Chapter 7 – The Boy From The
Past
ROSE
“This isn’t a pity party or a game, Rose, just stop being angry and listen to me,” Xander said.
His eyes were filled with a silent plea and reluctantly I sighed and stared at him.
“Fine! You want me to listen to you? Then tell me how you know all these things,” I said.
Xander shrugged, “It may sound weird but I’ve been keeping tabs on you and Jacob.”
I leaned back in my chair, my mind spinning from Xander‘ s revelation. “You‘ ve been
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keeping tabs on us? Why?”
Xander‘ s expression softened, his usual confidence replaced by something that felt… vulnerable. “Because I couldn’t stay
away,” he admitted, his voice quieter than before.
“That’s not an answer,” I said sharply. “Why were you watching me? What could you possibly gain from that?”
He hesitated for a moment, then sighed, leaning forward. “I wasn‘ t watching you to gain anything, Rose. I was looking after you. I’ve been doing it for years.”
My brows furrowed as confusion washed over me. “Looking after me? What does that even mean?”
Xander rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly
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looking less composed. “Do you remember twenty years ago? A small boy, a car accident, and a little girl who didn’t think twice about risking her life to save him?”
The memory hit me like a wave. Flashes of that day surfaced in my mind–the screeching tires, the boy‘ s terrified face, and the pain I felt after dragging him to safety. My heart raced as I stared at him. “That was you?”
He nodded. “I was seven years old, and you were the brave little girl who pulled me out of the street just before that car hit me. You saved my life, Rose.”
I blinked, speechless. “But… how?”
“I never forgot you,” he said simply. “After the accident, my family moved away, but I always remembered the girl who saved me. I
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searched for you for years. When I finally found you, you were with Jacob.”
His words left me stunned. “You… you‘ ve been watching me all this time?”
“Yes,” he said, his voice steady. “At first, I thought it was enough to know you were happy. But then I saw what Jacob did to you, and I couldn’t just stand by anymore.”
I shook my head, still trying to process everything. “This doesn’t make sense. If what you’re saying is true, why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
“Because I wanted you to be happy,” he said, his gaze unwavering. “Even if it wasn‘ t with me.”
I let out a bitter laugh, my emotions threatening to boil over. “And you thought
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letting me marry a man like Jacob would make me happy?”
“I didn’t know what kind of man he was back then,” Xander admitted. “But when I found out, I tried to stay out of it, thinking you’d see him for who he really is. When you left him, I knew I couldn’t stay silent anymore.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken feelings. I stared at him, searching his face for any hint of deceit. “Prove it,” I said finally. “Prove you‘ re that boy.”
Without a word, Xander rolled up his sleeve, revealing a small scar on his forearm. “I got this when I fell onto the pavement during the accident. You probably don‘ t remember, but you pulled me so hard we both went
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tumbling.”
I stared at the scar, my heart pounding. Slowly, I lifted my own sleeve to reveal a matching scar on my arm. “I got this when I hit the ground trying to pull you back,” I said quietly.
His eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw something raw and unguarded in them. “You saved me, Rose. And I swore that day I’d always protect you. I failed when I let Jacob into your life, but I’m here now. Let me help you.”
I shook my head; overwhelmed. “This is too much. I don‘ t even know what to think.”
“Think about this,” Xander said, his tone steady once more. “Jacob chose Jenna over you, but he doesn’t even realize what he’s
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lost. And Jenna? She’s a fraud, Rose. I have proof.”
I frowned. “What proof?”
“Let’s just say she’s not as perfect as she pretends to be,” he said cryptically. “But the details can wait. What matters is that we can show Jacob exactly what he’s been missing- and expose Jenna for who she really is.”
