"C-Come again?" she asked.
"I want to stay married," he repeated.
So, she didn't mishear it. It was just hard for her brain to process the thought that Jared was making this more complicated for her. She breathes in and out.
"Now why would you want to stay married?" She tries to be calm. "You know I have a boyfriend, right? I can't stay married to you!"
"I know but he doesn't need to know," he casually said.
Why is it so easy for him? she asked in her head, feeling her blood boiling in her veins. This guy clearly didn't think this through.
"I am not that kind of girl!" She completely broke composure. "I am going to divorce you no matter what happens! I'm sure we'll see each other in court!"
Rossie was about to open the car door but it was locked. She shifted her head and throw a glare at Jared, eyes burning. "Unlock it!" she orders him.
"You're not going to win the case," he softly said. "You can tell your boyfriend what happened. Unless you want to keep lying to him and make this more of a mess than it already is."
"It's not going to be a mess if you just agree!" she gritted her teeth. Arguing made their faces closer to each other. Then just out of nowhere, one corner of Jared's mouth curved up making her frown. "What are you smirking for?"
"You're honestly cute," he blurted. Immediately, she leaned back, eyes wide and her cheeks hot. That's when his chuckles were heard. "I am not divorcing you. You can file the petition but I'm telling you. You'll lose the case."
They didn't say any more words. Jared just dropped her at the block before theirs and she was surprised he could remember that she isn't supposed to be seen with him. The door unlocked and Rossie knew she was good to go. But before that, she needs to tell him something.
"My boyfriend is coming home," she softly said. "You should not come around anymore. You're not helping with the divorce anyway."
Without hearing Jared's response she left the car, slamming the door behind her. Now she's marching towards her wooden gate and inside their house. Her dad is awake and she came over to greet him.
"Morning," she greeted, her voice sounding so tired than usual. "What are you watching so early in the morning?"
"Reruns of my favorite show," her father answered. "You're a bit early today. How was work?"
"Good." She sighs and his father turned to her. Later on, she had to face him too. "What?"
"You seemed more tired than usual. Anything you want to tell your father?"
"Nah." She looks away. "Why don't you watch the live airing of the episode?"
"Your mother watches television all night. I have to give her the space she needs."
So there is just respect between them or it could still be love. Who knows? None of them ever really say anything or explained to Primrose and her what actually happened. No one dared to ask anyway. She can't be troubled right now. Her problem is getting out of hand.
Rossie stayed with her father watching that comedy show and she enjoyed sharing a couple of laughs with him. From working too hard, she barely has time for laughing-- all she does was fake it most of the time.
It was all joy until her mother came out of her door and gave them a stare. It was telling them that they were loud and she had woken up from that. Instantly, Danny turn off the television, display an apologetic smile at Rossie, and stood up.
"I'm going to help her do the morning so you better go get some rest," Danny stated and left her to follow his wife to the kitchen.
It appears to Rossie that her father actually still loves her mother. Or it could be that they got used to each other. Whatever it is, they're showing love without communicating. She wouldn't realize that if she wasn't troubled like this.
As she went to her room, her phone started vibrating. She took it out and saw it was Ellisa face timing her. She immediately slides to answer.
"I need some tea!" Ellisa sang so loud. It was a good thing that Rossie had already shut the door behind her. "I was hesitating to call you 'cause you might still be with your husband. But heck I couldn't bear the anticipation!"
"He didn't." Rossie sighed that stopped Elissa. Her best friend had a creased forehead which she knew the meaning was. "He didn't agree to the divorce. He's making it--"
"Wow!" Ellisa cuts her off. "He's my type of guy for you! Your husband is exactly what you need."
"Yeah, I obviously need him to sign the damn divorce paper!"
"B*tch chill! You haven't even filed one!"
"Which side are you on, Ell?" She couldn't help but roll her eyes. It's frustrating to hear your friend disagreeing with you.
"To where I think you'll be great with."
"And you think it's not Jake?"
"I never liked that guy for you!"
It's true. Ellisa would always disapprove of Jake for reasons she doesn't know. But... Jake has helped her a lot of times when she doesn't know where to go. Jake always sets her on the right path and there's no way she'd betray him... yet she did and that was a mistake-- her biggest mistake.
"Listen," she spoke softly, "I love Jake, Ell. There's no way I can leave him just because I married someone while I was drunk."
"And do you think he'd still stay with you when he finds out about this?"
The atmosphere suddenly changed in Rossie's room. It was like she was struck by lightning and someone is choking her right now. Even just the thought of Jake leaving her hurts her so much that she knows her eyes were starting to flood.
"I didn't mean it that way, Rose. But think about it." Ellisa softly said, her face softening. She knows her best friend has made sense. "We better fix it before he finds out about this."
Slowly, she moves her head up and down, agreeing with Ellisa. Why can't that guy just agree with her? There's a lot she has to do now. She needs a lawyer, someone she can trust so she can file the divorce.
"Do you know any lawyer who can handle my case?" she asked.
It took Ellisa a couple of minutes to shout, "Aunt Natalie is a lawyer!"
Aunt Natalie's office which is inside her house is creepy enough to make you want to stay out. It's a huge house, with a big-not-looked-for lawn filled with decaying leaves. It's just a big mystery to Rossie why the cemented pathway was the only one clear from the leaves. Not a single one on the pavement. With Ellisa by her side, Rossie feels a little secure, grabbing tight onto her best friend's arm. This wasn't cool at all. If she had known, she would have just looked for her own lawyer. The place seems really haunted."Now, listen," Ellisa faced her so suddenly, looking all too serious, "if she asks you something, you must tell her the truth. She hates it when she finds you lying.""What the hell would I lie for? She'll probably know before I could even say the lie."Ellisa stopped for a moment to think it through and then agrees with her. "Also, my aunt is actually a fan of marriage. She won't like this but she'll help you out.""Maybe we should just--"The creaking of the wooden
Rossie has been awake the whole morning. She couldn't shake the fact that Jake was coming home in a few hours. She was even invited by his parents to their place for his homecoming. That's how special Jake is to them.The family Vermond is well known to define elegance. They were very strict with the whole family of lawyers, generation to generation, and now, Jake. He is well a disappointment to his clan for being with somebody who works in customer service. In the past, Jake's parents wanted Rossie to pursue college and enroll in a law school but she didn't want to feel indebted. Also, being a lawyer wasn't her passion. She is still figuring out what she really wants to do at the age of 25. Most people would figure out what they want or that they're already set on a path but her? She's just a wandering ghost, lost in the present and struggling to know her own.A knocking on her door kept her out of her thoughts. She looks at the door and it opened before she could even say it was, r
Two days since Jake left the city again. After that shocking proposal he did, Rossie was a bit agitated with Primrose not telling her entirely. Of course, it wasn't her sister's fault and probably her sister just didn't want to ruin the surprise. What can she do? It was already there. She already said yes.What's worst is that the preparation for the wedding will be in three months' time. She has been given three months and most divorces she read about online take eleven months or so. It would at least take six months. She is doomed!"I really should've confessed to Jake," Rossie frustratingly groaned. She was back to work and on her lunch break like always, she is with Ellisa."Yeah, that jerk didn't invite me to the engagement. I'm not sure if I should support you in this." Right, Ellisa was still mad that she wasn't even invited. That she is my best friend yet she was never there to capture that moment. It was another reason for her to hate Jake even more"If I knew I would've inv
Although Jared didn't shout it out, he still made Rossie listen to him. She knows it is not a good thing to provoke someone like him and she knows she won't get another chance. It all depends on her being nice to him now since he has something that she needs.Rossie looks away, adjusting the pillow around her neck, and then hides half of her face with the plushie that he gave her. It can't be helped. "As long as you commit to your words about tomorrow then be it.""I don't say things I don't mean," he repeated the sense of what he said earlier.The ride was quiet and long that it had Rossie falling asleep again. The funny thing is that Jared never woke her up. They stayed parked at some vacant lot until she slowly moved, making her morning face that made him hide a smile. She even did some stretches, opening her eyes halfway."We've been here for quite a while now," he tells her. Looking at Rossie it seems like she was still making her way into the world. "You're asleep for about thre
"What does he do?" Rossie could not help the thrills in her fingertips."Well..." Lucas looks her in the eyes and the next thing he said killed her and Ellisa. "I don't actually know," he answers, scratching the side of his face. "I swear I am going to kill you!" Ellisa shouts, gaining some attention all over the pantry. Lucas was just laughing. "You sound like you knew everything and do us like that! Motherhooker!""Honestly, I don't know what he does but I do know he is someone you don't want to mess with," Lucas clarifies to them. "Also, congratulations on your engagement, Rossie."So, Lucas knows about them, she thought, well of course he does! And she knows about her engagement which means Jared must have known... yet he didn't say anything. It's impossible for him not to notice the big rock on her ring finger. "Thank you," she tells Lucas. "May I ask, how did you guys meet?""Well, he used to come to work in this company. Then he handled us for a while. He was so strict but I
Primrose was worried seeing her sister just got home. They never really see each other often and thank God she is free this morning. So, she wants to apologize to her sister for not fully telling her that Jake was planning to propose and for not telling her what she further knew.As a younger sister, she didn't have as much responsibility as her sister. All she needed to do was graduate and be good at school, unlike her sister who needed to work for them.They were a well-off family and they never struggle with money until one day when she was twelve when their families' tailoring business burned down, leaving nothing but damages and debt for them. The Vesmonds help them because Jake wanted to help but from then on, her sister kept downgrading herself and she has always been worried.Just as Rossie got inside her room, Prim decided to follow afterward, knocking on her sister's door. There wasn't any response so she just turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. Her sister was sitt
The next night, Rossie was picked up by Jared again. At first, she hesitated to tell him about what she and her sister talked about earlier but she ended up telling him. "I know it's ridiculous to meet my sister but she really wants to meet you," she reasoned. Ugh! This was embarrassing for her. "You don't have to agree though. I can just tell her you're really busy.""When can I meet her?" he asked. Instantly her eyes couldn't help but widen, jerking her face to see if he was serious. He looked serious. "Uhm... when are you free?""I'm free anytime."That doesn't sound right. The first few days they were talking to each other she remembers him saying that he was busy and had no time. Now, he is saying that he is free anytime. It made her scoff."My day off is on Thursday. Maybe you can give her a ride to school or something." Well her sister said she just wants to meet Jared. She never said anything bout getting to know her husband."Anything is good with me." Somehow Rossie think
Thursday. Primrose was waiting for Rossie and her husband to pick her up from school. Aside from Wednesdays and Saturdays, they really go home as early as two in the afternoon. Unless you are part of the group that's scheduled to clean the classroom or a junior high school then your class schedule is different.Waiting for them has her anxious, nibbling her lower lip continuously and playing with her fingers. She's dying to meet the man her sister married but at the same time, she feels like this was a bad idea. But before she could text her sister to cancel this meeting, a black car parked in front of her, stopping her from using her phone.Of course, she remembers this car! Her heart started pounding so loudly, especially when the door on the other side open revealing a man of good looks. He has eyes that can hypnotize, especially when the sun's light is reflected in them. When she thinks she can't be more into his aura, the man showed a charming smile, softening everything on his f