Chapter 12 – Drawing The Line
ROSE
I barely had time to gather my composure when Jenna returned, dragging Jacob behind her like a storm on the horizon. Her face was twisted in fury, her steps brisk, and Jacob looked tired, as if he wanted to be anywhere but here.
“There she is, Jacob!” Jenna‘ s shrill voice cut through the air, echoing off the marble walls of the mall. “She bullied me and stole my money!”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, Jenna couldn’t let this go without dragging Jacob into it.
Jacob’s eyes locked onto mine, and for a
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Drawing The Line
moment, a strange emotion flickered across his face. Regret? Guilt? Whatever it was, it disappeared quickly. He approached me, ignoring Jenna‘ s ranting.
“Rose,” he began, his tone surprisingly soft, “I’m glad I found you. We need to talk.”
Jenna gasped, her face turning red. “Jacob! Are you seriously ignoring me? She stole two million dollars from me! Do something!”
Jacob turned on her, his patience clearly gone. “Shut up, Jenna!” he snapped. “You don’t deserve to speak after recklessly spending my money.”
The venom in his words stunned Jenna into silence, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
Then Jacob turned back to me, his tone
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shifting to something almost pleading.
“Rose, listen. Let’s put all of this behind us. Come back home with me. I’ll forget about… whatever happened with Xander.”
I couldn’t help it–I laughed. A sharp, incredulous sound escaped my lips as I stared at him. “You‘ re unbelievable,” I said, shaking my head. “Do you seriously think, after everything you‘ ve done, that I’d ever come back to you?”
Jacob frowned, his jaw tightening. “Rose, I know I made mistakes, but Xander–he’s playing you. Don’t you see that? He’s just using you to get back at me.
I crossed my arms, meeting his gaze with icy resolve. “Not everything is about you, Jacob. This isn’t some petty game between you and
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Xander. You lost me long before he came into the picture.”
Jenna, unable to stay quiet any longer, interjected. “Why are you even trying to get her back, Jacob? I’m right here!”
Jacob turned to her, his expression cold and unfeeling. “Because she’s my wife,” he said simply, as if that explained everything.
That was it–the final straw. I stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the stunned silence that
followed.
Jacob blinked, his hand flying to his cheek, and I laughed. Not the soft, warm laugh I’d shared with Xander earlier, but a mocking, bitter one.
“You have the audacity to call me your wife
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now?” I asked, my voice trembling with anger. “Where was that loyalty when I was lying on a hospital bed, begging for you to notice me? Begging for you to care?”
Jacob’s face twisted, a mix of anger and embarrassment. He reached for my arm, gripping it tightly. “Rose, I won’t say it again. Let’s go home. Now.”
Before I could react, a commanding voice cut through the tension like a knife.
“Let my wife go!”
Xander‘ s voice.
We all turned to see him standing a few feet away, his posture tense and his eyes blazing with fury. He strode toward us with an air of authority that made even Jacob hesitate.
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Jacob’s grip on my arm loosened, but he didn’t let go entirely. “Xander, stay out of this,” Jacob warned.
Xander ignored him, his attention solely on me. “Rose,” he said, his voice softer now,
“are you okay?”
I nodded, my heart racing. “I’m fine,” I managed.
Xander‘ s eyes flicked to Jacob’s hand, still gripping my arm. His jaw tightened, and his voice dropped to a dangerous tone. “I said, let her go.”
Jacob scoffed, trying to mask his uncertainty.
“You think you can just waltz in here and take what’s mine?”
“She was never yours,” Xander said coldly. “And she never will be.”
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Jacob glared at him, his bravado faltering.
“This isn’t over, Xander.”
“Walk away, Jacob,” Xander said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Before I make you.”
For a moment, I thought Jacob might lash out, but then his grip on my arm loosened
completely, and he stepped back.
“You’ll regret this, Rose,” he said, his voice low and venomous. “Mark my words.”
I didn’t respond, watching as he turned and stormed off, Jenna trailing behind him, throwing one last hateful glare in my
direction.
The tension eased as they disappeared, and I exhaled, realizing I’d been holding my
breath.
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Xander stepped closer, his expression softening. “You didn’t have to handle that alone,” he said gently.
“I could handle it,” I replied, my voice steadier than I expected.
“I know you can,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “But that doesn’t mean you have to.”
His words caught me off guard, and I felt a lump rise in my throat. For so long, I’d been fighting battles on my own. To have someone willing to stand beside me–it was almost overwhelming.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Xander reached out, his hand brushing mine.
“Always,” he said simply.
