Chapter 14
The car pulled up to the estate gates, and for a moment, I just sat there.
The place hadn’t changed on the outside–it was still the grand, sprawling estate that once felt too distant, too cold. But as the gates opened, something stirred inside me. Something I didn’t want to name. I stepped out, the crunch of gravel under my heels grounding me. Alice and the rest of our project team had already agreed I could work remotely most days, only coming to the office when needed. So technically, this wasn’t a farewell. But emotionally… it felt like a beginning I never thought I’d write into my story.
When I entered the mansion, I froze.
It wasn’t the same.
The coldness I once felt inside these walls? Gone. The interior was warmer–soft creams and honey tones replaced the stark whites. Curtains I never noticed before now framed the windows like gentle whispers. There were fresh flowers on the grand table in the foyer. Painting’s had been changed, lights dimmed softly. There was a quiet hum of life here now, like it was finally a home.
“Do you like it?”
I turned.
Rozen stood near the staircase, dressed in a simple black sweater and slacks. No suit. No armor. Just… Rozen.
“You changed everything,” I whispered.
He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I thought… maybe it’s time.”
I opened my mouth to ask, but before I could, he said, “Mina used to love everything pristine, sterile. She designed most of this place with her tastes. I didn’t have the heart to change it before.”
I stiffened. The name–Mina. The woman in the photo. The one I thought still lived inside his heart.
“She was your fiancée.
He gave a small nod. “Childhood friend. We grew up together. Everyone thought we were meant to end up together… including me. Until she fell in love with someone else. Cheated. Left. No goodbye, no explanation. Just a ring on the table and silence.”
I didn’t realize how tightly I was holding my bag until my fingers started to ache. “I’m sorry.” He met my gaze. “Don’t be. I couldn’t move on for years. I convinced myself love was just… illusion. But then you came in.”
I looked away, the words sitting too heavy in my chest.
“And the vase…” he continued, “That belonged to her. I kept it like an idiot. Like holding onto something long gone would make it come back. That night, when you broke it–I was angry, not because it broke, but because I realized I should’ve thrown it away long ago. You didn’t ruin anything, Jasmine. You freed me.”
Chapter 13
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My eyes watered, unexpectedly. “I never meant to-”
He stepped closer, his hand brushing mine. “Don’t apologize. That’s not what matters anymore.”
My breath hitched.
“What matters,” he said, voice rough, “is that you’re here now. That somehow, after everything, we found each other. And I’m not going to let you go.”
He kissed me.
Soft at first. Gentle. A confession.
But then I kissed him back–and something between us snapped.
His arms wrapped around my waist as mine tangled around his neck. We stumbled through the hallway, into the bedroom, leaving no space between us. Every touch was desperate, every kiss a promise–one we hadn’t dared to say out loud until now.
His fingers slid under my blouse, tracing the curve of my waist, igniting sparks under my skin. I gasped when his lips found the hollow of my throat.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispered.
I didn’t.
I couldn’t. ~
Instead, I pulled him down to me.
And everything after that was fire–burning away doubt, distance, fear. His mouth against my skin, his hands worshiping every inch like I was something precious. And for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to feel it–to want, to need, to love.
When it was over, we laid there–limbs tangled, hearts bare.
His hand ran up and down my arm slowly, anchoring me.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
We were silent for a while. Just breathing. Just being.
Then, I turned to him. “So… I get to redecorate everything?”
He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Everything. You’re the wife now, remember?”
I smiled, but something in me still hesitated.
“Rozen..”
“Hmm?”
“I’m scared,” I admitted.
He shifted, eyes locking on mine. “Of what?”
“Of this. Of feeling like this. I don’t want to get hurt again. I don’t know if I can take it.”
He didn’t flinch. Instead, he pulled me close again, forehead to forehead.
“I know the feeling. I’ve been scared too. I built walls thinking they’d protect me… but you
My Husband is a Fake One
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Chapter 14
The car pulled up to the estate gates, and for a moment, I just sat there.
The place hadn’t changed on the outside–it was still the grand, sprawling estate that once felt too distant, too cold. But as the gates opened, something stirred inside me. Something I didn’t want to name. I stepped out, the crunch of gravel under my heels grounding me.
Alice and the rest of our project team had already agreed I could work remotely most days, only coming to the office when needed. So technically, this wasn’t a farewell. But emotionally… it felt like a beginning I never thought I’d write into my story.
When I entered the mansion, I froze.
It wasn’t the same.
The coldness I once felt inside these walls? Gone. The interior was warmer–soft creams and honey tones replaced the stark whites. Curtains I never noticed before now framed the windows like gentle whispers. There were fresh flowers on the grand table in the foyer. Paintings had been changed, lights dimmed softly. There was a quiet hum of life here now, like it was finally a home.
“Do you like it?”
I turned.
Rozen stood near the staircase, dressed in a simple black sweater and slacks. No suit. No armor. Just… Rozen.
“You changed everything,” I whispered.
He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I thought… maybe it’s time.”
I opened my mouth to ask, but before I could, he said, “Mina used to love everything pristine, sterile. She designed most of this place with her tastes. I didn’t have the heart to change it before.”
I stiffened. The name–Mina. The woman in the photo. The one I thought still lived inside his heart.
“She was your fiancée.”
He gave a small nod. “Childhood friend. We grew up together. Everyone thought we were meant to end up together… including me. Until she fell in love with someone else. Cheated. Left. No goodbye, no explanation. Just a ring on the table and silence.”
I didn’t realize how tightly I was holding my bag until my fingers started to ache. “I’m sorry.” He met my gaze. “Don’t be. I couldn’t move on for years. I convinced myself love was just… illusion. But then you came in.”
I looked away, the words sitting too heavy in my chest.
“And the vase…” he continued, “That belonged to her. I kept it like an idiot. Like holding onto something long gone would make it come back. That night, when you broke it–I was angry, not because it broke, but because I realized I should’ve thrown it away long ago. You didn’t ruin anything, Jasmine. You freed me.”
Munun unterad navnactedly “I mov
Chapter 14
”
19:26 Fri, 18 Apr
“What matters,” he said, voice rough, “is that you’re here now. That somehow, after everything, we found each other. And I’m not going to let you go.”
He kissed me,
Soft at first, Gentle, A confession.
But then I kissed him back–and something between us snapped,
His arms wrapped around my waist as mine tangled around his neck. We stumbled through the hallway, into the bedroom, leaving no space between us. Every touch was desperate, every kiss a promise–one we hadn’t dared to say out loud until now.
His fingers slid under my blouse, tracing the curve of my waist, igniting sparks under my skin, I gasped when his lips found the hollow of my throat.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispered,
I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
Instead, I pulled him down to me.
And everything after that was fire–burning away doubt, distance, fear. His mouth against my skin, his hands worshiping every inch like I was something precious. And for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to feel it–to want, to need, to love.
When it was over, we laid there–limbs tangled, hearts bare.
His hand ran up and down my arm slowly, anchoring me.
“You okay?” he asked softly,
I nodded. “Yeah,”
We were silent for a while. Just breathing. Just being.
Then, I turned to him. “So… I get to redecorate everything?”
He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Everything. You’re the wife now, remember?”
I smiled, but something in me still hesitated.
“Rozen…”
“Hmm?”
“I’m scared,” I admitted.
He shifted, eyes locking on mine. “Of what?”
“Of this. Of feeling like this. I don’t want to get hurt again. I don’t know if I can take it.”
He didn’t flinch. Instead, he pulled me close again, forehead to forehead.
“I know the feeling. I’ve been scared too. I built walls thinking they’d protect me… but you
broke through anyway. I don’t want anyone else, Jasmine. Just you. I know I was a bastard before, but if you let me–if you stay–I’ll prove to you that this is real.”
His voice cracked at the end, and my heart did, too.
I didn’t answer with words.
Chapter 14
