Chapter 20 – A Wedding!
ROSE
I stood frozen in the minimart aisle, still reeling from Jenna‘ s wild accusations. Her words hit me hard, but it wasn’t her rage that rattled me; it was the twisted grief in her eyes. She was unraveling, and I knew I needed to calm her down before things got
worse.
“Jenna, please,” I said, stepping toward her cautiously. “This isn’t going to help anyone. Jacob is gone, but it’s not my fault. You need to understand that.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief, and then, with a shriek of pure fury, she lunged at me. “You think you can just take everything from me?
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You took him! You killed him!”
I tried to dodge her, but she was faster, more frantic. We tumbled to the floor in a mess of limbs, fists flying, hair pulling. I tried to hold her off, but she was stronger than I’d expected, her nails digging into my skin as she fought with desperate, wild energy.
“Jenna, stop!” I gasped, my voice strained. “This isn’t how you honor him!”
But Jenna wasn’t listening. She was lost to her own rage, a manic force that consumed her entirely. I could feel her movements becoming erratic, and then, without warning, she pulled something from her pocket.
A knife.
I froze, eyes locked on the sharp edge as she raised it, her eyes wild with madness. “You
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think you’ve won? I’ll show you what it feels like to lose!” she screamed, her voice filled with venom.
Before I could react, she lunged, the blade gleaming in the harsh overhead light.
“Rose!” A familiar voice shouted, and suddenly, Xander was there, pushing me out of harm’s way with force, just in time. But the knife didn’t miss.
I heard a sharp, agonizing sound as the blade pierced Xander‘ s side. My heart stopped in my chest.
“No!” I screamed, my voice hoarse with panic. “Xander, no!”
Jenna laughed, a high, manic sound that filled the room like a ghost. “He’s dead now, Rose. Just like Jacob!” she howled, her face
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twisted with grief–fueled madness.
The policemen who had been loitering outside burst into the store, their hands on their guns, ready to subdue the situation. Within moments, they had Jenna pinned to the floor, her body writhing in frustration as she screamed at them, cursing me, cursing everything.
I dropped to my knees beside Xander, my hands trembling as I tried to stop the blood pouring from his side.
“Xander, stay with me, please,” I begged, tears blurring my vision. “Don’t leave me.”
Xander smiled weakly, even as blood
continued to stain his shirt. His hand reached out, brushing my cheek. “I’d do it again,
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Rose,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just like you saved me twenty years ago. I’d do anything for you.”
I shook my head, unable to process the depth of his words. “Why? Why would you risk your life for me? After everything…?”
“Because,” he said, his eyes holding a softness I hadn’t seen in years, “I love you, Rose. Always have.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I leaned in, pressing my forehead against his. “I love you too, Xander. I don’t want to lose you.”
The paramedics arrived soon after, rushing in with equipment. They moved quickly, taking Xander away on a stretcher, and I followed them, my legs feeling like lead.
At the hospital, I paced outside the ER,
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unable to sit still. My heart was pounding in my chest, and every minute felt like an
eternity. It was all happening too fast. First Jacob, then Xander. I couldn’t lose him, too. I couldn’t bear it.
My parents and Liam arrived, their faces filled with concern. They rushed to me, enveloping me in tight, comforting hugs. My mother’s voice was shaky as she pulled me close.
“Rose, we’re so sorry. We should’ve come sooner,” she said, her words tinged with regret. “Xander.told us he had everything under control, but we should’ve been here for you.”
I nodded numbly, not trusting myself to speak. My emotions were a tangled mess. I
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was too scared to process everything. Xander had been injured–stabbed for me and I couldn’t even begin to think about what that
meant.
A doctor came out a few minutes later, his expression grim. “He lost a lot of blood,” he said, looking from my parents to me. “We need to do a transfusion, or he won’t make it. It’s touch and go.”
Without hesitation, I stepped forward. “I‘ 11 donate,” I said firmly, my voice trembling but determined. “I‘ ll do whatever it
takes.”
The doctor nodded, and a nurse led me to another room, where they prepared me for the transfusion. I sat there, my mind racing. I wasn’t sure how I was still standing, but I
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knew I couldn’t let Xander slip away. Not after everything.
Hours later, I woke up in a hospital bed, my body exhausted but alive. My parents were gone, but Liam was sitting beside me, his expression somber yet relieved.
“How is he?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
Liam gave me a small, reassuring smile.
“He’s stable now. He’s going to make it.”
I exhaled deeply, relief flooding my chest.
“Thank God.‘
As I stood and made my way to Xander‘ s room, my heart beat a little faster with each step. I paused at the door, taking a breath. before I entered. Xander was lying in the bed, pale but breathing steadily. A weak smile spread across his face when he saw me.
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“Hey,” he said softly, his voice strained but filled with warmth. “I knew you’d come.”
I rushed to his side, unable to stop the tears that fell as I took his hand. “I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you,” I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion. “I thought I might never see you again.”
Xander squeezed my hand, his smile widening despite the pain. “You‘ re here now, and that’s all that matters.‘
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“I want to be with you,” I said, my heart pouring out in the words. “I want to marry you. I want to spend forever with you, Xander. I don’t care about anything else. Just you.”
Tears welled up in his eyes, and he pulled me close, kissing me gently, his lips warm and reassuring against mine. “I love
you, Rose. I
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Chapter 20–A Wedding!
always have.”
Our kiss deepened, filled with promises of a future together. I didn’t care about the past anymore. All that mattered was the here and now. We had fought so hard for this moment, and we would keep fighting for every moment
to come.
Soon, my parents and Liam entered the room, their faces lighting up with joy as they saw us together. “A wedding to plan!” my mother exclaimed, beaming at the two of us.
I smiled through my tears, my heart full.
“Yes. A wedding.”
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