Chapter 17 – The Proposal And Ambush
ROSE
The moment Jacob and Jenna were dragged out, I let out a long, shaky breath of relief. The weight that had been pressing on my chest for so long seemed to lift, and for the first time in ages, I could breathe easily. My body felt light, but my heart–my heart was still racing, and the emotions were still swirling inside me.
I turned to Xander, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice thick. “You… you really saved me
today.”
Xander‘ s gaze softened as he placed a hand
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on my shoulder, his grip warm and reassuring. “It was nothing,” he said, his voice steady. “You‘ ve been through enough. I just helped clear your name. And Jacob- he’s going to sink soon enough. His company will be buried in debts. He won’t have anything left.”
I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction at the thought of Jacob‘ s downfall. After everything he had done, he deserved to face the consequences. But then Xander‘ s next words made my stomach twist.
“If you still love him, though, Rose,” he began, his tone gentle, almost careful, “if you want to go back to him, I’ll understand. I won’t stand in your way.”
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I scoffed, shaking my head. The very thought of going back to Jacob, after everything that had happened, was laughable. “You really think I’d go back to him after what he did? After everything he’s put me through?” I said, my voice hardening. “I’m never going back to him. Ever.‘
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Xander’s expression softened, but I could see the hint of something more in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, the shine of it catching my eye. My heart skipped a beat as he opened it, revealing a beautiful ring–a sparkling diamond that seemed to glow in the dim light of the room.
“I don’t want you to go back to him,” Xander said, his voice low and serious.
“I’ve been watching you, Rose, for a long
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time. All this time, I’ve been in love with you. And the little time I’ve spent with you recently-” He paused, his gaze intense as he met my eyes. “It’s only made me love you more. I want to marry you. For real.”
The world seemed to stop. I couldn’t breathe. I just stared at the ring, my mind racing. Was he serious? Was this really happening?
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I was frozen, unsure of what to say. I’d spent so long living in the shadows of
my past, unsure of where my future was headed. And now, here was Xander, offering me everything. It felt like a dream.
“You don’t have to answer right now,”
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Xander continued, sensing my hesitation.
“Take some time to think about it. I’m not rushing you. I just… wanted you to know how I feel.”
I blinked, still processing everything. “I… I need some time,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. “This is a lot to take in.”
He smiled softly, a knowing look in his eyes.
“Of course. Take all the time you need.”
Xander’s words lingered in the air as he led me to his car. The drive home was quiet, but there was a sense of peace settling over me. For the first time, I felt like I had a choice. I wasn’t trapped. I wasn‘ t living in someone else’s shadow. The world felt open again.
When we reached my house, I stepped out of
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the car and looked at Xander one last time.
“Thank you again,” I said, my voice a little steadier. “I don‘ t know what I would have done without you.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” he replied with a grin. “I’ll always have your back,
Rose.‘
I nodded, feeling a strange warmth in my chest as I walked up to my door.
Inside, my family was waiting for me. Liam, as always, was the first to approach. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and I could tell he was eager to hear what had happened.
“So, what happened?” he asked, his
excitement palpable. “Did you get everything you wanted? Was Jacob begging?”
I couldn’t help but smirk. “Yeah, he
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begged,” I said, my voice laced with satisfaction. “But it was too little, too late. Everything’s settled now.”
Liam raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story. “And what about Jenna? What happened with her?”
I let out a sigh. “She’s not my problem anymore. Jacob and Jenna are out of my life for good.”
Liam grinned and pulled me into a tight hug.
“I’m proud of you, sis. You‘ ve really shown them who‘ s boss.”
I smiled, feeling the weight of everything I had just been through. But as Liam pulled away, he glanced out the window, his face went serious.
“Rose,” Liam said, his voice lowering.
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“Jacob’s outside.”
My stomach churned. Of course he was. After everything he’d done, after everything he’d lost, he still couldn’t let me go. I walked toward the door, my steps slow but steady.
When I stepped outside, I saw Jacob standing there, looking disheveled and desperate. His eyes met mine, and his expression faltered when he saw the look on my face.
“Rose, please,” Jacob pleaded, his voice cracking. “I’m sorry. I’m done with Jenna. Our marriage was fake. I never should have left you. Please, just forgive me. Come back to
me.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, my gaze cold. “Jacob, I want nothing to do with
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you,” I said bluntly. “You‘ ve hurt me more than I ever thought possible. Stop wasting your time. Stop disturbing me.”
His face twisted in pain, and he took a step toward me, his hands trembling. “I can’t lose you again, Rose. I’ll do anything. Just give me another chance.‘
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I turned to leave, but as I did, he grabbed my arm roughly. Something cold pressed against my back–a sharp chill that immediately set my heart racing. I froze.
“Don’t scream,” Jacob’s voice was low and menacing. “Don’t make a sound, Rose. If you don’t follow me right now, you‘ 11 regret it.”
My breath caught in my throat as I felt the fear rise in my chest. What was he planning?
