Forgotten Memories

Forgotten Memories

One

My memory was gone.

When I opened my eyes, Marcus was sitting by my hospital bed, watching over me.

His face was etched with exhaustion, his eyes bloodshot. The moment he saw I was awake, he grabbed my hand. "Rose, how do you feel?"

An instinctive wave of revulsion surged through me. I flinched back as if burned.

After I made that move, we both froze.

"Rose, you..." Marcus's voice turned hoarse.

I forced a smile, deliberately changing the subject. "Marcus, why are you here? Don't you need to be with your girlfriend?"

Marcus's body trembled slightly. He muttered under his breath, "Marcus... girlfriend."

He repeated the words over and over, then suddenly his eyes went wide. Barely concealed joy surfaced from the depths of his gaze.

I didn't understand why he was so suddenly happy.

He gripped my hand again.

"Rose, have you forgotten? I don't have a girlfriend. You're my wife—my only wife. I only love you."

I was stunned.

I let him hold my hand, my mind a whirlpool of confusion. Before I lost consciousness, he'd been inseparable from Tanya Quinn, the campus beauty queen. They'd even gone abroad to study together.

I'd always assumed Marcus would end up marrying Tanya. I never expected that when I woke up, I'd be the one walking down the aisle with him.

What confused me even more was that although it felt like only a few hours had passed, every trace of love I'd once felt for him had vanished without a trace.

Two

Marcus and I grew up together. He'd been by my side for as long as I could remember.

He was three years older than me, and we'd always gotten along well.

When we were kids, he took me fishing, took me to play video games, and often taught me to read and write.

Aside from school hours, we were practically inseparable.

I was an only child, and so was he. Our families were close—old family friends.

The thing I heard most growing up was: "Rose and Marcus might as well just end up together."

As a child, I didn't take it seriously. I even got annoyed.

Every time I heard it, Marcus would gently pat my head.

"Sure. Then I'll marry Rose when I grow up, and I'll take care of her for the rest of her life."

Back then, I'd always push his hand away angrily.

"Hmph! I'm not marrying you!"

The adults would just laugh at our exchange. No one took those jokes seriously.

At first, neither did I. But as time passed and I grew older, I realized... I think I really did fall for him.

Three

I realized I liked Marcus when I was a freshman in high school.

I was in my rebellious phase back then. I loved skipping class to go to internet cafes. No matter who tried to talk sense into me, I wouldn't listen.

My parents were at their wit's end. They even considered sending me abroad.

One time, I was skipping class to play games as usual.

I was completely absorbed when someone suddenly pulled the headphones off my ears.

I looked up and saw Marcus's face.

His usually gentle expression was tense.

He grabbed my hand and dragged me out without a word.

I cried hard, refusing to go with him.

"What right do you have to control me? You're not my real brother!"

Marcus wiped my tears away and sighed.

"Rose, can you tell me why you don't want to study? Is something wrong at school?"

I cried even harder.

When I skipped class and refused to study, my parents only ever blamed me. Marcus was the only one who asked me why.

My heart was full of both gratitude and grievance.

Through sobs, I told him:

"I don't like school. The teachers don't like me. The boys whisper behind my back. I'm miserable."

Marcus was silent for a long time. Then he pulled me into his arms.

"Rose, don't be afraid. I'll make things right for you."

Breathing in the scent of soap on his clothes, my heart pounded like a drum.

I realized I'd fallen for him. Not the way a sister loves a brother, but the way a woman loves a man.

Four

After that day, the principal, the homeroom teacher, and every boy who'd gossiped about me came to apologize one by one.

I never doubted Marcus's power. His family was wealthy and influential. Handling something like this was easy for him.

But facing those apologies, what I felt most was sweetness. I thought, maybe Marcus feels something for me too.

Growing up, he'd never treated any other girl the way he treated me.

Back then, I naively believed that Marcus would only ever have me, and I would only ever have him.

I started studying like crazy, ignoring everything around me.

My grades rose like a tide. In the end, to everyone's astonishment, I got into the best university in the country.

The same university Marcus attended.

The moment I got in, I couldn't wait to confess my feelings.

On a summer night, shyly, I gave Marcus a necklace I'd made myself.

"Marcus, I like you. Will you be with me?"

When he heard my confession, he was stunned for a moment. But after a few seconds, he took the necklace.

I heard him say, "Okay. Let's be together."

His voice was low, but I heard him clearly.

I hugged him excitedly. He hesitated, then hugged me back. In that moment, I felt like the happiest person in the world.

Five

Soon, everyone at the university knew that I, a freshman, was with Marcus, the senior campus legend.

He waited for me downstairs every day, brought me breakfast, sat through my classes with me, and took me to concerts.

He'd hold my hand in public and introduce me with a smile: "This is my girlfriend."

My roommates often said enviously:

"Rose, how did you land Marcus? And he treats you so well—he's literally the perfect boyfriend."

I'd always answer happily:

"We grew up together."

My roommates would cheer, saying they were obsessed with our love story.

I was happy. With Marcus taking such meticulous care of me every day, I felt like the luckiest person alive.

But as time passed, something felt off.

Marcus rarely kissed me. He didn't often express his love.

He'd stare at his phone blankly, sometimes sitting still for an entire day.

At first, I thought that was just his personality. Until I discovered another woman.

I first saw Tanya at a school exhibition.

She'd returned from abroad as an outstanding international student and was invited by the school to attend.

When I walked into the exhibition holding Marcus's hand, I saw the stunning Tanya in a green cheongsam, speaking elegantly with the dean.

In that moment, for no reason, I felt inferior.

I saw Marcus's gaze lingering on Tanya. There was an emotion in his eyes I'd never seen before.

When Tanya noticed Marcus, she walked over gracefully.

Her eyes crinkled with a smile as she looked me up and down.

For some reason, I caught a hint of disdain in her gaze.

Tanya's red lips parted as she extended her hand to Marcus.

"Long time no see, Marcus."

Marcus shook her hand. His voice was flat, but it seemed to hold something back.

"Long time no see, Tanya."

Tanya smiled at me. "You must be Marcus's little neighbor. He talks about you all the time on his phone."

The moment she said that, I felt everyone's eyes on me.

I opened my mouth instinctively: "No, you're mistaken. I'm Marcus's—"

"Rose, let's go. There's nothing interesting here." Marcus suddenly cut me off.

In that moment, I clearly heard people whispering around us.

I felt ice-cold.

Six

After that day, I learned from some upperclassmen that Tanya was actually Marcus's ex-girlfriend.

An ex-girlfriend he'd dated for three years.

So while I was secretly in love with Marcus, he already had a girlfriend.

When I confessed to Marcus, Tanya had just broken up with him to study abroad.

And I, in that vulnerable moment, slipped into the role of his new girlfriend.

I didn't sleep well for several nights. I kept wondering if Marcus had only agreed to be with me because he needed a distraction.

My heart ached. I wanted to call and ask him, but I didn't know where to start.

Marcus was still good to me. He still catered to my every whim. But I could clearly feel his absence.

Day by day, his distance became unbearable. With tears in my eyes, I asked him:

"Marcus, have you just been using me as a filler between you and Tanya? Do you actually love me?"

Marcus hugged me, his voice tired.

"No, Rose. Don't overthink it."

"Then do you love me?" My tears fell. "Marcus, have you ever loved me?"

Marcus was silent. But that silence was like a knife twisting in my heart.

I understood everything.

He didn't love me.

I, Rosalind Lane—so proud, so arrogant—faced with a man who didn't love me, should have said goodbye.

But years of love made me unwilling to let go.

I swallowed my pride.

I told myself that I was his girlfriend now. We'd grown up together. He'd come around eventually. He'd learn to love me.

I kept swallowing my pride.

Even when I noticed he replied to my messages more and more slowly. Even when I knew he was making up excuses not to see me. I still swallowed it.

Finally, I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

In a secluded grove on campus, I saw Marcus holding Tanya, kissing her reverently.

His eyes were closed. He was so completely absorbed.

He'd never looked like that when he kissed me.

When he kissed me, his eyes were always open. Always so清醒.

But when he kissed Tanya, he was lost. Devoted.

So this was the difference between love and its absence.

I don't know how long I stood there before I heard Tanya ask:

"When are you going to break up with your little childhood sweetheart? You can't keep me in the dark like this forever, making me the other woman."

Marcus's voice was gentle as always, but his words froze me to the bone.

"Tanya, how could you be the other woman? You're my everything. In love, the one who isn't loved is the third wheel."

I suddenly laughed. Laughed until tears streamed down my face. So in Marcus's eyes, I was the third wheel.

I was the obstacle to his love with Tanya.

But he was the one who'd agreed to my confession.

If he didn't love me, why did he say yes? Couldn't he have just rejected me?

Was I forcing him to be with me?

In that moment, I felt like a complete joke.

Maybe my laughter was too loud. It startled the couple locked in an embrace.

I saw panic flicker in Marcus's usually calm eyes.

He moved toward me urgently, but Tanya grabbed his arm.

He looked at me, opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words.

My head was spinning. Tears covered my face. But I held onto the last shred of my dignity.

I heard myself say:

"Marcus, let's break up. I'll let you go."

When I got home, I fell seriously ill.

News that Marcus and Tanya were back together spread across campus like wildfire.

My roommates took turns taking care of me, cursing Marcus and Tanya every day, saying every vile thing they could think of.

I just smiled at it all.

Later, I heard from my roommates that Marcus was going abroad with Tanya. They cursed him some more.

By the time I recovered, Marcus and Tanya had already left.

When I went to class, I could feel my classmates' pitying glances.

Well, a girl betrayed by her childhood sweetheart—that was certainly worthy of pity, wasn't it?

I drifted through life for a long time. My first relationship ended in betrayal, and I couldn't let it go.

One day, I was wandering aimlessly around campus again. Not watching where I was going, I was hit by a speeding bicycle.

I blacked out.

Seven

When I woke up, everything had changed.

Marcus told me we were married. But it still didn't feel real.

I frowned at him.

Marcus held my hand tightly. "Rose, we've been married for two years. I love you very much, and you love me too. We walked down the aisle with both our families' blessings."

I felt like a poisonous snake was crawling over the hand he held. I was uncomfortable. Extremely uncomfortable.

Marcus's touch didn't bring me joy. It made me sick.

No, this wasn't how you felt when you loved someone.

At this moment, I was certain. Not only did I not love Marcus, I loathed him. From the bottom of my heart.

I didn't understand. I was confused. How could everything have changed so much when I woke up? Marcus and I were married. He seemed devoted. But I felt nothing for him.

Was it because I couldn't get over his betrayal?

But it felt like more than that. The way I felt about him now—it was as if all my feelings had vanished in an instant.

No love. Only resistance and disgust.

I instinctively tried to pull my hand back, but he held it too tightly. I couldn't move.

I looked at Marcus for a long time before finally speaking slowly:

"Marcus, I'm not feeling well. Can I rest alone for a while?"

Marcus stared at me for a long time without speaking.

There was an emotion in his eyes I couldn't read.

The atmosphere made me afraid. I curled up slowly.

I was scared of this version of Marcus.

After what felt like an eternity, Marcus finally let go of my hand. He forced a gentle smile.

"Alright, Rose. Get some rest. I'll go out."

He leaned in to kiss my forehead.

I turned my head sharply. My body reacted faster than my mind.

Every fiber of my being seemed to reject Marcus.

Marcus froze. He looked at me, his eyes slowly turning red.

I could hear his ragged breathing.

He was holding back. I knew.

After a long moment, I heard him say:

"Rose, I'm leaving now."

Eight

After several days in the hospital, I finally improved enough to walk around.

During that time, not only Marcus but both our parents stayed by my side every day.

From them, I pieced together my current situation.

Five years had passed since I was hit by that bicycle.

In my senior year of college, I'd married Marcus. In everyone else's eyes, we were deeply in love.

My parents were very satisfied with him.

They also told me that three years ago, when my father's investment failed, Marcus stepped in to save our family business.

When I learned all this, I was stunned for a moment before finally saying to Marcus, "Thank you."

Marcus pulled me into his arms. In a voice only I could hear, he whispered:

"Rose, we're husband and wife. Don't say thank you. If you really want to thank me, you can make it up to me when you're better. It's been a while since we..."

I wasn't a naive child anymore. I understood his implication immediately.

I felt ice-cold.

The image of Marcus kissing Tanya flashed through my mind over and over.

I thought, this man had probably done that with Tanya countless times. And now he wanted to do it with me.

Just hugging Marcus made me feel sick. How could I possibly want to...

I wanted to push him away, but both our parents were watching.

I forced down the nausea and let him hold me.

In that moment, the thought of divorce echoed through my mind again and again.

Nine

This time, I'd fallen down a flight of stairs. It was serious.

After a month in the hospital, I finally recovered.

I kept trying to find out what had happened in those five years. Why had I fallen? But Marcus only said we were in love. He wouldn't tell me anything else.

And he hated it when I asked about the bicycle accident.

One day in the hospital, I mentioned it casually.

"I wonder what happened after I was hit by that bike five years ago. Before I passed out, I remember the boy riding it was quite good-looking. I wonder how I got to the hospital."

I laughed, feeling strangely happy.

When I turned around, I saw Marcus's face had gone pale.

He grabbed my hand, his voice trembling. "That's in the past, understand? None of those five years matter. What matters is our future."

I didn't understand. "But you said we were deeply in love. Why don't you want me to remember those five years?"

Marcus forced a smile. "I mean, what's done is done. We'll love each other even more in the future."

I looked at his pale face and realized something was wrong.

I was certain I didn't love Marcus now. And that feeling couldn't have appeared out of nowhere.

There was only one possibility.

Something must have happened in those five years that made me lose all feeling for him.

Even feel disgust.

Ten

On a Saturday morning, Marcus took me to the place where we lived.

When I saw the house, I was a little shocked.

It was exactly the kind of house I'd described to Marcus back in college. I'd said I wanted to live in a small villa—nothing huge, but with a little garden.

This villa had a small garden, filled with many varieties of flowers. It was clearly carefully designed.

Inside, I was even more stunned.

Every corner seemed designed to my taste. Marcus had clearly put a lot of thought into our marital home.

But for some reason, seeing a house so perfectly suited to my preferences didn't move me. Instead, I felt a strong sense of rejection.

A vague image suddenly surfaced in my mind.

On a quiet night, under a sky full of stars, a man and I were kissing.

I couldn't see his face. But in that moment, my heart felt full. So happy. So joyful.

Marcus took my hand, smiling. "What do you think? Do you like it?"

I didn't answer his question. Instead, I asked suddenly:

"Marcus, did we ever kiss under the stars on a rooftop?"

Marcus's smile froze. After a moment, he asked carefully:

"Are you remembering something?"

I shook my head. "No. Just a vague image."

Marcus's expression returned to normal. "Yes, that was us. Rose, you've only ever had me, understand? You've only ever loved me, understand?"

He pulled me into his arms. "Rose, I know I wronged you. I shouldn't have done what I did... but I regret it. I regret it so much. Now, you're the only one in my heart. So please, love only me, okay?"

He looked at me cautiously, his eyes full of intense emotion.

I felt deeply uncomfortable. I tried to pull back, but Marcus held me tightly.

He held me so hard, like he was afraid of losing something.

Eleven

Marcus kept telling me: "Rose, we love each other. We're soulmates. Who else could you love but me? Just like I only love you."

His obsessive behavior scared me. I trembled, unable to speak.

In a daze, I seemed to see myself in this same house. Marcus was holding me, kissing my lips.

I tried to escape, but he pushed me down on the sofa.

He grabbed my ankles and pulled me toward him.

His eyes were bloodshot. "Rose, can you still not forget him?"

I snapped out of the memory. My head ached. Tears poured down my face.

I screamed: "No! I'm not yours! I'm not!"

Marcus's body went stiff. I could feel his arms trembling as he held me.

My face was soaked with tears. "Marcus, I don't love you. I really don't. Can you please stop treating me like this?"

Marcus let go of me. He slowly wiped the tears from my face. "Rose, you're talking nonsense again."

"I'm not talking nonsense." I looked at him seriously. "I don't love you. I don't know how I ended up marrying you. But I can say for certain—I have no feelings for you."

Marcus closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

I knew he was suppressing his anger.

He tried to stay calm. "Rose, you've lost your memory. You're saying crazy things. Don't say things like that again, understand? Just remember—you only love me. And I will treat you well from now on. This time, there's no one else."

Looking at his obsessed, almost sick expression, I finally realized—he wasn't normal anymore.

Twelve

That night, I took a shower and lay in bed.

Marcus wrapped his arms around me from behind.

My body stiffened. After our unpleasant conversation that morning, Marcus had left.

I thought he wouldn't come back. But he returned at night.

I had a bad feeling. He seemed to want something.

Sure enough, when I didn't resist, Marcus started kissing the back of my neck.

I felt numb all over. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and started struggling.

"Marcus, I'm still not used to us being married. And I really don't have any feelings for you right now. Can we sleep separately for a while?"

But Marcus just smiled and pressed me against him, his kisses growing hotter.

"Rose, don't say you don't like me anymore. It upsets me. We're husband and wife. We're supposed to sleep together. You'll get used to it."

He pinned me down and kissed my lips.

My eyes went wide. The nausea in my stomach wouldn't go away.

I couldn't forget the way Marcus had kissed Tanya.

Even when I loved him, I couldn't forgive that. And now?

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I turned my head and started gagging.

Marcus stopped. He just looked at me.

He patted my chest gently, his voice strained. "Did you eat too much?"

I knew he was avoiding the truth.

After the nausea passed, I sniffled and said to him:

"I'm sorry, Marcus. I have a thing about cleanliness. I saw what you did with Tanya... I can't accept it."

I saw tears fall from Marcus's eyes.

After a long moment, he said slowly:

"Rose... do you find me disgusting?"

Thirteen

After that day, Marcus and I seemed to fall into a cold war.

He started deliberately avoiding me.

I was happy about it. I didn't want to talk to him either.

I just wanted to get as far away from him as possible.

If I could, I'd leave him immediately.

Even though Marcus barely spoke to me, whenever he came home, he'd stare at me.

His gaze made my skin crawl.

Every time I met his eyes, he'd look away.

This went on for almost two weeks.

Finally, one day, he couldn't hold back anymore.

"Rose, if I don't come to you, you won't come to me? That day, it was your fault."

There was a hint of grievance in his voice.

I looked at him, my eyes empty. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have found you disgusting."

I apologized calmly. "But I can't control it. You know that. I can't accept... what you did to me."

When I finished, Marcus's face changed again.

He went pale. His hands clenched into fists.

I knew he was holding back. I knew he was hurting.

But what did that have to do with me? Watching him suffer gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.

I hoped he'd lose his temper and ask for a divorce.

If he said the word, I'd agree immediately. I'd even offer to leave with nothing. I already had the words ready.

As long as I could get rid of him, I'd be happy.

But Marcus didn't say anything about separating.

He took my hand and smiled. "Rose, I'll prove my love to you through my actions."

But I looked at him indifferently.

Maybe I'd once longed for his love. But now, I didn't need it. I didn't want it.

When I didn't love him, everything he did was wrong. Even a confession would make me sick.

Fourteen

In the noisy ballroom.

I stood expressionless as people approached Marcus with wine glasses, trying to network.

Tonight was a banquet hosted by the Jiang family. Many high-society figures had been invited.

As the new CEO of the largest food company in the city, Marcus was naturally on the guest list.

As his wife, I was forced to attend.

I didn't like places like this. If Marcus had brought another woman, I wouldn't have cared.

But he'd insisted on bringing me.

I heard people around us complimenting what a perfect couple we were.

Marcus smiled and pulled me close, occasionally kissing my forehead.

I kept my face blank.

Marcus took care of me, patiently asking what I wanted to eat. I just smiled and said nothing.

I couldn't be bothered to pretend anymore.

Marcus's eyes dimmed, but he kept holding me.

He watched me closely. Wherever I went, he followed.

We maintained this strange, tense peace.

Until a familiar, beautiful face appeared nearby.

I heard people whispering.

"Isn't that Tanya Quinn? She's back from abroad? I thought the Quinn family had fallen. How did she get in here?"

"Don't you know? The Quinns have connections with the Jiangs. Maybe they brought their pretty daughter out to find a match."

"She is beautiful. I heard she had a thing with Mr. Warrington."

"Shh. Mrs. Warrington is right there."

...

Under the shifting lights, I saw Tanya's beautiful face bloom into a smile.

She suddenly looked over and met my eyes. Then she smiled at me gracefully. Her eyes still held the same ambition and determination as before.

After a moment of surprise, I calmed down.

I smiled back politely.

"Rose, I—I didn't know she'd be here. I don't have any feelings for her anymore. Please don't misunderstand." Marcus gripped my waist tightly, his voice panicked.

I looked up at him. His face was pale.

I smiled indifferently. "It's fine. Just a coincidence. If you want to see her, I understand. She is your first love."

As soon as I said it, I saw Marcus sway slightly.

"Rose... don't you care at all?"

Fifteen

Why would I care?

If anything, I was hoping Tanya could help me get a divorce. I'd be grateful.

Marcus had been hinting at intimacy more and more often.

He'd even hinted at it to my parents.

Yesterday, my mother called and told me to be more considerate of Marcus.

I could only go along with it.

Tanya was staring at Marcus from across the room. Marcus was holding me tightly.

I felt trapped between them.

Look at them. Marcus and Tanya were such a perfect match. Why drag me into it?

Maybe I should leave and give them a chance to rekindle their flame.

I turned to Marcus. "I'm going to the restroom to fix my makeup."

Marcus didn't want to let go. "I'll go with you."

"No need." I smiled faintly and pushed him away. "It's just the restroom. Do I really need you to accompany me? I'm not that delicate."

My joking tone seemed to calm him. After a moment, he nodded and let me go.

I stayed in the restroom for a while.

I checked my phone, calculating how much time I was giving them to rekindle their romance.

But before I could leave, Tanya walked in.

I looked at her. She looked at me.

Tanya smiled.

I thought for a moment, then nodded slightly at her.

Tanya and I had never really met alone. Even though we'd both dated Marcus, we weren't close.

"Miss Lane, long time no see. I never expected you to actually marry Marcus."

There was a challenge in her eyes.

I said calmly, "I didn't expect you wouldn't be the one marrying him either."

Then I turned and left.

Tanya hurried after me and blocked my path.

In the empty hallway, it was just the two of us.

Tanya's face was indignant. "Miss Lane, are you mocking me? Don't think just because you've won now, you'll win forever. Marcus will—"

"Worry about the future when it comes." I cut her off. "If you're unhappy, if you still love him, go to him. Don't come to me."

Tanya's eyes widened.

She looked at me with curiosity.

Then, suddenly, she laughed.

"So Miss Lane doesn't love Marcus after all. Hahaha... So even after all these years, he still couldn't win your heart. Or can you still not forget..."

"Tanya."

A cold male voice came from the side.

Tanya and I both looked over. Marcus was standing there, expressionless.

He walked up quickly and pulled me into his arms.

Without a word, he led me away.

"Marcus, what are you afraid of?" Tanya called after us.

"Afraid she doesn't love you? But Marcus, do you think she ever could? After you chose me, she never could."

Marcus didn't turn around. His voice was cold.

"Tanya, stay away from Rose. If you say anything you shouldn't, don't blame me for being harsh with your family."

Sixteen

In the car, I was distracted.

Marcus buckled my seatbelt. I flinched back slightly.

I kept thinking about Tanya's words.

"V..." Vance?

Why did that name feel so familiar?

Who was he? Did I know him?

"Rose, don't mind what Tanya said. There's nothing between us anymore."

I turned to look at Marcus.

It was dark in the car. I couldn't see his face clearly. But I could feel the tense atmosphere.

Marcus seemed afraid. But what was he afraid of?

I said calmly, "If you really like her, I won't stop you from going to her. She's your true love. I understand—"

"She's not my true love! She's nothing!" Marcus's voice suddenly rose. He grabbed my hand frantically.

"Rose, I know I was wrong. When I was abroad, I realized I'd fallen in love with you. I didn't understand my own heart. I was wrong. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I'm a bastard!

But Rose, even criminals deserve a chance to be forgiven. Why can't I? From now on, I'll love you with all my heart. Can you... give me a chance?"

By the end, his voice was trembling. He sounded like he was choking on tears.

I didn't understand. Marcus was so strange. He was the one who cheated. But somehow, I was the one who was wrong for not forgiving him?

Why did cheaters always find excuses for themselves?

"Marcus, you're really something. This is the first time I've seen someone ask for forgiveness so理所当然. Marcus, you might have forgotten something. You were the one who cheated. You were the one who did wrong.

You know who I am. I never look back."

I looked at him coldly and said cruelly:

"Marcus, let's part on good terms. Let's get a divorce."

Marcus held my hand tightly, interlocking our fingers. I tried to pull away, but he was too strong.

I heard his cold voice. "Rose, don't think you can get rid of me. If I hadn't invested in your father's company, your family would have gone bankrupt. Do you think you'd still be living like a princess?

So Rose, you'll never escape me."

He unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over, and grabbed my head, pressing his lips to mine.

"Rose, tonight we're going home and making a baby. Once you have a child, you'll give up this nonsense."

The nausea rose again. But I couldn't escape him.

In that moment, I finally understood why I'd married him.

Seventeen

That night, Marcus carried me up the stairs.

I struggled violently. I knew what he wanted.

Marcus pinned my hands down and tried to kiss me. "Rose, we're husband and wife! Husband and wife! You can't reject me!"

I pushed him away. "Get away from me!"

Marcus was strong. In the chaos, I kicked him in the stomach and broke free.

I glared at him with hatred. "Marcus, don't make me hate you!"

Marcus clutched his stomach and laughed bitterly. Tears fell from his eyes. "Why? Rose, why? We're married! Why won't you let me? I love you so much. I really love you..."

His voice trailed off into helpless murmurs. "I love you so much..."

My face was covered in tears. I wrapped my arms around myself.

I was on the verge of breaking down. I screamed out everything I'd been holding in:

"Who wants your love!"

"Marcus, why don't you go to Tanya? Isn't she your first love? Your true love? The one you cheated on me with? If you love her so much, why don't you go to her?"

"I don't want you!"

Marcus looked at me, his eyes red and swollen from crying.

He laughed bitterly. "Rose, you can't escape me. Even if I disgust you, even if you look down on me, you're still my wife. I'll never let you go."

I looked at him in silence.

I knew I had to find a way out. Staying tangled up with Marcus would only waste my time and energy.

I, Rosalind Lane, never settled.

Eighteen

After that day, I went back to my parents' house while Marcus was at work.

When I arrived, my mother was playing with the dog in the garden. The moment she saw me, she looked shocked.

"Rose, what are you doing here? Did you have a fight with Marcus?" She looked at me nervously.

I said wearily, "Mom, can you please not mention Marcus? I don't want to hear his name."

Without a word, my mother walked up and slapped me across the face.

My ears rang from the force. I stared at my mother in disbelief.

My face hurt. But my heart hurt more.

"How dare you treat Marcus like that? If it weren't for him, your father's company would be finished. How dare you offend him? Rose, I don't care what happened. Go back. Apologize to him. Do you understand?"

My eyes were red, but I held back my tears.

I didn't understand. Why was my mother treating me like this after I woke up?

I'd been spoiled my whole life. I'd always had everything I wanted.

Now my mother was hitting me for Marcus. For a man who'd hurt me.

I laughed bitterly. "Mom, so in your eyes, my only value is maintaining your comfortable life? Do you even care if I'm happy?"

My mother glared at me stubbornly. "Go back to Marcus. Our family owes him."

"And doesn't Marcus owe me?" My eyes were red. "Marcus cheated on me in college. Didn't I tell you? Am I supposed to just accept being cheated on? Am I supposed to let a man who betrayed me keep making me sick?"

I continued, "Marcus makes me sick. I want to throw up when I see him. I'm going to divorce him!"

"Then what about your father and me?" My mother started crying. "Can't you let us live out our old age in peace?"

I took a step back, ready to leave.

"Rose." My mother grabbed my arm. "Men make mistakes. And Marcus made his mistake before you were married. Now he treats you so well. He loves you, doesn't he? Women need to be more forgiving. You married him before. You could tolerate it then. Why can't you now..."

"Mom, stop trying to control me." I cut her off. "Women need to be more forgiving? Who told you that? Besides, people change. I don't know why I agreed to marry him before. But I can't tolerate him now.

I'm not like you, Mom. You can put up with Dad having mistresses to keep your comfortable life. But I can't. I, Rosalind Lane, can't tolerate even a single grain of sand in my eyes."

With that, I turned and left, ignoring my mother's furious shouts behind me.

When I reached the gate, I saw Marcus standing there, watching me.

I was a little surprised.

I didn't know how long he'd been listening.

But the surprise only lasted a moment. I quickly calmed down.

I ignored him and walked away.

Marcus grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?"

I shook him off and kept walking without a word.

Marcus followed behind me.

I ignored him. I planned to hail a cab and go to my best friend's place.

I was determined. No matter how hard it was, I was going to leave Marcus.

When I reached the entrance of the neighborhood, frowning, a stranger's face appeared before me.

I was stunned.

The man across from me looked equally flustered when he saw me. He turned and hurried away.

I didn't know why. I was usually shy, but I desperately wanted to chase after him.

He ran fast. Within seconds, he'd disappeared from sight.

I was panicked.

For some reason, the tears I'd held back until now started falling the moment I saw him.

"Rose, come home with me."

Marcus grabbed me and pulled me into his arms. His breathing was unsteady, like he was panicking.

I heard him say: "Rose, don't go out for a while. Stay by my side. Don't go anywhere."

Nineteen

"Can you just get lost? How shameless can you be?"

A clear female voice rang out.

I looked over and saw my best friend, Yvonne Zhu.

Behind her stood several tall bodyguards.

Earlier,