roseanne is no match for her.] There was a distinct note of disdain in Sean''s tone whenever he mentioned Roseanne. Seeing no one respond, he kept pushing


    Sean: [Why are you guys so quiet! Emilia? Matteo? Don''t you guys agree! Julian? @Julian @Matteo @Emilia)


    After thatment, Sean finally got a reaction.


    Emilia: Are you seriously stating the obvious? What does Roseanne even have


    topare with Rosalie? Julian''s just blind to swap a pearl for a cheap imitation.


    I''m just gonna sit back and watch him beg for a second chance.]


    Sean: [Oh, Emilia, that''s too much. If Julian sees this, he''s gonna be mad.]


    Emilia. If I can''t say my opinion, don''t ask me next time. Bye.]


    Julian didn''t process a single word they were saying. His entire focus was still locked on those photos. His face was like a thunderstorm ready to break.


    Meanwhile, across town, Roseanne had been glued to her phone the entire afternoon. She had waited past working hours, expecting at least a call, text, or even a damn punctuation mark from Julian. But to her disappointment, there was nothing.


    A sinking feeling crept


    ept up on her


    her, one she didn''t dare confront directly.


    Then, a notification of messages in a group chat popped up. Out of curiosity, she clicked in and found that she was added to a small group chat by


    Matteo.


    The next second, she saw several photos of Rosalie with some ridiculously mboyant yet annoyingly good-looking guy in a pink suit. They were standing close, talking andughing. Their bodynguage looked way too intimate.

 Breaking Free From 102

    Meanwhile, Sean was still


    tagging Julian in the group chat over and over again. Seeing this, Roseanne suddenly let out a smugugh


    Sophie had just walked into the living room. Noticing how delighted her daughter looked, she assumed Julian had finally texted back. She teased, "What''s got you so happy, honey?"


    Roseanne handed Sophia her phone with a gleeful smirk and replied, Julian''s dear wife is out there getting cozy with another man, and Sean just sted the photos in the group chat for Julian to see.


    The thought of Julian''s reaction to those photos made her almost feel bad for Rosalie.


    No one had ever dared p Julian''s pride in the dirt like this before. Even if he didn''t care for Rosalie, he sure as hell wasn''t the type to let his ex-wife be seen messing around with another man in public.


    Sophieughed, clearly enjoying the drama. "Perfect. Now that Julian''s seen those photos, Roulic can kiss any chance of a reconciliation goodbye." Roseanne, who had been in a foul mood all day, suddenly felt like the skies had cleared.


    She eagerly scrolled down, wanting to see how Julian reacted. But before she could find his reply, she saw something else-Sean and Emilia roasting her while hyping up Rosalie.


    Her smule instantly faded, and she thought, What the hell! Talking trash about me right in front of my face? Do they think I''m dead or something? Sean and Emilia must be blind. Theypare Rosalie with me? Oh, please!


    Roseanne''s hands trembled with rage. She wanted nothing more than to storm into the chat and rip those two a new one.


    But then she remembered-Julian was in the group. She couldn''t afford to lose herposure in his presence. She hadn''t seen him in three years. No way was she going to let him think she had turned into some unhinged woman.


    Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down and sent a message.


    Roseanne: [Hey, everyone. Long time no see. I''m back. Let''s catch up over dinner sometime.]


    The chat group, which had been buzzing just moments ago, suddenly went dead. Sean, in particr, froze. Wait, Roseanne? When the hell did she join this chat? Why didn''t anyone tell me?


    Panicked, he immediately DM''d Matteo


    Sean Dude, when did Roseanne join the chat? Why didn''t you warn me?]


    Matteo: Right when you were spamming those photos. Didn''t you see the notification?


    Sean scrolled up and found the system message announcing Roseanne had been added. But he had been too busy warning Julian to even notice.


    Now, facing someone he had just publicly trashed, Sean had no idea how to react. Though he wasn''t a fan of Roseanne, keeping silent after sending those romuments about her felt way too awkward.


    He was torn between whether he should say hi or not. In the end, he decided the best course of action was to y dead. Matter: Roseanne, wee back. You''ll always be one of our closest friends. Let us know if you ever need anything.] Matteo, being the only one with some social decency, finally responded.


    Hoseanne waited for a moment, expecting more responses. But aside from Matteo, the group remained eerily silent. And then, just to twist the knife, Emilia tagged Matteo


    Emilia: I Matteo if you wanna do rity work, that''s on you. Don''t drag us into it.]


    Roseanne''s face twisted with anger. Her expression turned sharp and dark. She hissed under her breath, "Bitch Emilia"

 Breaking Free From 103

    nced at Roseanne and asked. "She got on your nerves again?"


    the grined her teeth. "I''ve never met anyone with a mouth as nasty as hers"


    Hearing that, Sophie sighed. "You two have been at odds since you were kids. Hut she''s still the Perry family''s heiress. Now that your dad has moved thepany back,working is crucial Just put up with her for now."


    Roseanne pressed her lips together, clearly reluctant.


    "Come on, once you marry Julian, youll be the young mistress of the Galloway family. You won''t have to take crap from anyone anymore." Sophie tried to console her daughter.


    The mention of Julian made Roseanne''s expression soften a little.


    She then picked up her phone and checked the group chat, but Julian still hadn''t responded. The frustration in Roseanne''s chest only grew heavier. Sheined in her mind. I''ve already said hi to them, and Sean has been tagging him like crazy. There''s no way he hasn''t seen it. Is he ignoring tte on purpose! Or is he too pissed off by Rosalie''s photos to respond?


    Either way, it put Roseanne in a foul mood. The happy reaction she had imagined from Julian was nowhere to be seen.


    Just then, a new message popped up in the group chat.


    Julian: (Who''s this guy?]


    The moment she saw Julian''s name appear, Roseanne''s eyes lit up. But as soon


    as she tapped into the chat and saw his actual message, her simile froze.


    she murmured in her mind, I knew it... Rosalie affected him. Could it be... he actually has feelings for her already?"


    The mere thought of that possibility made Roseanne panic. Her gaze flickered to Rosalie''s face in the photos, which was eerily simr to her own. Then, a dark glint shed in her eyes.


    A voice screamed in her heart, Julian is mine. In this life and the next, I''ll never let him go.

 Breaking Free From 104

    bem caught by Roseanne or badmouthing her was trying his best to blend into the background


    to get up Sean bered a second then decided to y dead and not reply


    jn


    di dinding ha phone, wayed sinc, hoping would drop in


    the realized Julian want even acknowledging her presence. She reassured herself. He surely hasn''t


    Taking a deep beach she ryped in the group chat


    Roverzne Jam long time:


    After sending the sbor meninge


    waited for ages, but there was no reply. Her face darkened instantly


    Just then Julian, having tagged Sean and gotten no response, called him directly.


    The sudden vibration nearly made Sean drop his phone.


    Sean had no choice but to answer. Th. Hey, Julian"


    the guy next to Rosalie Julian''s voice was low and cold.


    "Hub On Him! No idea. Rosalie said he''s a friend Judging by the way they talk, they''ve known each other for a while."


    Sean besitated for a second and added. Probably longer than you have."


    Whether he said it without thinking or was just stirring the pot, he wasn''t sure. Either way, as soon as the words were out, he could feel the tension on the other end of the line Julian''s breathing grew heavier


    Sean continued to ask. Julian, are you seriously going through with this divorce.."


    Before an could finish, Julian hung up. His face was as dark as a brewing storm, and his mood plummeted straight to rock bottom.

 Breaking Free From 105

    Julian walked over to the bar, poured himself a ss of red wine, and downed it in one go. Yet, no matter how much he drank, he couldn''t suppress the anger boiling inside him at the thought of Rosalie parading around with another man before their divorce was even finalized.


    The burning frustration only grew stronger as he stared at the empty ss in his hand. He set it down forcefully, picked up his phone, and tapped into the pinned chat at the top of his WhatsApp list, ready to ask for an exnation from Rosalie.


    Julian: Who''s that guy in a pink suit? You''re really something, Rosalie. The divorce isn''t even settled, and you''re already fooling around behind my back. Did you think I was dead'']


    Even after sending the message, he felt far from satisfied. His eyes remained fixed on the screen, waiting for the read receipt to pop up. However, minutes passed, and the message remained unread.


    His expression darkened as a realization crept in-she might have blocked him. The thought sent a fresh wave of rage surging through him. Without thinking, he flung the phone straight at the wall, the sharp crack of ss and stic shattering echoing through the room.


    But even that didn''t quell his frustration. He took a deep breath, reached for thendline, and dialed her number. This time, the call connected,


    After ringing for a while, Rosalie finally picked up, her tone indifferent. "Hi, ra"


    Julian exhaled slowly, forced down the rage simmering in his chest, and said, "It''s


    me


    There was a brief pause before Rosalie''s voice turned cold. "Have you made up your mind about finalizing the divorce?"


    The muscles in Julian''s jaw tightened. His grip on the phone grew stronger as his breathing turned heavier.


    Just then, Eden''s voice drifted through the receiver. It was casual, almostzy. "How about I make you some chicken pot pie?" Julian''s fingers stiffened around the receiver.


    Rosalie nced at Eden beside her and nodded. "Okay. No carrots, and no garlic either.


    Eden chuckled with a hint of indulgence in his voice. "Come on, you''re still this picky on food?"


    It was an everyday exchange, light and natural, yet it made Julian''s blood run cold.

 Breaking Free From 106

    Eden and Rosalie had known each other for almost six years. While their official rtionship was that of a boss and assistant, they were more like


    was Rosalie''s assistant, but he was actually three years older than her. Rosalie was a genius, yet she had grown up with every aspect of her daily life taken care of by servants. So cooking waspletely out of the question.


    With Eden, it was different. He looked after her like an older brother, and he was the only person whose care she epted without hesitation.


    Hearing Eden


    en''sints, Rosalie didn''t even bother defending herself but saying. "You''re just realizing that now?"


    Their voices camed a kind of familiarity that struck Julian like a


    a punch to the gut


    Julian sat there listening, while gripping the phone as the unsettling feeling inside him deepened. It was as if he were the outsider, while that man


    the one who had truly been by Rosalie''s side all these years.


    Juhan cursed bitterly in his mind. Six years? How nice. No wonder she''s so eager to cut ties with me. She already has someone waiting in the wings


    His gaze turned ice-cold, and his expression was dangerously dark. If Rosalie and Eden were standing in front of him right now, the look in his eyes alone could have frozen them in ce


    Yet, even at this moment, Julian failed to realize-or perhaps refused to admit-that his emotions had already spiraled out of his own control His voice, low and sharp, came through the receiver. "Rosalie, do you think I''m dead?"


    Rosalie Enally moved away from the conversation and spoke into the phone, her tone t. ¡°Didn''t you call to talk about the divorce?"


    Hearing that damn word again, Julian gritted his teeth even further. His fingers tightened around the receiver until his knuckles turned white. A bear of silence passed before he suddenly let out a low, mirthlessugh.


    12.57 PM c

 Breaking Free From 107

    "What he divorce the only thing we have left to talk abonat?" Julian hadn''t even realized that, despite his inual packed schedule, he was wasting time throwing incaningless wonhvat Rosalir.


    losalie iet mit? endilugh and answered, "What chr the you think? You''ve had a wlede year, and you will love


    with me, liave you?"


    Her tone wasced with mockery, every word a jale straight to his chest


    Julian stiffened, momentarily speechless. He wanted to argue, but he couldn''t find a single word to refure her.


    it found another topic to diseas


    She was damn right. Over the past year, he had never once made an effort to speak to her. The resentment from the clouded his judgment, making it easy to take lids frustration out on her.


    forced marriage had always


    she


    Julian had thought that once his grandfather passed, he would finally be free of her. But now, he realized that letting her go wasn''t as easy as he had imagined. Even if he pushed her away, it felt as if something had been ripped out of him, leaving behind a gaping wound.


    Faced with Rosalie''s question, he found himself at a loss for word.


    Rosalie used to long for just a single conversation with Julian. Even one extra word from him was enough to make her happy for an entire day:


    But once she let the expectations go, they became meaningless.


    People said a woman could fall in love with a man in an instant, and in another instant, she could learn to hate him just as deeply.


    She fell for Julian in a heartbeat, but it took her a lifetime to take back that love.


    Heaven must have pitied her to grant her a chance to start over, and Rosalie swore she wasn''t about to waste this second life on the same mistake.


    So when Julian didn''t respond, she lost her patience and replied, "If you didn''t call to talk about the divorce, then don''t waste my time. Whatever we had, it was never deep enough for long, meaningless phone calls?


    After speaking. Rosalie was about to hang up when Julian''s voice cut through again, cold and sharp. "Who is that man with you?"


    Rosalie''s fingers paused over the screen. She turned her head slightly and nced at the figure moving around in the kitchen. "You mean Eddie?"


    She let out a short, amusedugh and continued, "What, since when do you have an interest in men? Hate to disappoint you, but Eddie is straight. He''s not


    interested in you, so stop prying"


    Without waiting f


    for a response, she ended the call.


    "Damn it" Hearing the busy tone on the other end, Julian mmed the receiver down. His eyes were stormy, his entire body tense with frustration. "Eddie?" He grined the name our between clenched teeth. "She says it like they they''re close."


    Meanwhile, Rosalie had already put Julian out of her mind. Eden brought the chicken pot pie to the table and gave her a knowing look. "Julian called?


    She nodded, taking a seat and grabbing a piece. "Yeah. He even asked about you. You think he might be into you?"


    Eden rolled his eyes and replied, "You spent a whole year being a lovesick fool, and now you don''t understand the basics!"


    Rosalie looked up from her te and casually asked, "Understand what?"


    Eden scoffed, "He''s jealous. He thinks you''re cheating on him


    "Jealous? He?" Rosalie blinked, momentarily caught off guard, then shrugged indifferently. "You seriously think he''s pathetic enough to only start caring about me now that I want a divorce?"

 Breaking Free From 108

    before he could say anything. Rosr shot him down. "Come on, this isn''t some tragic romance novel


    ation, and didn''t take 1 dens words seriously


    feeling rehactant just because she had brought up divorce, then getting his heart


    was


    vas way too easy


    her him, only to be met with indifference. How could signing a a divorce paper suddenly


    y change


    all those years of devotion and all those moments of heartbreak in her previous


    life would be nothing m


    more than a ridiculous


    ally packed up another pi


    pie with her fork. Besides, his ex is back. As his substitute, I should''ve taken the hint he way of their reunion"


    as if the thought no longer affected her. Maybe it was because she had finallye to terms with the fact that she than Roseanne''s substitute all along. Saying it out loud now didn''t sting the way it used to


    watch be carefully. She looked unbothered,pletely at ease. But if he hadn''t caught that fleeting trace of sadness in


    ally believed that she had let Julian go.


    had been by her side for a year. He had watched her grow from a fourteen-year- old prodigy into the woman she was now.


    self a genius, but after meeting Rosalie, he was more than willing to take a step back and y the role of her assistant. blink of an eye, and geniuses by nature, were proud and arrogant. Rosalie was no exception.


    forgettable


    that arrogance, abandoned the pedestal she was born to stand on, and humbled herself just to stay by his side as an


    1. me. His voice was steady, but there was a weight to it that made her fingers tighten slightly around her fork. alber "o", but whenever be addressed her "Rosalie" with that particr tone, it meant he was about to say something serious. ed her pate and asked. "Yeah?"


    Ides testard for


    ndb


    you consider gettin


    getting back with him?"


    tinaby asking. "If julian really can''t let you go, would y loube didnt even have to think about it. The answer was immediate, firm, and absolute. "Julian despises me. He''s spent our entire


    be could drow me as far away as possible. Why would he suddenlye back to me1


    dropped ha


    cor Hetime to truly ept that reality, but at least in this life, she


    wasn''t toote.


    y failed, reced by silence.


    ween them before she finally spoke. "No, I''ll never get back with him"


    the sting behind her eyes and reaffirmed her decision. "Eddie, I''m tired. I''m exhausted over the past year of being


    at even counting her previous lide


    ¨C many nights waiting for hum toe home. From fully awake to barely keeping my eyes open, he never showed up. I turn, but somehow, that was even harder than making a breakthrough in any research."


    out a breath her souneced with something between regret and relief. "If I had known loving him would be this painful, I would have let gu

 Breaking Free From 109

    (with sobs, "Som after all the struggle to break free from loving him. I''m not diving back into that pain again. Eddie, it really


    ally hurts too


    had been hiding at the bottom of her eyes finally spilled over.


    Ever since she had a second chance to start over, she never really faced this topic head-on. but Eden confronted her with the question she had been dodging for days.


    That day, at Graham Vi, Julian asked her if her blood was cold


    She told hi


    him. It used to be warm, but it''s all burnt out now."


    All the passion and warmth she ever had went to Julian, only to be met with his cold indifference, until she couldn''t feel the warnath anymore.


    Eden was caught off guard by Rosalie''s sudden tears. He had never seen her cry before, and it really shook him.


    He walked over, clueless about what to say. He just held her shoulders and gently parted her back, whispering. "If it hurts too much, just move onl okay?"


    "Yeah, I''ll move on. I won''t love Julian anymore," she replied.


    After that phone call. Julian really hadn''t sought out Rosalie anymore, but Rosabe asionally called Julian''swyer and urged them to file for daverer.


    Martin, thewyer, got a headache every time Rosalie''s name popped up on his phone.


    He couldn''t fathom why the bug shot who initiated the divorce suddenly didn''t want to go through with it. Martin wondered if he was ying with him because he thought he was


    av overpaid.


    "Boss, Madam''s on the Ime again, Martin said, massaging his temples, viubly annoyed.


    "She pushing for the


    e divorce papers again?" Julian asked in an icy tone.


    "Ignore her"


    With that cold directive, Julian pushed open his office door and strode out, with a storm brewing in his eyes. Driving from Hawthorne University back to her private apartment Rosalie got an unexpected call from Edward. After theirst unpleasant conversation, Edward hadn''t reached out anymore, making this call a surprise. Rosalie raised her eyebrows and answ


    answered, "Hi, Dad"


    "Rosalie, I heard Julian wants a d


    a divorce. Is that true?" Edward''s voice was low with some feigning concerns, but Rosalie picked up on the subtle probing.


    Rosalie smirked, thinking of her half-sister who seemed too eager to g glue herself to Julian


    She mused. Is this a probe for his illegitimate daughter! Thinking once I''m out of the picture, she can shove her into the Calloway family? Too lud, Julian already has hus beloved. There''s no room for her


    "It''s true. Why?" Rosalie asked


    Silence fell on the other end of the line for a few seconds before Edward continued. "Julian''s being a real piece of work. Don''t worry, Roude. You still have me, and I won''t let anyone mess with you. If he wants a divorce, just move back home. I''m always on your side *


    Edward tried to sound like a doting father, but if weren''t for when he got too cocky aher grabbing Rosalie''s shares and stared showing his true colors in her previous life, Rosalie might have actually believed that her father really loved her.

 Breaking Free From 110

    vne komne delerinen fored prepared ar benene, and great mom will be tidied uji. Remember, sweetliran, home is where you find shelter.


    Homeres, the internally scoffed, Kalelore More like a leaky bone


    ant protecti


    cab mo hang up when suddenly her car collided with another vehicle.


    am a pk Papuche arraping her righ


    gressively changeddnes.


    pot on a long face, and her mond wound because of this new headache. She stepped out of her car, and soolid the driver of the


    he other party''s face, slie paised in shock. It was an odd arquaintance. At this moment, Rosalie had never imagined her first


    Roseanne marched up and started using her, "What is wrong with you? Didn''t you see me changingnes


    sunsses, Rosalie looked down at Roseanne. Though they looked alike, Rosalie''s towering height gave her an edge.


    cat Should I hand you a trophy for that? Pomalie retorted with a wirer.


    The memment Posale record her sunsses and Roseanne Law her face, Roseanne was equally startled.


    Recognizing Rosalie, a wave of antiity surged within i


    Roseanne, Rosalie''s condescending gave, coupled with a hint of disdain, only furled


    Thanking nd Ronali''s sarcastically chargedment, Roseanne because even more irritated.


    What''s with your attitude? You hit my car and still art all high and mighty? Roseanne snapped, her chin up in dehance. Hoseanne didor know if Roualle recognized her or knew she was her substitute, but their first encounter was clearly not pleasant Shur had envisioned various grand ways to introduce herself to Rosalie, certainly not under these circum


    Rosalieuldn''t be beathered to argue with Roseanne and simply polled out her phone to call her insurance.


    L''Let''s just wait for the insurance to handle that


    a brief look and turned to get back into her car, but Roseanne wasn''t ready to let it go.


    Hey, so You can just hit my car and leave" Kouramie protested.


    "Miss, mande train the trail rules before you go lecturing others, Oberwise, you''re just showing off your ignorance" Rosalie''s face showed a trace


    Poseanne ignored herment, stubbornly believing Rosalie, being behind, was at fault.


    Or perhaps, Hoseanne didn''t want tradit the covert animosity she felt towards Hosalie, apud she was looking for any excuse to haule her.


    Just the denight of Julians rating about Rosalie''s photos with other men whilepletely ignoring her in the group chat, Roseanne couldn''t help


    Naturally, her h?bler hostility towards Rosalie deepened. Meanwhile, thinking of herself as the one Julian truly loved, while Rosalie was just a indistiture, Prorante grew an indescribable sense of superiority in front of Rosalie.

 Breaking Free From 111

    Roseanne steaed, her words dripping with disdain. "I haven''t been back to the country in years, but is this how all the women there are- like you!"


    -low-ss


    Rosalie''s patienor was wearing thin. In her past life, Roseanne had made a point of showing off in front of her, trying to y up her presence because Rosalie was so fixated on Julian


    In the end, it was that very obsession that made Rosalie lose ground, and she ended up doing some pretty pathetic things.


    Looking back now, it wasn''t just Julian who might''ve wished she were dead- sometimes, Rosalie wished her past self could just disappear too


    She shook off those thoughts, focusing on the song look on Roseanne''s face.


    With a smile, Rosalie replied. "Tm not sure if all women in our country are as say maybe we should send fewer students overseas


    y are as low-ss as


    as me, but if a trip abroad can turn someone into you, I''d


    Roseanne''s face turned grim. She wasn''t so clueless as to miss the sarcasm in Rosalie''s words. "You


    Her hand shot up, clearly aiming for a p. But Rosalie was faster. Before the p couldnd, Rosalie grabbed Roseanne''s wrist and pped her back in one swift motion.


    The sharp smack echoed through the street, drawing the attention of nearby passersby.


    Roseanne, stunned and holding her burning cheek, couldn''t believe what had just happened. She never expected a mere substitute to have the guts


    to hit her


    "You hit me?" Roseanne seethed, her face alternating between pale and red as she red at Rosalie. Maybe still in shock from the p, she didn''t make another move to fight back.


    Rosalie casually adjusted her cor and gave Roseanne an uninterested nce. "What''s the matter! Are you a queen or a princess! Should I be terrified toy a hand on you?"


    She let out a mockingugh. Her words wereced with so much disdain that it almost felt like she pped Roseanne again without lifting a finger. Staring at Roseanne''s angry face, Rosalie retorted, "Thest person who daredy a hand on me ended up sleeping on the streets. You should be d your p didn''tnd on my face


    Her eyes shed a cold glint, and her slurp gaze was enough to make Roseanne feel like she was under attack


    After giving Roseanne a final warning, Rosalie turned to leave, determined to have no further interactions with her.


    But just as


    as she was about to get back into her car, she saw a ck Bendey slowly pull up behind her.


    Two figures then got out, and both Rosalie and Roseanne''s expressions changed instantly.


    Rosalie thought, Juliant of all ces to run into him, this is just my luck


    Her brow furrowed, clearly irritated by his presence.


    At the same ti


    time, Roseanne''s voice rang out, full of excitement. "Oh,


    1. h. Julian


    Her eyes were practically glued to him, a look of undisguised joy liing up her face.


    As Julian walked past Rosalie, his eyes licked over her face for a split second, catching the clear disdain she didn''t even bother to hide.


    His expression immediately turned stormy. His gaze lingered on Rosalie for a second before moving past her, heading straight for Roseanne.


    Right behind Julian was Kalebs. Seeing that Julian headed toward Hoseaune without a second nce at Rosalie, Kaleb widened his eyes for just a moment. His gaze instinctively drifted towards Rosalie, though he quickly looked away.

 Breaking Free From 112

    Julian was surprised to see that Rosalie didn''t even bat an eysh. She looked at him like he was aplete stranger, like they didn''t share any history at all


    while. Roseanne was practically glowing the moment she saw Julian. Her eyes lit up like she''d just seen her husband


    Julian, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice bright with excitement.


    She''d been waiting for days for any kind of response from him, feeling frustrated and down. But out of nowhere, he showed up while she was having a run-in with Rosalie.


    She remembered the p Rosalie had just given her, and a dark glimmer crossed her eyes. Hidden from the others, she allowed herself a cold, satisfied smile. She had never been happier to receive a p in her life.


    She nced at Rosalie with a look of pure malice. At that moment, Rosalie looked up and met her gaze. Roseanne''s confidence faltered slightly as their eyes locked.


    Rosalie gave a small, mocking smile, clearly not intimidated


    Julian, still with his unreadable face, finally spoke, "What''s going on here?"


    Roseanne quickly stepped in, her face shifting from joy to a faux pout. She wanted to make sure Julian saw her as the victim


    "It''s no big deal, actually, I was changingnes, and thisdy didn''t give me the right of way. She just mmed into n me. When I tried to reason with her, she pped me."


    As she spoke, she let a few fake tears well up in her eyes, ying the damsel in distress perfectly.


    Now, Roseanne pretended that she didn''t know Rosalie at all. After all, she had been abroad over the past three years, and she had never seen Rosalie before.

 Breaking Free From 113

    visations. Rosalie barely reacted, not even showing a flicker of anger on her face. Instead, shezily lifted her eyes and (look, almost like she could predict exactly what Rosseanne would do next.


    ranged party.


    for two lifetimes. From the way she was acting, it was obvious Roseanne was about to spin this whole thing to paint


    In her past be. Rosabe cared too much about Julian''s opinion and had gotten worked up over it. But now, she couldn''t care less. She was just quietly unseed by his predictable Koseanne was


    wasn''t blind to what was happening. He noticed Rosalie''s calm indifference and, recalling the phone call when Rosalie had beenughing and flirting with that other guy, a simmering anger built up inside him. The fire in his chest had nowhere to go..


    cold, piercing ga


    locked onto Rosale, waiting for her response.


    evebrew and responded, "What?"


    Jahan''s panence was wearing thin, and he repeated with a sharper edge. "Did you p her?"


    Rosalie couldn''t help but think. Well, so he''s here to protect his ex.


    She looked at Julian for a moment and then nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, I did."


    free for a second, clearly caught off guard by how quickly Rosalie admitted it. Roseanne mused, ''She didn''t even try to deny it? She must e''s Juhan''s ex-wife, so he''ll just let her get away with any thing. How naive.


    smugglint appeared in Roseanne''s eyes. She was certain that Julian was divorcing Rosalie for her, so she felt justified, almost victorious to enjoy the look of defeat on Rosalie''s face. She didn''t even bother to hide her pride.


    Just then. Kaleb, who had been silently observing, spoke up. "Rosalie

 Breaking Free From 114

    After Kaleb spoke, both Rosalie aid Roseanne turned their attention toward him.


    "It''s been a while, Kaleb," Roseanne said. She thought he was addressing her, so she didn''t bother hiding the pout on her face.


    She knew Kalch was a big deal and Julian''s brother-inw. She knew how important Anya wat to Julian, and she knew Anya''s opinion would influence bow Juhan saw her.


    Although she and kaleh had met before, hearing him say hi to her after many years made her joyful. She thought, "Well, lonks like he still remember me


    But Kaleh was looking at Roseanne. Instead, he walked straight toward Rosalie.


    As a loyal husband, Kaleb would only show respect to someone based on his wife''s preferences. Anya didn''t like Roseanne, so Kaleb wasn''t going to spare her a ner. Since Anya supported Rosalir, he''d make sure to step up and help her out.


    As for Julian, Kalch had given sip hope for him. He was long past the point of being surprised by Julian''s behavior.


    Seriously, if you''re not standing by your wife in a situation like this and instead siding with your ex. who else would? No wonder Rosalie wants to divorce von Kaleb thought, shaking his head internally.


    When Kaleb finally stood in front of Rosalie, she realized he''d been saying hi to her. After a brief moment of surprise, she shed a sweet smile and greeted him. "Hi, what a surprise to see you here."


    ared, and looking closely, one could even


    Julian, who had been tight-lipped and seething just moments before, seemed to soften a little. His jaw rxed, catch a barely perceptible lift on his lips.


    At that moment, Rosalie had no idea that a simple, polite exchanges was enough to change Julian''s mood entirely.


    Standing next to Rosalie, Kaleb asked, "So what''s the deal here?


    Roseanne, standing next to Julian, shot Kaleb a sharp look and thought. What does he mean? Does he not believe me


    She instinctively clutched her sore cheek and looked at Kaleb with a frigned innocence with tears threatening. "Kaleb, do you not believe me?"


    Kaleb didn''t pull any punches. "I don''t"


    The look in Roseanne''s eyes immediately turned venomous, though her face reddened in frustration. The audacity of Kaleb''s blunt response hit her hard, but she still tried to y the victim.


    She stammered. "Kaleb, how could you...


    Koule was not interested in watching Roseanne''s drama unfold, and she nced at her watch


    Judging by the time, the insurancepany was on its way. She turned to Kaleb and said, "Hey, I''ve got something to deal with. Could you handle this when the insurance guys get here!"


    Sering Rosalie turn to Kaleb for help instead of him, her current legal husband, Julian felt like it was a heavy blow to his pride. His mood soured again, the momentary softnesspletely evaporating


    Kaleb didn''t seem to care about Julian''s temper. He nodded at Rosalie and replied, "Sure."


    "Thanks" she uid with a wink


    that, she walked toward the curl to get a cal


    After giving Julian a few exchange earlier, Rosalie hadpletely ignored him. It was as if he were just another bystander, someone who was irrelevant to her right now


    Being ignored and practically stewing in his anger, Julian felt his frustration grow, with each passing second, his resentment toward Rosalie thuc keiser, and he couldn''t stand being treated like an outsider anymore.


    He took a couple of steps forward Just as Rosalie was about to get into the cabs, Julians reached out and grabbed her wrist.

 Breaking Free From 115

    Reudie furrowed her brows and tumed around to lock her clear, cold gaze with Julian''s angry eyes. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "What''s the mutter, Mr. Galloway" Got something to say?


    "legire" Julian''s voice was cold andmanding. The words were sharp and firm, making Rosalie freeze for a split second.


    Unexpectedly, Roseanne brightened at Julian''s words. She thought with a smug grin, ''I knew it, Julian won''t let me suffer. So what if she''s his ex- wile! They re dworced now, and she''s nothing. She''ll be the one apologizing to me in the end, won''t she?


    Standing behind Julian, Kaleb watched the whole scene unfold, his face turning a little exasperated. He thought while shaking his head. ''No hope for him Seriously, this guy just doesn''t learn his lesson. But at least he''s got a talent for digging his


    own grave


    Meanwhile, Rosalie remained calm. Hearing Julian''s cold, authoritativeunand, she let out a lightugh and replied, "Excuse me?"


    "Apologize, Julian gritted his teeth and repeated, his frustration now fully spilling


    over.


    He hated how Rosalie waspletely ignoring him. More than that, he was scared that one day, she''dpletely cut him off as a stranger.


    If he didn''t do something to make her notice him, he feared he''d fadepletely from her life.


    But, of course, Julian''s way of making her see him was all wrong. He was only pushing Rosalie further away, just like he always had, yet he never realized it.


    "You pped her, and now you just want to walk away?" Julian added, his anger blinding him to the cold sh of disappointment that flickered in Rosalie''s eyes.


    That brief moment of disappointment quickly vanished, but it hadnded a hit nheless.


    Rosalie lifted her eyelids slightly and stared back at him with a mix of disbelief and scorn. Then, noticing Hoseanne''s smag, almost victorious expression, Rosalie smirked and jerked her wrist out of Julian''s grip.


    Julian, if your brain isn''t doing you any favors, maybe you should just donate it. It''s not like it''s useful for anything else," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.


    Without waiting for his dark, menacing expression to turn a any uglier, Rosalie hopped into the cab.


    As the door mmed shut, she told the driver, "Oakfield Tower, please."


    Her voice, so sharp with Julian just moments ago, now softened, almost gentle as she gave the driver her destination.


    Once inside the car, she straightened her back, but only for a moment before it slouched slightly. She gazed out the window, her eyes following the passing cars without blinking.


    She was trying hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill The pain was there, lurking just behind her eyes, but she fought it down. She had known Julian would side with Roseanne the moment he appeared. She had prepared herself for that moment, but still, when Julian stepped in and demanded the apologize without considering her side at all, it stung her a lot.


    The coldness in his eyes, the absence of any warmth-it made her feel sick, and her chest tightened as if something sharp was digging into her.


    Outside the cab, Julian watched her drive away, his face even darker now,


    Sensing an opportunity, Roseanne walked over to Julian and added fuel to the fire. "Can you believe her! Not only did she hit me, but now she''s insulting you, too. She really has no shame. I''ve never met someone so rude and disrespectful,"

 Breaking Free From 116

    Listening to Rosanne''s deliberate provocation, Kaleb nced at her with an indifferent look. Inside, he couldn''t help bur sigh, Anya''s right. If a woman like her es involved with the Galloway family, how can there be any peace?


    The family already has enough trouble with those unruly guys It Julian marries Roseanne, things will get even more chaotic


    But Kaleb knew better than to get involved in Julian''s personal life. All he could do was offer a quick defense for Rosalie after hearing Roseanne''s usations. "You switchednes without warning and crashed into her car. You''re fully responsible for that. She''s done nothing wrong"


    Roseanne''s face froze for a moment. She hadit expected Kaleb to take Rosalie''s side like that.


    She had heard from Matteo that Rosalie was forced into marrying Julian by Isaac, and Julian never wanted to marry her int


    first ce.


    She didn''t understand that it Anya cared so much about Julian, how could she stand by someone like Rosalie, whom Julian didn''t even want? And now, Kaleb, Anya''s loyal husband, was siding with Rosalie. She couldn''t help but think if Kaleb had a thing for Rosalie


    The thought struck her, and she couldn''t help but smirk inwardly. If it weren''t what she thought, it didn''t make sense that Kaleb would defend Rosalie like this,


    Roseanne also recalled the way Rosalie spoke to Kaleb earlier, with all those smilles and winks. Now, she was more convinced that they had an affair.


    She felt a flicker of malicious satisfaction at the idea. Anya''s a hothrad. If she finds out Kalch''s taken an interestin Rosalie, Rosalie won''t have an easy time. And as for Roseanne sticking around the Galloway family... Forget it

 Breaking Free From 117

    expression, she spoke up with feigned hurt. "Kaleb, what exactly is your rtionship with her? Why are you always defending


    words were venomous, clearly meant to nt a seed of doubt in Julian''s mind. Even if Kaleb and Rosalie werepletely innocent, the mom of such a question would still make Julian question Rosalic.


    Besides, if Attiva found out about any


    this, Rosalie would be toast, and she could never choose to stay.


    Kaleb a face immediately turned story, and his eyes turned sharp as ice as he looked at Roseanne,


    as the calmest and most well-mannered guy among the aristocratic families. He rarely lost his temper, no matter how much provoked him.


    Hat Roseanne''s insinuation hit a nerve. Kaleb''s re was cold and cutting, his fury unmasked. Even though he never usually disyed his anger openly, it was clear he was beyond upset.


    Though Roseanne knew Kaleb wouldn''t be mad at her, she felt the heat rise in her chest and instinctively shrank back, stepping closer to Julian. I''m not going to exin our rtionship to you because you don''t deserve to know, Kaleb shot back, his voice low and filled with contempt. He then turned to Julian and said, "Man, it''s your private thing. I don''t want to meddle in. If you actually like someone like her, I seriously question your judement":


    Kalebs words were sharp, and apparently, he was so furious that he lost all his usualposure. This wasn''t just about defending Rosalie; he made kure to humiliate Roseanne in front of everyone


    Roseanne''s face turned bright red with fury and embarrassment. Her anger was obvious, but she couldn''t show it too strongly in front of Julian, so she held it in, letting a small sob escape. "Kaleb, I haven''t done anything to you, have I? Why are you siding with that woman?"

 Breaking Free From 118

    Hoseanne paused for a moment, as if something just clicked in her mind. She muttered under her breath, "Could it


    She suddenly looked up at Julian, pressed her lips for a second, and asked in a low tour, "Is she your wifer


    Her gaze was full of hurt, as though Julian had been caught cheating


    Hoseanne wasn'''' n just ying the innocent cand she was testing the waters to figure nut


    cartly where juliana strevard with Rosalie.


    Even though she was convinced that louale was merely a recement, she had


    to arduit that Rosalie was a beautiful around for over a year, she didn''t believe that Julian really had no feelings for her.


    nning woman. Having somente


    Roseanne kept telling herself it wasn''t possible, but the thought of hearing it from Julian himself would give her the peace of mind she desperately


    craved


    way, it could reassure her that the still had a ce


    She hoped Julian would deny it or maybe even exin that he was forced to marry Rosalie. That wi


    But the next second, Julian''s answer immediately crushed all her hopes. "Yeah, she''s my wife."


    Roseanne''s face mstantly drained of color.


    In her mind, she thought, "He didn''t hesitate for a second. He just admitted it without even trying to exin that he was forced into it. Matter sapi they''d signed the divorce papers, so why would he still im her as his wife? Does this mean he regrets the divorce?


    She ran through various excuses in her mind, trying to make sense of it all, but nothing really helped.


    At this point, the jealousy bubbling inside her was starting to distort her thoughts, though she did her best to mask it.


    Then, Julian continued, his words like a p to her face. "You switchednes without warning. That''s your fault. My wife already called the insurancepany. Did you call yours!*


    Julian''s gaze settled on Roseanne, and his wordsnded heavy like a crushing blow. Not only did Julian refer to Rosalie as my wife, but he didn''t even bother sugarcoating the truth about the ident.


    He shut down her attempt to y the victim and backed up Rosalie in the process.


    Roseanne couldn''t even muster a defense. She was left speechless, her attempt to arguepletely squashed.


    Kaleb raised his eyebrows, surprised by Julian''s sudden outburst, Kaleli looked at Julian wife left, and he finally acts like a man. Toote, though. Whatever you do now, she won''t see it''


    with some amusement and mused, Well, look at that. His


    Roseanne''s expression flickered as she tried to regain control,st it was just a struggle.


    After a long, ufortable pause, she forced a smile and stammered, familiar with the traffic Laws here. I guess I owe your wife an apology"


    must have misunderstood. I''ve been abroad for so long, so Im not


    At this point, Roseanne had no choice but to back down and admit fault, hoping to salvage whatever little grace she had left.


    Julian, however, retorted, "Switchingnes like that is your fault, no matter where you are?


    Roseanne''s face turned gloomy, and this time, she couldn''t even fake a smile.


    Kaleb couldn''t help but smirk. He took a sigh in his mind, ¡°I don''t know whether tough or shake any heal. Is this guy emotionally clueless, or is he just a straight- up guy? Seriously, he really knows how to in somer''s dignity"


    Roseanne probably never expected Julian to be so sharp-tongued


    Even Kalet, Jurself was taken aback. He didn''t think Julian would keep adding fu really ready to give up knalle for Roseanne


    fuel to the fur. He couldn''t help wondering. Is such a straight guy

 Breaking Free From 119

    Kaleb couldn''t believe in


    With no more excuses leh, Roseanne had no choice but to bite the bullet, pull out her phone, and say. "I guess I really didn''t learn the traffic rules


    Lenough, and I upset your wife. I''ll call the insurancepany right away"


    She dialed the insurancepany as she spoke. As soon as she finished exining her situation, the insurance adjuster from Rosalie''s side arrived.


    it was clear that Roseanne was at fault. The adjuster took a quick look but stayed to wait for Roseanne''s insurance


    Given the circumstances, it was


    Kaleb was eager to get back to his wife for dinner. Seeing the adjuster had arrived, he handed over Rosalie''s car and announced he was leaving


    "Let''s go." Julian said, clearly with no intention of staying. Roseanne''s heart sank even further,


    Despite the obvious facts and seeing Julian really about to leave, Roseanne still clung to a sliver of hope and called out, "Wait, Julian"


    Julian turned back, his expression t as if looking at aplete stranger.


    Roseanne''s heart dropped. Her hands, hanging by her sides, unconsciously clenched into fists.


    "My insurance adjuster hasn''t arrived yet. Are you just leaving?" she asked, still holding onto that faint, delicate hope.


    But when she posed the question, Jultan''s eyes only showed confusion. ¡°So?" he replied, implying it had nothing to do with him.


    At that moment. Roseanne''s smilepletely faded. "I-I don''t have a ride back. Could you at least give me a lift..." she asked, feeling like she was abandoning her pride.


    But Julian was even more ruthless than she imagined. Even with her shameless request, his gaze remained distant and puzzled. "Are you so broke that you can''t afford a taxir he asked


    Even Kaleb, who w


    was usually gentlemanly, couldn''t hold back augh at Julian''s response.


    Roseanne was on the verge of tears. The sense of superiority she had felt, thinking Julian had married a stand-in for her and divorced for her sake, was nowpletely shattered.


    She looked at Julian with red eyes and choked out, "Julian, are you angry with me?"


    She wanted to add. "Because I left without a word back then, but Julian surprisingly nodded. "Yeah, I am pretty angry," he admitted,


    For a moment, Roseanne''s heart soared. She thought, I knew Julian still loved me deep down. Otherwise, why would he still be angry after the year!


    But Julian''s next words


    shattered her hopes again. "You just ndered my wife and twisted the facts. How co pped you as a lesson, I''ll let it go


    three


    could I not be angry? But since she


    Roseanne''s heart rose and fell with Julian''s words, until finally, all the color drained from her face as if she was about to faint from sheer frustration.


    Julian might as well just shut up and stop saying anything


    Unaware of the impact his words had on Roseanne, Julian walked straight to the Bentley parked behind them, leaving Roseanne alone in the cold


    wind.


    "What''s


    your choice?" Kaleb casually asked Julian, who still had no expression on his face, as they got into the car.

 Breaking Free From 120

    "What?" Julian sakd


    "Between Roseanne and Rosalie, who would you choose?" Kaleb asked.


    Julian narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on Kaleb''s nonchnt face, revealing a hint of hostility. "Why are you speaking so familiarly?" he questioned.


    Usually, Julian wouldn''t mind such an intimate tone, but for some reason, hearing it from Kaleb grated on his nerves.


    Kaleb was taken aback for a moment. ''Are you seriously missing the point? Is this really about the tone! he thought to himself.


    Kaleb was increasingly convinced that Julian''s mind had been offtely, but he still kindly replied, "Anya often speaks to her in this tone, so I''ve gollen used to it."


    Kaleb paused for a moment. "It''s what you call leading by the wife''s example, he added with a hint of pride, ncing at Julian. "You and your wife don''t have that kind of bond, so you wouldn''t understand the fun of it"


    Julian was stunned for a moment.


    After showing off his marital bliss, Kaleb returned to the previous topic. "You still haven''t answered me. What''s your choice?"


    "No choice" Julian frowned, not wanting to continue the conversation.


    Over the past few days, he had realized that something was off with him, specifically, ever since Rosalie signed the divorce papers.


    He found himself subconsciously paying attention to her every move and wanting to know anything about her.


    This level of concern was unexpected and out of his control. Even though he tried to dismiss this unusual behavior, he couldn''t help but into it.


    gel


    drawn


    Could it really be as Rosalie said, that I started to like her after she filed for divorce?'' he wondered. Julian scoffed at the thought, dismissing it as unlikely.


    Maybe he was just used to having Rosalie around, and now that she was gone, he felt a bit out of sorts. Once he stopped focusing on her, he figured, things would eventually fade away.


    "Anya told me you haven''t signed the papers yet. If you were nning to divorce Rosalie for Roseanne, now that she''s back, you need to make a decision" Kaleb pressed, determined not to drop the subject


    As expected, Julian''s expression darkened again at the mention of divorce.


    Then, realizing something, he nced sideways at Kaleh. "Why would my marriage to Rosalie have anything to do with an insignificant outsider like Hoseanne!" he said coldly.


    When he mentioned Roseanne, Julian''s emotions remained unchanged, just as he imed that she was merely an unimportant outsider.


    This was evident from how Julian had defended Rosalie in front of Roseanne and then left her alone in the cold.


    Kaleb looked at Julian, unsure whether to be annoyed or relieved at his behavior. Julian didn''t rify their rtionship when he should have, but now that they were about to get divorced, he was bringing it up.


    If Anya, with her short fuse, were here, she''d probably p Julian upside the head.


    "Hey! Insignificant? Everyone in our circle is talking about how you divorced Rosalie because Roseanne came back." Kaleb said.


    Hearing this, Julian''s brows furrowed even more.


    He had never heard such rumors before, but reculling what Sean had said in the group chat about divorcing Rosalie for Roseanne and how Roseanne couldn''tpare to Rosalie, he began to piece things together.

 Breaking Free From 121

    Everyvise seemed to think that Julian had devoted Rosalie because of Roseanne.


    "Iya all are so got taking up stories, why not be screenwriters?" Julian said with a stern face, though a chill ran through him.


    good


    Weveryone thinks this way, shoes Rosalie think so too he wondered.


    "It that see be good at making up stories. It''s that your behavior gives people plenty to specte about," Kaleb said irritably, casting a nce at


    Julian


    Thinking of their family connection. Kalebs still offered a piece of advice, "You knew the car ident was Roseanne stirring up trouble, yet you still made Rosalie apologize to her. What were you thinking?"


    Julian psed his lips and remained silent.


    ou bow and


    Kaleh, however, wasn''t about to let him off the hook "If you were in Rosalie''s shoes, how would you feel? Your husband is making you apologize to another woman. She''d be furious with you."


    Julian still didn''t speak, but the tight line of his jawe betrayed his emotions.


    At that moment, Julian''s decision to make Rosalie apologize was driven by his frustration with her seemingly dismissive attitude. Her arrogance had made him angry, but there was also a sense of uncase that he didn''t want to admit, let alone confront.


    Kaleb felt he had given enough hints. If Julian still didn''t get it, or continued to be stubborn, Kaleb wouldn''t mind seeing Julian regret his actions.


    On Rosalie''s end, after taking a taxi, she returned to her private apartment in downtown.


    Shortly after, she received a call from the Graham family. This time, it wasn''t Edward on the line, but udia. "Rosalie, it''s almost dinner time. When are youing over?"

 Breaking Free From 122

    udia''s tone was as gentle as ever, maintaining the maternal image she always presented to Rosalie as if she hadn''t been the one who had been I in her ce a


    few days ago


    "pi bete. You guys don''t have to wait for me, Rosalie replied. She would return to the Graham residence. She had no intention of doing charity with her possessions and giving them to the Graham family.


    Despite the unpleasantness that had urred, they were still trying to reach out to her, all because they coveted the 40% stake in the Talley Group that alle held


    Bosalie herself owned several research institutes and biotechpanies. Even without the Talley Group, she was far from short of money. That was why she had so generously given Edward the 40% stake in Talley Group.


    After all, he was her father and in charge of the Talley Group. She had thought that by giving him the shares, he would have more say in the Talley


    inning her time travel, when he starteil treating Helena better than his own daughter after receiving the shares, Rosalie began to question Helena''s


    "It doesn''t matter howte it is. It''s been so long since we''ve had dinner together.


    We have been looking forward to having a meal with you," said


    "It''s not too long. We had dinner together just a week ago Rosalie pointed out, bringing up the ufortable incident that they were trying to


    As expected. udia''s breathing became heavier and morebored, clearly upset by Rosalie''s reminder.


    "Since the atmosphere wasn''t pleasant that day, you guys probably


    subconsciously forgot about it. Don''t worry, I''ll help you remember, Rosalie added, pouring fuel on the fire.

 Breaking Free From 123

    Even without seeing her face, Rosalie could tell that udia''s features must have been twisted with anger.


    you were upset that day, so you said those harsh words. Neither Helena nor


    After a few seconds, Rosalie heard udia say, "We''re all family. I knew you I are going to holo u against you"


    sha sure has a lot of patience. No wonder she has managed to beat Rosalie''s mother and win, she wondered. Rosalie let out a derisiveugh.


    udia continues. "Rosalie, you go ahead and finish what you''re doing, but you should still eat dinner. Don''t starve yourself. We''ll wait for you toe back and eat together... I''ll go check on the soup I''m simmering in the kitchen for you. Bye.


    With that, probably fearing that Rosalie would say something even more infuriating, udia hung up the phone first.


    Rosalie didn''t take them seriously and just focused on her own business. It wasn''t until seven-thirty in the evening that she headed to the Graham residence.


    "Mr. Gralum. Mrs. Graham, Rosalie has arrived." Hollie said.


    When Rosalie entered, she could sense the low pressure in the living room, clearly, the family was in a sour mood.


    And the culprit of this unpleasantness merely nced at them indifferently, handed her suitcase to Hollie, and said, "Take it upstairs and put it in


    my room.


    "Yes. Rosalie." Hollie replied.


    At that moment, footsteps could be hearding down the stairs, apanied by an extremely discontented voice echoing from the stairwell. "Rosalie, what''s going on? Don''t you know everyone''s been waiting for you to eat? Why did you show up sote?"


    The usatory tone fell squarely on Rosalie.


    She looked up and saw the old woman, and curled her lips into a smile. ¡°Grandma, you are back,¡± she said nonchntly, without much emotion. even though the woman was her grandmother.


    Ever since time travel, Phyllis had always favored Helena, Rosalie didn''t understand why, as the legitimate granddaughter, she was the one being neglected in favor of a girl brought in by a stepmother.


    Because she felt sorry for Helena, Rosalie never took out her frustration on her.


    Instead, Rosalie would ask Edward about it. Edward would say that the grandmother felt bad for Helena''s illness and thus doted on her a bit more.


    Over time, Rosalie just epted this behavior. She figured that since she had her father and stepmother''s affection, it didn''t matter if the grandmother favored Helena a bit more.


    Even when Phyllis spoke harshly to her in private, Rosalie would endure it for her father''s sake.


    But the reality was this in Phyllis'' eyes. Helena was the true granddaughter, while Rosalie, a member of the Talley family, was perhaps just an outsider.


    Phyllis had always been domineering in front of Rosalie and knew that Rosalie was usually intimidated by her. Phyllis didn''t expect that after returning from a month-and-a-half-long trip, Rosalie would still have such an indifferent attitude. First came a moment of surprise, followed quickly by a more evident displeasure on her face. "Making everyone in the family wait for you in the evening, don''t you feel the slightest bit ashamed?" she said.


    "Is that so! You were waiting for me?" Rosalie''s gaze shifted to udia. "Didn''t I tell you not to wait for me? You didn''t pass on my message.¡± Meeting Rosalie''s piercing look, udia''s eyes flickered with a hint of guilt before she exined, "I took it upon myself to have everyone you. We''re all family; it wouldn''t make sense for us to start eating without you. I just didn''t expect you to be sote.

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    udia''s words were smooth and seemingly heartfelt. Anyone hearing her would probably be touched and feel guilty about their tardiness


    However, Rosalie was longer the naive girl from the time travel; she had


    transformed into a new version of herself.


    she just looked at udia with a half-smile, not taking her words seriously, but instead focusing on thetter part of her sentence.


    She raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you using me?"


    panic as she quickly waved her hands, exining. "No, no, no, that''s not what I meant. Really, it''s not."


    uda''s eyes flickered with par


    As she spoke, she looked to Edward in the living room for support, her eyes filled with distress and grievance


    Edward frowned, got up from the sofa, and walked over to Rosalie.


    This time, he had invited Rosalie home for dinner with the intention of mending their rtionship and avoiding another unpleasant confrontation like thest time.


    Even though his anger had reached a boiling point, he held it back and softened his tone, saying, "She didn''t mean it that way. Don''t always twist her words since everyone''s here, let''s eat.


    Rosalie nced at udia with disdain, like a rebellious troublemaker, and scoffed. "I think that''s exactly what she meant."


    Ignoring the hurt and wounded look on udia''s face, Rosalie walked toward the dining room


    Phyllis, who always considered herself superior, felt increasingly annoyed that Rosalie hadpletely ignored her.


    ungrateful brat," she muttered under her breath before descending


    ng the stairs with a stem expression.


    udia stood in the hall, ring resentfully at Rosalie''s arrogant retreating figure, her teeth clenched tightly. One day, she would teach Rosalie a


    lessor


    ¡°Mom, let me help you, udia said, stepping forward to support


    ort Phyllis in a fawning manner.


    Phyllis was well aware of the past affairs between udia and Edward when they were younger. Even knowing that her son had a family, she refused to acknowledge Be as her daughter-inw.


    To do so would mean admitting that her son was a son-inw relying on his wife''s home, which the Graham family could not afford such a humiliation


    Thus, every time


    she


    saw udia acting submissive in front of her, Phyllis self-deceptive sense of superiority would kick in. Naturally. Phyllis only acknowledged udia as her daughter-inw and doted even more on Helena, udia''s daughter. As for Rosalie, she was, in essence, a member of the Talley family, and Phyllis simply did not recognize her as such


    Phyllis nced toward the dining room and lowered her voice, saying, "Don''t always indulge that girl You are the legitimate mistress of the Graham family now, her stepmother. How can you be so spineless and let her get the upper hand!"


    udia rolled her eyes inwardly. "Do you think I want to be taken advantage of by her? If it weren''t for that 40% stake she holds, I would have given her a lesson long ago.


    *Mrs. Graham, Edward is still catering to her. What can 1, as her stepmother, do?" udia said, her face showing a hint of grievance.


    Phyllis knew what her son had in mind, so she didn''t dare to really do anything to


    Rosalie.


    After all, she was just her grandmother. As long as Edward maintained his image as a caring father in front of Rosalie, Phyllis, as the grandmother, just needed to cooperate within sometimes.


    After everyone took their seats, Helena and Riley also came downstairs one after another.


    "Hi, Rosalie," Helena called out. Ever since that day when she had been disciplined by Rosalie, Helena had be more docile.

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    was an act or not didn''t matter to Rosalie. What mattered was that she was being less annoying now.


    Whether Helena docility was an act


    nced at hire with a lift of her eyelids, picked up her fork, and began to cal


    However, she was interrupted by Riley''s sarcastic remark. "Everyone has been waiting for you thiste, and not only do you not apologize, but you art eating before the elders have even touched their forks. Just because your mother is gone doesn''t mean you can be so ill-mannered."


    Riley was the legitimate eldest grandson of the Graham family, born to udia and Edward after their marriage.


    Unlike Helena, he didn''t need to be submissive in front of Rosalie.


    From a young age. udia had instilled in him the idea that he and Rosalie were not full siblings and that he didn''t need to take her seriously.


    udia had even manipted him into believing that it was Rosalie''s mother who had taken Edward away, turning his sister Helena into a child born out of wedlock. As a result, Riley had long harbored various grievances against Rosalie.


    though Riley hadn''t been home thest time, he had heard about Helena being angered into a faint by Rosalie and had been furious, wanting to confront Roulie. Edward and udia had stopped him.


    Tonight, having waited for two hours because of Rosalie, Riley was already seething with anger. Seeing Rosalie''s attitude, he couldn''t hold back any longer andshed out


    As soon as Riley finished speaking, the atmosphere at the dinner table changed dramatically.


    Edward and udia both turned their was why they had been tolerating her.


    gazes


    Riley''s words had directly offended Rosalie


    s on Riley, frowning disapprovingly. They didn''t want any more conflicts with Rosalie tonight, which


    Roue lost her mother when she was a little girl. Be was a sensitive topic for Rosalie, and the disrespectful tone he used were bound to provoke


    Theter part of his sentence was almost implying that Rosalie had no upbringing due to losing her mother, which was a direct challenge to her

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    ?as soon as Riley finished speaking, Rosalie''s face darkened. Her gaze s shifted to Riley, her eyes cold and menacing.


    Sure enough, as so013 15


    Before Rosalie could speak, Edward scolded Riley sharply. "Riley, what nonsense are you talking about? Apologize to Rosalie right now


    Riley, the only son of the Graham family, had been spoiled by the three of them


    since childhood. The idea of apologizing to Rosalie was out of the


    ite mmed his fork down on the table with a harsh noise. "Why should I apologize to this ill-mannered...


    Kiley was sitting to the lower right of Rosalie. In one swift motion, Rosalie swung her fork and struck Riley''s mouth. The force was so strong that it drew blood from his lips, and his teeth felt as if they were about to be shattered.


    Riley clutched his mouth, wincing in pain, momentarily forgetting to fight back.


    "If your mouth is only good for spewing nonsense, you might as well sew it shut," Rosalie said, her eyes fierce and piercing. Her re was so intimidating that everyone present was momentarily stunned into silence.


    Chice Riley had recovered from the initial pain, he red at Rosalie viciously and started to get up, intending to strike back. "You bitch, how dare


    The moment he stood up, Rosalie kicked the chair beside her, causing it to topple over. The falling chair struck Riley''s knee, and he immediately dropped to his knees.


    In the blink of an eye, before anyone could react, Rosalie had moved to Riley''s side. As he knelt on the ground, she kicked him over and stepped on his face, grinding her foot into it with force.


    I do to be

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    "Riley Everyone except Edward, who was too furious to speak and whose face had turned ashen, screamed.


    Phyllis and the others jumped up from their chairs. "Rosalie, are you crazy? He''s your brother, Phyllis screeched.


    Relic with one foot still nted on Riley''s face, tumed her head to look at the people at the dining table. Her eyes, cold and menacing, seemed to gleam with a hint of murderous intent, causing them to feel a chill run down their spines, They had every reason to believe that if anyone dared to approach her r right now, Rosalie might very well rip their heads off with her bare hands. After just one nce, Rosalie shifted her focus back to Riley and stepped onto his fac


    face, squatting down in front of him like a bully.


    "I''m not only willing to hit you, but I can also kill you. Believe it or not? Rosalie''s voice was like that of a demon from hell singing in his ear, pleasant yet terrifying, as if any resistance from him would cause her to crush his face.


    Riley was surprised that Rosalie''s skills and strength were so amazing. He was pinned beneath her foot, unable to move.


    He hadn''t even seen her move; in just a few seconds, he had been subdued. Pride, hatred, and embarrassment all intertwined in his mind, turning Buley''s face from red to white, and then to a dark shade.


    Only after delivering her threat did Rosalie slowly stand up, but she didn''t remove her foot from Riley''s face.


    The voice that seemed toe from a demon continued, "I know you don''t speak well, so I suggest that in the future, if you can''t learn to speak properly in front of me, you''d better keep your mouth shut. Do you understand?"


    When Julian entered, the first thing he heard was his soon-to-be-ex-wife''s arrogant and domineering remark.


    He raised an eyebrow and looked over at her, just in time to see her foot on Riley''s face as she issued her warning from above.

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    It seemed like every time he arrived, it was at the wrong mome


    At that moment. veryone in the Graham family was focused on Rosalie and Riley, so no one noticed Julian''s arrival.


    Julum topped the servant who was about to alert him and casually leaned against the entrance, watching the "interesting scene unfold with


    Riley''s face was dark with anger, his neck veins bulging as he held back his rage. He red at Rosalie, clenching his teeth and remaining silent.


    "Do you understand" Rosalie repeated, stamping her foot on Riley''s face again and grinding it back and forth.


    Julian was momentarily sturned. He instinctively touched his own face, as if that foot would eventually end up on his face.


    Riley telt as if his nasal bones were about to be crushed, and tears welled up in his eyes from the pain. Finally, he had no choice but to admit defeat through gritted teeth. I understand."


    Only then did Rosalie remove her foot from Riley''s face and turn back to the people at the dining table, who had been terrified into silence. She curled her lips into a smile. "Do you all understand?"


    The group, their faces pale with fear, remained silent, looking both angry and helpless, which Rosalie found rather amusing.


    "Huh?" Rosalie said again, emphasizing her words.


    This time, the group, fearing that Rosalie might take out her anger on Riley, quickly nodded and reluctantly replied, "We understand."


    When Riley finally got up and moved away from Rosalie, Phyllis came fully to her senses. Seeing her beloved grandson beaten and bruised by Rosalie, she felt both heartbroken and furious..


    101 PM da.

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    "Rosalie, what do you think you''re doing!" Phyllis asked cautiously, her words softened by Rosalie''s earlier warning


    Phyllis wanted to bring up Rosalie''s mother. Be, but knew better than to provoke the already vtile Rosalie. She was certain that if the mentioned Be Rosalie might just as well dismantle her bones.


    Rosalie raised an eyebrow and replied nonchntly, "Teaching him how to


    behave. Didn''t you get it? Need me to demonstrate again?"


    Phyllis was left speechless. Damn it! Bastard! The Talley family has really raised a fine piece of trouble, she wondered


    "No, that won''t be necessary. Edward interjected, his face stern, fearing that Rosalie might actually strike Riley again.


    "Can we all eat in peace now!" Rosalie asked.


    Despite their son being humiliated, Edward and the others had no choice but to swallow their pride.


    "Let''s eat. No more trouble," Edward said, his expression sour.


    As he nced up, he noticed Julian standing in the entrance, watching the scene unfold with interest.


    ¡°Julian Edward''s face flickered with surprise and regret upon seeing Julian Clearly, he didn''t want Julian to witness the family being dominated by Rosalie


    But Julian''s presence suggested he had been there for a while.


    At the mention of Julian, Rosalie''s back stiffened for a moment. But she quicklyposed herself, not even sparing Julian a nce as she walked to the dining table and sat down alone.


    Julian couldn''t help but frown at Rosalie''s deliberate ignoring of him. Her coldness over the past few days had already said enough.


    "Sorry I''mte." Julian said, walking up to the table and looking at the untouched dishes.


    "Mind if I join you?" he asked, though his casual seating next to Rosalie made it clear he wasn''t really asking for permission.


    Feeling the tall figure take the seat next to her, Rosalie''s grip on her fork tightened slightly


    "Of course not" Edward quickly adjusted his expression and weed him warmly. ¡°When I called you this afternoon, you said you were busy, I thought you wouldn''t make it".


    ¡°I finished up and came right over, Julian replied casually, ncing at Rosalie next to him who was focused on her meal, showing no reaction to his arrival


    Meanwhile, Rosalie, though outwardly calm, felt a twinge of suspicion when she heard Edward''s words.


    Julian has been invited by Edward?'' she wondered.


    He had sounded so supportive over the phone, but now he had brought the very person responsible for his daughter''s unhappy marriage into their home. Rosalie wondered what he was up to.


    Rosalie''s brow furrowed slightly, but she didn''t ask.


    "Come, let''s eat. The food is getting cold, Edward said as if the incident with Riley had never happened.


    Riley, having been beaten and now seeing his seat taken by Julian, had no mood left to stay. He made an excuse to go upstairs. Edward didn''t insist on him staying, even worrying if Riley might have sustained any serious injuries from Rosalie.

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    "Ill go check on Riley. You guys start eating udia said, putting down her fork and forcing a smile as she stood up. She didn''t dare to make i single mistake.


    udia had endure for over a decade and couldn''t afford to fail nove


    Just let Rosalie enjoy her moment of triumph for a little while longer. Soon, I will


    I make that bitch''s life worse than a beggar''s, she wondered.


    Phyllis, seated at the head of the table, noticed that Julian hadn''t greeted her or even nced her way since he entered and took his seat. Already upset that Rosalie had beaten her precious grandson, she tel even more suffocated by Julian''s apparent disregard.


    Edward, however, was too preupied to pay attention to Phyllis mood. He awkwardly made small talk with Julian


    Rosalie sat silently beside him and focused on her meal as if nothing around her mattered.


    Julian, although seemingly engaging with Edward, appeared rather perfunctory in his demeanor. His eyes, however, kept drifting toward Rosalie


    "Judian, try this. I made it specially for Rosalie, and I''m sure you''ll like it too. Helena''s soft voice interrupted Julian''s thoughts as she ced a meatball on his te with her fork.


    This act immediately caused Julian''s brows to furrow in displeasure. He looked up at Helena, his eyes shing with irritation, though she seemed oblivious, Instead, she beamed at him, thinking her smile was charming


    At that moment, Rosalie also looked up, and upon hearing Helena''s words, she immediately understood Edward''s intentions.


    So that''s why Edward invited Julian here, to y matchmaker for his illegitimate daughter, Rosalie wondered. A sh of sarcasm crossed Rosalie''s eyes, but she didn''t bother to expose the scheme.


    After all, Rosalie was already divorced from Julian. Whether he ended up with Roseanne or Helena was none of her business.


    With that thought, she returned her attention to her meal.


    The next second, there was a tter as Julian put down his fork. "Could I get a new set of utensils, please?" he asked, making it clear to everyone that he was rejecting Helena''s gesture


    It was an open insult, with no attempt to hide his disdain.


    As a bystander, Rosalie couldn''t help but find the sit


    situation amusing


    Helena was being far too eager. There hadn''t been any real progress between Julian and her, yet she was already shamelessly serving him food. Rosalir, who lud been Julian''s legitimate wife, had never once served him food.


    Julian has remained faithful to his ex-girlfriend for three years. Of course, he would not really cat food served by an illegitimate daughter. He is afraid it was dirty, wondered Roolie.


    *Sorry, I have a bit of a germ phobia, julian added, perfectly in sync with Rosalie''s thoughts.


    This statement left Helenapletely humiliated and drained of color. Rosalie couldn''t understand how Helena could have such good patience.


    "Doesn''t she remember how Julian has been humted thest time he was here? Yet here she is again, not only pushing herself forward but also using her own fork to serve him. She really needs to be taught a lesson, Rosalie thought.


    However, seeing Helena, who always pretended to be delicate, put in her ce, Rosalie fel a sense of satisfaction. She couldn''t help but whistle in her mind, feeling quite pleased with the turn of events.

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    9. juunbsdirt know you had a germ phobia. I was thoughtless, Helena said, biting her lower lip hard to recover from her embarrassment,


    she vedast mile and quickly tried to salvage the situation as if that would help her retain some dignity.


    -up


    Even Rosale had to give Helena a mental thumbs u


    The


    wonder she was the daughter of udia, that mistress extraordinaire. With such patience, Helena might just be as aplished a mistress


    mother after a few more years.


    brought Jahan a new set of utensils, which he epted without a second thought, showing no intention of apologizing to Helena.


    Thy who had been ignored by Julian from the start and was already feeling displeased, now put on a stern face and spoke up, trying to assert her


    Julian you''re being a bit too particr. Helena isn''t dirty. She was just trying to be nice by serving you food. How could you embarrass her like


    A few discordant coughs interrupted Phyllis words.


    Rosalie who had no intention of getting involved in this family''s drama and was nning to go upstairs after finishing her meal, was taken aback by Phylls outdated and shocking remarks, even as she was taking thest sip of her soup.


    Sering aide the wue of serving food, even among close family members, many people would choose to use serving utensils.


    As Rosales sister. Helena''s act of serving Julian food with her own fork was already ambiguous and inappropriate.


    vas essentially asking Julian to eat food that had been in her mouth.


    ilian was the head of the Galloway family, a noble gentleman. Even if he didn''t have a germ phobia, what gave Helena the right to serve him food with her personal utensils


    Clearly. Phyllis was an uneducated country woman. No amount of jewelry could hide her vulgar and unrefined nature.


    are you talking


    Even Edward was stunned by Phyllis'' words, and his face turned bright red as he saw the mockery in Julian''s eyes. "Mom, what are about!" Edward scolded, his face stem.


    Phyllis was also unhappy at being reprimanded by her son. She didn''t really mean to criticize Julian; she just wanted to assert her presence since Julian hadpletely ignored her.


    As Edward''s mother, Phyllis knew that even after twenty years, the olddies in their circle still hadn''t truly epted her.


    Although they wouldn''t embarrass her publicly, they never invited her to their private gatherings.


    And now, even Julian, her grandson-inw, didn''t give her the respect she felt she deserved. Phyllis subconsciously thought Julian looked down on ber, just like those other wealthy olddies.


    Julian, however, didn''t want to stoop to the level of an old woman who was both condescending and ignorant. He ignored her words but was drawn to Rosalie''s coughing


    Rosalie seemed to be genuinely choking and couldn''t stop coughing for a long time.


    After mentally cursing Phyllis, she felt a band patting her back, and then a deep, velvety male voice whispered in her ear, "Why are you eating


    fast? No one''s racing you."


    This unexpected tenderness didn''t make Rosalie feel ttered; instead, it sent a shiver down her spine.


    "What''s he trying to do! Who is he putting on a show for? she wondered,


    Just thinking about Julian''s insincere behavior made Rosalie feel extremely annoyed.

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    What she trying to pull off here, ying the dating husband! If Roseanne found out about this, wouldn''t he regret wasting three years of fidelity! wondered knale.


    Rosalie nced at him sideways and gave him a cold look, her face expressionless as she said. Thank you, Mr. Galloway, but you can take your


    hand back now


    Julian seemed used to Roube''s coldness and, to her surprise, promptly withdrew his hand. ¡°Alright, as you with," he said, adding with a mischievous


    umile. "But I was just trying to be helpful"


    This only made Rosalse roll her eyes internally. To anyone else, his behavior might seem like the epitome of a loving husband, but Rosalie knew


    As Rosalie had guessed. Helena, sitting opposite them, was seething with jealousy. She watched Julian''spletely different attitudes toward Rosalie and herself, and her eyes turned red with envy.


    Why did Julian tenore my attempts to please him, even embarrassing me repeatedly, yet show such tender concern for Rosalie? Didn''t he see how ruthless. Kosalie had been, even willing to hurt her own brother?" Helena wondered.


    The more Helena observed Julian''s and Rosalie''s interactions, the more intense her jealousy grew, turning into a twisted sense of resentment that she directed entirely at Rosalie


    Rosalie, however, just wanted to finish her meal and leave as quickly as possible. She couldn''t stand being in the same room with Julian for another


    Hur Julian seemed to sense her thoughts and called out to her again. "Rosalie...


    The way he said her name, with that infuriatingly smooth tone, almost made her drop her fork.


    She turned her head and red at him, only to hear him say, "Serve me a piece ofmb chop. You seem to be enjoying it so much; Id like to try


    Try you to hell Roule thought, giving him a cold, dismissive look. "Don''t you get it yourself?" she retorted.


    "It''s too far for me to reach," he replied.


    Rosalie was silent. You are tall andnky, yet you have the nerve to say you couldn''t reach! So annoying, she wondered. If you like lying so much. you should just y the role of Pinhio


    Instead, she sneered "Didn''t you just say you have a germ phobia?"


    This question was a direct p in Julian''s face and also rubbed salt into Helena''s already wounded pride.


    Helena clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms, barely keeping herposure from cracking.


    1 Julian really going to humiliate me like this? she wondered Just a few minutes ago, he had imed to have a germ phobia, even insisting on new utenali. Now he is asking Rosalie to serve him,pletely disregarding my feelings!"


    Not just Helena, but Phyllis and Edward also looked displeased.


    Even though Julian didn''t say it outright, they all felt he was doing this on purpose to embarrass Helena.


    But beca


    cause of has powerful background, they had no choice but to swallow their irritation.


    Then Julian added, "You''re different. You''re my wife


    ng with this guytely? Does a divorce agreement get him crazy, or who is behind his


    Rosalie was stunned for a moment and wondered. What''s


    wrong


    back? He is quite eloquent


    That was her real feelings.

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    the one who truly spent time with Julian. She knew exactly what kind of person he was. If Julian didn''t have ulterior motives at the ouldn''t be saving such pleasing words.


    ng across from Rosalie, didn''t think the same way. In fact, she thought much more than Rosalie did.


    cosalse was his wife, she was different and not within the scope of his germ phobia.


    husband and wife, kissing was amon urrence, so what was the big deal about eating food served by her?


    were never too intense.


    In the past, even if Helena had inappropriate feelings for Julian, her reactions


    were


    she looked at Julian''s handsome face and imagined this excellent and good- looking man gently kissing Rosalie, she felt so jealous that internal organs seemed to twist


    This was partly because Edward had said that since the two were getting divorced, he would try to matchmake between Helena and Julian.


    even though there was no concrete basis for it, she had already imed Julian as her own.


    have even thought about what to name their future children.


    Naturally, seeing her man fining and being affectionate with another woman was bound to upset her.


    The pain of her nails digging into her flesh repeatedly reminded her to maintain herposure and not let Rosalie provoke her into losing her


    ool in front of Julian, which might make him despise herter.


    Roulemored Julianpletely, not even sparing him a nce.


    But Julian seemed to have saved all his patience for today. When Rosalie ignored him, he lightly poked her arm with his index finger.


    Rosalie didn''t know what to say for a moment.


    Julian, surprisingly, didnt get angry at being treated so coldly by someone usually so high and mighty. Instead, he repeated his request in a gentle tone. "Serve me amb chop


    The mut


    way he said it made it sound like a normal, everyday interaction between a couple at home, simple and warm.


    Role didn''t know what to say for a moment.


    Helena, sitting across, couldn''t hold back any longer. She released her clenched fist, forced a ingratiating smile, and picked up her fork. ¡°Julian, I''m closer to themb chops. Let me serve you," she said.


    This time, instead of directly putting themb chop on Julian''s te, she waited


    for him to speak, thinking that he wouldn''t refuse her, someone who had no self- respect left.


    Unfortunately, the overestimated both her status. Julian was never a gentle person to begin with.


    When Julian a semilung gaze shifted from Rosalie to Helena, the warmth in his eyes disappeared, reced by a cold, piercing look. Helena was so scared that her fork dropped to the table.


    At that moment, Rosalie leisurely put down her fork, stood up from her chair, and curled her lips it


    into


    mocking smile.


    "Do you hear that she is eager to serve you, Mr. Galloway. If you are willing, she''d even feed him," Rosalie said sarcastically, with no intention of sparing Helena''s feelings.


    With those words, Rosalie walked an


    away from the table and headed upstairs.


    Helena was the happiest to see Rosalie leave. Without that annoying woman around, she finally had a chance to build a rtionship

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    with Juliari.


    thai hoian had been the vase tecumine the downer wich Hosalie Vlibonighthey diddict Kiyow why he always maintain grant hashaal ja Hasaol these ndikat mains Elwand spectesktheu faline was probably doing it on purpose before him


    Thapa ban was paid that it belowal n Rosalies tuber, Tobas might be untapp


    halim


    Bij i sta ben she as he though, I sobat les tulin kow that I wont interfere in their marriage, maybe he''ll


    shoh vs sa tak humanisani Johan Kumbe has been spoiled by her grandfather since she was a child. As you can see, she''s not just rule to you,


    bepe vya vans snderstand"


    who the walls, full som to be assuring Noabic to Julian, but his words impliest that Rosalie was an ill-mannered woman


    Vases Wat wel that bad manners were due to the indulgence of George, not his own parenting.


    too deschis ke


    Kate in a ding hive of with a sider son in her mouth. She''s destined for privilege. It''s okay to have a bad temper, right? But


    be arvgan, night" Jahan sand with a straightve.


    my Kerti pan hi


    crobbly untam. She had been mistreated, yet he thought Rosalie deserved to act entitled


    eserved to be bullied? Helena wondered.


    even though they were on the verge of divorve.


    Aough he thoughtin was putting on a show. Foward sull nodded with a forest smule, pretending to agree.


    ben besked gears sving. Uvassally losing her temper is fine, but her attitude toward her elders could be seen as disrespectful The worst that people will crise her to being ill-mannered. As her father. I''m concerned about this."


    ath grievance, and continued. Helena has been well-raised by her mother. Even when she''s to six which only makes Rosalie more aggresive."


    ward thought he was subely promoting Helena to Julian and Helena, in turn, acted even more gentle and understanding when he mentioned


    the test wind ban let out a soft, mockingugh "Mr. Graham I don''t see how Rosalie''s behavior is particrly ill-mannered. Even if it


    of their w to spread it around? What ulterior motives could there be


    hir''s worth, thought cay guns, camed wright and seemed to imply something more, hitting home with everyone at the table. Of course, as Rosales father, you would never do anything to harm her. So if such stories were to get out, it could only be from outsiders," he


    ther the outsiders to Rosahe. He means udia and Helena" they wondered. Edward and Hirena taves darkened sigh


    wer. Julian, are you saying that my mom and I would go around badmouthing Rosalie"


    sounded even more pitiful as she deliberately acted innocent and vulnerable in front of Julian

 Breaking Free From 135

    ericht have worked on other men, but tulian would''t bepletely indifferent. He would never ponder to girls and wouldn''t take her


    Term though Helena looked like she might crumble at the slightest breeze, Julian remained unmoved.


    My Graham, you?ve mmausderstood. Im just curious. Mr. Graham mentioned that something about Rosalie would get out. There has to be a


    He was basically pointing the finger at Helena and her mother. Helena bit her lower lip in grievance, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked at [icon_hei heart aching and batter


    She looked as if Julian were a man who had betrayed her for another womail


    and was left speechless by Julian''s question, his face turning bright red.


    He had orignally unvited Rosalie home to ease the tension and didn''t want to continue the argument. In hindsight, he shouldn''t have called Julian in the first ce.


    Edward had thought that with Julian present, Rosalie might be more restrained, giving him a chance to y it by ear.


    It Rosalie acted up or embarrassed the family likest time, Edward could use the opportunity to show Julian her true colors. Inparison, Helena might then


    catch Julian''s eye.


    But he hadn''t expected that even though Julian was divorcing Rosalie, he would still inexplicably protect her, acting in no way like someone about to end a marriage.


    Could it be that the servant misheard something that day!'' Edward wondered.


    Although Edward was puzzled, he didn''t have the mind to dwell on it now. He would just find another chance to test the waters.


    However, Julian wasn''t about to let Edward off the hook so easily. Since Edward liked to badmouth Rosalie in front of him, he had to rify things.


    Just as Edward was about to speak, Julian''s half-smiling gaze swept over Helena, making her expression even more sorrowful.


    "Moreover, Mr. Graham, you asked


    (just said that Ms. Graliam is bullied by Rosalie but neverins to her parents. So how did you find out?" Julian


    Edward''s face changed, and the muscles in his forced smile twitched. "Well..."

 Breaking Free From 136

    If course, he couldn''t answer. His earlier remarks about Rosalie in front of Julian were just to highlight Helena''s obedience and good nature. He hadn''t existed Julian to seize on those words and question him about them one by one.


    Being mocked by a younger man, Edward was naturally unhappy, his face turning gloomy.


    Julian. I really didn''t say anything bad about Rosalie to my dad, Helena said, her face red with grievance as she defended herself.


    Helena hadn''t said anything, of course. Apart from that one time when Rosalie had a fit, she hadn''t been bullied by her in the past few years.


    Julian ignored Helena, keeping his gaze on Edward. The smile in his eyes suddenly disappeared, turning serious and cold, making Edward''s heart skip a beat.


    "Mr. Graham, I reminded youst time that although Rosalie is your daughter, she is still my wife. No one gets to walk all over her and treat her with such disrespect


    This time, Julian''s voice was even colder, and the warning hidden in it was unmasked and unmistakable.


    Edward clenched his fists tightly. He could clearly sense that Julian was warning him not to have any designs on Rosalie.


    Even though he was seething inside, he had to put on a nonchnt face and try


    y to smooth things over.


    "Hey, Julian, you''re misunderstanding. My words weren''t meant to b me Rosalie. I''m just worried that if she''s used to this attitude at home and acts the same way outside, it might cause trouble with others?

 Breaking Free From 137

    Jafian nced at him, his face full of disdain for Edward''s words. "So what if it causes trouble? Is it that you don''t have the ability to protect your own daughter or do you think I''m incapable of protecting my wife!"


    Erwand was taken aback for a moment. At this point, Julian was countering every attempt Edward made to argue, leaving hirnpletely


    Julian isn''t someone who would dwell on trivial matters. Could it be that being around Rosalie rubbed off on him? Edward wondered.


    Julian was indeed provoked by Edward. He didn''t visit the Graham family often, and the two times he had, he had witnessed firsthand how Edward treated Rolic


    Normally Julian wouldn''t have paid much attention to these things, but the thought of Rosalie being schemed against by her own father, who would shamelessly undermine his legitimate daughter for the sake of an illegitimate one, and even go so far as to tarnish his own daughter''s reputation, made Julian''s anger uncontroble.


    Julian''s words had indeed embarrassed Edward, and considering he was Rosalie''s father, Julian held back some of the harsher things he could have


    He hade to the Graham Vi tonight because of Rosalie, not to dine with this absurd family.


    He immediately put down his fork and said, "I''ll go check on Rosalie. Mrs. Graham, Mr. Graham, please enjoy yourselves."


    Julianpletely ignored Helena who pretended to be weak-looking


    Phyllis watched helplessly as her granddaughter was dismissed by Julian and her


    son was reprimanded like a little boy by him. Her face turned extremely sour.

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    But she was the type of person who bullied the weak and feared the strong. She didn''t dare to me Julian and instead ced all the fault on


    She thought it was that Rosalie,pted by the Talley family, who had instigated Julian to be disrespectful to her elders.


    "Dama n"" Phyllis muttered. It was only after Julian left the dining room that she dared to m her fork down on the table and throw a tantrum.


    However, aude from Edward. Helena, and a few servants, no one else was around to witness this scene.


    At this point. Rosalie, who had already gone upstairs, was unaware that Julian was sticking up for her downstairs. She stood in her bedroom, which was now unrecognizable, her eyes cold. She looked at the servant in front of her.


    "Whose things are these?" Rosalie asked, already knowing the answer.


    During the time travel, it had been around this time that Rosalie discovered her master bedroom had been taken over by Helena.


    Back then. udia and Helena pretended to look pitiful. They told her that Helena was not well, and since Rosalie''s bedroom had good lighting and was on the second floor, it would be good for Helena to stay there temporarily until she felt better.


    At that time. Rosalie had a good rtionship with the family and, thinking she didn''te home often, readily gave up her room to Helena without a second thought


    Now, seeing the bedroom filled with tacky pink decorations and no trace of her original presence, Rosalie''s face grew colder.


    The servant frightened by Rosalie''s demeanor, spoke in a barely audible voice. "Th-they''re Helena''s"


    "Who gave her permission to move in?" asked Rosalie


    "It was the mistress," the servant replied


    Rosalie was both angry and amused. It seemed her tolerance of this family had been mistaken for an invitation to take advantage.

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    How ridiculous that before time travel, she had still considered them family.


    family, when in their hearts, they only saw her as a fool to be taken advantage


    of


    Rosalie didn''t waste any breath on her and immediately said with a stern look in her eyes, "Throw everything out"


    "Rosalic, oh well. The servant looked troubled.


    "What''s the problem!" Rosalie raised her eyebrow and asked.


    "Could L... ask Mr. and Mrs. Graham first?" The servant was in a dilemma. They were all masters, and she didn''t know whose order she should take. Considering Rosalie''s temper, even Edward couldn''t control her, let alone her, a mere servant. She couldn''t afford to offend Rosalie. Rosalie didn''t make things difficult for the young girl. She waved her hand at her and walked into the bedroom


    She grabbed the pink trash can in the room and, without batting an eyelid, swept all of Helena''s expensive skincare products from the dressing table into it with one


    arm.


    Then she ced the trash can at the door, went back to the bedroom, and threw out all of Helena''s clothes that were in the wardrobe. She also picked up the bedding, sheets, and so on from the bed and threw them all outside the door.


    By this time, udia had already learned from the servant what Rosalie was going to do. She didn''t have time to worry about Riley and hurried


    over.


    She then saw the clo


    clothes and bedding that had been thrown out at th


    out at the door.


    udia''s face darkened, and a sh of ferocity crossed her eyes as she quickened her pace and walked up.


    She didn''t bother to pretend to be a caring mother anymore and immediately questioned, "Rosalie, why did you throw Helena''s things our

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    Roulie raised her eyebrow and looked at udia, who was acting as if she had every right to do so, and let out a derisiveugh.


    At that, udia''s brow twitched, and a sense of unease washed over her.


    "I remember this is my room. Who gave her permission to usurp it?" said Rosalie.


    udia''s face faltered for a moment when Rosalie asked her, and she blurted out without thinking, "You''re not usually at home, so I thought it wouldn''t hurt to let Helena stay here for a while."


    As soon as she said this, udia regretted it. Over the years, Rosalie had been too lenient with this mother-daughter duo, and udia had gotten med to taking Rosalie''s things for granted.


    It was just a room that Rosalie didn''t live in, so udia upied it without a second thought.


    That was why udia so easily said this at that moment.


    udia hadpletely forgotten how fierce Rosalie had been thest two times she came back, and she couldn''t gain any advantage from Rosalie


    "It won''t hurt"" Rosalie said with a yful smile in her eyes, but the coldness in her eyes was piercing. Tm just curious who gave you the right to touch my things without permission.


    udia''s face turned pale, and she couldn''t help but shiver under Rosalie''s gaze. "Rosalie, I''m your mother. It''s just a room. It''s empty anyway, and I didn''t want it to go to waste. I thought you wouldn''t mind."


    Her words were still using Rosalie of being stingy.


    Rosalie was so amused by udia''s shameless behavior that she was almostughing. She didn''t bother to reason with someone as despicable as udia and directly said, "First, let''s get one thing straight. My mother is the daughter of the Talley family, not you.


    "Second, it''s my room. You can only use it if I give you permission. Without my consent, it''s stealing. Do you understand?"


    "You..." udia tried to reason with her.


    "Is this presumptuous thievery a family tradition of the Green family?" Rosalie maintained her smile and added, deepening udia''s rage.

 Breaking Free From 141

    The few people who had heard themotion downstairs had just made it upstairs when they caught Rosalie''s humiliating remarks. Seeing Helena''s bedroom door littered with clothes and bedding, everyone except Julian had unpleasant expressions on their faces.


    "Rosabe, you''re going too far, Helena said, already having lost her temper downstairs.


    Now, seeing her things thrown out, she couldn''t help but confront Rosalie.


    "Am I Rosalir nonchntly raised an eyebrow. "The one who shamelessly took over my room doesn''t think it''s too much. Why should I?"


    With a smirk, she nced between udia and Helena, letting out a derisive snort. "You two really are mother and daughter. The trait of brazenly stealing from others is truly in your blood. No one else could imitate it."


    Julian, who had been quietly watching his soon-to-be-ex-wife''s performance, subtly twitched the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit relieved that her


    You... Helena was full of anger, wanting to curse more, but seeing Julian standing by and watching, she swallowed her words.


    She then put on her innocent, pitiful face and choked out. "Even if you won''t let me stay in your room, you shouldn''t just throw my things out. You could have told me, and I would have moved out myself."


    Her tears were on the verge of falling, a perfect example of a soap opera''s leadingdy.


    Rosalie, however, had no interest in indulging her disgusting act


    She simply said. "This is my room. If I don''t want the things in it, they have to go. Do I need to ask anyone else''s permission?"


    "H-how can you be like this, Rosalie!" Helena''s tears flowed like a broken string.


    Though Helena wanted to tear Rosalie apart in her heart, all she could do now was cry.


    Ignoring Helena, Rosalie looked at Hollie, who was standing behind udia with a resentful expression.


    Disregarding the anger on Hollie''s face, Rosalie said, "Hollie, go get a new set of sheets and bedding and make the bed."


    Hollie was reluctant to move, but Rosalie was also a master of the house, and she didn''t dare refuse directly. She could only look to udia for guidance.


    udia''s face was so twisted with anger at Rosalie that she couldn''t guarantee she wouldn''t really rush up and tear Rosalie''s mouth apart if she let her continue like this.


    "Rosalie, it''ste at night. It''s too much trouble. The guest room upstairs has already been prepared, and it''s all set up ording to your preferences. Why make a fuss! Helena is used to this room," udia said.


    A cold soort suddenly rang out, cutting off udia''s unfinished words.


    udu''s face changed as she looked toward the source of the sound, meeting Julian''s cold gaze. "I''ve never heard of someone taking over another person''s things so brazenly," Julian said.


    udia, who wasn''t downstairs just now, didn''t know that the others had already been humiliated by Julian. She wasn''t pleased to hear him clearly taking Rosalie''s side now.


    "Why is this called taking over? Rosalie is Helena''s sister. Helena just switched rooms with her. She shouldn''t be so stingy." udia retorted. Having already seen udia''s shamelessness, Rosalie wasn''t angry at all when she heard this.

 Breaking Free From 142

    Edward, who also couldn''t stand Rosalie''s domineering attitude, chimed in, "Rosalie, you''re sister. What''s the big deal to let Helena stay in your room! You shot but be so stingy and go so far as to throw Helena''s things out like this."


    Boshe nced at Edward, and whatever little affection she had left for him vanishedpletely. "How dare a burden call herself my sister! I


    indly took them in. This ce is just for them to stay temporarily. I''ve never heard of borrowing something and then iming it as your own."


    Helena hated that the most. When Rosalie called her a burden, she felt like she could kill her.


    But it didn''t stop there. Rosalie pointed at udia and continued, ¡°You''re just a mistress though you got married with my dad. Who gave you the right to talk down to me like that?"


    udia was indeed Edward''s mistress, his second wife. But it didn''t sound pleasant.


    Every word Rosalie said was a p in the face of the mother-daughter duo.


    Enraged by Rosalie''s words, udia red at her with hatred in her eyes and said, "If you look down on me so much, why did you agree with our marriage in the first ce?


    "Because I''m filial. I couldn''t stand seeing my dad all alone and wanted to find him somepany, Rosalie replied with a half-smile, looking at Edward in a yful yet meaningful way that made him feel inexplicably guilty.

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    Rosalie imed to be filial, but her actions didn''t match her words. I didn''t expect that h making a face of dicus and looking at Edward. "Dad, your taste is really bad"


    he''d marry such a greedy and pushy woman," she added.


    Edward and udia were stunned for a moment.


    "Enough" Phyllis, who had been silent with a stern face, finally spoke up,


    Having seen the disgusting behavior of this family many times, Rosalie didn''t expect any kind words from Phyllis


    Sure enough, when Rosale looked at Phyllis, she walked up to Rosalie and, relying on her status as an elder, said condescendingly, "Alright, Rosalie, your mother didn''t mean to take your room for Helena. You know Helena isn''t well


    Your room has good lighting and is on the second floor, which is good for her recovery. Just consider her motherly intentions and don''t hold it against her"


    Afraid that Rosalie would argue, Phyllis didn''t give her a chance to speak and continued, ¡°I know you''re not someone who would quibble over every line thing. We rarely have the whole family together for dinner. Don''t let this small matter spoil the harmony."


    Phyllis words sounded nice, but they were all aimed at pressuring Rosalie


    if Rosalie kept pushing, she would be seen as petty and stingy. If she let it go, she would be ying into their hands and allowing them to take over her room


    Everyone in the family was focused on Rosalie and didn''t notice how serious Julian''s expression had be.


    It was clear that the family was ganging up on Rosalie. If she had been someone with a soft nature, she would have been bullied out of her home by


    Looking at Rosalie''s cold profile, Julian felt a pang in his heart. She was clearly in the right, but seeing her like this, he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of pain.


    103 PM

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    Julian felt a pang of heartache seeing Rosalie isted and manipted by her own father, who treated her like an adversary.


    The more indifferent and unbreakable Rosalie appeared, the more Julian''s heart ached.


    Before Phyllis could finish her sentence, she dered, Ill take care of the room situation for you, Rosalie. Let Helena stay there, and I have the servants prepare another room for you."


    Rosalie had anticipated this family''s shamelessness, so Phyllis words didn''t surprise her.


    Just a room she wondered as she micked


    His room was the best in the entire vi, with unparalleled lighting, views, and scenery.


    The family''s casual attempt to seize her: room and then act as peacemakers in front of her wasughable. It was su funny.


    Before Rosalie could respond, Julian spoke up first. "This house belongs to Rosalie. She hasn''t agreed to anything, and yet you, Mrs. Graham. family, are making decisions on her behalf? Who gave you that right?"


    Julian''s words were blunt and unapologetic.


    Phyllis, as an elder, was visibly affronted by Julian''s direct confrontation, her wrinkled face turning sour.


    Edward, too, was taken aback that Julian would openly challenge an elder, and he finally vented his frustration.


    "Julian, this is within the Graham family. Who are you to interfere? My mother is Rosalie''s grandmother and your elder. Is this any way to speak to her?" Rosalie knew Julian wasn''t one to care about anyone''s feelings. His social skills were a bitcking


    She thought her own words had sufficiently humiliated the shameless family, but Julian''s retort was even more cutt


    cutting.


    What surprised her more was that Julian, who despised her to the core, was the only one standing up for her in this situation.


    Rosalie''s emotions were a tangled mess, anger at the Graham family''s audacity and confusion at Julian''s unexpected support. She was so overwhelmed that she momentarily forgot to retort to Phyllis.


    The next second, she felt her hand being grasped. Looking up in surprise, she saw Julian step in front of her, pulling her behind him, his piercing gaze locking onto Edward.


    The imposing aura Julian had cultivated over years as a dominant figure pressed down on Edward, who instinctively took a few steps back, barely containing his inner turmoil.


    Julian''s long-standing authority was something Edward, who had only recently ascended to his position, couldn''t withstand.


    "How have you all treated my wife! And now you tell me t Graham, that 1, Rosalie''s husband, am an outsider?"


    this is within your family?" Julian''s voice was icy, colder than ever. "Are you saying. Mr.


    Edward''s face flushed red as Julian''s words left him speechless.


    Julian continued, relentless. "Taking your own daughter''s belongings for another''s gain. Mr. Graham, you''ve truly impressed me


    Julian''s stern demeanor silenced everyone.


    They knew they were in the wrong but had grown ustomed to taking advantage of Rosalie, who had passively allowed it, even justifying their


    shamelessness as if it were reasonable.

 Breaking Free From 145

    Julian''s confrontation with Edward wasn''t enough; he then turned to Phyllis. "Mrs. Graham, you keep calling yourself Rosalie''s grandmother. I''m curious, what kind of grandmother helps outsiders bully her own granddaughter! Anyone who doesn''t know better would think Helena is your real granddaughter"


    Julian''s words sent a jolt through everyone present, except for Rosalie, who already knew the truth. They all looked at Julian sharply, unable to tell whether he genuinely knew something or was simply standing up for Rosalie.


    Either way, the Graham family felt exposed andcked the confidence to retort.


    Phyllis, directly targeted by Julian''s attack, was left speechless, her face turning red and then pale with frustration.


    After a long moment, she regained herposure and softened her tone as she looked at Rosalie. "Rosalie, I am not siding with Helena to bully you. As your father''s stepdaughter, in a way, Helena is his child. Since she''s ill, I felt for her and thought you could make some concessions for Helena


    Rosalie found the whole situation absurd and couldn''t help butugh-


    Just as


    she was about to speak, Julian stepped in again. "Sure, if you feel for her, use your own things to show w your concern. Why be so generous with Rosalie''s belongings?"


    Rosalie frowned slightly from behind him. She was ready to roll up her sleeves and get into the fray, but Julian''s intervention left her no chance to


    Phyllis was once again left speechless by Julian''s words, her face a mix of embarrassment and anger.


    "You can''t say it like that... We''re all family, there''s no need to be so particr Phyllis tried to argue weakly.

 Breaking Free From 146

    After a night of relentless attacks, Edward knew his family wouldn''t gain any advantage against Julian or Rosalie.


    as soon as Phyllis finished speaking, he quickly interjected before Julian could respond. "Alright, Rosalie, this time, it was indeed your mother who was thought I apologize on her behalf. Helena will move out of your room today. Don''t be angry."


    Not just udia and Helena, but even Edward felt extremely bitter inside.


    He had been ying the role of a submissive son-inw in the Talley family for twenty years. Now that the elder was gone, he still had to continue this charade in front of his own daughter.


    Of course, he hated it. But he could do nothing.


    Thergest share of the Talley Group was in Rosalie''s hands. As long as he didn''t get those shares, he would remain a high-level employee under Rosalie''s control. For now, he had to appease Rosalie and wait for the right moment to settle the


    score.


    A sh of malice and resentment crossed Edward''s eyes.


    It was as if the person in front of him wasn''t his daughter but his worst enemy.


    After a night of drama, Rosalie didn''t want to witness any more of her family''s bizarre behavior. So, after Edward''s apology, she just gave him a look and turned to leave the room.


    At that moment, at the entrance of the Graham Vi, several men carrying a luxurious leather Western-style bed followed a servant inside. "What''s this?" Edward seemed to have guessed something. Despite having prepared himself mentally, he couldn''t help but look stern.


    "I had it ordered over the phone, Rosalie said, walking downstairs first and addressing the movers. "Take it to the first room on the right, upstairs."

 Breaking Free From 147

    After a night of sessive setbacks. Elwand had finally calmed down.


    He kept reassuring himself and wondered. Let her continue to act out, she''ll get what''sing to her one day


    Helena, who had been feeling wronged all night and had been bullied by Rosalie, now had to move out of her room. "What''s Rosalie nning to do next?" she wondered.


    She couldn''t hold back any longer and spoke up. "Rosalie, I''m such a frail person. Do you really think I could break your bed? Why make things so difficult! I''ve already moved out as you wished. Isn''t that enough?*


    Rosalie had been prepared to let things lie, but Helena, the illegitimate daughter, still wanted to stir up trouble. She couldn''t be med for speaking harshly.


    She nced at Helena, who looked both wronged and resentful, and smiled. "Firstly, this room was always mine. You were the one who took it over. Moving out is only right. Secondly...


    She paused deliberately, narrowing her eyes at Helena, her look full of contempt and disdain. "Are you joking with me? Let me sleep on a bed you''ve slept on! I have a germ phobia, you know?"


    Germ phobia? Germ phobia. There it is again, Helena wondered.


    Hearing this word. Helena was reminded of how Julian had used it to humiliate her at the dinner table. The anger that had been building up inside her surged to her head.


    "D-do you think I''m dirty?" said Helena


    ¡°No, of course not," Rosalie replied with a smile. "I just don''t want to catch whatever illness you might have."


    Rosalie wasn''t about to consider Helena''s feelings. Before time travel, she had been considerate enough of her, and look where it had gotten her, a family that had deceived her for over a decade.


    Now, she didn''t owe anyone any consideration.


    "You...." Helena was at a loss for words.


    "Alright, Helena, you''re not feeling well. Let your mother take you upstairs to rest," Edward quickly interjected, seeing another argument about to break out.


    His precious and obedient daughter was no match for Rosalie, the troublemaker.

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    udia, who was also holding back her anger, quickly stepped forward and held onto Helena, who was about to fight with Rosalie.


    She soothed her with a look and said, "Helena, let''s go upstairs together."


    Helena was eventually dragged upstairs against her will and Phyllis, who had been angered and exhausted by the night''s events, also had no desire to stay and followed suit.


    Now, in the living room, aside from the servants, only Rosalie, Edward, and Julian remained.


    "What are your


    are your ns now, Rosalie?" Edward asked, not directly mentioning Rosalie''s divorce.


    Although she had confirmed it to him over the phone, Julian''s behavior tonight didn''t seem like that of someone about to get divorced.


    Rosalie knew what Edward was getting at and didn''t hide it. "I''ll be living at home from now on. Dad, you wouldn''t mind, would you?"


    Rosalie''s attention was on Edward, so she didn''t notice Julian''s slight frown when she said this


    Edward gave Julian a meaningful look before feigning indulgence and scolding, "What nonsense! This is your home. There''s no question of being wee or not. You can stay as long as you like."


    He inwardly added, "Bener topletely cut ties with Julian so he has no reason to support you"


    But he didn''t dare show any of this on h


    on his face.


    He nced at Julian, who was staring at Rosalie with a stern expression, and guessed that Julian probably had more to say to her. So, he tactfully decided not to stay any longer. The sooner these two had a falling out, the better.

 Breaking Free From 149

    Edward thought darkly to himself but said jokingly, "Alright, I won''t disturb you two anymore. I''m off to the study to handle some things. Take your


    Edward left, Rosalie finally had a moment to deal with Julian beside her.


    She nced at him and spoke first. "My dad called you here?"


    She remembered that was what they had said when Julian first walked in


    Julian nodded, showing a bit more patience with her than usual. In their marriage, even such a simple response would typically have annoyed him.


    At this moment, Rosalie didn''t feel particrly delighted; instead, she felt more irony.


    So, sheughed.


    Julian looked at the corners of her eyes, raised an eyebrow, and didn''t understand what she wasughing at


    Then he heard Rosalie say. "Mr. Galloway, I didn''t expect you to be so obedient to my dad. He called, and you came?"


    Rosalie knew why Edward had called Julian over and wasn''t surprised. What surprised her was that Julian, who had never been to her house before time travel, was actually sopliant this time.


    Faced with her subtle sarcasm, Julian didn''t get as angry as he usually would. Maybe he had be ustomed to her barbs. This time, he just looked up and smiled at her, saying, "Who says I came because he told me to?"


    Rosalie looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "You haven''t been home for almost a month. How long do you n to keep this up?"


    Rosalie was taken aback. Julian thought me not returning to their insignificant little home is some kind of tantrum?"


    m?'' she wondered.


    Julian, it was


    you


    who wanted the divorce. Now y you''re telling me I''m making a scene!" Rosalie felt an urge to fight

 Breaking Free From 150

    It seemed that hitting Riley hadn''t been satisfying enough; she needed to find someone else to punch.


    Her gaze lingered on Julian''s face for two seconds before she forcibly restrained herself.


    Julian didn''t notice her look at that moment. Instead, he was caught off guard by her question..


    Indeed, it had been he who had initiated the divorce. But when Rosalie handed him the signed divorce papers, he had felt strangely uneasy.


    For days, he couldn''t figure out why, and could only conclude that this woman had been around him for too long. He was used to her presence, so her sudden and smooth departure made him feel ufortable.


    After a moment of contemtion, Julian looked at Rosalie, whose face showed no emotional waves.


    When she faced the Graham family''s quirks, she at least had some expressions. But in front of him, she didn''t even bother to show any.


    Thinking this, Julian inexplicably felt a pang of jealousy toward the Graham family.


    After a few seconds of hesitation, he didn''t know what prompted him to say to Rosalie, "What if I don''t want to get divorced anymore?"


    This time, Rosalie''s face finally showed some reaction, but it wasn''t joy.


    She looked at Julian in surprise, then furrowed her brows, thinking she had misheard. "What did you say?"


    Julian dutifully repeated himself. "I said, I suddenly don''t want to get divorced."


    This time, the reaction on Rosalie''s face was even more pro


    pronounced.


    It wasn''t the delight and relief Julian had expected. In her usually clear eyes, Julian saw restrained anger.

 Breaking Free From 151

    Rosalie''s reaction was unexpected for Julian, yet somehow understandable.


    But no matter what, her response still displeased him.


    "Julian, are you ying with my feelings?" Rosalie asked coldly, her hands slowly clenching into fists at her sides.


    The chill emanating from her made Julian''s heart skip a beat. The anxiety he had been suppressing for days began to resurface,


    Despite this, he maintained a hint of his usual arrogance and said, "This isn''t ying with your feelings. I just realized that divorce is too much trouble. Staying together like this isn''t so bad either."


    As he spoke, Julian felt unountably guilty and even deliberately avoided Rosalie''s gaze. But Rosalie didn''t notice; she was too enraged by his fickle behavior.


    "Is that so? But I don''t think it''s good at all," said Julian.


    Rosalie said with a coldugh, continuing, "Julian, who do you think you are to assume that when you want a divorce, I should just go along with it, and when you change your mind, I should obediently go back and continue being your invisible wife?"


    Julian frowned at Rosalie''s question, but she kept going, "So now, I''m formally telling you that it''s not you who wants the divorce, but me. If you don''t cooperate with the divorce proceedings, then I''ll leave it to the court to decide."


    Until Rosalie said this, Julian had never considered that her desire for divorce could be so resolute.


    He had always thought that she was just going along with his wishes when she signed the divorce papers, and her repeated urging to finalize the procedures was just a way of sulking at him.


    But at this moment, Julian clearly sensed that Rosalie was truly determined to divorce him and didn''t mind taking it to court.


    This realization intensified the unfamiliar sense of panic inside him. His face darkened abruptly, and the warmth in his eyes disappeared


    Divorce cases were numerous andplicated. If they had to wait for a court date, it might take months, and with him pulling some strings, the divorce might not happen at all. He didn''t believe Rosalie hadn''t thought of this.


    His words were meant to remind Rosalie but also to soothe his own inner turmoil.


    He hadn''t expected that her determination to divorce would evoke such unprecedented fear in him.


    ''What am I afraid of? Am I afraid of really losing Rosalie?'' Julian asked himself inwardly, but he couldn''t find an answer.


    If he cared about her, why had he been so impatient to even talk to her over the past year?


    Since it wasn''t about being afraid of losing her, then what was it?


    Julian felt lost inside, but he didn''t show it on his face.


    Rosalie didn''t know that Julian''s thoughts were racing at that moment. Hearing his words, she smiled even more sarcastically.


    She understood what Julian was implying that he would interfere and the court wouldn''t easily grant her a divorce.


    "Then we''ll just drag it out. After two years of separation, we''ll probably get a court date, and then it''ll be an automatic divorce without having to wait," she said, narrowing her eyes and giving Julian a meaningful smile. "Mr. Galloway, just have to not mind having a soap opera ying on your head everyday."

 Breaking Free From 152

    Julian had never seen any soap operas, so he didn''t understand what she meant.


    +23


    Rosalie, as if deliberately trying to unsettle him, exined very timely, "Mr. Galloway, you must not have seen the soap opera. It''s a story that takes ce in a divorced family..."


    Even though Julian had never seen this so-called cartoon, he understood what Rosalie was implying the moment he heard a few words; she wanted


    to make him to be a cuckold.


    "Rosalie, you dare?" Julian said.


    "Mr. Galloway, if you insist on not divorcing me, we''ll see whether I dare or not," Rosalie replied, her eyes yful and provocative.


    Seeing the challenge and nonchnce in her gaze, as if she was genuinely considering making him a cuckold, Julian''s anger began to rise.


    The thought of Rosalie flirting with other men and making intimate gestures made the anger in his chest mix with a faint pain that surged to his


    head.


    "Very well, then I''ll see for myself who dares to touch my wife," Julian said in a dark and menacing voice, almost as if it was forced through gritted


    teeth.


    The sinister look in his eyes waspletely different from the man who had stood


    in front of the Graham family, protecting Rosalie.


    Julian''s words made Rosalie''s brow furrow slightly.


    She had thought that by mentioning the ultimate humiliation of making him a cuckold, Julian would surely throw the divorce papers in her face without a second thought.


    But to her surprise, he was so stubborn that he was willing to see it through.

 Breaking Free From 153

    Although divorce wouldn''t affect her life, she really didn''t want to be entangled with Julian for a long time.


    Seeing that her words didn''t move Julian and instead made him more determined not to divorce, Rosalie decided to take a stronger approach.


    "I don''t mind showing you, Mr. Galloway, of course. After all, the idea of having affairs during our marriage sounds quite thrilling," Rosalie said, her eyes bright with anticipation, which only irritated Julian more.


    It seemed like she was genuinely looking forward to it. When Rosalie spoke, her eyes lit up, making Julian increasingly ufortable and irritable.


    "But there is one thing I need to remind you, Mr. Galloway. Your precious sweetheart has returned to the country, right? If you insist on not divorcing me, are you really willing to let her be known as your mistress and sneak around with you?"


    Rosalie mentioned Roseanne at just the right moment, hoping to use her to push Julian toward divorce.


    Roseanne was not the type to be content with being a mistress, living in the shadows.


    Whether Julian was deliberately opposing her just to avoid the divorce, that didn''t matter. Now that Roseanne was back, Julian wouldn''t really let her be the mistress just to spite her.


    Even if he was willing, Roseanne wouldn''t be.


    Rosalie thought that by bringing up Roseanne, Julian would surely change his mind, but instead, he was stunned for a few seconds.


    Then, with a strange look on his face, he asked, "You''re determined to divorce me because of Roseanne?"


    Rosalie couldn''t help but roll her eyes internally and sneered. "Wasn''t it because of Roseanne that you wanted to divorce me in the first ce?"


    His ability to turn things around was truly impressive.


    After using her as a substitute for a whole year, he now had the nerve to act innocent in front of her.

 Breaking Free From 154

    +23


    After using her as a stand-in for a whole year, Julian now had the audacity to act innocent in front of Rosalie. He was so annoying.


    She didn''t want to waste any more breath on Julian and said, "I''ve figured it out now. If you want to divorce, go ahead. If you don''t, then drag it out. Either way, I won''t be the one to suffer."


    She had no intention of ever marrying again in her life. The saying that marriage was a grave was an absolute truth. She had already danced on the grave for a year and had finally managed to get out. There was no reason for her to jump back in.


    So, whether she was married or single didn''t really matter to her.


    It mattered to Julian and Roseanne.


    As long as they weren''t divorced, even if Julian and Roseanne were truly in love, Roseann would be a mistress, and Julian''sbel as a cheating husband was guaranteed.


    Of course, Roseanne would be the one to get the most me, while Julian, standing at the top of the pyramid as a powerful tycoon, would be safe from criticism.


    If Julian didn''t want Roseanne to be med, he had to divorce her.


    So, the initiative was hers, and the choice was Julian''s. She shouldn''t foolishly worry about Roseanne, good at acting.


    "No," Julian suddenly said a word after Rosalie''s internal monologue, leaving her momentarily stunned and unable to respond.


    Before she could gather her thoughts, she heard Julian continue, "I''m divorcing you, not because of Roseanne, and you were never a substitute for Roseanne."


    Julian suddenly remembered what Kaleb had told him in the afternoon. People in their circle who knew them well thought he had married Rosalie because she looked like Roseanne.


    And now, with Roseanne returning, he brought up divorce with Rosalie.


    If he weren''t the one involved, he might also have believed the rumor himself. He had used this as an excuse toe over when Edward called him to the Graham Vi.


    His exnation now left Rosalie even more stunned.


    On one hand, the fact that Julian wasn''t divorcing her because of Roseanne was shocking. On the other hand, that Julian, who was usually so arrogant, would take the initiative to exin to her was even more surprising.


    However, regardless of whether Julian''s words were true or false, Rosalie wouldn''t change her mind about the divorce.


    Continuing to be entangled with Julian for the rest of her life, in a loveless marriage, would only lead to more tragedy.


    So, she nonchntly shrugged her shoulders and said, "Whatever. Whether it''s because of Roseanne or not, I still want the divorce. You think it


    over."


    Julian had thought that by rifying things, Rosalie would calm down, but she still insisted on the divorce.


    This time, Julian was truly furious.


    "Rosalic, don''t push your luck," Julian said, his face darkening as he grabbed her wrist with a stern look, the pressure in his eyes palpable.


    Rosalie, realizing that she couldn''t get through to Julian, was also getting annoyed.


    Julian, where do you get the confidence to think that I can''t live without you? That if you give me a little sweetness, I''ll obedientlye to you and wag my tail?"


    With a cold face, Rosalie shook off Julian''s hand and looked at him without any warmth in her eyes. "Julian, get this straight. It''s me, Rosalie, who doesn''t want you, not the other way around."


    The words "I don''t want you" seemed to be enchanted, continuously stimting Julian''s eardrums and causing a sharp pain in his heart, making the spot where it beat throb painfully.

 Breaking Free From 155

    ''So, after spending a whole year trying to get my attention, Rosalie now tells me she doesn''t want me anymore,'' he wondered. Julian felt anger, confusion, and even more panic and helplessness.


    Instinctively, he reached for Rosalie''s hand, but she was quicker, creating distance between them and walking to the door. "Mr. Galloway, please leave. This is my home. Even though we''re not divorced yet, I''d appreciate it if you could keep some distance from me."


    Rosalie''s words were brutally cold, each sentence piercing his heart. "Because the moment I see you, I feel extremely disgusted..."


    Disgusted? The Rosalie who had always looked at him with adoring eyes, blushing whenever their gazes met, now said she was disgusted by him.


    Julian didn''t know how he left the Graham Vi. All he knew was that he was in a foul and agitated mood.


    He took out his phone and called Kaleb. "Kaleb, let''s go out for a drink."


    This time, the ce Julian and Kaleb agreed to meet wasn''t Anya''s Lounge, but a top-tier rooftop bar in Hasmond.


    The bar was located on the rooftop of the tallest building in Hasmond, a hundred stories high.


    It was an open-air, soft music bar. Because of its height, when one looked up, it felt like one could touch the stars, and one could see the entire city spread out below. The view was breathtaking.


    Many people liked toe here, but because the cost was extremely high, not many people visited each day, making the ce not too noisy or crowded.


    Julian arrived early and sat for a while, but his frustration didn''t subside. Instead, the quieter it was, the more he thought, and the more his mood


    darkened.

 Breaking Free From 156

    By the time Kaleb arrived, Julian''s table was littered with empty beer bottles.


    "Julian, why have you drunk so much?" Sean, who followed Kaleb, was shocked at the sight..


    Julian''s only w was probably his bad temper. He didn''t smoke and rarely drank, so seeing him with a table full of empty bottles was surprising.


    "Is Julian trying to drown his sorrows? If it weren''t for the fact that you have no feelings for Rosalie, I''d almost think you were heartbroken," Sean added as he sat down next to Julian.


    Kaleb nced at his brother with a cool look, his expression somewhatplicated.


    Sean''s good fortune in life was probably due to his intelligence, and sometimes he really didn''t know when to keep his mouth shut.


    Julian wasn''t a lightweight when it came to drinking, though he seldom drank. The table full of bottles were just beers and wouldn''t affect him much.


    So, when Sean mentioned Rosalie, Julian looked at him with a sh of irritation in his eyes.


    "If you came here just to bring up Rosalie to annoy me, then leave," Julian said coldly.


    Sean was taken aback. Julian really didn''t like Rosalie. Just mentioning her name made him this angry.


    Two others who had arrived a few steps behind them had also heard Julian''s words. Roseanne had insisted oning with Matteo when she heard Julian was here.


    She had been thinking all the way about how to find an opportunity to reconcile with Julian. But as soon as she walked in, she heard Julian''s obvious disgust when he mentioned Rosalie.


    Her heart leaped with joy, and she tugged at Matteo''s arm, signaling him to step forward. "Why are you guys here too?"


    Kaleb was the first to notice Matteo and Roseanne, his brow furrowing, clearly not weing them.

 Breaking Free From 157

    Matteo was fine, but Kaleb had never been fond of Roseanne. He made no effort to hide his disdain for her, especially after the car ident earlier in the afternoon.


    Seeing that Matteo had brought Roseanne along, Kaleb naturally held a grudge against him as well.


    Matteo wasn''t foolish and sensed this immediately. He awkwardly touched the tip of his nose and exined, ¡°I happened to invite Sean out for fun. Sean mentioned that you were drinking here. Since Roseanne was at my ce at the time, she came along with me."


    While exining, Matteo deliberately nced at Julian, who hadn''t even looked their way, trying to help Roseanne build a connection with the group.


    He continued, "Ever since Roseanne went to Avaloria, we haven''t all been together like this. It''s a good opportunity to catch up."


    He even pulled Roseanne a little closer to him.


    Kaleb remained silent, clearly unhappy about the situation.


    Sean, on the other hand, remembered how he had belittled Roseanne in the group chat the other day. Feeling a bit embarrassed despite their past acquaintance, he wasn''t very enthusiastic either.


    Julian, however, seemed to have not heard them at all, never putting down his bottle of alcohol.


    Roseanne, still upset with Kaleb from the afternoon, wasn''t about to force herself into his good graces.


    As for Sean, she hadn''t confronted him yet for his previous mockery, so naturally, she was also giving him the cold shoulder.


    Her sole purpose foring was to find Julian, and she didn''t care about the others.


    Seeing that Julian wasn''t even looking at her, Roseanne felt a bit annoyed and walked straight up to him, speaking softly, "Julian, you left so abruptly this afternoon. We didn''t get a chance to catch up properly. Let''s have a drink now." Julian was already irritated by Rosalie''s attitude, and now Roseanne was adding to his frustration. He had no idea how the rumor about Rosalie being a stand-in had started, but at that moment, he found Roseanne even more annoying. Ignoring Roseanne, Julian bypassed her and looked at Matteo, who was still standing. His voice, tinged with alcohol, was slightly hoarse, making him sound even more stern. "You brought her here without my permission. Are you trying to make decisions for me?"


    Matteo, who had grown up in the same courtyard as Julian, had a brotherly bond with him, though not as close as the Perry brothers.


    Now, being publicly humiliated by Julian, Matteo''s face also turned sour.


    What made him even angrier was that Julian''s words had clearly embarrassed Roseanne.


    ''Is he ming me and saying that he didn''t wee Roseanne?'' Matteo wondered.


    "Julian, what do you mean?" Matteo''s face darkened. "Roseanne is your girlfriend. What''s the problem with me bringing her to see you?"


    Julian''s heart raced with irritation whenever someone mentioned him and Roseanne together.


    His cold gaze fell on Matteo''s face as he said, "If I remember correctly, she broke up with me a long time ago."


    His words sounded incredibly casual, as if thebel of ex-girlfriend meant no more to him than an ordinary person.


    After all, when Roseanne had been with him, she hadn''t been treated like a girlfriend should have been.

 Breaking Free From 158

    Matteo was taken aback by Julian''s words, recalling how years ago, after Roseanne''s father, Theo, lost the battle over the family fortune to the second branch, Roseanne had asked Julian for help. When Julian refused, she proposed a breakup, which he epted without hesitation.


    It seemed that Julian had never been particrly fond of or attached to


    Roseanne. The notion of her being a stand-in was merely a guess among their group, never confirmed by Julian himself.


    But Matteo hadn''t anticipated that Julian would be so unsparing toward Roseanne, casually uttering words that were so hurtful.


    Not just Matteo, but Roseanne herself was shocked by Julian''s public humiliation.


    He had left her alone in the cold earlier, used her of ndering Rosalie in front of Kaleb, and now he was making it clear that he didn''t wee her at all.


    ''Does he hate me so much?'' Roseanne wondered.


    With tears welling up in her eyes, Roseanne looked at Julian and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°Julian, are you still upset with me for breaking up with you back then?"


    She opened her mouth to exin further, "At that time, I was just acting on impulse. It wasn''t really what I meant. I just wanted to..."


    She wanted to say she did so to test how sincere he was about her.


    She never got the chance to finish her sentence, as Julian''s impatient and cold gaze cut her off. "Are you overthinking this a bit too much?"


    Julian''s eyes were indifferent, clearly showing no desire to have any connection with Roseanne.

 Breaking Free From 159

    Compared to his indifferent and distant attitude back then, Julian now seemed even more ruthless.


    Roseanne bit her lower lip hard to keep from crying.


    Matteo hadn''t expected that bringing Roseanne here would not only fail to ease the tension between them but also put her in such an embarrassing and awkward situation. He felt a pang of guilt and regretted agreeing to Roseanne''s request to bring her along.


    He stepped forward to exin for Roseanne, "Julian, I''m the one who brought Roseanne here. I thought since you hadn''t seen each other in years, you must have missed each other...."


    Before Matteo could finish, Julian''s cold and piercing gaze stopped him mid- sentence. "Did you forget that I''m married? Why are you trying to involve an insignificant woman with me? If you''re so keen on matchmaking, you should apply to a matchmaking agency."


    Matteo''s face changed,pletely at a loss for words in the face of Julian''s harsh retort.


    He hadn''t forgotten that Julian was married; he just hadn''t taken it seriously.


    Julian himself treated Rosalie as if she were invisible, showing impatience whenever her name was mentioned. How could he expect others to take her seriously?


    Matteo couldn''t understand Julian''s recent odd behavior and wanted to say more, but Kaleb''s stern interruption stopped him.


    "Matteo, this is Julian''s private matter. You''d better stay out of it. If you meddle too much, you won''t even be friends anymore." Kaleb''s seemingly calm tone concealed a barely perceptible warning.


    Kaleb wasn''t sure if anyone else had noticed, but he could tell that Matteo''s feelings for Roseanne were more than just a childhood friendship.


    If Matteo, in a moment of confusion, tried to interfere with Julian''s marriage, Kaleb wouldn''t hesitate to be ruthless.


    Kaleb was a few years older than the rest of them, and they had always listened


    to him since they were kids. Now that Kaleb had spoken, Matteo dared not say anything further.

 Breaking Free From 160

    Matteo, feeling somewhat discontented with Julian''s attitude toward Roseanne, replied with a hint of petnce, "I understand, Kaleb. I was out of


    line."


    His words only added to the already oppressive and awkward atmosphere.


    Sean, usually the one to lighten the mood, stepped in at this moment to ease the tension.


    "Stop talking. Let''s drink. If you keep chatting, Julian will drink all the alcohol," he said, opening a bottle of beer and handing it to Matteo with a meaningful look.


    Not wanting to make the situation worse, Matteo epted the beer from Sean.


    Roseanne knew that trying to get closer to Julian now would only humiliate herself further. It was better to wait for the atmosphere to lighten up before attempting to rebuild their rtionship.


    She had returned this time due to a project with the Ascend Group, and she was indeed feeling a bit anxious.


    Taking a deep breath, she picked up a bottle of beer that was already open on the table and, in a tone that suggested long-time familiarity, said to Julian, ¡°Alright, even if we can''t be a couple, we''re still friends who''ve known each other since childhood.


    "There''s no need to be so stern. Matteo only brought me here to catch up with old friends. If you have to me someone, me me, not him." Leaning closer to Julian, she added, "I''ll drink this bottle as an apology."


    "Ms. Talley, this way, please." Rosalie arrived at that moment, following the waiter inside.


    A casual nce revealed the scene before her. Roseanne was sitting close to Julian, so close that she could almost fall into his arms.


    Rosalie frowned, puzzled as to why she kept running into Julian wherever she went.


    If she didn''t know that Julian was eagerly waiting for her divorce, she would have suspected that he had deliberately arranged for her to be here.


    Julian, who had just felt Roseanne''s intentional closeness, immediately stood up to create some distance. As he nced up, he met Rosalie''s gaze.


    For some reason, he felt a pang of anxiety as if he was worried that Rosalie might misunderstand. He impulsively brushed away the beer that Roseanne was offering him.


    When he looked back at Rosalie, she was already following the waiter in the opposite direction.


    Julian''s expression froze for a moment. He took a step forward, then remembered Rosalie''s resolute words earlier that night. His raised foot faltered and he retreated, a bitter smile flickering in his mind.


    ''What am I nervous about? Why do I feel so guilty? No need to be worried that Rosalie would misunderstand or be jealous if she saw me close to Roseanne, right? She has clearly said she didn''t want me anymore. Why am I even concerned about this?'' he wondered.


    With a hint of defiance, he sat back down.


    Roseanne had noticed Julian''s sudden change in demeanor and followed his gaze, only to see Rosalie. Her heart sank.


    Recalling how Julian had defended Rosalie earlier and how eager he had been to distance himself from her, the sense of impending danger in her heart grew heavier.


    Her previous suspicions might have been correct. After all these years, with Rosalie, a stunning beauty, by his side, how could Julian not be tempted?


    ''No, I can''t allow it. I can''t let Rosalie take Julian away; she wondered. In that brief moment of panic, Roseanne''s resolve only strengthened.


    No matter what it took, she would make sure Rosalie left Julian. Julian belonged to her and no one else.

 Breaking Free From 161

    Roseanne lowered her eyes, her gaze hidden in the shadows, tinged with a hint of resentment.


    When Rosalie followed the waiter to the seat Julian had reserved, Anya had not yet arrived.


    "Ms. Talley, please wait a moment," the waiter said.


    "Okay," Rosalie replied.


    As the waiter left, Anya''s call came in. "Rosalie, have you arrived? The traffic is a bit heavy, and I''ll be a few minuteste," Anya said.


    "Yes, I''m not in a hurry. Take your time," Rosalie responded.


    After hanging up, Rosalie looked up and, by chance, her gaze fell on the seat not far away from her, where Julian and his group were sitting. She realized that her seat was directly facing Julian''s table.


    Although there was some distance between them, she could still see the scene clearly.


    Roseanne was holding a bottle of alcohol, sitting close to Julian, and smiling as she spoke to him.


    As for Julian, from Rosalie''s perspective, he was partially blocked by Matteo, and Rosalie couldn''t see his expression clearly.


    But knowing that his first crush Julian had been waiting for three years had returned, Rosalie could guess that Julian was probably happy at that


    moment.


    Rosalie''s brow furrowed slightly, and she felt a bit annoyed.


    She looked away and called the waiter over. "Ms. Talley, how may I assist you?" the waiter asked.


    "Bring me a Margarita," Rosalie said.


    "Certainly, Ms. Talley. Please wait a moment," the waiter replied.


    At that moment, Anya hurried over. Her eyes lit up when she saw Rosalie, and she quickly walked over.


    "Anya, I''ve already ordered. What would you like to drink?" said Rosalie.

 Breaking Free From 162

    +23


    Anya called over the waiter to ce her order. Remembering Rosalie''s overbearing demeanor after drinkingst time, Anya quickly added, "You can''t drink something too strong this time. It''s just the two of us here, and I don''t have Julian''s strength to carry you back."


    Mentioning Julian Rosalie''s eyelids trembled slightly, and she picked up some nuts to eat.


    She had no recollection of thest time she got drunk and hadn''t asked for details afterward. She only knew from ra that Julian had carried her back.


    Her gaze involuntarily shifted toward Julian''s direction.


    Suppressing her thoughts, she said to Anya, "No, I''ve only ordered a milder cocktail this time."


    After thest experience, Rosalie wasn''t foolish enough to joke with herself again. If she got drunk, she would be the one to suffer.


    "That''s the right attitude. There''s no need to drown your sorrows in alcohol over a jerk like Julian,¡± Anya said, patting Rosalie''s hand.


    She didn''t notice the group of people at the distant table and continued, ¡°I heard he still hasn''t signed the divorce papers."


    She picked up a handful of nuts in front of her, popped one into her mouth, her tone casual.


    "Yes," Rosalie replied gloomily, then let out a coldugh. "He''s deliberately opposing me."


    Rosalie was truly amazed at Julian. In order to make her miserable, he was willing to let his beloved take the mistress''s title.


    He was dragging his feet on the divorce, while being intimate with Roseanne.


    At that moment, the waiter brought over the drinks they had ordered, blocking Rosalie''s view and pulling her thoughts back to the present.


    "Enjoy your drinks,dies," the waiter said.


    "Why did you call me out, Anya?" Rosalie asked. She took a sip of her cocktail, deliberately avoiding themotion across the room.


    She realized that she was still, unfortunately, affected by Julian, so she tried to avoid any opportunities toe into contact with him.

 Breaking Free From 163

    "Nothing much. Since Kaleb isn''t home, I was bored and asked you toe out for a drink," Rosalie replied.


    This time, Anya genuinely hadn''t intended to meet at this ce. It was more a case of the siblings, Julian and Anya, being in sync, having both invited the couple here.


    When Rosalie entered, she had seen Kaleb, but upon hearing Anya mention it, she hesitated for a moment, deliberately not pointing it out.


    Rosalie was afraid that Anya might drag her over to the other side. Being in the same environment with them would be too awkward, especially for Rosalie.


    With her memories from before time travel, she simply couldn''t remain calm around Roseanne. She was afraid that she might lose control and yank Roseanne''s hair, making her hit the wall.


    "By the way, Rosalie, since you''ve moved out of Rosalian Manor? What are your ns next?" Anya asked.


    "I''ve recently found a job and am focusing on my career," Rosalie replied with a smile, without going into detail.


    Anya, knowing that Rosalie held a significant number of shares in the Talley Group, assumed she was working there and didn''t ask further.


    "Focusing on your career is the right move. You''re so smart; there''s no need to waste your time on that jerk Julian," Anya said, once again expressing her strong dislike for Julian.


    Hearing Anya''s disdain for Julian again, Rosalie couldn''t help butugh.


    On Julian''s side, after learning that Rosalie was also here, his mood became exceptionally irritable. Roseanne, however, kept trying to get closer to him, making his irritation and impatience even more evident.


    Just as Roseanne found another excuse to get close to him, Julian''s cold gaze fell


    on her, and he warned in a low, stern voice, "Do I have to force you to act appropriately?"


    The blunt warning made Roseanne, who had been trying to get close to him to provoke Rosalie, freeze.


    Her heart filled with grievance and anger.


    His words felt like two scorching ps in the face.


    He was still so ruthless, openly calling her forward.


    Despite not having seen each other for three years, Roseanne knew Julian''s


    heartlessness and cruelty all too well. If she didn''t back off now, he would surely embarrass her in front of everyone.

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    With so many people around, especially with Rosalie present, Roseanne couldn''t let Rosalie see her make a fool of herself.


    Thinking this, she created some distance between herself and Julian, forced a smile, and naturally began talking to the others as if nothing had happened.


    At this moment, Julian asked the waiter to bring him a pack of cigarettes, frowned in irritation, and stood up. "I''m going to have a smoke."


    Without waiting for their response, he left.


    "When did Julian start smoking? Didn''t he used to dislike it?" asked Roseanne.


    She watched Julian''s agitated back and frowned, knowing that his bad mood was likely influenced by Rosalie.


    The more she associated Julian with Rosalie, the deeper her unease grew.


    Her desire to win Julian''s heart became even more urgent.


    But after today, Roseanne had realized that Julian''s patience with her was even less than it had been three years ago. If she pushed any harder, he would only push her away further.


    With someone like Julian, she had to proceed gradually.


    Kaleb, however, curled his lips in a meaningful smile. "Her heart is in turmoil. It can''t be calmed by just a cigarette."


    Probably only Sean, who was rather insensitive, didn''t catch Kaleb''s implication and naively asked, "Julian''s heart is in turmoil? Who caused it?"

 Breaking Free From 165

    Kaleb was taken aback for a moment. He gave Sean a look that said it all and didn''t respond.


    Roseanne''s face, however, looked even worse than before.


    Julian''s behavior was too obvious and direct. Besides her, Kaleb had also noticed that Julian''s heart was affected by Rosalie.


    She had never seen Julian''s emotions so evident that he even needed a cigarette to control himself.


    It was clear how much impact Rosalie''s arrival had on him.


    A strong sense of crisis made Roseanne involuntarily clench her fists, the veins on the back of her hands prominently bulging, showing her inner turmoil.


    Kaleb, sitting not far from her, saw all of this.


    He frowned, really disliking being in the same environment with her. So, he made an excuse to leave, saying, "I''ll go check on Julian. You guys keep drinking."


    Although Kaleb disliked Roseanne, he was aware that she was a girl. He had already made it clear several times that he didn''t like her. If he continued to act in a way that embarrassed her, it would be too undignified.


    So, he left on a pretext.


    As Kaleb had guessed, Julian''s emotions were indeed easily influenced by Rosalie.


    From the moment she entered and their gazes crossed expressionlessly, Julian''s entire attention was drawn to Rosalie.


    Even though he couldn''t see her expression, he could still picture her cold and distant demeanor in his mind.


    The cigarette in his hand had already burned out, but he didn''t seem to notice.


    It wasn''t until he felt the pain of the burn on his finger that he frowned and came back to reality.


    The tips of his fingers, holding the cigarette, were red from the ember and slightly stinging.


    "You never used to smoke," a voice said casually beside him, with a hint of a teasing look.


    It was Kaleb, who hade to find him.


    Looking at the ashtray in front of him filled with several cigarette butts, it was clear how troubled Julian''s mind was tonight.


    "It seems Rosalie''s influence on you is much greater than I thought," Kaleb said as if trying to provoke him on purpose.


    Julian, who had been silent, seemed to be hit where it hurt. A sh of irritation and fierceness crossed his otherwise expressionless face.


    Embarrassed and stubborn, he refused to admit it at this moment. He irritably took thest drag of his cigarette and crushed the butt fiercely into the ashtray.


    The smoke he exhaled obscured the impatience and irritation in his eyes, and he said sharply, "Smoking is my business. What is Rosalie to me? She


    can''t influence me."


    Although he denied it verbally, his emotions clearly became more agitated when mentioning Rosalie.


    Kaleb looked at his flustered expression and let out a softugh but didn''t say anything.


    Seeing Kaleb''s look, Julian felt a bit uneasy, and his eyes became even more impatient.


    As if to convince Kaleb that he wasn''t affected by Rosalie, Julian even emphasized his words in defense. "If I cared about Rosalie, would I have proposed divorce to her in the first ce?"


    The smile on Kaleb''s face increased. "I never said you care about Rosalie. Are


    you admitting it without being pressed?"


    Julian was taken aback for a moment.


    Kaleb didn''t give him a chance to argue and continued, "So, what are you troubled about now?"

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    000


    Kaleb pointed to the ashtray in front of Julian, filled with cigarette butts, the teasing smile in his eyes undiminished.


    A hint of unease flickered in Julian''s eyes as he avoided Kaleb''s probing gaze and looked elsewhere, saying in a deep voice, "I just felt like smoking. There''s nothing to be troubled about."


    "But you look more agitated now than when your grandpa forced you to marry Rosalie." Kaleb''s words hit the nail on the head, causing Julian''s face to darken further.


    He didn''t respond, picked up the cigarette pack again to light another one, only to find it empty. He called over a waiter. "Bring me another pack of cigarettes."


    "Yes, Mr. Galloway," the waiter replied and left.


    After the waiter left, Kaleb frowned and asked, "You''ve smoked an entire pack. Do you even care about your lungs if you keep this up?"


    Julian remained silent, his expression still sour.


    Seeing Julian''s petnt demeanor, Kaleb understood why Anya often scolded him. He was simply insufferable.


    No, even the most patient person would find him hard to deal with.


    If it were anyone else, Kaleb would have ignored him, but this was his wife''s


    brother. Anya mightin about him, but she still cared deeply.


    For Anya''s sake, Kaleb felt he needed to give Julian some advice.


    After a few seconds of contemtion, Kaleb asked, "Why did you propose divorce to Rosalie back then?"


    Hepletely disregarded Julian''s earlier excuses and asked the question straightforwardly.


    Julian was taken aback. In fact, he had never truly asked himself this question.


    The resentment from being forced into marriage by his grandfather had festered


    in him for a year, and he had grown to dislike Rosalie over that year.

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    Naturally, the idea of divorce seemed only logical and unobjectionable.


    But now, with Kaleb asking him directly, Julian opened his mouth and found that he couldn''t answer.


    In the end, he nonchntly replied, "Nothing, I just didn''t like her, so I divorced her."


    However, as he said this, his brow imperceptibly furrowed, and his thin lips pressed tightly into a straight line.


    "No," Kaleb firmly denied this reason.


    Julian looked up at him, his brow furrowing, as Kaleb said seriously, "It''s because you were certain that Rosalie would never agree to divorce you."


    Kaleb''s words made Julian''s face jolt again, and a sh of astonishment crossed his already agitated eyes.


    +23


    "Julian, you relied on the fact that Rosalie loved you and would never easily agree to divorce you. That''s why you so brazenly used divorce as a way to hurt her." Kaleb''s words were harsh, and his expression was stern, devoid of any joking intent.


    His cold, serious gaze fell on Julian''s momentarily bewildered face as he continued, "But you didn''t expect her to agree so easily, and that''s why you''re scared, restless, and unwilling to go through with the divorce, right?"


    Kaleb had pointed out something that Julian had been unwilling to confront or had never truly considered. After listening to him, a crack seemed to have opened in Julian''s usually indifferent eyes, and some unfamiliar emotions began to seep out slowly.


    "But have you ever thought about how she endured your cold treatment for a whole year? What makes you think she would be content to keep trying to win your affection with her warmth?


    "Or maybe you should consider that this time, her easy agreement to divorce isn''t out of spite, but because she''s truly given up," said Kaleb.

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    Thest sentence hit Julian like a sledgehammer, striking him off guard and causing a surge of confusion and panic in his heart.


    ¡°Julian, if I treated Anya the way you treated Rosalie, Anya would probably


    divorce me within a day. Rosalie enduring your cold treatment for a whole year is already quite remarkable," Kaleb said, his words earnest but devastating to Julian.


    Until now, Julian had been clinging to a self-deceptive notion that Rosalie''s affection for him meant her recent coldness and indifference were just


    tantrum.


    23


    No one had ever been so blunt and direct with him,ying out the truth and telling him that Rosalie truly didn''t want him anymore.


    She had given up on him because of his cold treatment.


    "Emotional abuse is also a form of domestic violence. Don''t think you haven''t hurt her," Kaleb added, delivering another heavy blow.


    Without waiting for Julian''s reaction, Kaleb left.


    Julian stood there, dazed, watching Kaleb''s retreating figure, the words echoing in his mind and causing a mix of irritation and undeniable anxiety to rise in his


    chest.


    "Mr. Galloway, your cigarettes," the waiter said, handing Julian a pack of


    cigarettes and pulling him out of his brooding frustration.


    Julian took the cigarettes and returned to their table. Before sitting down, his gaze instinctively shifted toward Rosalie.


    Seeing her chatting andughing with Anya, seemingly unaffected by his presence or the situation, Julian''s heart sank even further.


    ''Is it true, as Kaleb said, that she no longer cares about me? So even if we met, she looked indifferent. To her, I am nothing more than a stranger she has once met, Julian wondered.


    This realization chilled Julian to the bone.


    At that moment, Sean suddenly eximed, "Hey, Kaleb, isn''t that Anya and Rosalie over there?"


    Sean''s shout caused a ripple of reactions among the group.


    Julian, who had already seen Rosalie, didn''t show much surprise but looked a bit displeased at the mention of her.


    Kaleb couldn''t hide his delight at the prospect of seeing his wife.


    Only Matteo and Roseanne''s faces turned sour.


    Matteo nced at Roseanne, his eyes filled with concern.


    They had known each other since childhood. Although Roseanne hadn''t grown up


    in the same courtyard, she had lived nearby and was considered a childhood friend of Julian''s.


    Matteo was closer to Roseanne and knew how much she liked Julian.


    When Roseanne''s family moved to Avaloria a few years ago, Julian hadn''t dated anyone since and Matteo was happy for her.


    However, a year ago, Julian had been forced by his grandfather to marry Rosalie, and she hadn''t refused.


    In Matteo''s eyes, Rosalie had taken Julian away from Roseanne, and he couldn''t help but feel a silent resentment toward her.

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    Fortunately, Julian had always been cold toward Rosalie, even mentioning that he would divorce her sooner orter, so Matteo had believed him and had privately reassured Roseanne not to worry, that Julian still had feelings for her.


    But recent events had made Matteo doubt his assumptions, especially Julian''s inexplicable irritability tonight, which seemed quite odd.


    Upon hearing Sean''s exmation, Matteo understood everything.


    It was quite a coincidence.


    Rosalie and Anya were there too.


    Thinking of that, Matteo''s brow furrowed slightly, clearly displeased.


    However, no one cared about his feelings.


    Kaleb followed Sean''s gaze and saw Anya and Rosalie chatting andughing at a nearby table.


    He deliberately nced at Julian, who had just returned from the smoking area, and sent a video call to Anya.


    "I''ll take this call. It''s from Julian," Anya said, pulling out her phone and showing it to Rosalie.


    Rosalie''s face froze, thinking of the people sitting opposite them, and her expression became strange.


    As soon as Anya answered, Kaleb''s voice came through. "Anya, I''m right across from you. Come over and join us."


    Through the video, Anya saw her husband waving at her. Besides Kaleb, she also spotted Roseanne.


    "Alright, I''ming," Anya said, hanging up with a hint of displeasure and starting to grumble. "Julian, dragging his feet on the divorce and yet has the nerve to bring out that bitch. What a bastard!"


    Rosalie was taken aback for a moment, left speechless by Anya''s mutteredints.


    "Come on, Rosalie. Let''s go over there. I don''t believe that couple has the audacity to flirt right in front of you," Anya said, pulling Rosalie''s hand to head toward Julian and the others.


    Rosalie was silent. ''No, I don''t want to get involved in this drama,'' she wondered.


    Before she could say anything, Anya had already started dragging her.


    Rosalie gently struggled and pulled her hand free from Anya''s grip.


    "Rosalie?" Anya said, surprised by Rosalie''s resistance and turning back to look at her questioningly.


    Rosalie stood up, downed the remaining half of her Margarita in one go, and said to Anya, "I actually have another appointment. It''s about time for me to leave. You go over and join Kaleb and the others."


    Anya, of course, didn''t believe such a convenient excuse. It was obvious that Rosalie didn''t want to be in the same space as Julian.


    That was right. If Kaleb had treated her the way Julian had treated Rosalie over the past year, Anya would have broken his leg long ago.


    Kaleb, who was unfairly implicated, shivered for no apparent reason at that moment.


    "Rosalie, I know you don''t want to see that jerk Julian, but don''t you see? His ex- girlfriend is here. As the legitimate wife, shouldn''t you go over there and assert your authority?" Anya said.


    If Roseanne dared to make a move on Julian, she wouldn''t let her off easily.

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    Anya didn''t expect that Roseanne had just returned and immediately started hooking up with Julian.


    Rosalie had no intention of making a scene. ''What''s the point of asserting her position as the legitimate wife? A wife whom Julian despises, going to show off in front of his beloved ex-girlfriend? Isn''t that just asking for humiliation?'' she wondered.


    Julian would probably embarrass her badly in front of his ex-girlfriend, and Rosalie wasn''t about to join that circus.


    More importantly, she didn''t want to be in the same room, breathing the same air as Julian, even for a second.


    "No, Anya, I really have an appointment. It''s urgent." Rosalie made an excuse, ncing at her watch. "The agreed time is up. I have to go."


    With that, Rosalie ignored Anya''s calls, walked around to the other side, and left the bar.


    On the other side, when Julian heard that he had called Anya over, his hand unconsciously clenched into a fist.


    The thought of Rosalieing over made his already irritable heart race with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.


    He watched as Rosalie and Anya stood up from their seats, thinking they were about toe over. But then he saw Rosalie say something to Anya, and she hurriedly left the bar through the other side.


    Julian''s face, which had been tinged with a hint of hope, immediately darkened. His expression turned even more sour.


    Roseanne had expected Rosalie toe over and,bined with Julian''s strange behavior tonight, her sense of impending danger hadn''t subsided.


    She had been mentally preparing herself to confront Rosalie directly, but Rosalie just left.


    Roseanne wasn''t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed, but the hostility she felt toward Rosalie hadn''t diminished at all.


    Anya came over with a displeased look on her face. Roseanne quickly put away the fierce look in her eyes, stood up from her chair, and warmly greeted her.


    "Anya, it''s been so long. I''ve missed you so much," Roseanne said, reaching out for a hug, only to be awkwardly and skillfully dodged by Anya.

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    Feeling the clear rejection on Anya''s face, Roseanne''s heart sank, and her expression stiffened a bit.


    Normally, she would not refuse a friendly hand that others extended, but Anya wasn''t about to be nice to Roseanne, considering her intentions to be a mistress and potentially use the Galloway family for her own family''s benefit.


    "Missed me that much, huh?" Anya raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of amusement and disdain.


    "Y-yeah." Although Ayna didn''t have a straight face toward her, the half-smile on her face made Roseanne feel inexplicably uneasy.


    "Then why didn''t youe back to visit in the past three years? Not even a phone call. What''s the matter? Did you move to some remote ce with no signal, or are you so broke overseas that you can''t afford a ne ticket back?" said Anya.


    Everyone was taken aback for a moment. Roseanne''s already strained smile frozepletely.


    She hadn''t expected Anya to be so blunt, just like Julian, showing no warmth for her return after so long and instead making her feel embarrassed.


    "Anya, I know it was wrong of me. You know how it was when we first moved there. We were in apletely unfamiliar ce and had a tough time.


    "It''s only recently that things have stabilized, and I thought I''de back as soon as possible to see all of you and have a proper reunion," exined Roseanne.

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    Roseanne was quite adaptable, knowing that offending Anya was not a good idea.


    She still needed Anya''s support to eventually marry into the Galloway family.


    Anya, however, didn''t care about Roseanne''s intentions. Hearing her words, Anya just smiled and said, "Is that so? If you were that busy, then you probably didn''t have time to think of me."


    Roseanne was taken aback for a moment. ''Anya, fuck you. You really know how to push my buttons. Can''t you just talk to me nicely when we first meet? Why are you being so confrontational, like a thorn in my side?'' she wondered.


    Roseanne first thought that Anya must have been instigated by Rosalie.


    When Rosalie arrived, she had clearly seen Roseanne and had spent quite some time with Anya. Roseanne couldn''t believe that Rosalie hadn''t said anything bad about her to Anya.


    The more Roseanne thought about it, the more convinced she became that it was possible. Her resentment toward Rosalie grew even stronger.


    If it weren''t for Rosalie speaking ill of her in front of Anya, why would Anya be so confrontational from the start?


    They had never had any conflicts before. The only reason Anya would target her was if Rosalie had maliciously ndered her behind her back.


    ''No, I can''t let Rosalie ruin my image in Anya''s eyes, Roseanne wondered.


    Thinking this, Roseanne said with a sense of grievance, "Anya, do you have some misunderstanding about me? We haven''t seen each other for so long, and yet


    you..."


    Although she didn''t directly use Anya, the implication was clear that Anya had intentionally targeted her.

 Breaking Free From 173

    Though she didn''t say it out, even someone as insensitive as Sean could tell what was going on


    However, Roseanne''s disy of grievance was useless in front of Anya,


    Wanting to be a mistress and feeling wronged? So ironic, she wondered. Anya smiled and said, "Why would you think that?


    "You just said..." Roseanne tried to exin.


    "I was just expressing my confusion. Since you said you missed me, I had to ask why you didn''te to see me if you were so busy, you naturally wouldn''t have time to think of me. What''s wrong with what I said?"


    As she spoke, her gaze swept over the few people present as if genuinely puzzled about what she had said wrong to make Rosenne act so wronged and innocent.


    Kaleb loved her wife deeply and Sean, who had always been afraid of Anya, of course, wouldn''t question her words and immehhandry shock their heads.


    Roseanne was stunned for a moment and couldn''t help but want to curse.


    Seeing how much Roseanne had been wronged that night, Matteo couldn''t bear it and stepped forward to defend her, saying, "Anya, what you said just now was really not nice."


    He realized that in this situation, apart from him, no one was on Roseanne''s side.


    If he didn''t stand up for her, she would be truly isted.


    Thinking this, Matteo felt a pang of heartache and his dissatisfaction with Anya became more evident


    The Perry brothers was on Anya''s side, but Matteo didn''t have the heart for such tricks.


    Anya nced at him and smiled, saying, "Matteo, did I ask for your opinion just now?"


    Matteo was taken aback for a moment. He really wanted to curse, but he clenched his fists and held back.


    Seeing that the atmosphere was getting tense, Sean quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "By the way, Anya, why did youe alone? Why didn''t Rosaliae join us?"


    Kaleb was stunned for a moment as he wondered, ''Sean has a knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. He really knows how to worsen the situation. Didn''t he see that Julian''s face has turned gloomy?

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    "Rosalie had an important appointment and had to leave in a hurry," Anya said, her gaze pointedly shifting toward Julian. "Besides, there''s someone here she doesn''t want to see. Even if she came, she wouldn''t have the appetite to drink."


    Already in a bad mood, Julian was taken aback for a moment.


    *****


    Rosalie took the elevator all the way down to the first floor. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, the ss door of the building''s lobby swung open, and a gust of cold wind blew in her face, making her shiver involuntarily.


    Although the lobby had heating, the constant flow of people in and out, pushing the door open, kept the temperature from rising too high.


    Coupled with the fact that it was the coldest time of the year, the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures was significant. Rosalie, not dressed warmly, felt the chill as soon as she entered the lobby


    Earlier, when she had been sipping her Margarita, she had been okay. Butter, she had quickly downed thest half of the drink, fearing that Anya would insist on dragging her over to Julian''s group.


    Although Margarita was not very strong in alcohol content, it was still a well- mixed cocktail. Besides, she had left in a hurry just now and had been walking briskly. Perhaps the dyed effect was kicking in. After getting off the elevator, Rosalie felt a bit dizzy.


    She walked over to the lounge area in the lobby and sat down, calling Eden. "Eddie, I''m at Soul Bar. Come pick me up."


    After hanging up, she felt even more dizzy.


    She rested her head on her arms, leaning against the back of the sofa, waiting for Eden to arrive.


    The cold seeped into her body, as if the alcohol had opened up her pores, allowing the chill to prate her skin.


    She couldn''t stop shivering.


    Rosalie didn''t know when Eden woulde, and she didn''t call to hurry him. She had no idea how long she had been waiting when she felt all her strength being drained, her head too heavy to lift.


    Her temples throbbed painfully.


    Cold, she instinctively curled up into a ball, nestling into the corner of the sofa.


    Her eyes were slightly closed, but her mind was wide awake, though she felt no desire to sleep. Her spirits were low, and she didn''t even notice her phone vibrating for a long time.


    Eden arrived at this moment, a bit out of breath from rushing.


    His eyes scanned the lobby anxiously until he spotted the figure curled up in the corner of the sofa in the lounge area.


    Eden''s brow furrowed as he quickly approached her. "Rosalie!"


    He gently nudged her shoulder, only to find that her body was burning hot, as if it had been roasted over a fire.


    "Rosalie?" he said again, his voice trembling. He gathered her into his arms. "Rosalie, you have a fever. I''m taking you to the hospital."


    "Okay," she mumbled, her voice barely audible, and allowed herself to be led away by Eden.


    He could feel her steps were unsteady, barely able to support her weight. Frowning deeply, Eden picked Rosalie up in his arms and began to walk away, only to be stopped by someone right in front of him.


    Eden looked up, his eyes darkening as he met the cold, fierce gaze of the man in front of him. "Julian?"


    "Seems you still recognize me," Julian said, his face cold, his voiceced with barely contained fury. His eyes fell on the woman in Eden''s arms, and the mes of anger inside him roared to life.

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    "Where do you think you''re taking my wife?" said Julian.


    1


    23


    Eden was worried about Rosalie''s condition. The warmth of her body, even through theyers of clothing, felt like it was burning his skin.


    "Rosalie has already divorced you, Mr. Galloway. I don''t think he has any say in where I take her now." With that, he lifted Rosalie into his arms and started walking toward the lobby.


    Julian would never allow Eden to leave with Rosalie so easily. When he stepped out of the elevator and saw Rosalie cradled in Eden''s arms, his anger red.


    From his perspective, the two of them looked like an intimately close couple.


    The thought of being cuckolded was unbearable to Julian. And when he saw Eden lift Rosalie up the next moment, he was so furious that he couldn''t even think straight. He just stepped in front of them.


    "Divorced?" Julian sneered. "So eager, huh? I haven''t even signed the papers yet, and you''re already jumping at the chance to be her lover."


    Eden had always known that Julian didn''t value Rosalie in their marriage. It was almost like emotional abuse. But since Julian was Rosalie''s husband, Eden had mostly just disliked him without directly confronting him.


    However, when he saw Rosalie tear up at the mention of Julian''s name that day, his animosity toward Julian deepened.


    He had taken care of Rosalie for six years, yet she shed tears because of a heartless man. Eden couldn''t bear to see it.


    ''How dare he take advantage of Rosalie''s affection to hurt her so casually?'' he wondered.


    "Mr. Galloway, if you are worried about being cuckolded, you should just sign the papers sooner," Eden said with a smile, adding provocatively, "Of course, I wouldn''t mind it. Rosalie is so wonderful. I''d be happy to be her lover."


    Julian''s fists clenched. He had seen that devilishly handsome face before, when Sean posted the photos of him and Rosalie in the group chat.

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    0


    -D


    That man in the pink suit, who was so close to Rosalie, cooked for her and had been with her for live or six years.


    Julian still


    st how gently Rosalie called him, Eddie


    hist thinking about that possessive term made Julian''s jealousy and irritation boil over, shattering thest bit of hisposure. "It doesn''t matter if yourbe willing Its whether Lagree or not


    Julian stepped forward, intending to pull Rosalie Book as she created. Tadie, I don''t feel well"


    of Eden''s arms. But Rosalie frowned deeply, her arms instinctively wrapping around Eden''s


    Auden looked down at Rosalios increasingly thushed face, his eyes hardening. He didn''t want to get into a fight with Julian right now. "Rosalie''s not feeling well I don''t have time to argue with you. Get out of the way"


    Avery time Alden was with Rosalie, it grated on Julian''s nerves. His jealousy and irritation surged even more fiercely. Right now, his only thought was to get Rosalie back from this man


    My wife doesn''t need some outsider to help her. With that, Julian reached for the woman in Eden''s arms again.


    Asale brows were still tightly furrowed, and she looked extremely ufortable. As Julian tried to pull her, she instinctively shook him off.


    Julian''s movement froze. He looked at Rosalie, whose brows were still tightly knit, and a flicker of pain shed in his eyes, even though he himself barely noticed i

 Breaking Free From 177

    He knew Rosalie was rejecting him.


    Eden gave Julian a cold, disdainful nce, taking in his shocked expression. He let out a mockingugh, then shifted his gaze to the crowd behind Julian, finallynding on Roseanne.


    "Mr. Galloway, instead of wasting time on Rosalie, you should spend more time with your ex-girlfriend. If this time your ex-girlfriend gets upset and leaves again because of you, Rosalie won''t have the heart to continue being your emotional crutch," Eden said, each word like a dagger to Julian''s heart.


    With that, Eden continued to walk outside, still holding Rosalie in his arms.


    Roseanne''s expression flickered when the topic turned to her. She felt a twinge of delight. Even Rosalie''s lover knew that Rosalie was a stand-in. It must have been Rosalie who told him.


    ''Rosalie is aware of her own role as a substitute. If I could reinforce that notion in Rosalie''s mind... she wondered.


    Roseanne''s spirits lifted imperceptibly, and even her eyes, which had been filled with venom whenever she looked at Rosalie, now seemed brighter.


    It wasn''t clear which of Eden''s words had set Julian off, but the next moment, he threw a punch at Eden''s face.


    "I said, my rtionship with Rosalie is none of your business," Julian growled.


    Eden, holding Rosalie, couldn''t dodge in time and took the punch squarely on the face.


    "Julian," one of Julian''s associates muttered, taken aback by Julian''s sudden violence.


    Anya quickly stepped forward and grabbed her brother.


    "Are you crazy? Can''t you see Rosalie is ufortable right now? Let''s get her to the hospital first and deal with everything elseter," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.


    This was the first time she had seen her brother lose control like this, and it was all because of Rosalie.


    ''If he had shown this much care for his wife sooner, she wouldn''t have been in another man''s arms right now, Anya wondered.


    Anya was both angry and exasperated with her brother, who had never been good at winning girls'' hearts. Julian had always sailed through life smoothly, assuming that everything would go his way.


    Maybe it was time Julian faced some hardship to realize who he truly cared about.


    Kaleb and the others also rushed forward to hold back Julian, who was seething with rage.


    "Julian, calm down," they urged.


    Julian, who was emotionally out of control, only realized that Rosalie looked terrible when he heard the word "hospital".


    Julian froze for a moment, then forced himself to swallow his anger and soften his tone.


    "I''m sorry, I lost my temper. But Rosalie is my wife, and I want you to give her to me," he said to Eden, surprising everyone around him.


    It was the first time anyone had seen Julian apologize to someone he considered


    a rival, especially one who had tried to take his wife.


    The others exchanged nces, and Roseanne was the most shocked.


    Roseanne knew how proud Julian was. Julian who had been furious enough to kill just moments ago was now swallowing his pride and apologizing. Of course, it was all because of Rosalic.


    Because of Rosalie, Julian, known for his pride, was willing to swallow his pride and apologize.


    Anya also looked at Julian in surprise. As much as she wanted to let him suffer for his behavior, she couldn''t just stand by and do nothing.

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    Anya hurried to Eden, who became sullen after being punched, saying humbly to him.


    "Sir, no matter what your rtionship with Rosalie is, she is indeed still Julian''s wife. You should give her to us. You don''t want her to be gossiped about, do you?"


    Eden looked at Anya in front of him and recognized that she was Julian''s sister.


    Compared with Julian, Anya had always been very kind to Rosalie and even taken her side.


    He was not an unreasonable person. Although he looked down upon that bastard, Julian, he had no hostility towards Anya.


    Moreover, he had merely imed to be willing to be the third wheel to irritate Julian.


    Now reminded by Anya, he also realized that at this time, it would influence Rosalie''s reputation if the news of him carrying her, Julian''s wife, to the hospital spread. So, he reluctantly handed Rosalie over to Julian.


    The drowsy Rosalie seemed to have sensed something. The moment Eden handed her over to Julian, she instinctively tried to struggle.


    But she was so tired and sleepy that she felt her strength was draining away from her little by little, and eventually, her attempt was in vain.


    Eden''s fierce gaze fell on Julian''s face as he said,


    "I handed Rosalie over to you, but you have to be clear. Even if she''s in your hands now, she won''t want you anymore."


    Julian thought, ''I heard it again. Rosalie doesn''t want me anymore. This sentence


    is like a magic spell, and everyone has to say it to me once.

 Breaking Free From 179

    He lowered his eyes expressionlessly and unexpectedly didn''t refute Eden''s words, but he looked at Anya in front of him. "Anya, put your coat over Rosalie."


    When he took Rosalie from Eden and felt the burning heat of her skin, his heart was clenched tightly.


    He even regretted wasting so much time arguing with Eden.


    He lowered his eyes and looked at Rosalie with a frown. Seeing her feverish face covered with signs of difort, he felt distressed.


    Hearing his words, Anya quickly covered Rosalie with her coat so that it could shield her head from the wind to prevent her condition from worsening.


    Then, she asked Kaleb to get the car and drive them to the hospital.


    After Julian took Rosalie to the hospital, Eden''s face darkened. He wiped the blood from his lip, which had been split by Julian''s punch, and walked out without a word.


    As soon as he went out, he saw Roseanne standing on the steps outside the building.


    Roseanne looked at him, seeming to be waiting for him.


    Eden had no intention of talking to Roseanne and walked straight to his car.


    "Excuse me, Sir," Roseanne said.


    Seeing that Eden ignored her and left, she was a little upset.


    But thinking of her purpose in waiting for him here, she hurried forward and stopped him.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Eden asked tly, obviously not interested in talking to her.


    Roseanne smiled.


    "Sir, you seem to be very hostile to me. We just met for the first time today. Did I offend you?"


    Eden chuckled.


    "As you said, this is the first time we''ve met, so why do you think I''m hostile to you? I just don''t feel like talking to a stranger on the road right now, that''s all.


    "If you stopped me just to say this nonsense, I''m sorry I don''t have time for this."

 Breaking Free From 180

    After he finished speaking, he opened the car door and was about to get in when he heard Roseanne''s slightly triumphant voiceing from behind him.


    "Are you taking it out on me because Julian treated Rosalie as my substitute?"


    Although she seemed to be asking him, the sense of superiority in her words was evident.


    How could Eden fail to tell the pride and provocation in Roseanne''s words?


    He lowered his eyes, concealing the fierce look, looked at Roseanne, and smiled.


    "Are you smug, Ms. Palmer?"


    He didn''t know Roseanne well and only knew that she was Julian''s ex-girlfriend. From Rosalie, he learned that Julian married her because Julian treated her as a substitute for Roseanne.


    Although he hated Julian for what Julian had done, he didn''t have any ill feelings towards Roseanne herself. After all, he wasn''t familiar with her and didn''t know what kind of person she was.


    Since Julian treated Rosalie as her substitute, he was supposed to hate Julian.


    But now, Roseanne was obviously waiting for him here and saying those words smugly, which displeased him.


    "Shouldn''t I be smug?" Roseanne raised an eyebrow and asked.


    Now that only she and Rosalie''s lover were here, she wasn''t worried that Julian would know her smugness.


    "I left Julian for three years. He never got over me and even married a woman who looked like me tofort himself.


    "As soon as he knew I was back, he wanted to divorce Rosalie. Any woman would be smug to have a man who loves her so much, don''t you think So?"


    She just wanted to provoke Eden so that he would tell Rosalie what she said. Now that she was back, Rosalie should divorce Julian so that she could be with him.


    To her surprise, Eden didn''t get angry when she said this. Instead, heughed with a hint of sympathy and pity as well as a mocking look in his eyes.


    "What''s the point of saying these? Julian still refused to divorce Rosalie. Since he loves you so much, why didn''t he divorce to marry you?"


    Eden''s words hit the nail on the head. Roseanne''s face changed, and her smug expression faded.


    "Ms. Palmer, I''m sure you saw it just now. To get me to hand Rosalie over to him so that he could take her to the hospital, Julian apologized to me humbly. He lost control of his emotions because of his wife while leaving you, his sweetheart, here."


    He looked directly at Roseanne''s feignedposure, trying to see through the smugness that she managed to maintain with his sharp eyes.


    "You can think over whether Julian really loves you or not."


    After saying these irritating words, Eden didn''t look at her again and drove away in his shy red Ferrari.


    Roseanne stood there, her face pale, her lips tightly pressed to prevent herself from crying out in emotional distress.


    Eden''s words upset her so much, reminding her that Julian didn''t love her as much as she expected.


    This time, she saw with her own eyes because of a woman how Julian lost


    control and humbled himself to another person. However, this woman was not her, but Rosalie, the woman who was supposed to be her substitute.

 Breaking Free From 181

    But Roseanne, who believed she had Julian''s love, was left here by him without even a word.


    No one cared about Roseanne''s feelings at this moment.


    After Rosalie was taken to Westfield Medical Center, she was taken directly to the emergency room.


    Fortunately, she was not seriously ill. She had a high fever because she had drunk some wine and had been exposed to the cold wind in the lobby for a long time.


    Julian finally felt relieved after learning this.


    Anya and Kaleb also breathed a sigh of relief.


    Anya nced at Julian, whose face had softened a little, and gently pulled the bottom edge of Kaleb''s jacket, and winked at Julian.


    "Julian, we still have something to do, so we''ll go now. Rosalie hasn''t woken up yet, so I''ll leave her to you."


    "Mm-hmm."


    Julian didn''t think much of it and only responded in a deep voice.


    Thinking of how Julian had treated his wife, Anya couldn''t help but remind him uneasily, "Since you snatched her from Eden, you should take good care of her. If you dare to leave Rosalie, you''ll regret this."


    Rosalie''s flushed face preupied Julian''s mind, and he didn''t reply.


    Anya wanted to say something else but was stopped by Kaleb who said, "Let''s go, leave it to Julian. Don''t worry, he''ll take good care of Rosalie."


    +23


    1:02


    0

 Breaking Free From 182

    Rosalie woke up an hourter, and her throat was dry and hot as if someone had stuffed several hot chili peppers down it. She felt like her throat was on fire and couldn''t make a sound.


    She sat up, propping herself up with her arms and regaining a little strength. She looked around and realized she was in the hospital.


    "I vaguely remember I had waited for Eden to pick me up in the lobby of Skyline Bar. I don''t know how long I had waited, only that I was so dizzy and sleepy that I fell asleep.


    During that time, I seemed to have heard some people argue. I didn''t know who they were and simply disliked the noise, but I was too weak to speak or move.


    After that, I felt like someone carried me away from Skyline Bar.


    Then, I woke up in the hospital.


    It was probably Eden who brought me here."


    Rosalie nced at the IV drip on her hand and thought to herself.


    Seeing that the IV drip was almost finished, Rosalie reached out to remove the IV needle.


    At that moment, she was extremely thirsty, but Eden seemed to have gone somewhere to ck off. She didn''t n to call him. Her throat was so dry that she wanted to go out and get a ss of warm water.


    She was lying in the rest area next to the emergency room. Because she just had a fever, they didn''t arrange for her to stay in a ward. She could go home after the IV drip was finished.


    There were no water dispensers in the rest area, so Rosalie left the rest area and was about to go to the staff lounge to get some water. Just as she turned the corner, she saw two people standing not far away.


    One was Roseanne while the other, with his back to her, was Julian.


    After spending more than a year together, she was so familiar with his appearance. Even from behind, she could recognize him.


    She frowned slightly, unhappy that she even bumped into them in the hospital. "What an unlucky day."


    She muttered and turned to walk towards the staff lounge. Just as she turned, Julian also happened to turn around and saw her back as she walked


    away.

 Breaking Free From 183

    Julian panicked, seeming to be afraid that Rosalie would misunderstand after seeing him standing with Roseanne. Without saying anything, he immediately strode towards Rosalie.


    "Julian!"


    Roseanne naturally saw Rosalie as well. She came to the hospital under the pretext of visiting Rosalie but actually wanted Rosalie to see her entangled rtionship with Julian.


    Since Julian hesitated to divorce Rosalie, she would make Rosalie leave him on her own ord.


    She grabbed Julian''s hand, her eyes filled with pleading.


    ¡°Julian, I know it was my fault back then. I was wrong. I''m not asking for us to get back together, but I hope we can still be friends. Please don''t be so cold to me, okay?"


    She nned to back down to make progress. "I was worried about Ms. Talley''s situation, so I came to see her, not to pester you. If you don''t like seeing me here, I won''t appear in front of you. But can you please not be prejudiced against me?¡±


    The only reason why Julian was here at this time was that he saw Roseanne. Afraid that Rosalie would misunderstand his rtionship with Roseanne because of that ridiculous rumor, he called her out.


    The conflict between him and Rosalie was their family matter, and he didn''t want Roseanne, an insignificant outsider, to interfere in it, thus causing unnecessary trouble.


    "Roseanne, I''ll say it again solemnly, no matter what you are up to, I don''t want you to interfere in my life, understand?"


    The coldness and determination in Julian''s eyes were like a bay, piercing Roseanne''s heart.


    She looked at the unconcealed rejection and coldness in Julian''s eyes in disbelief, dejected and afraid that she would lose him.


    "Julian, do you really have to be so cruel? We can''t be together, but can''t we even be friends?"


    Roseanne looked at him, tears streaming down her face, her voice choked with sobs. "I regret it, Julian. I really regret it. I shouldn''t have left you in a fit of pique. Give me another chance, please, Julian."


    She swallowed her pride and began to plead with Julian, hoping to find a trace ofpassion and pity in the cold eyes of this man,


    none.


    but there was


    Julian was indifferent to her plea, even a little impatient.


    All he could think about was what was going on in Rosalie''s mind when she turned around.


    He didn''t want her to misunderstand and was afraid that she would.


    But just as he was about to brush Roseanne off and go to find Rosalie, Roseanne seized the opportunity and hugged him tightly. ¡°Julian, give me a chance, okay? Julian, I really regret it. I love you, Julian, please don''t be so cruel to me."


    Rosalie saw this when she came out of the staff lounge after getting a ss of water.


    She paused. Even though she had known about their feelings for each other for a long time, seeing them hugging each other still wrenched her


    heart.


    She couldn''t see their expressions but could tell how affectionate they were after their long separation.


    Her gaze lingered on them for only a second before she looked away. Therefore, she only saw Julian''s hands on Roseanne, but not the moment he shoved her away.

 Breaking Free From 184

    Julian pushed her away with such force that Roseanne fell to the ground.


    His impatient eyes were filled with raging anger and overwhelming coldness. Roseanne covered her bruised elbow and looked at Julian with distress and disbelief, not expecting that he would shove her away.


    She had sensed that Julian didn''t care about her as much as she thought, but she was still confident that his heart might soften when she hugged


    him.


    It was supposed to be easy for a woman to pursue a man. Even if he didn''t love her, how could he push her away indifferently when she swallowed her pride to hug him and beg him so pleadingly?


    No, he was not indifferent but angry, and the cold look in his eyes frightened Roseanne so much that her heart couldn''t stop trembling.


    "If you don''t even know your ce, I can have a good talk with Mr. Palmer. As your father, he may be able to tell you about your ce."


    The coldness and determination in Julian''s eyes were overwhelming.


    In his gloomy eyes, she couldn''t find a trace of affection that she had seen when they were together.


    At that moment, in order to get rid of her, he even brought up her father. Did he really want to ask her father to teach her a lesson?


    He just wanted to use Ascend Group to warn her to behave herself.


    Roseanne gave a wry smile, her eyes filled with tears, as she looked at Julian.


    "Don''t you have any feelings for me at all?"


    Julian nced at her indifferently, as if she had asked an extremely stupid question, and turned away without a word.


    Julian thought of Rosalie, his eyes darkening. He suddenly felt a sense of trepidation.


    Unaware of the argument between Julian and Roseanne outside, Rosalie returned to the rest area and sipped the hot water with a calm expression.


    The vapor rising from the hot water obscured her expression, making her calm eyes look a little dazed.


    Rosalie didn''t know where Eden had gone and was about to call him when someone stood in front of her.


    She paused and looked up, her eyes darkening as they met Julian''splicated gaze. "What''s the matter?" she asked.


    He had that cold and distant look again. After asking him, she lowered her head and continued to drink water.


    She dialed the number. Julian nced at the name "Eddie" shing on her phone


    screen.


    A sh of coldness flickered across his eyes, rage and jealousy welling up in his heart.


    He thought, "I, her husband, am standing right in front of her, but she ignored me and called her lover.


    Damn it!"


    Julian clenched his fists in anger, forgetting why he had rushed over after shaking off Roseanne.


    "So this is what you meant by cheating on me?"


    Rosalie heard his sarcastic voice from above her head.


    Rosalie looked up at him again and squinted at him with a mocking smile. Then, she sneered.


    She mocked in her heart, ¡°This bastard always applies double standards. He just hugged his ex-girlfriend outside, and now he uses me of cheating on him just because I called Eddie?"


    Julian could tell mockery in her sneer, and her faint smile made him feel a little guilty so that he forgot to be angry.

 Breaking Free From 185

    After a few seconds of silence, he tried to calm himself down and talk to her. "Did you see all that just now?"


    She didn''t expect Julian to bring this up so directly. Was he reminding her of the divorce?


    She thought, "Is he crazy?


    He was the one who had been putting off the divorce, and now he hugged his lover to remind me of it?"


    Julian suddenly came over and asked her about what she had just seen. Rosalie could only guess that he did that to remind her of the divorce.


    After cursing Julian in her heart, she replied, "Yes, I saw it."


    Even though he expected her to have seen it, Julian still felt tension when he heard her answer.


    With a nervous look, he looked at Rosalie and asked, "What do you want to say about it?"


    Rosalie frowned, once again feeling that Julian was out of his mind.


    She thought, "Hugging his lover while refusing to get a divorce, how could he be so contradictory?"


    Rosalie felt annoyed but still replied politely, "You are a perfect match."


    Hearing her words, Julian felt another surge of displeasure.


    His cold eyes turned even colder. "Rosalie, what you said was unpleasant."


    Rosalie lowered her eyes, remained indifferent like a passerby, and just let out a "hmm".


    She sipped the water to test the temperature. Finding it was just right for drinking, she picked up the ss and drank all the remaining water.


    23

 Breaking Free From 186

    The warm water flowed down her esophagus and into her stomach, casing the difort in her stomach.


    Just as Julian, whose face darkened, thought that Rosalie wouldn''t say another word to him, she suddenly looked at him.


    "Mr. Galloway, when do you n to go through divorce procedures so that I can make room for your lover? After all, it''s inappropriate for you, a married man, to hug your lover in public. It will ruin both your reputation and Ms. Palmer''s."


    Julian looked at Rosalie''s indifferent demeanor with cold eyes. Even though she saw him hugging Roseanne with her own eyes, she could still act indifferent and unconcerned, and even thoughtfully considered his reputation.


    "Oh! So should I be grateful that you are so thoughtful?" A hint of irony flickered in Julian''s cold eyes.


    "You''re wee. I''ve always enjoyed being a nice person." Rosalie''s smile waszy as if she could be indifferent to all Julian and Roseanne did.


    This realization upset Julian, who felt down because he was unwilling to admit it..


    After saying this, Rosalie didn''t bother to consider Julian''s feelings. She, who had been interrupted by his arrival, redialed the number.


    The phone was answered after only one ring. "Rosa."


    "Where are you?"


    "At home."


    Eden''s voice came from the other end of the phone, his toneced with unconcealed concern. "How are you? Are you feeling better? Are you still ufortable?"


    When Julian heard Eden''s undisguised concern for Rosalie, his face darkened


    even more.


    Rosalie seemed to have noticed it and nced at him. Seeing that his face became even more sullen, she didn''t think much of it and looked away.

 Breaking Free From 187

    Rosalie seemed to have noticed it and nced at him. Seeing that his face became even more sullen, she didn''t think much of it and looked away.


    She questioned the person on the other end of the phone in a deep voice.


    "You brought me to the hospital and then left me here alone?"


    She thought, ''Are men so unreliable these days? Julian hugged his ex-girlfriend in front of me and even gave me a bad look.


    Julian hugged his ex-girlfriend in front of me and even gave me a bad look. Eddie is even worse. He just left me when I was in a fever-induceda?''


    Faced with Rosalie''s questioning, Eden was silent for a moment and then said angrily.


    "It was your ex-husband who insisted on taking you from me and sending you to the hospital. He just left you alone? I knew he was a piece of trash. How could I believe that a jerk could one day be a human?"


    Rosalie was stunned.


    Julian was at a loss for words.


    Thinking that the man Eden scolded was next to her, Rosalie felt inexplicably embarrassed for Eden.


    But then, she realized something.


    She looked up at Julian and frowned. "You brought me here?"


    Never expecting this answer, Rosalie was in aplicated mood but not happy.


    On the contrary, because she was unwilling to have anything to do with Julian, she didn''t want him to bring her here at all.


    She would feel like she owed Julian something.


    Seeing theplicated look in her eyes and her unconscious frown, Julian seemed to have guessed her thoughts.


    He sneered, "What? Are you disappointed that it wasn''t that man who brought you here?"


    Jealousy and rage surged uncontrobly in his heart.


    Even more infuriatingly, Rosalie didn''t hesitate for a moment. Right in front of him, she nodded. "Yes, I''m quite disappointed. Why did you have to meddle in my business?"


    "Rosalie."


    Julian roared in anger, unable to suppress his rage.


    Fortunately, it was quitete, and they were in the rest area of the emergency room, so there was no one around at the moment.


    Julian waspletely enraged by Rosalie''s indifferent look. He pulled Rosalie up from the sofa and said with a livid face, "I''m not dead yet."


    Rosalie didn''t get angry as he grabbed her arm. The pain only made her frown slightly, but it wasn''t obvious.


    She shrugged and said regretfully, "Isn''t it a pity? If you were dead, I would be a widow and wouldn''t be in this situation, where even getting a


    divorce is so difficult."


    As she spoke, Julian''s face darkened.


    Every time she mentioned divorcing him, she was so calm and serious without a moment of hesitation.


    Even though he had known long ago that Rosalie no longer cared about him, seeing her indifferent look, he still felt distressed.


    "Do you really want a divorce that badly?"


    His eyes were fixed on Rosalie, and when he asked this question, his voice was unintentionally hoarse.


    But neither Rosalie nor he noticed the hint of inexplicable expectation in his eyes when he asked the question.


    "Yes. How many times do I have to tell you that I really want a divorce, not just say it in a fit of anger?"


    1:03 PM


    Rosalie looked directly into Julian''s eyes. This time, she did not avoid his gaze.

 Breaking Free From 188

    Looking at Julian''s always indifferent but extremely handsome face, Rosalie recalled the past and found that apart from her one-sided enthusiasm and Julian''s cold shoulder, she couldn''t think of any sweet memories.


    Even if she could find any sweet memories, maybe she wouldn''t be so determined to get a divorce.


    Now, recalling the scene of him hugging Roseanne in the hallway wiped out herst bit of obsession with Julian.


    "Julian, it''s been more than a year, I''m really tired."


    She lowered her eyes and sighed, not confronting him or making sarcastic remarks as usual.


    "But I know I was also wrong in our marriage. If I had refused when your grandpa pushed you to marry me, we wouldn''t have been where we are today. So, I don''t me you for being cold to me over the past years."


    Rosalie spoke calmly, unlike the previous few times when she mentioned divorce to Julian, which always resulted in sarcasm and confrontation. She even took the me for their unhappy marriage.


    Rosalie continued, "After all, I asked for this, so I can''t me you. But since I realized this mistake, I want to make it right."


    She looked directly at Julian with calm, clear eyes, not avoiding his gaze at all.


    "So... you didn''t think it was a mistake to marry me against my will back then, but now that you realize it was, you want to divorce me?"


    Julian''s eyes were deep. When he said these words, Rosalie couldn''t even see the emotions in them.


    The only thing she felt was his tightening grip on her arm. He seemed to be pissed off by her.


    "Rosalie, why do you think I have to go along with whatever you want?"


    He said through clenched teeth, his eyes clouded with deep coldness.


    Only he knew the slight tremor beneath his angry tone as he spoke.


    If Rosalie mocked him as before, perhaps there would still be a chance for them.


    But now, as she calmly admitted to him that it was her fault for marrying him against his will and earnestly asked to make it right, he knew that thest bit of connection between them was gone,


    The increasing pressure on her arm made Rosalie frown slightly in pain.


    She looked directly into Julian''s eyes, her gaze unwavering. She didn''t get angry, but continued calmly, "You''re right. I married you against your will, so before I realized this mistake, I had already received my punishment from you, hadn''t 1?"


    Rosalie looked at Julian, raising an eyebrow. She could feel his fingers almost digging into her flesh. It seemed that mentioning their one-year, unhappy marriage had angered him once again.


    She added, "I married you against your will, and you gave me the cold shoulder. We''re even."


    "Even?"


    Julian smiled with a mocking look in his cold eyes. "How could we be even? I was a perfectly fine single young man and now I''m divorced. I don''t think we''re even."

 Breaking Free From 189

    But Julian was obviously trying to go against her. So what if he was divorced?


    As long as Julian wanted to remarry, even if he were a jinx, there would be hundreds of young singledies willing to marry him, let alone if he were merely divorced.


    Moreover...


    "Julian, I do admit that it was my fault for marrying you against your will, but it wasn''t entirely my fault. Don''t push your luck."


    She saw the gloom shing through Julian''s eyes, but she was not afraid and continued, "If you hadn''t agreed, I wouldn''t have been able to marry you. You me me for not refusing, then why didn''t you refuse?"


    Julian was at a loss for words.


    Back then, Issac pushed him to marry Rosalie even with the entire Galloway Group''s inheritance. He was unwilling to give the family business he had built up with his own hands to his uncle, so he agreed.


    But Rosalie was right. If he had refused, she wouldn''t have been able to marry him.


    Julian frowned, not knowing how to refute her.


    Rosalie sneered, "Therefore, even if I am wrong in this marriage, you are not entirely innocent. There is no need to put on the airs of an innocent victim. At least


    I have the courage to make it right.


    "What about you? You pretend to be a victim and want to continue this wrong marriage to punish me with cold violence?"


    The coldness in Julian''s eyes grew increasingly intense. His deep eyes were like two bottomless whirlpools, swirling with a storm that seemed to crush her.


    He couldn''t refute a single word Rosalie said.


    He didn''t want to pretend to be an innocent victim, but every time he heard Rosalie calmly say that she wanted to leave him, he could only make her stay in this despicable means.


    "Since you don''t want to be a divorced man, what about being a widower, Mr. Galloway?"


    Rosalie''s eyes were still calmly fixed on Julian''s face, but he found them exceptionally sharp and aggressive, constantly stabbing at his supposedly


    unbreakable heart.


    From her eyes, Julian sensed Rosalie''s determination to divorce, and this realization made his heart tremble faintly.


    He looked at Rosalie, his eyes bloodshot, his voice unconsciously hoarse. "You must get a divorce, don''t you?"


    "I''ve told you this no less than ten times. What makes you so confident that after a year, I still can''t get over this marriage, which is not worth remembering at all?"


    The sarcasm and determination in her eyes wrenched Julian''s heart sharply.


    After a moment, he said with a superficial smile, "Okay, since you are so eager to get a divorce, I''ll grant your wish."


    "Really?" Rosalie asked him.


    Julian clearly saw her eyes light up with unconcealed expectation when he agreed to the divorce.


    He felt upset and lost.


    To hold on to thatst bit ofughable pride, Julian sneered, ¡°Where makes you


    so confident that I can''t live without you?"


    "That''s even better. Let''s sign the agreement tomorrow."


    Looking at the unmistakable eagerness in Rosalie''s eyes, Julian suppressed his distress and said through gritted teeth, "Why wait until tomorrow?"

 Breaking Free From 190

    Julian let out a mocking smile. Before Rosalie could get what he meant, he took out his phone and dialed a number.


    As soon as the call connected, Julianmanded in a firm voice, "Bring me that divorce agreement."


    The person on the other end of the line was clearly stunned. "Di... Divorce agreement?"


    "Didn''t you hear me?"


    Julian''s face was terrifyingly grim. At that moment, whoever had to deal with him would definitely end up miserably.


    The person on the other end of the phone immediately responded, and Julian hung up the phone.


    His gaze turned back to Rosalie. "Are you satisfied now?"


    Rosalie wasn''t surprised that Julian had someone deliver the divorce agreement


    in the middle of the night. He was egocentric and did whatever he wanted.


    It was no big deal for him to have his man deliver the divorce agreement in the dead of night. He wouldn''t feel the slightest guilt.


    After all, he was a capitalist capable of manipting his men.


    "Yes, I am. Thank you, Mr. Galloway, for your cooperation."


    Rosalie nodded calmly as always.


    Julian stared at Rosalie''s calm face with bloodshot eyes filled with all sorts of indescribable emotions.


    It wasn''t long before n hurried to them with the divorce agreement. It was a freezing night, yet he had a thinyer of sweat on his face and was panting slightly, indicating that he had run over.


    "Mr. Galloway, this is the agreement you requested."


    n steadied his breathing, walked up to Julian, nodded to Rosalie, and greeted her. "Mrs. Galloway."


    Hearing n call Rosalie Mrs. Galloway, Julian subconsciously nced at her. Rosalie just nodded to n calmly when she heard that.


    Maybe she had acquiesced to the way n addressed her, or maybe she just didn''t bother to correct it. After all, they were getting a divorce.


    Thinking of thetter possibility, Julian felt upset and anxious. In a deep voice, he said, "Give me a pen."


    "Okay."


    n took out a fountain pen from his suit pocket and handed it to Julian respectfully.


    Over the years, he had been used to carrying a pen with him so that his boss could use it anytime, anywhere. This was the basic professional quality of a qualified assistant.


    But at that moment, n didn''t know why Julian asked for the pen. Seeing Julian signing his name on the divorce agreement with it, n was stunned.


    n thought, "What?


    Mr. Galloway asked me to get out of bed in the middle of the night and go to thepany to get this divorce agreement just to sign it with his wife in the hospital emergency room?"


    Looking at the familiar signature, which usually appeared on thepany''s important documents, now on the divorce agreement, n somehow felt sorry for Julian.


    After signing, Julian tossed the pen on the table and threw the divorce agreement to Rosalie.


    The thin piece of paper was not heavy, but Rosalie''s heart skipped a beat when she saw it.


    She took it with both hands, but her face remained calm. Without looking at the contents, she folded the agreement and put it into her pocket.


    "Thank you, Mr. Galloway."


    1:03 PM M


    "Rosalie, you''d better never regret today''s decision."

 Breaking Free From 191

    "Rosalie, you''d better never regret today''s decision," Julian suppressed his distress and spoke in an arrogant tone as usual.


    n was at a loss for words.


    He secretly nced at Julian''s face and couldn''t help but mutter to himself, ¡°I think you''ll be the one regretting itter, heh."


    Of course, he only dared tough in his heart. He never thought that one day, his words woulde true.


    Rosalie, on the other hand, appeared indifferent to Julian''s harsh words. "Mr. Galloway, please rest assured. I won''t regret it. If one day I do and go to pester you, you can break my legs."


    n was stunned.


    He thought, "Mrs. Galloway, you don''t have to be so ruthless to yourself."


    Rosalie looked at her watch and said, "It''s gettingte. Thank you, Mr. Galloway, for bringing me to the hospital today. I''ll treat you to dinner another day. Please be at the courthouse on time tomorrow morning. Don''t stand me up likest time. I''ll be leaving now."


    Every word she said was polite, yet distant, which wrenched his heart.


    Watching Rosalie resolutely walk out of the emergency room with the divorce agreement, Julian clenched his fists, then unclenched them, and clenched them again.


    Momentster, he looked up nkly and pressed his hand against his wrenching heart. Several deep breaths did nothing to ease his distress.


    He felt unbearable pain and emptiness as if part of him had been taken away.


    n stood by, not daring to speak. He had rarely seen Julian reveal such a nk and helpless, sad and lonely expression as if he had lost something precious that he would never regain in his life.


    As a bystander, n could tell that Julian didn''t hate his wife, to be precise, his ex-wife now, as much as he thought.


    n was confused. Since Julian cared about his wife, why did he feign indifference to hide his true feelings? After his wife asked a few times for a divorce, he even had him bring the agreement from miles away in the middle of the night and signed it.


    Looking at Julian''s scarlet eyes, n wanted tough and couldn''t help but gloat. The miserable Julian reminded him of one thing.


    It was hard to win an ex back.


    "As a very professional special assistant, should I make arrangements in advance to help him win his ex back?"


    n thought to himself, while Julian had left the emergency building with a darkened face.


    It was already past one o''clock in the morning, and there were few people on the street.


    1


    At the end of the year, Hasmond was freezing cold. When Rosalie came out of the hospital building, heavy snowkes were already drifting down from the sky.


    When Anya asked her out, she thought that she was going somewhere heated and she wouldn''t feel cold, so she only wore a thin cashmere coat.


    At that moment, standing at the entrance of the hospital with snowkes flying all over the sky, she felt the piercing cold as if sharp des were scraping against her face, making her shiver with cold.


    She didn''t call Eden but called a taxi and waited by the side of the road.


    The cold wind prated through her thin coat and into her flesh as if all the blood in her body was frozen, making her shiver with cold.

 Breaking Free From 192

    The ck Maybach slowly drove out of the hospital at this time, and n, who was driving, was the first to see Rosalie, who was shivering from the cold by the side of the road.


    He subconsciously stepped on the brakes, slowed down, and said to Julian in the back seat, "Mr. Galloway, it''s Mrs. Galloway. Shall we...pick her up?¡±


    Julian raised his deep, cold, and stern eyes, seeing the woman on the side of the road through the windshield.


    His emotionless eyes froze for a moment. Just when n thought Julian would ask him to stop, he heard Julian reply in a determined voice without a trace of emotion or hesitation, "Go."


    n was stunned.


    He thought, "You are such a jerk. You deserve this.


    Mrs. Galloway will be better off without you, a man with low EQ


    "Well, okay," n replied.


    Nevertheless, he still stepped on the brakes and slowed down the car. But until the car drove past Rosalie, he didn''t hear Julian ask him to stop.


    n sighed in his heart, "You are destined to be single for the rest of your life."


    "Stop!"


    Finally, n heard Julian''s gloomy voice from the back seat as he expected. He quickly stepped on the brakes, turned his head, and asked knowingly, "Mr. Galloway, do you have any instructions?"


    Julian''s expression was gloomy, unpredictable, and stern. "Turn around and pick her up."


    At that moment, n suddenly felt a sense of relief.


    He thought, "Mr. Galloway is notpletely hopeless."


    He nced at Julian, gratified to see his boss had finally be mature.


    Julian frowned at his gaze. "What are you looking at?"


    "No... Nothing. I''ll turn around and pick up Mrs. Galloway."


    At that time, Rosalie was still waiting at the entrance of the hospital. Perhaps because it was snowing heavily in the middle of the night, she had a hard time calling a taxi. After waiting for a long time, no taxi came.


    Before this, Rosalie had rarely called a taxi. She always drove when going out. This time, because she was brought to the hospital due to her high. fever, her car was left at Skyline Bar.


    She, unable to bear the cold, was about to call Eden.


    Just as she fumbled in her bag for her phone, the familiar Maybach slowly pulled up in front of her.


    This car was all too familiar to Rosalie. Since she married him, every day she had waited for him to return to Rosalian Manor. She clearly remembered the car he always took and its license te number.


    Therefore, when Rosalie saw the car, her face subtly changed.


    As expected, the next second, the front window was slowly lowered, revealing n''s slightly ingratiating smile.


    "Mrs. Galloway, it''s cold outside. Please get in the car. Mr. Galloway asked me to drive you home first."


    n bluntly "sold out his boss.


    Julian, in the back seat, frowned in displeasure and looked at n with a cold face, intending to deny it. But he swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue, implicitly agreeing with n''s words.


    His gaze seemed indifferent, but when it fell silently on Rosalie''s lips that turned blue from the cold, he became worried but hid it with a cold look.


    At that time, Rosalie could hardly bear the cold. If it were anyone else, even a stranger, who asked her to get in the car, she might consider getting in.

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    After all, she had never been hard on herself, but she tripped badly on Julian.


    Therefore, she would rather freeze for a while longer than stay in the car with Julian.


    She didn''t see the expectation hidden in Julian''s cold eyes and shook her head in refusal.


    "No, I called a taxi. Thank Mr. Galloway for me."


    Rosalie was worried if she talked harshly, Julian would lose his mind again and go against her by going back on his word and refusing to go through the proceedings tomorrow, so she spoke very nicely.


    n expected Rosalie to refuse. No one would be happy to be divorced by her husband in the middle of the night.


    But as a conscientious special assistant, he felt obligated to make one more effort to save his boss'' dying marriage.


    So he said to Rosalic, "Mrs. Galloway, it''s difficult to call a taxi at this hour and in this weather. Look, the snow is getting heavier. Why don''t you let me drive you home?"


    n didn''t care whether Rosalie had called a taxi or not. He simply assumed she hadn''t.


    In such terrible weather, if Rosalie were to fall ill from the cold, his perpetually single boss would be in real trouble.


    Rosalie frowned slightly and was about to refuse when a shy pink Ferrari screeched to a halt behind the Maybach, deliberately creating a sharp braking sound.


    Rosalie was at a loss for words.


    She thought, "Do you have to drive such a shy car in the middle of the night?"


    Looking at the pink-suited, shy man getting out of the Ferrari, Rosalie was at a loss for words while feeling relieved.


    "Rosalie, I''m here."


    What was more, Eden opened the pink umbre he carried and quickly ran over to Rosalie, shielding her from the falling snowkes.


    Looking at the pink things in front of her, Rosalie revealed a look of mixed emotions.


    Eden drove a pink car, wore a pink suit, and even brought a pink umbre. She always felt that this guy had an inexplicable obsession with pink.


    Eden said, "Look at you, you''re sick and still standing in the snow. Aren''t you deliberately making me feel distressed?"


    Rosalie was at a loss for words. She thought, ''You are so shy.


    Eden continued, "Let''s get in the car quickly. I''ll warm you up."


    She didn''t know if he deliberately omitted "turn on the heater" and just said "warm you up¡°, which was ambiguous.


    n looked at the pink-obsessed guy in front of him, secretly ncing at Julian, who was sitting in the back seat with a livid face and seemed to be about to lose control at any moment.


    Unconsciously, n pictured a dramatic scene where the wife cheated on her husband and was caught red-handed.


    Rosalie didn''t know what Julian and n were thinking at the moment. She was so cold that she felt like talking was a waste of energy, so she was about to get in the car as Eden asked.


    Just as she passed the back seat of the Maybach, the ck car window slowly lowered, revealing Julian''s cold and sharp eyes. He called her through clenched teeth.


    His gaze swept over Rosalie andnded lightly on the man beside her, who was dressed in pink from head to toe.


    Julian intended to ignore this ungrateful woman, but when he saw Rosalie''s intimate interaction with this effeminate man and heard him say that he would warm her up, he couldn''t help but want to get out of the car and pull her in.

 Breaking Free From 194

    "Mr. Galloway? Why are you here again?"


    Eden looked at Julian and raised an eyebrow. Perhaps it was done to provoke Julian deliberately. He handed the umbre to Rosalie and asked her


    to hold it. Then, in front of Julian, he took off his pink suit jacket and draped it over Rosalie.


    Rosalie was at a loss for words.


    Sheined in her heart, ''Can you at least let me get in the car before you act dramatically? Do you know I''m freezing?''


    Julian became even more sullen when he saw that Rosalie did not refuse Eden''s draping his jacket over her.


    "The procedures haven''t even beenpleted, and you''re already so eager to mess around with your lover?" Julian''s jaw was tight with anger, and carried away by jealousy, he spoke without thinking.


    n, who was paid as a special assistant but worried about Julian''s love life, was speechless.


    "You want to win your wife back like this?


    I think you should give up and be a single man for the rest of your life. Even a teenager with little emotional experience wouldn''t do that.


    You''re destined to be single, you know?"


    While n secretlyined about his low EQ boss in his heart, he saw Eden put his arm around Rosalie''s shoulder and challenge Julian.


    "Mr. Galloway, if you hadn''t stopped Rosalie just now, she would have gotten in the car. You don''t care if she''s cold, but I do. Can''t I drape my jacket over her to shield her from the wind and snow?"


    Eden was not afraid of Julian at all, and every word he said struck a chord with Julian. "Mr. Galloway, if you don''t care about Rosalie, I do. Rosalie, let''s go."


    After saying that, he ignored Julian''s darkened face and directly led Rosalie into the car behind him.


    The heater in the car brought Rosalie, who was frozen stiff, back to life.


    As for Julian''s feelings, she had absolutely no interest in it. After all, from tomorrow on, she and he would go their separate ways.


    "Why are you here?"


    Rosalie was only in the mood to speak after her body warmed up.


    "When you called me, I thought that bastard, Julian, had dumped you at the hospital and left. I was worried, so I rushed over here."


    Rosalie then remembered that she had called Eden earlier to ask where he was.


    Later, she learned that Julian was the one who had brought her here. After that, she had an argument with Julian about the divorce and forgot about this shy man, Eden.


    "Let''s go home.


    "Okay."


    Even after the pink Ferrari bypassed the Maybach and sped away,pletely disappearing, Julian''s expression didn''t soften.


    At that time, n definitely wouldn''t dare to talk to the sullen Julian, so he silently rolled up the car window and drove towards Rosalian Manor.


    Eden drove Rosalie to her apartment, Oakfield Tower, and made some food for her as usual. "Eat something to warm yourself up."


    Rosalie held the fork and ate absentmindedly. Eden sat in front of her and asked carefully, "Did Julian really sign it?"


    "Mm-hmm, Rosalie replied perfunctorily.


    "That''s why he was so eager to take you from me and take you to the hospital. He must have gone to get a divorce."


    Rosalie was at a loss for words.


    She wondered, ''How on earth did someone as dramatic as him be my assistant? Who in his right mind would go to the hospital in the middle of the night to get a divorce?''

 Breaking Free From 195

    However, Rosalie recalled that Julian had indeed had n specifically deliver the divorce agreement to the hospital and signed it there. She couldn''t help but think Eden had a point.


    Eden said, "I thought he was worried about you. Turns out he wasn''t worried at all."


    Rosalie was at a loss for words.


    She thought, "Who are you talking about?"


    "What if that jerk changes his mind tomorrow and refuses to go through the procedures?" Eden asked.


    It was reasonable for Eden to have such concerns.


    Eden had witnessed Julian''s outrageous behavior. Julian was the one who proposed the divorce, yet he was also the one dying it.


    He was the one who took Rosalie away, and he was also the one who left her in the hospital.


    Eden wondered, "Howe someone like him, a business big shot, lost his mind whenever it came to Rosa?"


    "He won''t dare, or I''ll break his legs."


    Although Rosalie said so, she had the same worry as Eden.


    She decided to urge Julian early tomorrow morning.


    She would wait for him at the gate of Rosalian Manor early in the morning. If he changed his mind again, she would break his legs and drag him to


    the courthouse.


    After making up her mind, Rosalie changed the subject and asked, "Did you find clues about my father?"


    Speaking of this, Eden, who was yful, became serious.


    "Yes, I found out that your father owns a transportationpany. It mainly engages in import and export transportation in Nordara.


    "In addition, thepany has a factory on an ind near Sapphire Ocean, which specializes in parts assembly. The assembled parts are delivered to Caldwell in the name of import."


    Rosalie raised her eyebrows when she heard this. "He bought an ind to build a factory? It seems that my father took a lot of assets from the Talley family."


    Although the price of some vacant inds would not be too high, it was an ind after all. Building a factory on it, plus various expenses and payments for workers, must have cost a lot.


    If Edward had only taken the dividends from the Talley family, he wouldn''t have been able to afford to buy an ind and build a factory.

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    However, she could only find out about the specific situation after she got the details of the transportationpany and the ind factory.


    Rosalie said, "Okay, I got it. Send the information you''ve found to my email. Put the investigation on him on hold for now and keep an eye on theb."


    "Okay," Eden replied.


    "After the new year, I will work as a professor at Hawthorne University. I will leave theb to you. If you need anything, you can go to the school to find me."


    "Are you really going to be a professor?"


    "Can''t I? I''m divorced. Can''t a housewife like me develop a career?"


    Rosalie continued eating and asked grumpily.


    Eden was at a loss for words.


    He thought, "Heh, I also want to be a housewife in charge of major scientific research like you."


    "It''s veryte. You should go home and sleep. I''m getting a divorce tomorrow morning."


    Rosalie spoke in a casual tone as if her divorce was something to celebrate.


    Eden nced at her and said, "You know it''ste and it''s snowing heavily, yet you still want me to go back? I''ll stay with you tonight."


    Rosalie was at a loss for words.


    "I''m still a married woman now. Please show me some respect."


    "Don''t you think it would be great to cuckold that bastard, Julian, at a time like this?"


    Eden looked at her, his eyes raised, with a hint of domineering arrogance and evil charm.


    Rosalie was speechless.


    Seeing her looking over, Eden cooperatively revealed his shoulder.

 Breaking Free From 197

    ncing at him, Rosalie finished her soup and walked to him with an order. "Alright. Take your pants off."


    Eden froze in shock and embarrassment, thinking, ''It was just a joke. Why does she have to be so serious?''


    They chattered for a while until he figured out Rosalie was not affected by the divorce. Then, he left with relief.


    After he left, Rosalie put away the tes and forks. She then brushed her teeth and returned to her bedroom where she finally could spare her thoughts about the divorce.


    1


    Julian finally signed the divorce agreement, and she seeded in re- experiencing the nightmare she had in her preexistence. Nheless, it didn''t fill the hollow in her heart.


    Perhaps that was because all her expectations and time devoted to this man all vanished. She found it hard to adapt to it for the time being.


    So, she decided to let time heal everything.


    With those selfforts, Rosalie slipped into the nket on the bed.


    Since she had just recovered from a high fever and been free from Julian''s pressure, Rosalie immediately fell asleep as soon as she got on bed.


    Meanwhile, however, the lights in Julian''s room in Rosalian Manor were kept all night.


    Perhaps being too concerned with the divorce, Rosalie got up so early in the morning. After all the wash-up, she noticed that it was still too early to attend the court.


    So, she had breakfast and brought her ID card, divorce agreement, and all the files she needed to finish the paperwork to wait for Julian right at the gate of Rosalian Manor.


    Having learned her lesson from being stood up by Julianst time, Rosalie now had zero trust in this man.


    That was why ra spotted Rosalie''s car outside the gate of Rosalian Manor when she carried all the vegetables and meat purchased from a grocery shop.

 Breaking Free From 198

    She hadn''t seen Rosalie since the day Julian carried her back for a night due to Rosalie''s drunkenness. Joyfully, she walked faster to greet Rosalie


    "Morning, Mrs. Galloway. Come on, have a cup of coffee inside, said ra.


    "Thank you, but I''d like to wait for Julian here" Rosalie shook her head to turn down ra''s invitation.


    "But it''s too cold outside. You can absolutely wait for Mr. Galloway in the living room. It won''t take long. He usually sets off by this time, anyway? said ra


    However, Rosalie still insisted on waiting in her car.


    ra was also aware of her insistence and quit inviting her in while thinking, ''Mrs. Galloway came to meet Mr. Calloway. There may still be some room for reconciliation!


    In fact, she ascribed Julian''s stern face and insomnia, which she ran into when finding the lights in his room were still on in the middle of the night, to his deep affection for Rosalic.


    After indulging in her own wishful thinking, ra happily came to tell Julian the good news of Rosalie''s presence outside the manor.


    At this very moment, Julian just came out of his room and frowned when bumping into ra, who was rushing upstairs with an overjoyed smile.


    Then, he heard her saying in a gratified tone, "Mr. Galloway, Mrs. Galloway is waiting for you downstairs"


    Her words made Julian halt his hands that were tying a necktie for a second. A hint of imperceptible gleam of hope shed through his previously indifferent eyes.


    He couldn''t help but wonder, ''Is she here because she regrets urging me to divorce her?''


    A barely noticeable curve appeared on the corner of his lips when he still tried his best to maintain a stern face. "I see. By the way, ra, you shouldn''t be so excited. Just tell her to wait"


    In silence, ra thought, ''Mr. Galloway, if you hadn''t quickened your steps downstairs, I''m almost convinced that you''re not in raptures!


    Watching Julian almost rushing downstairs, ra couldn''t help rolling her eyes at him.


    Meanwhile, he had reached the living room but had no sight of Rosalie at all. This made the slight curve on his lips straight up again.

 Breaking Free From 199

    "Where is she? Didn''t you say she was waiting for me downstairs?" Julian inquired.


    ra replied, "Oh, she is waiting for you in her car outside the yard, Mr. Galloway."


    Meanwhile, she pondered, ''I didn''t say Mrs. Galloway was waiting for you in the living room. Don''t me me for not hearing my words carefully.''


    In no mood to quarreling with ra, Julian didn''t say anything and walked out of the room.


    +23


    It snowed all nightst night, covering the streets in crystal white. When walking towards the gate, Julian walked faster without noticing it himself as he apparently didn''t want to keep Rosalie waiting in such cold weather.


    As soon as he walked out of the gate, he saw Rosalie''s car parked on the side of the road.


    Through the car window, he saw Rosalie wrapped herself in a white down coat, a brown woolen hat, and a scarf, intending to prevent the slightest cold air from attacking her.


    Nevertheless, such a dull outfit didn''t obscure her outstanding face. Instead, it emphasized the stunning aura of her being energetic and living, which was totally different from the Rosalie who wore clothes adding at least twenty years to her age for a year.


    This thought suddenly reminded him of something he never paid attention to- although Rosalie had married him, she was still young blood in her twenties.


    Pressing his lips hard, Julian walked over with wild thoughts in his mind.


    Rosalie didn''t reluctantly wind down the car window until he knocked it. With a forced smile that could merely be considered friendly, she said, "Morning, Mr. Galloway."


    Hearing her call him "Mr. Galloway" immediately clouded his mood that was just about to shine a little.


    "I assume you came here so early in the morning to quit divorcing me," said Julian.


    Looking at the smile in her eyes, Julian suddenly found himself not so irritable.


    1:04 PM


    0


    0

 Breaking Free From 200

    However, such a good mood didn''tst for more than a few seconds when he heard Rosalie say, "No. I''m here because I don''t want any abrupt schedule'' of your work to dy the divorce process again."


    Julian couldn''t help but sulk. Then, he got a hint of the true meaning in her smile. He said, "So, you''re afraid that I might regret divorcing you."


    Irony exuded in his low voice. Still, he had to admit that he indeed neglected the paperwork if Rosalie didn''te here to urge him to deal with it.


    Moreover, Rosalie''s silence gave tacit consent to his guess, making his already down mood more blue.


    Rosalie was about to say something more when she suddenly heard a light sneer. Julian, leaning against her car, looked condescending at the woman wrapped in thick clothes.


    "The days that I was busy working turn you arrogant, Rosalie. I''m surprised that you so haughtily think I will pester you," said Julian.


    Rosalie thought, ''Or what? That''s exactly what you have done before.


    She hated him talking like the person who stood her up was not him.


    "Well, don''t me me for theck of trust in you, Mr. Galloway because that is totally based on what you did before. Anyway, I''m much more relieved to see you in person. Let''s go," said Rosalie.


    "Rosalie!" said Julian in a stern tone.


    "You''re not going back on your word, are you, Mr. Galloway?" she asked.


    Julian''s pulling back was thest she wanted now. With her foot on the


    elerator, she would step on it without hesitation to hit Julian with her car if he really did that.


    "That''s not going to happen," he said.


    "Good. So, let''s go now. Anyone who tries to quit this time will be impotent forever," said Rosalie.


    It was Julian''s turn to be speechless.


    In silence, Julian underwent rage after reading her pressing desire for divorce and


    the provocation at him to finish it as soon as possible.

 Breaking Free From 201

    They finally made it to the courthouse. As they sat in the room dealing with all the paperwork, the court staff, Kelly Brown, couldn''t help bur due to the breakup between such a cute couple.


    She couldn''t help but try to reconcile them. "You guys...


    "Thank you, but we have had a year of cooling off." Rosalie anticipated what the court staff was going to say and directly interrupted her


    In fact, the cooling-off period started from the day of their marriage and was still going on until now. Rosalie had been so fed up with it


    Kelly fell silent and thought awkwardly. I haven''t even said a thing. Trying to reconcile every couple preparing to divorce is part of my job.


    Then, she looked at the man lieside Rosalie who always kept a stern expression without making anyments. Kelly felt that this man looked. somewhat familiar but failed to associate his face with his identity.


    "Have you two decided to divorce?" said Kelly.


    Julian said, "Actually, I..."


    "Yes" Rosalie hurried to interrupt him and brought the procedure back on track.


    Julian''s glotany gaze fell upon Rosalie''s face, which was full of urgency, and he couldn''t help squinting in displeasure.


    Then, he turned to Kelly with a stern face and said, "Yes. I''ll divorce her for sure. Kelly was speechless.


    She felt it was weird for Julian to emphasize his determination to get divorced as it somehow gave away his regret of doing so.


    It was like Murphy''s Law. He would sooner orter despise himself for the decision he made today.


    At tas very moment, however, Julian had no idea of that. In fact, he would have to pay a rather heavy price for divorcing Rosabe


    Realizing there was no hope to mediate between them, Kelly sighed in her heart and started dealing with the paperwork.


    When Rosalie was checking the contents of the divorce agreement with them, a hint of surprise appeared on her usually eager face.

 Breaking Free From 202

    This divorce agreement was not the one sheter revised. Instead, it was the one Julian asked Martin to give her at the very beginning.


    At first, she received half of Julian''s total assets but chose to return him 5% of the Galloway Group''s stock rights and half of his equity.


    Now, the agreement wrote that he would give her the money equivalent to the current stock price of hispany, which was several billion dors.


    Kelly didn''t read this agreement at first. Now, she was stunned by the astonishing distribution of the property.


    This was the divorce of a billionaire. Only then did she remember why she felt that the man before her was familiar to her. He was Julian, the young and powerful leader of the Galloway Group who dominated the business world here


    For Rosalie, when Julian signed the agreement yesterday, she didn''t read the contents because she thought the agreement n sent over was the same one she had sent the previous day.


    She had never even nced at the agreement until this very moment.


    Even though Rosalie would receive a fortune that was beyond the reach of others for several lifetimes, she was still not happy.


    For her, divorce meant cutting off all ties with Julian once and for all. All this wealth was annoying ties that still bonded him and her together.


    She was about to refuse when Julian, seemingly anticipating her forting words, preempted her by saying, "If you don''t take this money. I won''t divorce you"


    Rosalie was so pissed off by his words that she felt a lump in her throat. She said, "Julian, Ive told you before that I don''t need your money. Why don''t you just give up?


    Reluctant to quarrel with her, he exined it to her without expression on his face.


    "These are our joint property. Since we''ve divorced, you naturally deserve half of it. I don''t want the public to think that I took advantage of my ex-wife. If you don''t want the money, I won''t ept the divorce," said Julian.

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    "These are our joint property.


    Since we''ve divorced, you naturally deserve half of it. I don''t want the public to think that I took advantage of my ex-wife. If you don''t want the money, I won''t ept the divorce" said Julian.


    While saying that, he got up and prepared to leave,pletely missing the shocked expression on Kelly''s face.


    It was the first time she saw a divorced couple making such an unpleasant thing so decent.


    The wife wanted no penny from the husband while the husband insisted on gifting several billion dors to the wife. Given those couples wrestling for every penny of their joint property, Kelly''s mind went nk.


    Kelly, a civil servant who only got several thousand dors a month, felt deep emotional damage seeing them all refusing such big bucks.


    "Stop right there." As Julian really meant to step out of the courthouse, Rosalie shouted at him.


    She even got up way earlier than her usual early routine to make him handle the divorce negotiations in person. If he dipped out now, she''d never catch another chance like this in the future.


    So, she gritted her teeth and said. "Fine. I''ll take this money."


    Kelly raised an eyebrow and gave Rosalie a sidelong nce. She found that Rosalie''s attempt to reluctantly ept several billion dors somehow pissed her off.


    Finally, under the envious and jealous gaze of Kelly, theypleted their divorce procedures.


    Roulie came out of the courthouse with a rxed smile. To those who didn''t know her, they would have thought she was here to register her marriage. The man beside her, who looked reluctant, waspelled to be her groom.


    Compared to Rosalie''s bearning face that lit up the street, Julian was a storm cloud, sullen and silent. The more he scoped out her radiant joy, the more it grated on him like nails on a chalkboard.


    Finally, in dead silence, he swung the car door open and gave it a good m. After flooring the elerator, the car peeled out of there.

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    Rosalie couldn''t have cared less about Julian''s feelings at that moment. She slipped the divorce decree into a safe spor and set her sights on the rising sun. ready to move on.


    The sun was zing brightly, casting its golden rays on the snow-covered ground and reflecting a dazzling, radiant glow. That picture-perfect scene lifted Rosalie''s spirits and put a spring in her step.


    She was finally able to shake Julian off her tail. From this day forward, there would be no more tangling with him.


    Standing in the snow, she took a deep breath


    th and willed herself to ignore the hollow ache in her chest that felt like a vice gripping her heart.


    After that, she headed back to Graham Vi and started cooking up a n to get even with all those who had given her a hard time before


    Ever since Rosalie handed out a good old-fashioned beating and scolding to those folks at Graham Vi, the Graham family had been too freaked out to piss her off again.


    Tomorrow marked the eve of Christmas. All thepanies had already


    announced their holiday schedules. With the festive buzz reaching a crescendo, the Graham family would embark on their annual trip to Edward''s hometown to visit kin on Christmas Eve.


    The Graham family didn''t visit their rtives due to deep emotional ties to them. In fact, it was more about leveraging the Talley family''s wealth and status to enhance and make themselves feel good.


    However, people in Edward''s hometown were oblivious to the fact that he had tied the knot with an heiress to a wealthy family. They took his annual visits aboard a private jetden with numerous gifts as a testament to his sess.


    After all, Phyllis Graham, Edwards mother, had always boasted to the extended family that her son held the position of chairman of a listedpany.


    Had it been anyone else, they might have doubted Phyllis im. But since it''s Edward, they find it much more credible. After all, he does fly back to his hometown in his own private jet.


    Although they were bragging, they had the means to back up these vain actions.

 Breaking Free From 205

    Therefore, the people in Edward''s hometown all believed that this boy from a humble rural background had now be a billionaire and could indeed afford a private jet.


    Every year when the Graham family rolled back into town, they were mobbed by the locals heaping onpliments. It really struck Phyllis ego. seeing as how she never quite got the hang of mixing it up with those Hasmonddies.


    Even though their hometown was still dirt poor these days, Phyllis still got all excited about heading back every holiday season


    "Rosalie, have you got your bags packed yet! Time''s ticking. We''re about to hit the road said Edward.


    The servants had already loaded up the luggage and toted it downstairs. Edward noticed Rosalie nted on the couch scrolling at her phone, so he hollered at her to get her tail in gear and pack her stuff.


    Rosalie lifted her head from her phone screen and took a gander at the bunch of nouveau riche types all dressed to the nines in front of her. Then, she nonchntly said. "I ain''t going back this year."


    She knew that these people d


    Woman


    didn''t want her tagging along back to their hometown. They were scared she might blurt out that Edward lived on a


    When the Grahams heard Rosalie wasn''ting, they were thrilled. After


    exchanging nces. Edward pretended to care and said. "Why note with us?


    I worry about you being alone."


    "Well, you can stay home with me, and we can have Christmas together," said Rosalie.


    Edward''s face scrunched up. Then, a sad look popped on his face. He said, "But there''s tons of family and friends back home, I only go back a couple times a year. It''s family reunion time. How can I miss it!"


    In fact, if he skipped it, he would miss all the fun of showing off his wealth in front of those poor folks who looked down on him when he was a kid.


    Ever since Phyllis got chewed out by Julian and Rosalie that day she came home, she had been giving Rosalie the evil eye, even though she ain''t confronted her head-on.


    Hearing Rosalie actually ask Edward not to go back, she couldn''t resist shooting back, "Rosalie, how you gonna make such a crazy demand for your dad? Your grandpa was buried in his hometown. It''s Christmas. Your dad needs to clear his tomb


    Rosalie kept ying on her phone, ignoring Phyllis and just rolling her eyes at Phyllis inwardly.


    ording to Phyllis, she figured Rosalie didn''t know they went back and did nothing except show off their wealth to rtives and neighbors. They hadn''t even visited her grandpa''s grave.


    Rosalie thought, ''Now she is using the dead to win this argument. She''ll get her karma in the end


    After cursing Phyllis in her heart, Rosalie looked up at her with an innocent face.


    "Grandina, you''re getting old and having bad hearing. Didn''t you hear Dad just say he wants to stay with me because he''s worried about me being alone? I''m just showing how much I care for him.


    "I can''t bear seeing him so worried. I need him to stay h


    here and to see I''m


    miline. Why''d


    Why''d you misinterpret my kindness like th


    Phyllis was furious with what Rosalie salil, her face twisting in anger. What really annoyed her was Rosalie''s innocent look while spewing such a self-righteous, argumentative niess, like Phyllis had misread her nice intent.


    She wanted to give Rosalie a piece of her mind, but Rosalie''s tough act scared her off. In the end, she kept her mouth shut.

 Breaking Free From 206

    Phyllis'' n was to bite her tongue until Edward took charge o of the Talley Group. Then, she would make Rosalie pay for messing with her.


    "Rosalie, you really shoulde back with us. Our hometowns ain''t no Hasmond, but it''s got its own charm. Plus, after divorcing Julian, this is a great chance for you to unwind and have some fun out there," said Helena.


    Helena brought up the divorce in front of Rosalie, pretending to care but really just trying to stir up some trouble and get Rosalie upset.


    If Rosalie didn''t know Helena''s true colors, she might''ve missed the evil glee twinkling in her eyes.


    She gave Helena a sidelong nce and asked with a raised eyebrow. What exactly do you mean by having fun?"


    Helena said, "Country folk are really fun. You''ll definitely be in a good mood once you get there."


    Rosalie.


    Helena really wanted Rosalie toe back to their hometown. That''s the only way Helena can feel superior to


    Folks in their hometown knew their surnames were different, so they assumed Rosalie was from the high-and-mighty Talley family. Plus, she stayed in her room most of the time. Seldom would people hear her call Edward Dad.


    Therefore, despite returning to their hometown numerous times, no one was aware that Rosalie actually belonged to the Graham family. Even the private ne, which was a birthday gift from George to Roulie, belonged solely to her.


    Those poor country folk, in an attempt to win Helena''s favor and gain benefits from the Graham family, would praise her to the high heavens while secretly looking down on Rosalie.


    They all said that Rosalie, a cousin from the Graham family, still clung to them even after her aunt passed away and her uncle remarried, just trying to take advantage of them.


    Every time Helena heard these words, she


    e would smile awkwardly to tacitly approve those spections.


    Whenever Rosalie was looked down upon by those people, Helena''s sense of superiority as the pampered darling of the Graham family would skyrocket.


    Rosalie sneered at Helena, and through her smiling eyes, she instantly perceived Helena''s malicious intent and schemes.


    The "fun" Helena was talking about could very well be referring to Rosalie, a well- recognized "cousin" of the Graham family,

 Breaking Free From 207

    When Rosalie visited her rtives in the countryside with the Graham family before, she asionally overheard people specting that she was a cousin of the Graham family. She never bothered to exin, thinking there was no need to deliberately rify her identity.


    However, this family''s behavior didn''t stop at just that. They not only sought to establish themselves as superior by using Rosalie''s, but they also attempted to derive a sense of superiority from her.


    This behavior really pissed Rosalie off


    Rosalie said. "Alright, I like funny things. Let''s go back together.


    Then, Rosalie put down her mobile phone and instructed Hollie to pack her luggage. After that, the Graham family set out on their journey.


    The Graham family, upon boarding the spacious private luxury ne, suddenly felt a surge of superiority. As they looked down on those perceived as "poor and ignorant people in the countryside, they unconsciously straightened their backs, feeling self-satisfied with their own superior lifestyle.


    Edward felt as though he were an emperor, embarking on a grand tour with the queen, prince, and princesses, all while making a high-profile disy


    Rosalie cast a nce at the Graham family''s absurd demeanor and couldn''t help but sneer.


    In her view, the Graham family''s show-off antics in front of humble countryside folk were in nasty and disrespectful To make sure they have enough "fun" of looking down upon the poor farmers, Rosalie came up with an idea.


    Rosalie went to Edward''s hometown with the Graham family, while Julian, as always, headed back to Galloway Manor for the annual family


    reunion.


    When Issac was alive, he was a strict, old-fashioned patriarch. He had one wife, Julian''s grandmother, but also a mistress. Julian''s second uncle was that mistress'' son. He seemed nice but secretly plotted to undermine Julian

 Breaking Free From 208

    Despite Issac''s death, the whole Galloway family was still able to maintain a degree of unity and togetherness, such as gathering for holidays


    Christmas


    Beth Calloway, Julian''s grandmother, was a ssy olddy. She dressed in a long, dark green dress and kept her hair tidy. She had the elegance of a young noblewoman.


    Though she once resented Isaac''s infidelity, Beth Galloway grew ustomed to it over time. Maybe age mellowed her temper. Now, she gets along fine with the children of Issac''s mistress.


    "Where''s Rosalie Why isn''t she here yet?" With the w


    the whole family around the dinner table except for Rosalie, Beth couldn''t help but ask.


    After giving Beth a Christmas gift and expressing his best wishes upor


    not uttering another word.


    upon entering the room, Julian fell silent, not utt


    Julian had always been a man of few words, so the whole family didn''t perceive anything unusual about his behavior,


    Beth''s question then drew their attention to Julian, who appeared even more subdued than usual.


    Beth lived a quiet, peaceful life, and she had be even more secluded since Issac had passed over a month ago. News of Julian''s divorce hadn''t gotten away, so Beth was unaware of it


    "Grandma Beth, Julian and Rosalie have gotten divorced. Didn''t you know about it?"


    The one who spoke was the granddaughter of Issac''s mistress, Linda Galloway.


    Despite Julian and Rosalic''s amicable divorce and their efforts to keep it low-key online, hints of their separation still leaked out within the affluent Hasmond social circle.


    Linda''s family being part of the Galloway family exined why they were aware of the news,


    Linda and Roseanne shared a close bond, which was why Linda felt that Rosalie stole Julian away y from her good friend. Ever since Rosalie married Julian, Linda had harbored hostility towards her.


    Linda was thrilled to hear about Julian and Rosalie''s divorce. When Beth inquired about it, Linda eagerly spilled the beans without hesitation.


    In the hall, the atmosphere suddenly became oppressive and silent.


    Linda''s mother then gently pinched her arm and reprimanded her in a condescending tone, "That has nothing to do with you. It''s rude to such


    to make


    Despite being criticized by her own mother, Linda didn''t get angry. She simply pursed her lips nonchntly and muttered, "Grandma Beth asked me this question. I was just giving a helpful reply."


    "Did Grandma ask you?" Anya retorted directly.


    Linda was a bit of a tyrant among the youth in the Calloway family, but she never dared to mess around with Julian, especially with Anya. In grandmother''s time, Anya would''ve been way up on the totem polepared to Linda


    In their


    Plus, Julian was still the boss of Calloway Group, Linda''s family''s bread and butter depended on him, so she wouldn''t dare cross Anya.


    The biggest thing was that Anya got the mighty Perry family at her back.


    Even though Linda was seething inside, she behaved humbly and said. Tim sorry.


    I only spoke up because Grandma Beth asked When I


    Beth first heard the news, she was surprised but soon gained her self-posure,


    Compared to ac forcing Julian in marry Rosalie, Beth was prettyid-back and didn''i meddle in Julian''s marriage.


    So even if Julian married Rosalic, she didn''t have too much of an issue with it. She just didn''t have any feelings for Roulie,

 Breaking Free From 209

    "Well, Julian''s attitude towards Rosalie was so terrible. It was only a matter of time before they divorced,"


    1. Beth said.


    Even though Beth didn''t sweat the small stuff among the younger folk, her offhand remarks were super hurtful and made Julian, who was already in a funk, feel even


    worse.


    "Alright, since Rosalie''s noting, let''s all just eat," Beth said.


    Dinner was all set, and everyone took their seats.


    Since the servants didn''t know about Julian and Rosalie''s divorce, they left Rosalie''s seat at the dinner party as usual.


    After everyone took their seats, Julian suddenly noticed the empty seat beside him.


    When they got married, it was around this timest year. That was Rosalie''s first Christmas family gathering at Calloway Manor.


    He started recalling Rosalie from then. She wore a short red coat and a white scarf, looking cozy and fitting right in with the Christmas vibe.


    The 19-year-old girl with fair, rosy


    osy skin was so pretty that people would regard her as a Christmas elf


    Julian always believed he hated her to the extent of even hating looking at her.


    But now, he still remembered Rosalie''s outfit fromst year so clearly.


    At that time, she was sitting beside him. Being new to the family, she seemed quite shy. She ate quietly, resembling a well-mannered youngdy from a noble background.


    Even so, he d


    did notice her taste preferences. If the dishes didn''t suit her, she''d subtly furrow her brow


    When it came to dishes she liked.


    ed, her eyes would light up and she''d finish them in no time.


    Thinking about it, the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously, and he was a little lost in thought.


    Julian Julian!"


    It was Anya''s voice next to him that snapped him out of memory.


    Julian frowned slightly, his expression hardening as he realized he''d lost focus thinking about that rude woman, Roulie.


    "What''s up?" said Julian.......


    He ducked his head, hiding the difort that crept up when he thought of Rosalie.


    "I said, why don''t you call Rosalie and see if she wants to join us for Christmas? I heard the Grahams are back in Edward''s hometown. She might be lonely at home by herself," Anya suggested.


    When Anya suggested it, Julian didn''t react much since he was lost in thoughts of Rosalie. Sitting across. Linda thought he didn''t agree happy for Roseanne. As Anya was about to repeat herself, Linda decided to frustrate that idea.


    and felt


    Linda said, "Anya, Julian has already divorced Rosalir. She''s Julian''s ex-wife. How can she spend Christmas with us! It''ll be awkward for both of them if word goes out."


    Linda thought, "Rosalie''s still head over heels for Julian. If she gets an invite, she might show up shamelessly. Julian just broke free. I don''t want her near him again?


    Anya would have fired back at Linda any other time, but the knew Linda had a point, so she stayed quiet in a weird way.

 Breaking Free From 210

    Though Anya kept saying Rosalie should divorce her annoying younger brother, when they actually did that, Anya was still part of the family.


    felt


    uneasy


    sy and wished Rosalie


    A gleam of their reconciliation kept shining in Anya''s brain since noticing Julian''s life hadn''t been all that great since the divorce.


    Julian, however, didn''t expect Anya to bring it up. For a moment, he even hoped Rosalie mighte and, for Anya''s sake, agreed to patch things up


    with him


    However, Linda''s inappropriatements shut down Anya, his fiery and unreasonable older sister.


    So, he gave Linda a cold, herce stare.


    This terrified Linda. The sudden guilt from nowhere made her quickly duck her head and dive into her meal


    "If you want her toe here so bad, why doart you call her yourself? Why me?" Julian said.


    Though Julian pretended to still hate Rosalie, his grip on the knife and fork tightened. His eyes hinted at tension and anticipation.


    Anya was speechless at his hypocrisy and suddenly lost interest in bringing Rosalie to this family dinner.


    That was mainly due to Linda''s words, which really affected Anya. She hesitated but ultimately decided against calling Rosalic.


    "Forget it. Rosalie won''te anyway," said Anya.


    It was julian''s turn to be speechless.


    For a moment, he almost couldn''t resist the urge to grab Anya''s shoulders and shake them, shouting, "Make that phone call please."


    Kaleb, sitting beside Anya, silently observed Julian''s erratic gaze, his cheeks aching from the effort of suppressing hisughter.


    He thought. Julian clearly harbors deep feelings for Rosalie, but he refuses to admit it. Imagine if your ex-wife were to leave you for someone else then you''d be the one crying


    This Christmas dinner, which was supposed to be a joyful gathering, left Julian feeling quite uneasy. Several times, he almost gave in to the urge to call Rosalie but ultimately refrained.


    Meanwhile, the Graham family arrived at Edward''s hometown, Mudville, the very night before, because they took a private ne.


    It was not an exaggeration to say that Edward was the pride of the entire impoverished Mudville.


    Marville was a quintessential impoverished mountain vige. However, in recent years, the state government had vigorously pushed for the development of such viges. Roads and modern factories had been constructed, and several enterprises had invested in mountain tourism Consequently, this once-poor vige gradually thrived.


    Especially after Edward took off, he decided to showcase his sess by building roads in the vige. Additionally, since his private jet required a Landing pad. he specifically cleared a plot ofnd in the mountaim to amodate his ne.


    When the vigers spoke of him, their words were tinged with both envy and jealousy.


    On this y, the Graham family was enjoying their Christinas dinner at home as usual, basking in the envious and admiring nces of the vigers


    who raine du visit.


    That was when Rosalie received a Christmas greetings call from Anya. She stepped out onto the balcony to take it.


    "Edward, why dorsy


    s your ex-wife''s niece keeping to our hometown jo celebrate Christmas every year? Doesn''t she have her own family to share this special day with?" The speaker was Phyllis cousin, Grace Junes, who hailed from Mudville as well.


    In order to ingratiate herself with udia the mistress of the Graham family,


    Cirare seized the moment when Rosalie was absent to bring up this matter, hoping that udia would remember her favor and possibly secure some future blia for her son.

 Breaking Free From 211

    Grace assumed that since Edward''s first wife had gone, udia, his new wife, probably wouldn''t want to mix with that woman''s family.


    Rosalie''sst name was Talley. So, like everyone else in the vige. Grace figured Rosalie was Edward''ste wife''s niece. Edward never opposed


    anyway.


    Upon hearing Grace, Edward grinned sheepishly and said, "Rosalie wanted to go back, so we brought her along


    After hearing this, Grace scoffed. Rosalie, who was answering the phone on the balcony. She nced at Rosalie and whispered. "She''s buttering up you to get something from the Grahams, Edward."


    Even though Edward barely had a sense of shame, he still felt a bit awkward hearing Grace''s words.


    However, his silence led Grace to think that he was too shy to call Roulie out. Using her seniority, Grace pretended to worry and said some hurtful things to Edward.


    "Edward, don''t me me for butting in. I know you''re kind-hearted. You want to help your passed ex''s family.


    "But this girl''s got no manners. Her aunt''s been gone for twenty years. There''s no tie left between your families. Why does she keep pestering you! She''s just after your money," said Grace.


    udia listened silently next to Grace and had a smug look on her face as Grace despised Rosalie


    The Graham family thus fell into the lie they made up to fool others, convincing themselves the Talleys wealth was theirs and Rosalie was just after their money.


    Seeing udia''s smile, Grace wasmitted that her words pleased her and kept talking with even more enthusiasm.


    "Edward, you built your family estate from scratch. It''s for Helena and Riley. Don''t let your niece trick you," said Grace.


    Edward still smiled nicely and said, "Aunt Grace, I get what you mean."


    Just as Grace was about to add something, she saw Rosalie return from her call. She quickly changed the subject, but her nce at Rosalie was filled with disdain.


    Catching Grace''s expression, Rosalie roughly guessed her thoughts. But she wasn''t in a rush to retaliate. Grace had plenty of time to enjoy herself. so Rosalie could wait.


    Since Rosalie was there, Grace didn''t say much more and left after chatting with the Graham family for a while.


    Except forst year when Rosalie spent Christmas with the Calloway family after just marrying Julian, she always celebrated Christmas with the Graham family in Mudville,


    on water. The


    Chattering around TV was supposed to be the warmest moment of a family gathering. But for Rosalie now, all the warmth felt like oil on water. family''s true nature of being calcting, selfish, and shameless made her sick.


    Nevertheless, she didn''t leave but chat and watch TV with them. She just wasn''t as invested as she used to be.


    "Roselia, you missed Christmas with usst year. It wasn''t the same. d you''re divorced now, we can celebrate together again.¡±


    Helena''s bright voice rang out beside Rosalie, holding her hand tight with lots of love.


    Her eyes sparkled with delight like Rosalie was the key to Helena''s happiness at this moment. If only Helena could mask the gloat in her eyes a bit


    better.

 Breaking Free From 212

    Rosalie felt that Helena''s lively and energetic demeanor made her seem more like someone with intellectual challenges than someone dealing with heart issues. It was really not smart for Helena to confront Rosalie so openly at this point


    After all, Rosalie wouldn''t put up p with i


    Helena''s provocation.


    So, turning her head. Rosalie sneered at Helena and asked, "Why keep


    keep bringing up my


    y divorce? Are you trying to add insult to injury?"


    Helena''s smile faded, surprised by Rosalie''s directness, Meeting Rosalie''s half- smiling gaze, she instinctively gripped her clothes tighter, remembering the fear Rosalie''s sharp words had once invoked.


    Helena was fully av


    aware of the threat underneath Rosalie''s pitiful tor


    lone


    ''smile, she said, "I didn''t mean it. I was just


    The instinct that was deeply engraved in Helena''s mind drove her to sit away from Rosalie. With a stiff st 100 excited and let my words slip. I didn''t mean to mock you.


    "Really? I see," said Rosalie.


    Rosalie gave her a slight nod, then added, "If you make a mistake, you should face some consequences to learn from it


    At Rosalie''s words, the Graham family''s hearts sank as they all recalled the fear of Rosalie''s aggression.


    1. it. What do you think?"


    udia was genuinely terrified of Rosalie. Recalling Helena''s heart attack triggered by Rosalie''s behavior, udia gritted her teeth


    anger.


    udia quickly stepped forward to shield Helena and said, "Rosalie, Helena was just too excited to spend Christmas with you. It''s my fault for not teaching her better. Please forgive her for the sake of me as your mom, okay?"

 Breaking Free From 213

    sake of who?"


    "Hold on a second. Rosalie raised her hand to interrupt her and asked. "For the sake of


    udia''s face stiffened in shock. The chill in Rosalie''s contemptuous gaze startled her, and she instinctively replied. Of me, as your mother.


    "Tsk.¡± As everyone present heard Rosalie smacking her tongue, she looked deeply down upon udia and continued, "Who allows you, a mistress, to address yourself as my mom!"


    Realizing that a simr situation to the one at Graham Vi was unfolding again. Edward quickly stepped in to stop udia before she could


    continue.


    "Alright, Rosalie. Since you don''t want to consider your stepmother as your mother, from now on you can call her Aunt udia. Let''s not ruin Christmas for everyone, okay?" said him.


    Realizing that Edward had cut off any chance for her to argue, udia''s eyes immediately welled up with tears


    She couldn''t her husband didn''t even allow her to argue back and just let it slide.


    Such a huge humiliation udia had just undergone to Edward was a trivial matter.


    Edward noticed udia''s reproachful gaze and understood her thoughts. He reached out and gently squeezed her hand as reassurance.


    Catching this exchange, Rosalie slightly sneered, pretending


    sing not to notice.


    "Alright. But if anyone still tries to act like they''re my mother in the future, don''t me me for being


    being rude, Edward, Rosalie said.


    Too tired to continue this quarrel with his daughter again, Edward just waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright. Aunt udia will keep that in mind-


    Under Rosalie''s tyranny, the entire Graham family held grudges against Rosalie. Despite their resentment, they were powerless to do anything about her.


    "Let''s skip this topic, okay?" Edward changed the subject to what he wanted to ask. ¡°Rosalie, now that you''re back from the Galloway family, do you n to return to work at Talley Group?"


    During the year when Rosalie was married to Julian, she spent most


    ost of her time at Galloway Manor and didn''t attend university. Edward had no clue what kind of work Rosalie was involved in.


    A person who got married at the age of 19 and didn''t even finish college indeed had a very limited list of jobs.


    In the past, when Rosalie was married to Julian, he would cover all her expenses.

 Breaking Free From 214

    But Edward looked down upon Rosalie, a young girl who was neither ambitious nor hardworking. He thought that if Rosalie had not been so fortunate, someone like her, who had neither education no


    uld only do some exhausting jobs that paid limle.


    I won''t go to Talley Group. I''ve got a new job lined up. I''m going to start working next


    "Hey, are you job hunting Edward''s eyes popped open in shock, but then he softened up and said, "You''re the apple of the Talley family, kid. Why bother working elsewhere? It''s cozy here Why put yourself through all that tough stuff?¡±


    Edward said nice things, but he looked down on her inside.


    He figured Rosalie, being such a spoiled brat with no college degree, was not going to get a shot at a decent gi


    Nevertheless, Edward kept quiet, but Phyllis couldn''t take it anymore. She''d had enough of Rosalie''s insults, so she snapped back with sarcasm under the disguise of saying it for Rosalie''s own good.


    "Rosalie, listen to Dad and work at ourpany. No heavy lifting, just collect a paycheck. Without a degree, people will look down on you. If you graduated from Hawthorne like Helena, we wouldn''t have worried about you," Phyllis said.


    The more Roulie picked on Helena, the more Phyllis resented her.


    In Phyllis view, Rosalie, who didn''t make it to college, had no right to insult her beloved granddaughter Helena if she hadn''te from a wealthy family.


    Since Phylin came back from her trip, she had been less tolerant of Rosalie and grabbed every chance to give her a lecture


    When Phyllis said this, everyone expected Rosalie to be furious and offended. But instead, they saw Rosalie looking at Phyllis with puzzled eyes and said, "Grandma, you''reparing me to someone who bought her way into college? That''s really appalling to hear


    With those words, Rosalie yed along very well and put on an incredible expression, as if she was genuinely stunned by Phyllis'' words.

 Breaking Free From 215

    Phyllis was taken aback by Rosalie''s words and her face turned bright red instantly


    She almost forgot that Helena was admitted to Hawthorne University not due to her own merits, but because Edward donated a building to that school. Essentially, Helena wasn''t much different from Rosalie, who didn''t get into college.


    However, some lies, if repeated often enough, could even convince the liar, just like in Phyllis'' case.


    She couldn''t gain entry into the old money circle in Hasmond, so she resorted to associating with people who were inferior to the Graham family.


    Those elderlydies in her social circle would go out of their way to tter her, throwing all sorts ofpliments her way.


    They also frequently used the fact that Phyllis had a granddaughter studying at Hawthorne University to tter her.


    Hawthorne University was undoubtedly the elite university of Caldwell, ranking among the top universities globally. Only the cream of the crop. the highest caliber students, were admitted to this prestigious institution


    At first, Phyllis felt a bit uneasy when she heard this ttery. But after hearing them repeatedly, she genuinely believed that she had raised a granddaughter who had been admitted to a prestigious university,


    This lie was repeated so often that Phyllis ended up fooling herself into believing


    it.


    At this moment Rosalie directly tore off Phyllis'' disguise without mercy. Phyllis felt extremely led immediately. Especially when she saw


    Rosalie''s deliberately feigned disappointed gaze, Phyllis even felt that Rosalie was throwing her face


    the ground and trampling on it


    Finally. Phyllis still stubbornly and with a sense of pride retorted, "Helena is better than you too. She is still a college student after all. How about you? You got married at 19 and achieved nothing. You were divorced a yearter. What are you so proud of?"

 Breaking Free From 216

    Phyllis, fired up with rage, let loose and said some really mean stuff.


    Edward was so mad his head hurt. He''d just settled one mess, but his mom stirred it up again.


    Rosalie nced at Phyllis pissed off face with a smirk.


    "My dad used my money for Helena''s university permit. Ain''t I supposed to be proud? I helped her get in. like a hero. She''s grateful, right? Why''s Helena ungrateful and trash-talking me?" said Rosalie,


    This statement not only tarnished the Graham family''s rep, making them look like they were stepping all over people but also used Helena of being ungrateful for Rosalie''s favor.


    Helena was shaking with rage, She gripped the sofa tightly, ring at Rosalie''s contemptuous face. It took all her strength to stay calm and not rip Roule


    "Rosalie, I''m not trying to degrade you," Helena said softly, her eyes welling up with tears that suggested she was totally misunderstood.


    Meanwhile, Helena also harbored resentment towards Phyllis, who she considered troublesome. Earlier, Helena had remained silent and stayed out of the way, but Phyllisparison between her and Rosalie had reignited Rosalie''s hostility towards Helena


    Helena couldn''t help but wonder if Phyllis was really proud of her, or if she was deliberately trying to drag her back into the spotlight for Rosalie to degrade her again.


    "Really! From the way Grandma spoke, I thought she was alwaysparing me to you when I wasn''t with you guys," said Rosalie


    "No... That''s not t


    not true," said Helena.


    Even though Helena didn''t want to, she kept forcing a smile. Her face was so tight from smiling that she felt worn out. Every sh with Rosalie seemed to make her heart condition ir up.


    Rosalie said, "Fine. I''m an excellent woman and don''t mindparisons. But I hate beingpared to losers."


    Speechlessly, Helena pondered, ''Go to hell, bitch!''


    She sneered at Rosalie''sments of being excellent in her heart as Rosalie was just a loser who was able to matricte at all.


    Helena thought Rosalie must have thrown her sense of shame into the wind when chasing Julian, which was why she was spouting such shameless talk now.


    Edward, however, heard Rosalie obscurely use him of using her cash to support other women and kids, even his mom. It reminded him of the days he was living under Be''s thumb, dependent and useless.


    He red at Rosalie with pure hate and malice. At that moment, he wanted to strangle his own daughter.


    He thought he hid his herce gaze well, but Rosalie had already felt his intense luate.


    Rosalie couldn''t help but chuckle bitterly. She realized that her own dad, the man she''d always loved, had wanted to kill her over some words.


    Now, she thought sarcastically that she might really need to thank the Graham family for keeping her alive.


    "Rosalie, why bash Helena like that? She has had a weak heart forever, Getting into Hawthorne was a big deal for her. You''re healthy and couldn''t even get in. How dare you mock her? Compared to her, you''re the loser, Riley snapped.


    Ever since Rosalie beat him up, Riley had hated her, though, he still pretended to respect her.


    At this very point, hearing Rosalie insult Helena again, he couldn''t take it anymore.

 Breaking Free From 217

    After having his face stomped on and crushed into the groundst time, Riley didn''t dare punch Rosalie. All he could do was bark.


    ta


    Rosalie, lounging on the sofa and munching on fruit, nced at Riley and said, "She''s got a weak heart, not a bad brain. Does she need to pass the SAT with her heart rather than brain!"


    Rosalie''s expression towards Riley was filled with substantial contempt as she said, "Riley, since raising your IQ will be hopeless, maybe you should shell out some cash for stic surgery so that you can at least look less like a retard."


    Riley roared. "What the hell."


    Before Riley, who was in a rage, was about to hit Rosalie with his fists, he was stopped by Edward. "That''s enough," said Edward.


    Edward realized that if this continued, Riley would end up getting beaten up by Rosalie again, just likest time. Giving the family a stern look as a warning. Edward put an end to this absurd drama.


    "We were discussing Rosalie''s job, weren''t we! You''ve gone off-topic. Edward corrected Riley.


    After receiving Edward''s warning. Riley reluctantly resumed her seat on the sofa. However, she couldn''t resist giving Rosalie a harsh re, vowing silently to make this bitch pay for her actions.


    Then, Edward sat down across Rosalie and, in a gentle and considerate manner, said, "Since you''ve made up your mind to go out and work independently, I won''t stop you. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just let me know."


    "Got it," Rosalie responded to him somewhat tiredly.


    "By the way, in three months, you''ll turn 20. The 40% of shares that your mother entrusted to the trust fund will be transferred to your ount then. What do you n to do with them?" Edward asked.


    Hearing this very sentence, Rosalie couldn''t help but roll her eyes in her heart.


    After all that buildup, the issue that Edward cared about most was finally on the table.


    Rosalie lowered her head and gave a barely noticeable sneer before saying, "I don''t have the energy to handle the affairs of Talley Group. Instead, I want to focus on building my own career....

 Breaking Free From 218

    When she paused, she could clearly see that Edward''s eyes suddenly lit up with excitement,


    However, after years of suppressing his true nature and enduring the Talley family''s disdain for the past two decades, he had developed an ability to maintain a calm face even when he was overjoyed internally.


    "You''ve grown up. I''m d to see that you have your own n of life. Since you don''t want to work in Talley Group, I won''t force you. I''ll handle the business for you. Just go for your dream, my girl," Edward said


    In fact, Edward simply didn''t believe that someone like Rosalie had the potential to aplish great things. He phrased it nicely just to encourage her to focus on her own endeavors, allowing him to gradually infiltrate the Talley Group and ultimately control it.


    He had no slightest sense of quilt about scheming against his daughter. He even felt at ease, thinking that he had saved the Talley Group. He firmly believed that if Rosalie took over the Talley Group, she would definitely drive it into bankruptcy, while Edward would make it thrive.


    Edward continued. "If you''re short on money, just let me know how much you need, and I''ll provide whatever amount you ask for."


    But those hypocritical words just aimed to mend the strained rtionship between him and Rosalie, so that he could more easily obtain the shares of the Talley Group from her.


    Thank


    you,


    Dad, but no thanks. Your money wouldn''t even be enough to cover the startup costs for my business." Rosalie said.


    After a brief moment of silence, Edward asked, "How much money do you need


    for your business venture? I know I don''t have too much in my ount, but I still want to help you"

 Breaking Free From 219

    After hearing that. Rosalie nced at Edward''s hypocritical face and said.


    "Really? But my business venture will roughly require at least one billion dors in startup capital. Even if it seeds, great. But if it fails, all the money will be in vain.''


    "A billion dors" Phyllis eximed. "Rosalie, what kind of business on earth are you nning to start


    The mere thought of this money being squandered on Rosalie''s risky venture made Phyllis heart ache. Even though it was Rosalie''s own money, Phyllis couldn''t help but feel so distressed


    However, Rosalie didn''t directly answer Phyllis question but gave her a cold nce and said, "Easy, Grandma, easy. I''ve already sold you that I don''t need Dad''s money. Even if this venture fails, it''s no big deal. I''ll try again anyway.


    When they heard Rosalie casually dismissing the notion of wasting a billion dors as if it were mere pocket change, both Phyllis and Edward were deeply shocked.


    Even if Rosalie really did have so much money, Phyllis and Edward still wouldn''t ept that she would throw such a vast sum of money into yhouse game.


    Both Phyllis and Edward believed that Rosalie had lived a sheltered life for too long to have a normal sense o of the value of money


    As for udia and her two children, they seemed even more anxious. In their eyes, the Talley family''s possessions were e essentially Edward''s possessions, which would ultimately be theirs someday


    Rosalie taking away a billion dors to start a business was seen by them as akin to embezzling their future inheritance.


    Iways restrained


    Clutching her clothes tightly in her hands, udia felt the urge to speak up and defend herself or Rosalie, but somehow, she always herself, enduring the situation in silence.


    Helena felt an even greater sense of indignation. She had always yearned to be recognized as the Graham family''s legitimate heiress and to usurp Rosalie''s position.


    This idea haunted Helena for such a long time. The thought of Rosalie having ess to one billion dors to squander filled Helena with profound pain as if someone was trying to rip her heart out.


    The rm ringing in her heart even made Helena a little breathless.


    Rosalie pretended not to notice the drama in their hearts and continued to leisurely enjoy her fruits.


    Phyllis couldn''t help but say, "Rosalie, don''t you realize that you have no business acumen? How could you just waste so much money?"


    The more Phyllis pondered on the fact that Rosalie was about to waste Edward''s fortune, the angrier she felt.


    *I am fully aware of my abilities, whereas you seem to bepletely your ce


    to criticize my decision of using my own money?"


    unaware of yours." Rosalie n


    replied calmly but firmly. "When did it be


    "Rosalie, I''m your grandmother," said Phyllis.


    Phyllis'' face. If the k


    Anger ashed Phyllis''


    - kept arguing with Rosalie any longer, she might be so agitated to the extent of suffocation.


    Still, Rosalie didn''t give a host about Phyllis'' health. She munched on peanuts, saying, "Yes, and? You ain''t the boys of my money


    Phyllis murmured, "How How dare you..."


    She covered her chest as if she was alot to faint any time, at Rosalie simply turned blind at it


    Edward had witnessed Rosalie''s impressive debating skills. He couldn''t fathom how George, that old bastard, had managed to teach Rosalie to be so brazenly disrespectful, even daring to contradict her own grandmother.


    Suppressing his anger, Edward said calmly, "Rosalie, we''re not trying to stop you from starting a business. But you can''t get so much money at all Are you nning to use Talley Group''s project funds?

 Breaking Free From 220

    Edward looked at Rosalie seriously and continued. "Even if I give the green light for you to usepany funds, the other shareholders of Talley Group won''t sign off on it. What are you going to


    "Dad, what are you talking about? Don''t paint me as some kind of thief" Rosalie cut in quickly


    The Graham family was too stunned to utter a word as they doubted whether she was scolding them.


    Edward was struck by Rosalie''s words so hard that his face became stern. However, he still maintained the feigned mildness on his face.


    He said. ¡°I didn''t mean that. I''m just worried about your career. I know you''re fresh out of a divorce and eager to seed, but there''s no need to rush, especially not by investing so much money upfront...


    "Dad," said Rosalie


    Suddenly, Rosalie frowned and mmed the biscuit in her hand onto the table. She fixed Edward with a stern gaze. Her sudden mood swings made Edward''s heart skip a beat.


    Even


    you start to bring up the fact I got dumped by my husband?" she said.


    Her voice broke. "I knew your whole family was thrilled about my divorce. I was wrong about all of you


    The Graham family was too stunned to utter a word.


    Suddenly, Edward felt utterly drained by the conversation with Rosalie. She always managed to divert his carefully constructed arguments so effortlessly.

 Breaking Free From 221

    He suspected that this damn girl was doing it on purpose.


    "Rosalie. I''m not happy about your divorce. I''m just trying to express my concern for you," Edward said, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. He felt that if he kept talking to Rosalie, it would shorten his lifespan,


    "Reminding someone of their trauma is not caring; it''s hurting" Rosalie picked up a peeled apple from the table and took a joyful bite while she looked at them with anger and condemnation


    The Graham family went totally speechless because Rosalie''s good appetite betrayed her im to be hurt.


    Rubbing his chest that wasn''t feeling good, Edward suppressed his anger, deciding not to beat around the bush with her any longer. He asked directly. ¡°Alright, then tell me how you are going to raise the one billion dors?"


    However, as soon as he asked that question. Edward felt a surge of unease in his heart, making his pulse race and his face pale.


    Rosalie said. "A few days ago, I had a conversation with Uncle Tobias. Once I take possession of the shares my mother left me, I will sell them to


    him"


    She continued, "Given the current market value of Talley Group, selling these shares will provide me with sufficient funds to start my own business."


    As Edward had anticipated, his earlier unease that Rosalie wouldn''t give up the shares so easily had now materialized.


    Even though these shares legally belonged to Rosalie, the others present felt as though she was stealing from them. Even Edward could no longer contain himself and was on the verge of berating Rosalie.


    "Rosalie, how could you sell those shares to an outsider instead of giving them to your father?"


    udia, who had maintained herposure and refrained from verbally attacking Rosalie, couldn''t help but speak up when Rosalie dered her disposal at those shares.


    Rosalic''s sharp gaze pierced through udia, making her break out in a cold sweat. But when udia remembered that those shares would soon be in her possession, her fear quickly dissipated.


    The next moment, before udia could even utter a word, an apple that had been bitten was thrown directly at her forehead.


    With several screams, blood started gushing out of udia''s nostrils, forming a pool.


    "Who the hell are you that dare interrupt me while I''m speaking" Rosalie said.

 Breaking Free From 222

    222


    Rosalie rose from the sofa, her sharp and intimidating gaze falling upon udia''s


    face. She said. "Your life relies o criticize me now!"


    on my money. How dare you


    As she looked at udia''s face. Rosalie couldn''t help


    elp but recall Edward''s betrayal of Be while she was pregnant, and how he hard


    fooled Be''s entire family. Anger surged within Resalie''s heart


    If it weren''t for her bigger picture, Rosalie would have taken care of these shameless jerks long ago.


    At this juncture, no one expected Rosalie''s assault. udia didn''t even realize what had happened before her nose was smashed right in the middle.


    Seeing her nose broken and bleeding. udia immediately burst into tears due to pain and terror.


    Everyone else in the room was also stunned. The Graham family was in a state of chaos.


    "Rosalie... How could you do that?" Edward''s face twisted with anger. "How could you hit udia?"


    "Since you don''t want her to get beaten up, tell her to mind her own business next time. Rosalie said.


    The chill on her face was terrifying. Even the way she looked at Edward was cold and detached, not like she was looking at her own father, bur rather like she was staring at her enemy.


    Such a look made Edward feel extremely frightened. He had somehow sensed that Rosalie must have found out about his rtionship with udia, which was why she treated him like an enemy.


    Thinking of this possibility, he actually didn''t dare to feel angry at Rosalie anymore, whether out of guilt or fear.


    But Phyllis hit the roof, shouting, "Riley, call 911! Such a devil must be imprisoned! Call the cops!"


    Phyllis didn''t shout because she cared about udia''s injury; she lost her cool because she couldn''t stand Rosalie bossing everyone around in the family.


    If her granddaughter looked down on her like this, Phyllis figured she would have no clout in the family from now on.


    In fact, she would rather die than see Rosalie take charge of the Graham family.


    Riley''s face was twisted with rage. At Phyllis'' words about calling the police, he whipped out his phone, threatening. "Roulie, how dare youy a finger on my mom. I''ll make you pay."


    "Go ahead. Tell the cops to arrest me right now, loser," Rosalie snapped


    Kiley roared. "You son of bitch, I''ll kill you..."


    Riley was too mad to review the lesson he learned from Rosalie''s fists at However, just a single p made us head buzz


    at Graham Vi in the p


    past. He didn''t call the police but rushed to her.


    He was just fifteen, still a junior high student growing up, not to mention he wasn''t built up to take Rosalie''s p.


    "Looks like you ain''t learned your lesson yet. Wanna feel what broken bones are like?" Rosalie sneered, stepping closer, Riley, startled, took a few steps back, eyeing her warily.


    *Stop! All of you, stop" Edward blew a gasket. He couldn''t figure out why Rosalie always caused such a racket whenever she was around.


    He had nned to chat her up ni


    up nicely and politely, but it always ended up chaos.


    He had had enough too. Nevertheless, he was not gonna take 20 years of abuse ande up empty-handed


    So, even though Rosalie was driving him nuts, he had to bite the bullet, sipping Kiley from calling 911.

 Breaking Free From 223

    Wiped out, Edward waved Riley off and told everyone to head back inside. He''d have a little chat with Rosalie one-on-one, smonth things over with the rebellious


    kid.


    Though Phyllis and the others were hesitant to do so, they were spooked by Rosalie''s attitude. Edward gave them the eye, so they had to suck it up and leave the living room, holding their tongues.


    Every time. theyforted themselves with the thought that once Edward took over Talley Group, they''d reallyy it on thick with Rosalie


    Rosalie had lost her grandpa and mom, her uncle''s a vegetable in aa, and Julian, the only one able to support her, also divorced her, Without Talley Group, she was nothing. They could squash her like a bug.


    In fact, such reassurance was indeed helpful. The Graham family indeed felt much more at ease.


    Edward reached out and pinched his tired brow. Facing Rosalie, he sighed and said, "Alright, everyone you don''t like has left. Can you calm down and have a good chat with me now?"


    Rosalie gave him a nce and a weak smile, thinking. "But the person I hate most is still pestering me now.


    But since her n wasn''t ready yet, she didn''t show Edward the door. Instead, she yed the spoiled brat card, sniffed, and settled onto the couch.


    She pressed her lips and muttered. I didn''t mean to hurt them. But they all gang up


    up on me, a helpless. girl with nobody in my corner"


    In silence, Edward severely doubted her statement after witnessing how Rosalie beat udia and


    and Riley


    1. up.


    In his view, this so-called helpless girl simply had no conscience at all.


    Edward


    gave Rosalie a puzzled look and said. "Alright, alright, From now on, I''ll warn them not to mess up with you?


    "Dad, I love you so much. I know you''re always on my side," said Rosalie.


    Her mood flipped like a switch, from gloomy to cheerful. Her face lit up with smiles, but if Edward looked closer, he''d see it was just a fake grin, devoid of real emotion.


    But at that moment, his mind was preupied with Rosalie''s shares, and he wasn''t paying attention to her emotional ups and downs.


    He patted Rosalie''s head and said with a smirk, "You''re my golden girl. I''ll take care of you, don''t worry."


    Rosalie smiled at Edward''s fake show, but inside, she feltpletely numb.


    Even back then, when Rosalie asked Eden to look into Edward, she knew betrayal and Be''s reaction wasing. But seeing the results still broke her heart.


    But if she saw Edward for who he really was, she''d know he was a sneaky wolf all along, hiding behind his smile.


    She even had a hunch that Be''s death and Dominik''sma might be linked to the Graham family.


    Once doubt set in, it would spread like wildfiret,


    Rosalie knew she needed to dig deeper into this.


    Though Rosalie hated Edward''s fake act, she still smiled at him...


    Edward then asked, "By the way, did you really n to give those shares to Tobias!"


    The man named Tobias that Rosalie had mentioned was Tobias Galler, another Talley Group shareholder who was George''s appointed groom for Rosalie in the past.

 Breaking Free From 224

    Now, Rosalie was handing those shares over to Tobias. This had really pur Edward, her dad and all, in a real pickle.


    In his opinion, if Rosalie had been half as thoughtful as Helena, he would have treated her like a princess to


    Edward med Rosalie for his cheating on his wife and scheming against his daughter. He shifted the guilt to her, thinking it would give him a pas to mess with her stuff without feeling bad.


    But he didn''t see that, as someone who took George''s 20 years of cultivation as humiliation, he had no conscience left.


    "Yeah," said Rosalie without the slightest hesitation, which made Edward feel even more anxious.


    "Rosalie, if you give Tobias all those shares, he''ll run Talley Group. You want to give your grandfather''s enterprise to someone else?" Edward


    worried.


    She thought, "That is exactly what you are trying to do, isn''t i


    Though Rosalie rolled her eyes inside, she yed dumb and said, "Names don''t matter. I don''t care about Talley Group. Besides, Tobias had been around my grandpa and knows more about it than I do. He''ll do a better job rurming it."


    This made Edward furious, his teeth grinding, as he had also been with George for years and knew I


    Talley Group


    He lost patience and blurted out, "Rosalie, why give Talley Group to outsiders instead of me? Don''t you trust me to rum an


    Rosalie pondered. Finally came his true idea?


    She chuckled coldly inside but yed dumb. "Dad, howe you could have such thoughts? Of course, I trust you. But I need cash for my business. Tobias can help, so I''m selling my shares to him."


    "But... Edward murmured.


    "Dad, you mean different to me. You''re my dad. If you wanted shares, I wouldn''t ask for money. I just can''t do something like that, Rosalie added. Edward felt a thrill. He thought, that if he worked harder, he would get Roulie''s shares for sure.


    But then, Rosalie crushed his hopes. "Tobias is an outsider to me, so I don''t mind selling him shares for cash," said she,


    Experiencing the switch of joy and desperation made his chest heavy as if he might have a heart attack like Helena.


    However, Rosalie didn''t care about how much impact she just had caused on Edward''s heart. She knew she wouldn''t let him take her shares for free.


    In fact, Rosalie wanted to make him pay a heavy price, taking away his


    reputation, status, and wealth gained from the Talley family.


    Edward wouldn''t pay one billion dors for Rosalie''s shares. He had endured 20 years of humiliation to get them for free. Paying a penny would


    kill him inside.


    That was because it would mean all his 20 years of humiliation would be in vain.


    He said, "Rosalic, listen carefully Starting a business isn''t easy, especially


    y with one


    one billion dors...


    Rosalie said bluntly


    y shares.


    "I know it''s hard. Funds are the biggest problem. That''s why I''m selling my Rosalie cut Edward off, appearing as if she knew nothing and thought money y was enough to achieve something great in the business field.

 Breaking Free From 225

    Edward took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "If your investment fails, you''ll have nothing. But if you give me your shares, once I make the Talley Group sessful again, I''ll give you 10 billion dors as your start-up capital"


    Rosalie couldn''t help sneering in her heart.


    She thought, it will take forever to wait for you to give me a penny. After you get my shares, you''ll absolutely kick me out.


    I don''t have time. I''m divorced now. Without my own career, what future would I have?" she said.


    Rosalie lowered her head, hiding her face between her hands. Her voice came out muffled and choked.


    "I just want Julian to see that I can still have a great life without him," she added.


    In silence, Edward mocked Rosalie in his heart for her ignorance of the fact that she was a loser.


    He looked at her with disdain, unable to understand how his daughter could be so unaware of her own situation.


    He thought. ''Even if you get all the luck and start a sessful business, Julian, with his trillion-dor fortune, won''t love you because of your minor


    sess.


    "Rosalie He still wanted to try again.


    "Alright, Dad, say no more. Let me go out and experience the world. I''ve lived under Grandpa''s and your protection. I don''t know what I''m capable of Only by facing the world can I prove myself," said Rosalie.


    Edward thought, ''How dare you start a business with a billion dors without knowing your own abilities? How can someone be so unaware o herself?


    Edward realized that no matter how he exined, Rosalie didn''t seem to understand him. He even began to suspect that she might be ying dumb just to politely decline his request,


    Over the past few months, he had found that spending time with his daughter left him feeling incredibly drained.


    The more Edward tried and failed to persuade Rosalie, the more impatient he became. He adopted a stern fatherly demeanor.


    Edward said, "Rosalie, when you were young. I let you do as you pleased because I could help you solve the problems. But now, I can''t let you act impulsively with a billion dors.


    ¡°That''s a billion dors. I don''t want to see you in despair after your business fails," he said.


    He spoke of his selfishness in a particrly eloquent manner, and even those who were unaware of the situation were moved by his words. However, Rosalie remained unconvinced. On the surface, she continued to y the role of a


    fa stubborn, self-centered, and spoiled child.


    She stubbornly replied. "Failure doesn''t matter to me. Even if I lose all my money, you will support me. That''s why I take such a big risk to start my own business.


    Edward''s face twisted in frustration. Before he could respond, Rosalie blurted out, ¡°Dad, you''ll be my backup, won''t you?"


    "Of course," he said with gritted teeth.


    She said, "How wonderfull With your words, I''m so relieved to start my ownpany. Love you, Dad."


    In silence, Edward could only curse in his heart.


    *But..... But if Tobias takes over the Talley Group, I''m not sure if I''ll still be with thepany. In that case, I might not be able to support you anymore" Edward tried to persuade her onest time.


    "How could that be? You still own 5% of the shares in the Talley Group, right? You can still support me with your dividends; Rosalie argued.

 Breaking Free From 226

    The driver and n went speechless.


    Even with the partition up, there was only so much soundproofing in a car. Rosalie''s words reached them loud and clear. They thought, ''So Madam is that bold?''


    n and the driver exchanged nces, secretly relieved they had raised the partition earlier.


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t end up witnessing their boss and his wife making a contribution to the baby- making effort.


    Rosalie had only said that to counter Julian''s provocation-


    she had no idea her words had sent the two in the front seat into a spiral of wild thoughts.


    She kept her gaze steady on Julian, her eyes clear and calm, without a trace of indecency.


    There was no way she was looking at a man stripping-


    her gaze was practically that of someone admiring a deity radiating divine light.


    Julian went speechless.


    Just as Rosalie was about to enjoy watching him make a fool of himself, Julian suddenly leaned in closer.


    Caught off guard, she flinched at the sight of his faceing in fast. In her panic, she jerked back


    and mmed her head right into his chin. The impact was so hard that a muffled grunt of pain escaped from above her.


    "Rosalie!" Julian''s voice came out through gritted teeth.


    Rosalie, rubbing her sore forehead, looked up at him-


    only to see his lips smeared with blood. He must have bitten down on them when she crashed into him. His lower lip was swollen, with a small cut at the corner. Paired with that bright red blood, it was unexpect "Mr. Galloway, you''re the one who suddenly leaned in. How is that my fault?" Rosalie''s face remained as calm as ever.


    Julian''s expression darkened. Right in front of Rosalie, he licked the blood off his lips with his tongue. Rosalie''s eyelid twitched at the sight.


    It instantly reminded her of a ssic line from a cheesy domineering CEO novel she had read recently: [This little thing is sinfully tempting.]


    The next second, she heard Julian chuckle. He ced one hand on the leather backrest behind Rosalie, his tall frame leaning in so close that the already cramped space felt even hotter and more stifling. "I just ''No, I''m not, Rosalie thought, as she kept a straight face as she looked at Julian''s almost unrealistically handsome features.


    His shirt was unbuttoned, and because of their positioning, she had a clearer view of his exposed upper body.


    He grabbed her hand, pulled it forward, and guided it toward his belt.


    "Curious? Help me take it off."


    Rosalie went speechless.


    She had been watching Julian put on a show in front of her with aposed expression, but clearly, he had taken things a step too far.


    It wasn''t enough that he was acting flirty himself-he had to drag her into it too.


    Seeing her own hand resting on his belt buckle, dragged there by Julian, she could already imagine the infamous scenes that might unfold next. Her ears started burning slightly.


    She tried to pull her hand back, but Julian tightened his grip, refusing to let her go. ¡°Julian..."


    She frowned, and the calm, unshaken expression on her face finally showed a slight crack. Weren''t you the one who said you


    were eager to get a ''deeper understanding of certain scenes?" asked Julian.

 Breaking Free From 227

    Julian chuckled and cut her off. "What''s the point of acting out


    an explicit scene alone? You only truly get deep'' when you participate, don''t you think?"


    He deliberately emphasized the word "deep," his eyes gleaming with a devilish glint, his wicked charm on full disy.


    Rosalie might still be an inexperienced young woman, but she had read plenty of novels. It took her less than a second to get Julian''s dirty joke. Especially since she was the one who had, not even fifteen minutes ago, explicitly asked to gain a deeper understanding of such scenes.


    Then, with a crisp sound, his belt buckle came undone. The waistband of his pants loosened slightly, revealing the edge of his ck underwear. Rosalie''s brain short-circuited. Anyposure she had vanished instantly.


    She tried to shift back in her chair, only to realize there was nowhere


    left to retreat. Her brows furrowed even tighter. Julian, back off.¡±


    "You were the one who wanted a deeper understanding. And now you''re telling me to back off? Which version of you should I believe?" Julian narrowed his eyes slightly, lifting her chin with his fingers, forcing he Rosalie tried to avoid his eyes. The moment she struggled, she must have identally pressed a button because her seat suddenly reclined backward, taking her along with it.


    Julian hadn''t expected that either. Caught off guard, he lost bnce and ended up falling right on top of her.


    The warmth of his body,bined with the heated air inside


    the car, made the surrounding atmosphere feel even more suffocating.


    He was now pressing down on her, separated by only a thinyer of fabric. Rosalie


    could clearly feel the heat radiating from his body-and worse, it was rising.


    Even though she had been married to Julian for two lifetimes, she had never been this physically close to him. Her heart started to race. The more flustered she became, the harder she struggled,pletely un *Rosalie, if you keep moving, I won''t hold back." His voice came from above her. But in her panic, she didn''t catch the warning hidden in his tone.


    She kept squirming under him. Julian''s eyes grew darker, and the heat in his throat became unbearable.


    Julian thought, "This damn woman-


    is she trying to kill me? Does she even realize what she is doing?''


    "Rosalie, I''m serious. I won''t hold back." His voice was hoarse as he warned her again.


    "Then don''t. I''d like to see what-" Rosalie, her checks burning, snapped back at him, but before she could finish her sentence, Julian silenced her with a kiss.


    Her eyes widened. She struggled even harder, but it only seemed to provoke him. The more she fought, the


    tighter he held her head in ce.


    Up front, the driver and n exchanged nces again.


    Things in the backseat were getting intense.


    "Should I slow down?" The driver lowered his voice and asked n.


    After all, knowing their boss''s stamina, this was probably going tost a while. If he interrupted them midway, he might lose his job.


    n pressed his lips together, furrowing his brows as he fell into deep thought. They are both divorced, so is it really okay for things to get this


    intense?


    Then again, knowing his boss and how he only regretted things after the divorce, this was the perfect chance for them to reconnect. They definitely shouldn''t interfere. So, he nodded at the driver. "Yeah, better slow down a little

 Breaking Free From 228

    In reality, Julian''s forceful, domineering kiss didn''tst long before he let Rosalie go.


    Rosalie clenched her teeth in anger and wiped the corner of her lips where Julian had touched her. The fury and disgust in her eyes remainedpletely unchecked.


    Julian didn''t get angry at all. Instead, he let out a chuckle, a dangerous glint shing in his eyes as he said, "Keep ring at me, and I''ll have to give you a real deep dive."


    Rosalie waspletely thrown off by his words. Remembering how this bastard had just forced himself on her, she had no doubt he would actually follow through on his threat. Even though she was absolutely But her heart-her damn heart-was still a mess from Julian''s unexpected kiss.


    These past few days, she had convinced herself she had already moved on from Julian. But now she realized that as long as they were in the same space, letting go was impossible.


    He was the man she had loved for most of her life. No matter how much she tried to act cold and distant, no matter how tough she sounded, there was still a voice inside her that kept telling her over and over- she hadn''t let go of Julian.


    She lowered her eyes and let out a bitter chuckle in her mind. She thought, ''After everything that happened, I still can''t let go of this bastard. If that''s not pathetic, I don''t know what is.


    She was ridiculing herself for her own weakness,pletely unaware that Julian wasn''t in much better shape.


    The reason he had let Rosalie go so quickly wasn''t just because he was afraid of pushing her too far and making her leave for good. There was something else.


    He was afraid of losing control.


    He hadn''t expected what was supposed to be just a teasing joke to escte into this.


    This woman was like a poppy flower, beautiful but poisonous. The moment


    he touched her, she became an addiction he couldn''t shake. Before, he had kept his distance and thought nothing of it. But now that he had gotten a taste, he realized he was losing his grip.


    He carefully nced at Rosalie, who was sitting beside him with a stony face, showing no emotion at all. A rare unease crept into his heart. Even though Edward had told him that Rosalie still had feelings for hir Back when they were married, he had been so used to the way Rosalie looked at him with admiration that now, he could easily tell how much of that affection still remained in her eyes.


    The more he faced this truth, the more uneasy he felt. He was terrified that she would grow to hate him more and more, that she would distance herself from him even further.


    This was the first time he had truly acknowledged the fear of losing something important. And he realized-


    it felt awful.


    He wondered if Rosalie had felt the same way back then, constantly walking on eggshells, afraid of upsetting him, terrified of making a mistake that would push him away. Maybe that was why, when she finally He had never experienced this kind of insecurity before, so he had never understood her pain. But now that he was in her shoes, he finally realized how much of an asshole he had been to her.


    Pressing a hand over the dull ache in his chest, he nced at Rosalie again and quietly apologized, "I''m sorry... I crossed the line just now."


    His voice was hoarse. The man who had always been so arrogant and untouchable now couldn''t even summon the courage to meet Rosalie''s eyes. He was afraid of seeing nothing but disgust in them.

 Breaking Free From 229

    Rosalie was still trying topose herself when Julian''s sudden apology made her pause for half a second.


    She thought, "This arrogant, self-centered man-


    is actually apologizing? Admitting that he crossed a line?''


    She


    had expected him to take what he wanted and then look down at her with that same smug expression, saying something like, "You should be grateful I even touched you."


    Even if he didn''t go that far, she had never thought Julian would actually apologize. "As long as Mr. Galloway understands that he was out of line," she said coolly. "I don''t want this happening again."


    She kept her eyes lowered, using the excuse of fixing her clothes to hide her unease. Then, after a brief pause, as if something had juste to mind, she added, "Professor Quin''s health has taken a turn for th After calming herself, she finally looked up at Julian. But when she saw the cautious expression on his face, she froze for a moment.


    Honestly, seeing Julian like this-someone so high up in the corporate world-


    being careful around someone else, was something she never thought she''d witness.


    She hesitated for a few seconds, then continued, "I''ll be at Apex Biotech frequently from now on. Our marriage ended months ago. We''re nothing more than professional partners now. I don''t want personal matt Her tone was calm andposed. Her gaze was clear and unwavering,pletely unaffected by what had just happened between them. It was as if the whole thing had meant absolutely nothing to her. Like a man paying for a night with a prostitute¡ª


    no matter how intimate things got, in the end, they were still just strangers who might never see each other again.


    Too cold. Too heartless. That gaze stabbed at Julian''s heart, making it ache again.


    Rosalie saw that he was just looking at her without saying anything. His deep eyes were murky and unreadable, filled with aplexity she couldn''t decipher.


    She thought for a moment, then continued, "Of course, if Mr. Galloway doesn''t want me involved with Apex Biotech, I''ll let Professor Studley know, so she can arrange for another professor to take over." The cold, businesslike tone crushed thest bit of expectation Julian had left.


    "No need to switch." When Julian said this, his voice was rushed, as if afraid that if he hesitated even a second, Rosalie would actually have Juliet rece her.


    Even though he knew Rosalie wasing to Apex Biotech


    purely for work, he still wanted to use this as an opportunity to stay close to her.


    If she stoppeding to Apex Biotech altogether, then whatever little connection they had left might be severedpletely.


    If, at this moment, he still couldn''t figure out what he truly wanted, then he was beyond stupid.


    He looked at Rosalie, his lips moving slightly. In a hoarse voice, he continued, "I see that Mr. Hill and the team work well with you. The interns here also follow your lead. Let''s keep things as they are." After saying that, he turned his gaze toward the window, hiding the loneliness in his eyes.


    "Alright then, Mr. Galloway... looking forward to working with you."


    Julian pulled his gaze back from the window, looking at Rosalie''s polite expression. He forced out four words, "Looking forward to it." He thought, Like hell I am!

 Breaking Free From 230

    Julian said, "But I have one condition."


    Rosalie said, "Go ahead"


    "Since this is purely business, you can''t use


    our past rtionship as an excuse to avoid things, like today''s dinner...


    Rosalie knew he was referring to the dinner gathering. Depending on perspective, it could be seen as either business or personal. It all depended on how the people involved viewed it.


    She lowered her eyes and thought for two seconds before nodding. "Alright."


    With the agreement settled, the atmosphere between them grew heavy. The warmth


    from earlier disappeared, reced by a suffocating tension.


    Julian nced at Rosalie, hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Howe I never knew you were a professor at Hawthorne University?"


    "Not a professor, just a lecturer."


    Julian didn''t take her words seriously. He might not understand research, but he knew that if she could solve problems that even Magnus''s team couldn''t, she would be a professor sooner orter. "I mean, how do you know so much?"


    Julian was being careful with his words, afraid that if he phrased it wrong, he''d upset her again.


    But Rosalie wasn''t bothered in the slightest. The moment he asked, she understood what he was


    really getting at.


    "You''re wondering how someone who never even attended university ended up as a lecturer at Hawthorne University?"


    Julian hadn''t expected her to say it herself. He fell silent, not knowing how to respond.


    Rosalie took his silence as confirmation and said, "There''s a lot you don''t know. Nothing strange about that."


    She had no intention of exining herself to her ex-


    husband. Now, their rtionship was strictly business. There was no reason to tell Julian about her personal matters.


    But to Julian, those words struck like a blow to the chest.


    Back when they were married, as her husband, he hadn''t even known what she truly did. Now that they were divorced, he didn''t have the right to now that.


    During their marriage, Rosalie had never once voluntarily told him about he''s real background. Maybe he had overestimated his ce in her heart.


    Maybe Rosalie had never really liked him all that much in the first ce.


    Julian let out a bitter chuckle in his mind and didn''t ask anything else. Seeing him fall silent again, Rosalie naturally didn''t start another conversation,


    The car stopped outside the restaurant n had booked, and they both got out.


    The first thing n noticed was his boss''s split lip. His expression instantly turned knowing. He thought, "The sex battle between the boss and his wife has been fiercer than I expected. There is hope!'' As a result, he acted even more attentively in front of Rosalie.


    If he could serve thedy well, securing a CEO position, marrying a rich beauty, and reaching the peak of life would all be


    within reach.


    "Madam, this way, please He quickly stepped forward, pushing open the restaurant''s heavy ss door for Rosalie, smiling ingratiatingly-pletely ignoring his brooding boss walking behind her.


    This was a top-tier, seven-


    star restaurant, renowned worldwide for both its traditional and Western cuisine. Just having a meal here would be enough to make life feelplete.


    The researchers never imagined they''d get the chance to feast at such a ce, so naturally, they were overjoyed. n said. "Order whatever you like, no need to hold back- our CEO is treating us. No need to save his money"

 Breaking Free From 231

    n folded his hands in front of him, grinning as he spoke. Seeing the excitement in everyone''s eyes, he continued,


    "But one thing-


    The group said, "Of course! Why would we fight for a seat with the CEO''s wife?"


    They thought, ''Besides, this is the CEO we''re talking about. Who would be dumb enough to voluntarily sit next to him at dinner? That would just make the meal stressful.


    Even though they rarely got to see the CEO, just one look was enough to tell he wasn''t exactly the friendly type. Best to keep their distance.


    n, looking all mysterious, waved his hand and said, "You don''t get it. A while back, the CEO and his wife had a little falling out. She probably won''t want to sit next to him. So when the timees..." n lowered his voice and nced at the group. "You all know what to do, right?"


    The group was momentarily stunned, then suddenly understood. They nodded knowingly. "Don''t worry, n. We got it."


    So, when they entered the private dining room, Rosalie quickly realized that her n to keep her distance from Julian hadpletely fallen apart.


    As if on purpose, everyone had


    taken up all the other seats, leaving only two avable.


    Julian naturally took the main seat. When he saw Rosalie standing there without moving, he asked, "Ms. Talley, are you not going to sit?"


    The group thought, ''Yep, the couple is definitely at odds-Julian has


    even changed the way he addresses her!


    Rosalie obviously couldn''t just say she didn''t want to sit next to him.


    They had literally just agreed in the car not to let past grievances interfere with work. If she started acting petty over a meal, she''d just be pping herself in the face. So, she pulled out the chair beside Julian a Sitting to Julian''s left, n quietly


    lowered his head, satisfied with his work. He thought, ''Might be a good time to ask for


    a raise at the end of the year!


    Julian cast Rosalie a


    subtle nce, the corners of his eyes carrying a hint of amusement. At the same time, he shot a look of approval at the group. He thought, ''Employees this perceptive definitely deserved a reward.''


    Julian said, "The sess of this new drug''s development is all thanks to your hard work. A toast


    to everyone."


    Gone was his usual arrogance and aloofness-


    right now, Julian seemed downright approachable.


    Everyone was so ttered they hurriedly raised their sses.


    Then, Julian turned to n and instructed, "Inform the finance department-


    this month, all R&D employees will receive triple their usual bonuses, on top of what they were already getting."


    The researchers'' eyes immediately lit up.


    Their sries and bonuses were already high to begin with, especially since Apex Biotech was under the Galloway Group. Theirpensation had always been well above industry standards. And now, triple their usual bonus? That was an enormous sum.


    And once the new drug officially hit the market, their year-


    end bonuses would be even bigger.


    Overjoyed, they all lifted their sses, thanking Julian enthusiastically. "Thank you!"


    The atmosphere was perfect. The R&D director, Magnus, raised his ss and stood up. "Mr. Galloway, we wouldn''t have seeded in developing this


    new drug without your wife''s guidance. If it weren''t for her, we might still be stuck on some of the problems we ran into


    Magnus was good at reading the room. At first, he thought the whole "devoted husband'' act was just a facade, but he soon realized that wasn''t the


    Case


    From the moment they entered the restaurant, Julian''s eyes had barely left Rosalie.

 Breaking Free From 232

    Just now, when Rosalie reluctantly sat next to him, Julian had actually smiled.


    And right after that, he announced the triple bonus. If this wasn''t about her, Magnus wasn''t buying it.


    So, whether it was because of Rosalie''s guidance or the generous bonus, Magnus was truly grateful to her. Besides, considering how much the CEO valued his wife, siding with her was definitely the right move Julian was very pleased to hear Magnus refer to Rosalie as "Madam," his smile growing even wider.


    Especially since Rosalie didn''t correct him this time-


    she simply lifted her ss and responded, "You''re too kind, Magnus."


    As the drinks went down, the dishes started arriving.


    Julian, who had been focused on Rosalie the whole time, didn''t miss the way she gazed at n with such warmth.


    His good mood from earlier was instantly shattered.


    A cold, emotionless starended on n, sending such a chill through him that he couldn''t help but shudder.


    Following the icy gaze, n turned his head to the side-


    only to meet his boss''s dark, brooding eyes.


    He thought, ''Wait... What''s going on here? Wasn''t he just smiling a moment ago? Did I do something wrong?''


    n quickly averted his gaze and desperately tried to recall what he could''ve done to upset the big boss.


    But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn''t figure it out. He felt downright wronged-


    like his end-of-year bonus was about to slip through his fingers.


    Then, Rosalie casually remarked, "n, you''ve got great taste. These dishes are exactly what I like."


    Just a second ago, n had been sulking, but now-


    enlightenment struck like a bolt of lightning. He finally realized why Julian had been ring daggers at him.


    He thought, ''No way! Madam, you''re setting me up!''


    With a face full of grievance, n looked at Julian, his eyes practically screaming: ''It''s a misunderstanding, sir! I had nothing to do with it! I didn''t even order these dishes- it was the boss himself! No, no, I can''t take the fall for this.''


    30, with a fawning smile, he quickly said, "Thank you for thepliment, Madam, but actually, our president was the one who ordered these dishes."


    n looked at Julian with pleading eyes, but his boss had absolutely no intention of acknowledging them.


    Instead, it was Rosalie who was momentarily taken aback by n''s response. She


    hadn''t expected Julian to be the one who ordered these dishes.


    If she didn''t know how much he had despised her during their marriage-


    so much so that he barely even came home-


    she might''ve naively assumed that he actually remembered her favorite foods.


    But considering the circumstances, it had to be just a coincidence. A ridiculous, absurd coincidence.


    Sure enough, Julian nonchntlymented, "What a coincidence. These are all your favorites, Ms. Talley?"


    Rosalie went speechless. "Yeah. Thanks, Mr. Galloway."


    "No need to be so polite, Ms. Talley."


    Rosalie didn''t respond further. For one, she was genuinely hungry by now.

 Breaking Free From 233

    With the restaurant''s top-


    tier chef and the dishes'' tantalizing presentation, Rosalie''s attention was entirely captured by the food.


    But even though she loved eating, she was very particr


    about table manners. She wouldn''t stand up to grab food beyond her reach, nor would she stretch her arm across others to pick a dish.


    So, every time a dish she wanted rotated away from her, her heart silently ached. Just as she was quietly eating with her head down, a te filled with food was ced in front of her.


    The te was divided into small sections, each holding


    the exact dishes she had been eyeing.


    She nced sideways at the man beside her, who spoke in a casual tone, "Noticed you couldn''t reach, so I got them for you. No need to be polite, Ms. Talley.


    Consider it a small token of appreciation for your guidance-


    it really helped us researchers save time in developing the new drug


    Julian''s expression waspletely natural as he spoke, showing not even the slightest hint of care toward Rosalie.


    If Rosalie herself wasn''t already well aware of his indifference, the employees at the table-


    who had initially thought their boss was deeply in love with his wife-


    would have found his behavior way too perfunctory.


    Rosalie gave Julian aplicated look but ultimately just murmured a polite thank-


    you.


    However, Julian soon noticed that while Rosalie hadn''t outright rejected the food he served, she hadn''t touched a single bite either.


    His lips pressed into a thin line, his jaw tightening-


    but in the end, he didn''t say a word.


    Rosalie sat quietly beside Julian, eating her food without engaging in any conversation with him.


    The strange atmosphere was palpable. Everyone at the table could sense the tension, but they all assumed, just like n had said, that the couple had gotten into a fight and that Rosalie was throwing a tantrum.


    No one dared to make a fuss about it-especially after seeing the boss''s stone-


    cold


    expression. More than anything, they just wanted to finish their meal as quickly as possible.


    Rosalie was the only one still eating calmly, as if the heavy atmosphere didn''t affect her at all.


    She had promised Julian that she wouldn''t bring personal matters into work, but that didn''t mean she''d ept all his personal gestures.


    Julian putting food on her te definitely wasn''t work-


    rted. So even though he served her food, she didn''t touch it. But she still gave him a little face by not outright embarrassing him.


    The entire meal ended in absolute silence and oppressive tension.


    "Madam, please wait here for a moment. I''ll go get the car with Ottis. The president just went to the restroom and will be right back." Once the employees had all left, n spoke to Rosalie with a fawning smile i Before Rosalie could say anything, n turned and left with the driver, Ottis, heading for the underground parking lot.


    *n, you''re just leaving Madam there alone? What if she decides to leave without waiting for us?" Ottis nced worriedly toward the lobby and asked in a hushed voice.


    n, however, waved his hand mysteriously and said, "She won''t. Madam''s just mad at the president, notpletely over him. Just think about what happened in the car, and you''ll understand."


    As n spoke, he wore a smug, all-knowing expression


    and continued, "Our Madam has her pride too. The president decides to divorce whenever he wants, and now he thinks he can just get back together when he feels like it? No way. Of course, she''s going to mal

 Breaking Free From 234

    Clicking his tongue, n added, "Our president seriously needs somed


    meone to teach him some emotional intelligence. And Madam''s the best person for the job. If we stay there like third wheels, wouldn''t that just make things even more awkward for her? It''s better if we give them


    Ottis, who had never been married and was already getting on in years, found n''s confident tone quite convincing. He nodded approvingly. "n, you have a point."


    "Of course! This is all hard-


    earned experience. Stick with me, and you''ll learn a lot. n felt incredibly pleased with himself, so much so that he mentally struck a victorious pose.


    But Rosalie didn''t stay in the


    lobby like n had expected. The moment n and Ottis left, she walked to the hotel entrance and hailed a cab.


    When Julian came out of the restroom, he saw Rosalie getting into a taxi and leaving. His steps faltered slightly, and his eyes darkened.


    A momentter, he let out a soft, self-deprecatingugh, tinged with loneliness.


    He thought, ''How can I have expected that woman to still have even the slightest bit of affection for me? She won''t even give me the chance to take her home.


    When


    n arrived in Ottis''s car, he was startled to see Julian standing alone outside the hotel.


    He thought, ''Wait-


    Madam actually leaves? She doesn''t wait for the president to drive her home? Tch! Looks like Madam''s temper is really ring up this time. No way she''s forgiving the president so easily.


    ''Well, makes sense. She''s been ignored for a whole year and then handed a divorce agreement like it''s nothing. Anyone with


    a shred of dignity wouldn''t forgive that so quickly.''


    n studied Julian''s gloomy face, feeling both sympathetic and like he deserved it. He thought, ''He has such a great wife, but he doesn''t cherish her when he has the chance. Now he''s suffering? Well, too bad. ¡°President.¡± n walked up to Julian, and to avoid bing coteral damage, he wisely refrained from mentioning Rosalie.


    Julian looked at n, and the sight of his face instantly reminded him of


    how warmly Rosalie had looked at n during dinner. The jealousy made his stomach churn. He thought, ''That woman never even looked at me like that!''


    n suddenly


    felt like Julian''s gaze held a mix of jealousy and murderous intent. He thought, ''Wait... what now? It''s not my fault Madam left! You brought this on yourself! Don''t take it out on me!''


    But Julian didn''t hear n''s internal protests. He just coldly said, "Your bonus for this month is canceled."


    n said, "President, what did I do wrong? Just tell me, and I''ll fix it.¡±


    "There''s a project in a far-away ind that would suit you. I think you should go."


    "President, I was wrong!"


    Whatever it was, if Julian was in a bad mood, admitting fault was the safest bet for n.


    As Ottis, who had just gotten out


    of the car and opened the door for Julian, exchanged a sympathetic nce with n, thinking n still ended up being dragged into this mess.

 Breaking Free From 235

    n watched the resolute back of Julian as he got into the car, gritting his teeth and sighing.


    He thought, "The boss can''t win his ex-


    wite back, so he takes it out on his weak, pitiful, and helpless little assistant. What bad luck!


    Once the new drug developed by Apex Riotech was sessfully researched, it would move to clinical trials, and during this period, Rosalie would have little to do.


    As for


    her own research institute, with Eden keeping an eye on things, she felt more at ease.


    That day, as she finished her ss, she received a call from Edward. "Rosalie, it''s been a while since we saw each other. Do you have time today? I need to talk to you about something important" Edward''s tone sounded no different than usual, but Rosalie could still detect a hint of smugness and calction hidden in his voice.


    Rosalie lowered her gaze, calcting the days. Her birthday was approaching, and Edward was probably eager to get


    those shares. ¡°Sure, how about we meet at the cafe near the back gate of Hawthorne University in half an hour?"


    After hanging up, she got up and left the office.


    As soon as she left, the other lecturers who had stayed behind in the office began whispering.


    "The person in that post must be Ms. Talley, right? This is really shocking. Her mother had an affair and gave birth to her, then her adoptive father set aside his past grudges to raise her. How could she still go a "Exactly, someone like that, with no moralpass, is really fit to be a teacher at our


    university?"


    "She''s only twenty, yet has such achievements. Could it be that those papers published under her name were actually written by someone else?"


    "I heard she never


    even took the exam. How could she write such papers? There''s a good


    chance someone else wrote them for her."


    "She looks all shy, clearly not a good person. People like her can''t focus on academics. She probably takes after her biological mother, seducing men.


    "That Ms. Graham is really pitiful. Not only did she lose her father to her, but now she has to deal with her as well."


    These few people were discussing Rosalie so heatedly, throwing every kind of offensivebel at her, their disdain and mockery totally unmasked.


    "We don''t even know if that post on the forum is true, so isn''t it a bit wrong to talk about her like this?" A gentle female voice interrupted their conversation, clearly expressing disapproval. When they saw who was standing at the door, they immediately fell silent.


    It was Norah Byers, the youngest professor at Hawthorne University and the daughter inw of Dustin Byers. As junior lecturers, they certainly didn''t want to offend her.


    "Mrs. Byers, we were just upset after seeing that post on the forum. The post even named her specifically, so it couldn''t be a lie, right"


    Norah was 23 years old. Although she was a bit older than Rosalie, Norah was still very young for a professor in a world-


    ss university where the average age of professors was over 40.


    Many people her age were still in graduate school, while she was already mentoring PhD students.


    Her achievements were not like Rosalie''s, where she had only published a few papers in well-


    known medical journals. Norah''s aplishments were seen and recognized by everyone in real life.


    Moreover, Norah was backed by the Byers family; her father-m-


    Law was Dustin, and her husband was a well-


    known surgeon and clinical expert. No one dared to offend Norah

 Breaking Free From 236

    So, when Norah spoke up for Rosalie, even though these people were not convinced in their hearts, they dared not show it on the surface.


    Norah smiled slightly and said, ¡°I also looked at that post, and it didn''t actually say that Ms. Talley''s papers were ghostwritten. Yet here you are making wild assumptions.


    "You''re basing all your judgment on a single forum post and her age. Should I take that to mean that, since I am a 25-


    year-old professor, you think my position is based on connections?"


    The group of lecturers didn''t dare to offend Norah, especially since her words made them all look ufortable.


    Not to mention Norah''s aplishments were legitimate, even if they thought her professor title was gained through connections, they would never admit it to her face. That would imply that Dustin was using h "Mrs. Byers, you''ve taken that too seriously. We were just gossiping, that''s all. We won''t talk about it anymore..." Realizing they wouldn''t get anywhere with Norah, they forced a smile and tried to change the su Norah gave them a nce, sighed inwardly, and shook her head slightly.


    These women had only joined Hawthorne University recently, just a semester earlier than Rosalie.


    They had some academic achievements but were getting on in years. So it was understandable that they might feel some jealousy toward Rosalie.


    But when jealousy leads to throwing all sorts of baseless usations, Norah felt it was hard to respect them.


    However, these women were older than her, so she didn''t say much. When they backed off, she didn''t push the issue further.


    But when it came to that Helena, Norah furrowed her brows.


    Although the post didn''t explicitly say it came from Helena, everyone at Hawthorne University was no fool.


    There were many things mentioned in the post that only the people involved would know.


    There were only two possibilities: either


    the post was true, and everything came from Helena''s mouth, or the person who posted it had a grudge against Rosalie and deliberately ndered her.


    Regardless of which possibility was true, as a teacher at the university, Rosalie''s reputation would affect the school''s image, and this post couldn''t be allowed to remain on the forum.


    This matter needed to be discussed with Dustin.


    At this point, Rosalie had no idea she had already be a well-known


    figure on Hawthorne University''s forum. She went to the cafe she had arranged to meet Edward at.


    Perhaps because


    Edward was particrly eager for the shares she held, when she arrived, Edward was already waiting there.


    Before, Rosalie had to pretend a bit around Edward, but now that she was about to inherit 40% of the shares, she had to push Edward to sell off all the assets he held while she had the chance.


    "Rosalie As


    soon as Edward saw Rosalie, he gave her a smile that screamed fatherly affection. But before he could say anything, Rosalie''s cold attitude shut him down.


    ''Go ahead, Mr Graham, what important matter do you want to discuss with me?"


    Edward''s


    smile immediately froze on his face. He quickly dropped the smile and no longer felt the need to keep up the pretenses. Clearly, he thought he now had enough leverage to threaten Rosalie "Rosalie, it''s been so long, and you still won''t forgive me, your father, for my little mistakes?"


    Rosalie thought, Little mistakes? He probably still thinks his ugly past has been well-


    hidden, treating me like a fool


    "Well, I''m a petty person'' Rosalie


    couldn''t be bothered to argue with him, so she just admitted it. Then she continued, "So, Mr Graham, what important matter do you want to discuss

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    Edward was furious seeing her so unresponsive, his teeth practically itching from anger. He also realized that ying the emotional card with Rosalie would only waste time, and would just lead to more mockery So, he dropped the fake sympathy act. Maybe it was true that his demeanor reflected his heart, but without the fatherly disguise, Edward now looked like a total scoundrel.


    Rosalie couldn''t be bothered to even look at him. She knew why Edward was there, but she wasn''t in any rush. She slowly stirred her coffee with a spoon.


    Then she heard Edward say, "I heard you''re teaching at


    Hawthorne University now, teaching second-year medical students?"


    Rosalie picked up her coffee cup and took a small sip. "Yeah."


    Edward wasn''t surprised by this. He probably knew about it since the first


    day she came to Hawthorne University, likely because Helena had already told him. She thought, ''But now, why was Edward bringing it up?''


    The next second, Edward sneered, not bothering to hide his contempt for Rosalie.


    You have no self-awareness. A


    high school graduate teaching at Hawthorne University, teaching medical students no less. Do you even know anything about medicine? The students you teach will probably be assassins someday." Even though Edward had already received those videos from Helena of Rosalie teaching, with all those professional terms and precise problem-


    solving


    methods, it didn''t seem like something a clueless person would be able to do.


    But Edward thought he knew Rosalie well since he raised her himself.


    Edward had this confidence. So even with the facts in front of him, he refused to believe it was true. At most, he figured the lesson ns were prepared for her before ss.


    He could donate a building to Hawthorne University for Helena to study there, so he thought Rosalie just paid to get a teaching job.


    Whether he was genuinely thinking this way or instinctively overlooking some obvious facts, he had already decided that


    Rosalie didn''t have the ability to teach at Hawthorne University.


    "If you have something to say, just say it. I''m not interested in hearing your nonsense," Rosalie said this in a tone so calm and detached that there was not even a flicker of emotion in her eyes, despite Edward''s Edward choked on her response, his face growing even darker. "If this thing gets out and people nationwide hear about it, don''t you worry about the parents of those students causing trouble for you?" Rosalie''s hand paused for a moment, and her eyes narrowed slightly. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She had already guessed what Edward was up to.


    She thought. He is going to use this as leverage to force me to hand over the shares!


    She looked at Edward, and he looked back at her. When he saw that she didn''t show even a hint of guilt or unease, his heart sank.


    "Don''t just talk about parents causing trouble. You know very well how you got this job, and when the truthes out, you won''t be able to walk away so easily. The person who took your bribe will be implicated He deliberately paused, his eyes fixed on Rosalie''s face, eagerly waiting for her to show even the slightest fear. But she showed nothing.


    Rosalie only smiled faintly at him, calm andposed, with not a trace of panic.


    The more she remained this way, the more anxious Edward became. It wasn''t just because Rosalie wasn''t disying the panic and helplessness he had expected. In fact, her calm and confidence reminded hir

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    The more he looked, the more Edward thought they looked alike. The more he thought, the more he was reminded of the humiliation he felt when he first entered the Talley family.


    So, at that moment, the way Edward looked at Rosalie, there was an unmistakable hint of resentment and humiliation in his gaze, especially since, throughout the entire process, Rosalie remained indifferent. Edward clenched his fist and continued, "Do you understand what I mean?"


    Rosalie put down her coffee


    cup andzily nced at Edward. The look in her eyes was full of contempt, as if she were looking down on him.


    "Can you stop with the small talk and just tell me why you''re here?"


    A sh of anger crossed Edward''s eyes, then he took out his phone and sent a few video clips to Rosalie''s hand. Rosalie opened them. They were videos of her teaching.


    She thought, ''No wonder Helena has been so quiet these past few days. Turns out, she''s been secretly ying this card with me.''


    "These videos are proof of your teaching at Hawthorne University. If I send these to the parents of the students there, what do you think will happen?"


    Rosalie calmly took another sip of her coffee and even "insanely" enjoyed the view of the busy street outside.


    It seemed that for her, discussing such disgusting topics with Edward was far less interesting than watching the mundane traffic outside.


    Rosalie''s indifferent attitude only made Graham Wenyang grind his teeth in anger.


    Seeing that Rosalie didn''t respond, he could only continue, "My request is simple. Give me all


    the shares your mother left you. In exchange, I''ll return all these videos."


    After saying that, he confidently looked at Rosalie, expecting her to give in.


    In fact, he had already nned how to get back at the Talley family and Rosalie for the humiliation they had caused him once he got his hands on those shares.


    Rosalie said nothing, but her eyes showed a hint of pity.


    She thought, ''Silly old man. Ever


    since I kicked him out, his mind has started to lose rity!


    Edward anxiously waited for Rosalie to speak, but after a few minutes, she still didn''t say anything. His heart sank a little.


    Seeing Rosalie finish thest sip of her coffee without even bothering to respond, she stood up and walked out.


    "Rosalie, you''re really not afraid I''ll send these videos to those parents?" Seeing Rosalie walk off without a word, Edward panicked. Before he came here, he had been so confident that she would give in to him, Rosalie turned to look back at him, letting out a softugh before saying, "Sure, I can give them to you. How much are you willing to pay?"


    The moment Edward heard the mention of money, his face darkened.


    He thought, ''She''s my daughter, and she has the audacity to ask me for money? If I were willing to pay, would I need to go through all this pretending and negotiation?


    Rosalie noticed his grim expression. Even though she already knew how shameless her father was, she still asked with a feigned innocence, "You don''t expect to get everything worth billions of dors from me penny, do you?"


    Edward paused for a second. Since they had already torn off the mask, he no longer cared about saving face. He coldly sneered and said, "Am I negotiating with you, Rosalie? Now I have the upper hand. You Rosalie scoffed, nced at the bright spring sunshine outside, and said, "On a bright sunny day like this, it''s really perfect for daydreaming.


    Her tant sarcasm made Edward''s gaze turn icy. Seeing that Rosalie was about to leave again, he couldn''t sit still anymore. "Rosalie, do you really thank Fin just trying to scare you?"

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    "Mr. Graham, I don''t think you''re that old, but howe you''re already suffering from dementia?" Rosalie raised her hand and pointed to her head. Stop daydreaming all the time. It''s bad for your brain. If you be After saying that, Rosalie gave a lightugh and walked away without looking back.


    "Rosalie!" No matter how much Edward called out, Rosalie didn''t even nce back at him.


    It wasn''t until people in the cafe started giving him strange looks that Edward angrily returned to his seat.


    Before he came, he never thought Rosalie would treat him like this, nor did he


    expect her to be so unconcerned about the possibility of this matter getting exposed and everyone finding out.


    After all, Hawthorne University wasn''t just any school. If people found out the dean was


    taking bribes, allowing a 20-year-


    old with only a high school diploma to teach med students, it''d definitely raise some eyebrows in the education world.


    If the situation blew up, it would be bad for Hawthorne University, Rosalie, and anyone behind Rosalie who had helped her get into the university. He didn''t believe Rosalie hadn''t thought of that.


    That was why he was confident enough toe and make demands, but things weren''t going as nned.


    He thought, Is Rosalie really so ignorant that she thinks this is a minor issue, or does she have something bigger backing her up? Or maybe... she still thinks I would hesitate to expose this because of our fathe daughter rtionship?''


    Edward couldn''t help but let out a watery smile thinking about it. Why would I care about father-


    daughter bonds for someone in the Talley family? Helena and Riley are the only kids I care about. Does Rosalie really think I won''t spill the beans on this?'' thought he.


    ''Fine, then I''ll make sure the whole thing blows up and let that bastard


    Rosalie be famous in the worst way.


    After parting ways with Edward, Rosalie went straight home. This meeting with Edward hadpletely torn down any pretense between them. Knowing how shameless Edward was, there was no way he''d just let this go. With that video in his hands, he was bound to make full use of it. But Rosalie wasn''t the least bit worried. She didn''t take Edward''s threats seriously at all.


    And just as she expected, Edward didn''t wait long. In fact, he didn''t even bother negotiating with Rosalie again-


    he wasted no time in exposing everything.


    He sent the video to the parents of the students in Rosalie''s ss. When they found out their children were being taught by a 20¨C year-old girl with only a high school diploma, they went ballistic.


    Their kids had studied hard for ten years, and as parents, they had poured so much effort into shaping their futures, only to send them to a world- ss institution like Hawthorne University.


    And now, these students were training to be doctors, yet they had to learn from someone with far less education than them.


    Outraged, the parents took the issue online, posting the video of Rosalie''s ss.


    The caption on the post heavily implied that Rosalie had bribed Hawthorne University officials tond the job.


    After all, unless someone high up was involved, nobody would dare hire a teacher with only a high school diploma at Hawthorne University.


    The usations pointed directly at Dustin.


    On top of that, Edward paid influencers and


    bot ounts to stir up controversy on X. Soon enough, Hashtags like "Hawthorne University Teacher Only High School Diploma", "Hawthorne University Bribery Scandal", and "Hawthorne University Ruining Ed

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    Just seeing the words "Hawthorne University" was enough to grab attention. Pair that with such a scandalous headline, and there was no way the topic would die down.


    At this rate, it was only a matter of time before government authorities got involved.


    "Edward, are you sure this will force Rosalie to give in?" udia stared at the trending list, eyes gleaming with excitement as she sawment afterment bashing Hawthorne University and Rosalie.


    "Don''t worry. Even if this doesn''t make Rosalie hand over her shares, her reputation is ruined. Hawthorne University being exposed like this is a disgrace to the education sector. Once the authorities step in, do Edward grinned triumphantly, showing no sign of guilt or regret despite pushing his own


    daughter into the spotlight of a public scandal.


    Pointing at his phone screen, he smirked, "See this? These are real reactions fromizens. Nothing pisses them off more than shady backroom deals. People at the bottom can''t stand seeing the rich and pow the-


    table transactions. That''s why they''re the ones jumping up and down the most.


    "The education department will have to take action just to appease the public. If they don''t deal with Rosalie and Dustin, it''ll undermine their authority. Trust me, this move is a guaranteed win. Now that the heat just sit back and watch Rosalie''s downfall."


    "Edward, you''re amazing. I admire you so much! You''re my idol..." udia yfully climbed onto Edward''sp, her words stroking his already inted ego.


    Online outrage continued to escte, and X was flooded with insults. Meanwhile, Edward secretly reached out to the parents, encouraging them to protest at Hawthorne University''s gates and make as much n Soon, videos started surfacing from passersby-


    parents standing outside Hawthorne University with banners, demanding an exnation from the school''s administration and insisting that Rosalie be fired immediately.


    As expected, government authorities quickly dispatched an investigative team to Hawthorne University.


    [Trash, scum-our education system is being destroyed by people like this. A top


    university? More like a cesspool of corruption.]


    [Mr. Dustin Byers,e out and exin why a woman with only a high school diploma is teaching at your university!]


    [Would you trust doctors trained at this school to operate on you?]


    [Medical students spend years studying their asses off, only to have their futures ruined by these corrupt people. Hawthorne University, give us an exnation! @Hawthorne University]


    Hawthorne University didn''t even realize what was happening until they were tagged in thousands of posts on their official X ount. At the same time, the government''s investigative team arrived on campus a


    Then came an official response from Hawthorne University''s X ount: [We appreciate the public''s concern regarding this matter. Rosalie''s hiring process followed all legal procedures, and her credentials mee Even though the university issued a statement, many people still refused to believe it. However, some more rational and well-


    educated voices started speaking up.

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    [Putting aside whether Rosalie really only has a high school diploma, just from those lecture videos, it''s clear she''s not someone who''s clueless. You can''t teach like that just by reading off a lesson n.] [I''m a med student from Hasmond Medical University. Speaking from personal experience, Ms. Talley''s teaching in those videos is incredibly professional. Forget her age and degree for a second- just based on those recordings, her expertise is undeniable. Are we sure she''s really just some unqualified high school graduate?]


    As morements like this popped up, students from various top


    medical universities started weighing in with simr opinions.


    [Doesn''t the name "Rosalie" sound familiar? Have you all forgotten those famous papers published in World Medicine?]


    Thatment triggered a realization among medical students. For those unfamiliar with the field, curiosity led them to search for Rosalie''s name ¡ª


    and sure enough, multiple highly influential medical papers under her name appeared in search results.


    [No way, no! She''s only 20? Is the legendary Dr. Talley actually that young?]


    [Impossible. Must be someone with the same name.]


    Just like at Hawthorne University, many people immediately dismissed the idea that a 20¨C year-


    old could be the same person who had published such groundbreaking medical research.


    After all, someone capable of producing multiple influential papers couldn''t possibly be just a young girl.


    [Forgive me for being blunt, but don''t you all know Dustin''s family background? The Byers family, one of the four top families in Hasmond. Do you really think he''scking the money for bribery? What kind of ba When one person started to doubt, everyone else began to doubt as well.


    [Yeah, and also, the person posting has no evidence. They''re just saying that Mr. Wen has a high school diploma. Who told them that? How do these parents even know that Mr. Wen has a high school diploma [Yeah, I also think there are huge holes in this story...]


    Edward saw how the "scandal" at Hawthorne University was getting bigger and bigger, and he rxed. He stopped paying attention to the situation online, just waiting for Rosalie toe to him andpromis Meanwhile, in the president''s office at Hawthorne University, the parents who came to cause trouble were still angrily shouting at Dustin, demanding an exnation.


    "Dustin, Hawthorne is a world-


    ss university. Our children worked so hard to get in here, and now you let a high school graduate teach them? Isn''t that unreasonable?"


    "Dustin, if you don''t give us a proper exnation, we will petition, and we won''t stop until it''s resolved!"


    "That''s right, we won''t stop!"


    Dustin hadn''t expected things to escte this far. When he found out Rosalie was Dr. Rotello, he didn''t ask her for any proof of her qualifications.


    She wanted toe teach at Hawthorne, and he was happy to support her. So he didn''t bother her with those technicalities. But now, someone had spread such rumors, and even the parents had gotten involv He believed that someone was deliberately targeting Rosalie.


    He thought back to the post on the school forum Norah had mentioned earlier, furrowing his brow.

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    In Hasmond, although the Talley family wasn''t as influential as the top four families, they were still well- known in his circles.


    Dustin wasn''tpletely out of the loop on gossip in the high society circles, but he hadn''t heard everything.


    The post on the forum was clearly twisting the truth, and it was obvious that


    it had something to do with Helena, Edward''s daughter from his second marriage.


    Dustin immediately had the post taken down, but didn''t think much of it. He didn''t expect there would be more trouble.


    "Everyone, please listen to me. Rosalie was personally hired by me to teach at Hawthorne, I assure you, having her teach your children will not affect their education. Rosalie''s abilities are on par with any profes Forget about her hidden identity as Dr. Rotello-


    just the name "Rosalie" alone was well-known in the medical field.


    However, she was humble, and only medical students knew of her name. Not many outside of the medicalmunity were aware.


    Even with Dustin saying all this, the parents didn''t believe him.


    They had already convinced themselves that Dustin had taken a bribe, so no matter how much he praised Rosalie, they wouldn''t buy it. "Dustin, stop talking. If you don''t


    want us to suspect that you''re using your position for personal gain, then expel Rosalie. Otherwise, this matter will not be over."


    "Right, if Rosalie isn''t expelled, this won''t end."


    Dustin narrowed his eyes, looking at the group of parents who were emotionally charged. After they finished their "chant," he spoke indifferently, "I''ll make it clear to you: Rosalie will not be expelled. You''re welc


    He


    thought, ''Expel Rosalie? Impossible. How much effort have I put in? How many emails have I sent over the years to get Rosalie to teach at Hawthorne?


    Am I going to let some troublemakers push her out? Am I the kind of person who would throw an innocent person under the bus just to calm things down? Let the situation escte. It would be a good way to flu The parents didn''t


    expect Dustin to stand his ground like this. He was speaking so firmly, and it waspletely different from what they had imagined.


    Someone had told them that no matter what the school said, they were going to cause trouble. The more noise they made, the better. If they managed to get Rosalie expelled, they would get a substantial amou So, they had made up their minds-


    no matter how skilled or educated Rosalie was, they would make sure she got kicked out of Hawthorne.


    But they never imagined Dustin would be so tough. For a moment, they didn''t know how to react.


    After a brief silence, a few of the parents exchanged nces before threatening Dustin. "Dustin, do you really think we won''t petition? This has already blown up on X, and the whole country is watching. No mat Dustin casually waved his hand, unconcerned with their threats, and said, "I''ve told you, feel free to petition. We have nothing to hide, and we''re not afraid of an investigation."


    Just then, the phone on his desk rang-

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    At that moment, Dustin picked up the phone. "Hello? Yes, of course; that''s fine."


    Dustin hung up and looked at the angry parents, smiling, "The relevant national departments have already sent an investigation team. You can take yourints to them."


    Seeing Dustin''s calm demeanor, with not the slightest trace of guilt, the parents furrowed their brows, feeling that this situation was bing difficult. They felt making extra money was not as easy as they thou "Julian, I didn''t expect you to take the initiative to ask me out. That''s quite rare." Edward sat down in front of Julian, and when he was in a good mood, he looked especially smug.


    As for why Julian reached out to him at this time, he didn''t connect it to Rosalie.


    After all, in Edward''s eyes, Rosalie was already the ex-


    wife that Julian had rejected. A man as proud as him would never step in to defend her at this point.


    Julian looked at Edward with a slightly cold gaze and said, "Mr. Graham, you seem pretty pleased with yourself. Did something good happen?" J


    Julian''s tone showed no hint of joy or anger, and Edward didn''t sense anything unusual. Hearing Julian''s question, his smile widened even more. ¡°It''s something to be happy about."


    Edward didn''t hide the smugness in his eyes. When he saw Julian''s slight chuckle, he continued, ¡°Actually, I have something to show you, Mr. Graham. It should add to your good mood." "Something for me?" Edward quickly wiped the smug smile off his face when he saw Julian hand him a document. He was a little puzzled but still reached out to take it.


    "Take a look." Julian casually tilted his chin and, with a cold look in his eyes, the temperature seemed to drop slightly.


    A sense of unease stirred in


    Edward''s chest, especially since he also noticed the cold expression on Julian''s face.


    His heart sank. He braced himself and opened the file Julian handed him. When he saw what was inside, his expression changed immediately.


    "You''re investigating me?" Edward''s face darkened as he threw the file onto the table.


    Julian calmly picked


    up his teacup, took a small sip, and casually tapped the file on the table with his finger, saying, "If you hadn''t done something so shameless, do you think I''d waste my time investigating you?" A cold light shed in Edward''s eyes, and he scoffed


    lightly, saying, "Mr. Galloway, what is this? Are you standing up for Rosalie? Don''t forget, she''s already divorced you. What position do you have to defend her?"


    Edward never expected that


    Julian would specifically approach him because of Rosalie.


    The document Julian handed him contained evidence of Edward instigating parents to stir up trouble, bribing marketing ounts to stir up a narrative, and using hired trolls to nder Rosalie. Edward thought, ''If this evidence were to be made public, how would people in the Hasmond circle react when they found out that I am secretly framing my own daughter?


    All along, he had felt that the true aristocrats looked down on him. Even if he was talented, they still saw him as nothing more than Talley family''s live-


    in son-inw and didn''t respect him.


    Once they learned that he had schemed to harm his own daughter, it would be like admitting he had always wanted to seize Talley family''s wealth. Those true aristocrats would only look down on him even more

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    Edward was the type of person who wanted to have his cake and eat it too-


    he wanted to grab Talley family''s wealth but still keep his good reputation. So, he would never let Julian''s evidencee to light.


    "Mr. Graham doesn''t understand me very well. I''m someone who always protects my own. Even if it''s an ex-


    wife, she''s still mine. How could I allow someone to bully my people?" Julian didn''t sound particrly harsh when he said this, but his words carried a strong sense of pressure. Edward''s already grim expression became even colder.


    He was confident that he had control over Rosalie, but he also knew very well that he wasn''t a match for Julian-


    he didn''t even have the right topete with him.


    The feeling of being oppressed and frustrated made him


    think of the years when he had been suppressed by Talley family members.


    "What do you want?" Finally, he gritted his teeth and asked. When facing Julian, he had no choice but topromise.


    "Admit to everything you''ve done and apologize to Rosalie."


    "No way!" Without hesitation, Edward refused. That was no different than having Julian expose everything.


    Julian seemed to have guessed his thoughts and chuckled lightly, saying, "If you admit it yourself, the choice and method are yours to decide. But if I expose it for you..."


    He deliberately paused and poured Edward another cup of coffee, acting polite and respectful, but it only made Edward feel mocked, not at ease.


    "My methods won''t be so gentle. By then, you''ll regret it, Mr. Graham."


    Julian handed the cup of coffee to Edward.


    Throughout


    the entire process, Julian acted like a smiling tiger, showing no aggression, yet leaving Edward with no room to resist.


    Edward''s face turned pale with anger, but in the end, he took the cup from Julian''s hand, as if to drown his fury, and drank it all in one go.


    He stood up, said nothing, and stormed out, mming the door behind him.


    Edward understood Julian''s words.


    He decided to take the initiative to step up and resolve


    the matter, even though it would affect his reputation. He had the chance to minimize the impact on himself. If Julian stepped in, he would definitely make him look awful, showing him no mercy whatsoever.


    In just one day, he went from feeling triumphant in the morning to a situation where he was now passive and frustrated.


    He had put so much effort into this whole matter, and in the end, it was like losing both the woman and the battle!


    When he returned to his office, he knocked everything off the desk and onto the floor.


    "Julian!" Edward was so furious his eyes nearly bulged, and the usually gentle and elegant image he had in


    front of others now looked terrifying.


    The secretary, who was about to enter, was startled when she saw Edward lose control for the first time. She quickly shut the door and stepped back


    udia usually didn''t go to the office. After all, thepany still bore the Talley name, and she didn''t want anyone to think that she, as the second wife, was eyeing the Talley family business.


    Anyway, the Talley Group would eventually be Edward''s, so she didn''t feel the need to rush. But today, with Rosalie being thrown into the spotlight, it seemed like a time when the couple should share the joy together.

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    So, udia came to the office with Edward.


    Everything was


    fine at first, but after going out to meet Julian anding back, Edward was in such a bad mood that it scared her.


    "What happened, Edward?" She stepped forward and began massaging his shoulders, trying to calm him down.


    After a while, Edward finally started to calm down and told udia about what Julian had said to him.


    After hearing Edward''s words, udia''s expression also changed. "What does Julian mean? Didn''t he say he wouldn''t care about Rosalie anymore? Why is he suddenly trying to help her? Could it be that he''s Edward''s head hurt from the anger, "What''s the use of thinking about that now? The key is figuring


    out how to minimize the impact on me."


    He never expected that spending money to get the incident trending would actually put him in a situation where he couldn''t back out.


    If Julian had just asked him to handle the situation with Rosalie, it would''ve been fine. Worst-


    case scenario, he could just tell the media it was all a misunderstanding, clear his name, and be done with it.


    But Julian also demanded an apology from him to Rosalie, and that meant he couldn''t just walk away from the situation unscathed.


    The only difference now was how much the cost he had to pay.


    He rubbed his temples, sighed deeply, and said, "Don''t interrupt me, let me think about how to handle this."


    However, even if he was willing to pay the cost, there were still many people who were holding him back.


    [Here''s a gossip post on the Hawthorne forum that Dustin ordered to be deleted. Huge scandal, shaking my worldview.]


    Right after that, there was a post that had previously been anonymously posted on the Hawthorne forum by a student,


    The post mentioned that Rosalie had not cared about the college entrance exam in her senior year because of an ident involving her uncle, and as a result, she had never attended university.


    It also


    revealed that she was the child of her mother''s affair with another man, and after her mother''s death, her mother''s ex-


    husband had taken her in out of pity and raised her. Rosalie, instead of being grateful, had been afraid that her foster sister would steal her affection and had bullied her.


    Not only that, she also suppressed her foster sister in ss under the guise of being a teacher.


    If the corruption in the education sector could spark public outrage, this kind of family scandal would definitely attract even more attention and anger.


    [Oh my, this is so shocking, how could the product of infidelity be so arrogant? Can someone like this really teach?]


    [Isn''t this Rosalie the same person who is associated with the big shot in the medical field, Dr. Talley? Don''t you think this tarnishes


    Dr. Talley''s reputation?]


    [How can someone like this bepared to Dr. Talley? Are you blind?]


    Initially,izens had some doubts about the first post due toments from medical students, but when this post was shared, itpletely fueled their anger.


    At that moment, Rosalie had no idea that such a post was circting, tarnishing her and her deceased mother''s reputation. She walked into the dean''s office, nced at the angry parents, and then approached


    "Ms. Talley, I''ll handle this matter and give the public an exnation. You don''t need to get involved. Dustin was genuinely afraid that this mcident would make Rosalie so angry that she would leave, so he had r


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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    The parents had already recognized Rosalie from the videos, and as soon as she walked in, remembering the instructions from the person who paid them to stir up trouble, they immediately rushed forward and One of the parents, seeing that Rosalie was even more beautiful in person than in the video, was stunned by her beauty.


    A female parent, clearly jealous, said with disdain, "She looks like a seductress. What kind of cultural background could someone like her possibly


    have to teach?"


    Rosalie slowly turned her gaze toward the parent who spoke. She didn''t hold back from responding to the verbal insult. Instead, she smiled and said, "Thank you for thepliment on my appearance, but I hav this parent."


    "What''s the problem?" asked the parent.


    "You''re so unattractive, so I assume your education level must be quite high, right?" said


    Roralie.


    Using someone''s appearance to maliciously specte about their abilities-


    this kind of online trend was truly disgusting every time it appeared.


    If a beautiful woman got promoted or received a raise at work, no one would praise her for herpetence or hard work. Instead, they''d say she slept her way to the top.


    Many women had suffered this kind of unjust treatment because of their looks.


    It seemed that in the eyes


    of those losers, attractive people were supposed to be just as


    ipetent as they were. If not, then they must have relied on their looks or body to get ahead.


    So, whenever Rosalie heard suchments, she instinctively felt disgusted.


    The parent didn''t expect Rosalie to dare to mock her to her face and was so angry that her face twisted in fury.


    "How dare you mock me! Where''s your professionalism as a teacher?"


    "How could you say that? I''m not mocking you, I''m genuinely asking. You said that beautiful women have no education level apart from seducing others. So, by your logic, unattractive people must have exceptionally high education levels." Rosalie wasn''t angry at all.


    looked the parent up and down, smiled, and said, "Judging by your looks, you must at least have a postdoctoral degree, right?"


    Instead, she


    The parent was shocked that Rosalie didn''t show the slightest restraint despite the negative onlinements against her. In fact, Rosalie had cornered her so thoroughly that she couldn''t even fight back. Furious and humiliated, the parent immediately lost her temper.


    She turned to the investigation team,


    pointed at Rosalie, and said, "Leaders, you''ve seen it for


    over


    yourselves. Is someone like this even fit to be a teacher? She''s nothing but a cancer in the education system! You must investigate her thoroughly, and maybe even look into some shady dealings while you''re at it"


    As she spoke, she shot a meaningful nce at Dustin.


    Rosalie was all too familiar with that kind of look, and she understood exactly what the parent was implying


    She thought, ''So, they''re saying I got ahead because of Dustin?''


    Since this matter started because of her, she didn''t want to drag


    Dustin''s reputation into it. Solving this issue was actually quite simple.


    She walked up to the investigation team, handed a folder to the team leader, and said, "This contains my resume and academic credentials. You can take it back for review. If you have any questions, feel free to

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    "Understood." The investigation team was aware of Dustin''s background and character, so they never suspected that hiring Rosalie at the university was against the rules.


    However, with


    the online discussions being stirred up by uninformedizens, they couldn''t simply ignore it, which was why they hade. "Rest assured, we will provide a fair and just oue to the public." Rosalie said. "Thank you."


    After the investigation team left, the parents who had caused the scene didn''t leave. In fact, they even started to suspect that the investigation team might have been bribed by Rosalie. "Don''t think you can fool The parent who had been humiliated by Rosalie earlier now spoke again, her tone dripping with sarcasm.


    Rosalie looked at her, a smile on her lips but no warmth in her eyes. "I know exactly who bribed you, and I have enough evidence to prove it. The only reason I''m still talking to you is because I know you were m The parents were immediately flustered by Rosalie''s bluntness, their guilt written all over their faces.


    They were just ordinary people


    who liked to take advantage of small opportunities. They had never done anything truly criminal, so the idea of being exposed for being bribed to cause trouble filled them with fear and guilt.


    They exchanged nces, each seeing the unmistakable fear in the others'' eyes.


    "Your children are my students. I don''t want their futures to be tainted by their parents'' mistakes." Rosalie paused deliberately, watching as the parents'' faces visibly paled at her words.


    Some of them, unable to hold back, even looked like they wanted to beg


    for mercy, but the slightly calmer ones stopped them.


    Rosalie wasn''t in a hurry. She


    continued casually, "Do you realize how much damage your actions today have caused to both my reputation and the university''s? If we decide to sue you for defamation, the consequences could range from fines to jail time. Do you really think the money you were paid is enough to cover the damages?"


    The more indifferent Rosalie seemed, the more panicked the parents became.


    To them, it was clear that Rosalie had the upper hand-


    whether it was her legitimate academic credentials or her powerful connections, they stood no chance against her.


    Beforeing here, they had naively believed that public discussion alone would be enough to condemn Rosalie.


    Now, they were desperate, their eyes


    pleading as they looked at Rosalie


    and said, "We... we were just manipted. They told us you only had a high school diploma but were teaching our children. Of course, we couldn''t ept that, so we came to cause trouble. We were deceived. Please... please forgive us."


    The parent who had initially made sarcasticments about Rosalie''s appearance was now the one panicking the most.


    The others weren''t much better. While they seemed moreposed, their faces were also pale with anxiety.

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    Rosalie nodded and said, "Ipletely understand how you feel as parents, but that doesn''t give you the right to cause trouble after taking money. Whether or not I sue you will depend on how you behave mov "I... We''ll follow your lead, as long as... as long as you don''t sue us and this doesn''t affect our children."


    "Yes, yes, we''ll do whatever you say."


    They were genuinely scared by Rosalie''s words, so now they couldn''t care less about the money they had been paid to influence them. They just hoped this wouldn''t affect their children, which was their main c Rosalie said, "Please go back for now. I''ll give you a formal response and exnationter."


    "Alright... alright."


    After the parents left, Rosalie stayed in the dean''s office.


    Dustin looked at Rosalie, seeing that she seemed to have everything under control, and asked curiously, "Ms. Talley, have you figured out how to


    resolve this?"


    Yes." Rosalie paused for a moment and then added, "This issue was caused by my family, and I apologize for the trouble it caused the school and you. I''ll resolve it as soon as possible."


    "It''s fine. Since you''ve already decided how to handle it, the school won''t get involved. If you need the school to take action at any point, just let me


    know."


    Rosalie said, "Thank you. I''ll head out now."


    Meanwhile, online, the post


    smearing Rosalie resurfaced and


    quickly went viral, sparking another uproar,nded at the top of X''s e


    trending list with the headline, "Female Teacher with a High School Diploma from Hawthorne University Turns Out to Be a Research World Darling."


    The post went viral because several world-


    renowned figures from the medical, education, and research fields had shared the previous post that revealed Rosalie''s high school diploma.


    Louis Joe: "Wait, my junior sister has a high school diploma? Are you serious, or is this just some joke?"


    Brian Horton: "We tried everything to


    keep Dr. Talley on staff, but she refused. Hawthorne University is lucky to have her as a teacher. Now, people are actually calling for her to be kicked out?"


    Edward Chen: "Please, Hawthorne University, fire Dr. Talley so we can have a chance to hire her at our school."


    If Hawthorne University''s official X


    ount had previously tried to rify things to defend Rosalie, these renowned experts from the research world stepped up to confirm her credentials. Nobody would still dare to keep harping on about Rosalie''s high school diploma after these big names spoke up.


    Louis Joe, a top medical expert who has won several Nobel Prizes, publicly acknowledged Rosalie


    as his junior.


    Brian Horton, the president of the world''s top university, whose credentials alone could shake the research world.


    Edward Chen, another powerhouse in the research world. These giants all stood up to confirm Rosalie''s status, and they made no secret of their admiration for her.


    In short, almost every big name in the medical field came forward.


    If Rosalie didn''t have some serious skills, there''s no way these experts would personally step in to defend her.


    But even so, some trolls still refused to back down.


    [Are you guys mistaken? This Rosalie is just someone with the same name as Dr. Talley you know.]

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    Louis Joe directly shared the post: [Are you suggesting that we''re so blind we can''t even recognize someone in a video?]


    Louis Joe''sment was then shared by the other big names.


    The trolls were left speechless, unable to find anything else to criticize about Rosalie''s diploma.


    With these experts personally vouching for her, who would dare question Rosalie''s abilities? Their faces were effectively pped, and naturally, they had to find someone to me.


    So, a bunch of people flooded thement section of those marketing ounts, leading them to close thements.


    But that wasn''t all. Even after Rosalie''s diploma issue was settled, the post attacking her character and personal values was still being pushed to the top.


    [So what if Rosalie is so impressive? Does that change the fact that she''s the product of an affair and has bullied her stepfather''s biological children?] [Exactly, she''s been bullying others at home, and now, as her stepfather''s daughter and a teacher, she''s suppressing others. How shameless can she be?] Did your mom pass on herck of shame to you when she gave birth to you?]


    4449


    Meanwhile, Rosalie was on the phone with Eden, her cold, emotionless eyes almost as if they could freeze the air.


    The whole situation had only unfolded within a day. Even though it was trending, Rosalie hadn''t bothered to check X even once. Because Edward''s little tricks were nothing more than child''s y in her eyes, she didn''t feel the need to waste time on it.


    As long as she presented proof of her credentials, everything Edward had done would


    just be a joke.


    And because she saw this as a minor issue, she hadn''t checked X all


    day and didn''t know that there was still another post dragging her deceased


    mother into the mess.


    Rosalie could tolerate people attacking her, but her mother was her bottom line. Clearly, some people didn''t know their limits and dared to step on that line-if they did, they shouldn''t be surprised if she didn''t show them any mercy.


    Rosalie looked at the cruel insults directed at her mother in thements section. The coldness in her eyes deepened.


    "You handle this," she said. "I''m going to deal with someone who doesn''t know their ce."


    I''ve given her so many chances, but she still dares to act up in front of me!'' Rosalie thought to herself.


    On the other end of the phone, Eden knew exactly who she was going to deal with. Without asking further, he simply said, "Should I reveal the truth?"


    After all, this was Rosalie''s family matter. Even if he chose to expose anything, he needed her approval first.


    Rosalie paused to think before


    replying, "Don''t expose the part about Helena being Edward''s illegitimate daughter for now, As for the rest, do whatever you think is best."


    Eden said, "Got it. Leave it to me."


    Helena sat pale-faced, staring at the post online. She was trembling all over.


    That day, in a fit of anger, she had fabricated all those lies to smear Rosalie''s name. She wanted to feel the twisted satisfaction of revenge when people mocked and insulted Rosalie.


    But she wasn''t stupid. She knew the lies wouldn''t hold up if exposed. And if Rosalie found out, she would be doomed.


    When the post first appeared on the school forum yesterday, she panicked and tried to contact the administrator to delete it. But they refused, citing the post''s poprity.


    As she read through thements below the post-


    two conflicting emotions roiled inside her fear and satisfaction.


    She had stared at the post all day, waiting for Rosalie to make a move. But since Rosalie did nothing. Helena figured she hadn''t seen it yet. Feeling


    both relieved and secretly thrilled, Helena continued to savor thements under the post.

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    Helena liked every singlement insulting Rosalie using her alternate ounts. The sense of revenge filled her with a satisfaction she had never experienced before.


    But at the same time, the post felt like a sword hanging over her


    head. One wrong move, and it woulde crashing down to destroy her life. So when the post was finally deleted, she felt both regretful and relieved.


    Most of the school already knows what kind of person Rosalie is,'' she thought. ''Keeping the post up would''ve just been a liability.''


    But someone actually reposted it. And worse, they posted it during Rosalie''s peak moment of poprity today.


    If the original post had only reached the schoolmunity, this repost had gone viral. With Rosalie being a hot topic, anything rted to her was now trending. The situation had spiraled out of control. Rosalie Helena thought, What will I do? Beat her up? Or... expose the real truth? I''d rather take a beating than let that happen. Otherwise, how could I ever show my face at school again?''


    The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. Her whole body trembled, and she failed to notice the figure that had silently appeared in front of her.


    Why are you shaking like that? Walked too many dark paths and ran into a ghost?" The familiar voice, cold as death itself, entered her ears. Startled, Helena dropped her phone to the ground.


    She jerked her head up and saw Rosalie standing before her. Her already pale face turned an even ghastlier shade of white.


    "R-Rosalie... why are you here?" Her voice trembled uncontrobly, a fear


    of Rosalie etched deep into her bones.


    Rosalie casually rolled up her sleeves, her expression unreadable. She spoke calmly, "I heard you''ve


    been a little confusedtely. Seems like you enjoy pinning your family''s dirtyundry on other people."


    Her eyes locked onto Helena''s face, her bottomless gaze like a demon''s abyss, ready to swallow her whole. "W-


    What do you mean?"


    "Nothing much," Rosalie replied. "Just thought I''d help clear your head so you''ll stop forgetting what kind of trash you are."


    As soon as she finished speaking, Helena let out a sharp scream. Rosalie grabbed her by the hair, yanking her up from her seat and dragging her out of the ssroom.


    "Rosalie, let me go! What are you doing? Let go of me!" Helena was terrified, screaming and struggling the entire way. But the more she resisted, the more her scalp Burt under Rosalie''s grip.


    Students at Hawthorne University were used to seeing Rosalie with a pleasant smile. None of them had


    ever seen her this furious befo


    The aiDaround her radiated a deadly aura, warning everyone to stay


    away.


    Rosalie dragged Helena all the way


    to the school''s hot spring pool and shoved her head into the water.


    Helena iled and struggled desperately under Rosalie''s grip, but it was useless. She couldn''t even scream- all she could do was thrash helplessly.


    The students passing by werepletely stunned by the scene. Not a single one dared to step forward to stop her. After nearly a full minute, Rosalie yanked Helena''s head out of the water by her hair.


    "Feeling clearer now?" she asked.


    ¡°Rosalie, L... I''m going to tell Dad! Dad won''t let this-


    Before she could finish, Rosalie


    shoved her head back into the water. "Still not clear enough, huh? I gu¨¨ss more washes might help you out what kind of trash you are


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