Four: Truth Reveal.

CHAPTER FOUR:

‘Yes, what about it?’

She couldn't recognize the woman whose eyes shone with hatred and contempt directed at her. 

Rose could handle public humiliation from her mother-in-law and cold treatment from her husband, but this? 

It felt like her heart had been brutally ripped from her chest. Her body shook as tears threatened to spill. 

“Why?” She managed. “Why did you do it? Why are you acting this way?” 

Lillian rolled her eyes and looked away, completely ignoring her.

God. How blind and foolish had she been? 

Rose had this strong, overwhelming urge to scream, to break things—she wanted to slap herself hard until her cheeks burned. 

But instead, she dug her nails into her flesh, grounding herself with every ounce of energy she had left. “Lillian, Jasper. I need to speak with you in private.” 

“Who are you to demand that?” Elaine jumped in. “And these guests are here for them, don’t ruin their moment.” 

Rose turned to her, her eyes filled with rage. “I’ll create a bigger scene than what you did earlier, I’ll break every table, plate, and wine bottle if I have to. So it’s in your best interest to do as I say.”

Lillian gasped dramatically as Jasper hissed. “Have you gone mad?” 

Elaine stared at Rose, eyes wide. 

“Go with her,” said John Thompson who had just walked in. “Jasper, make sure to put your wife in order before returning here.”

They’d barely made it into the guest room downstairs when Rose made her demands.

“Jasper, we have a lot to discuss but my priority right now is that Lillian leaves this house by tomorrow,” she said with a confidence she didn't feel at all. “As your wife, I have the right to demand that. It’s not like surrogates have to live with the baby’s parents.” 

“You must be out of your mind,” Jasper scoffed. 

“I’m dead serious.” She stood her ground, standing straighter even though she was crumbling on the inside. “It doesn't mean I don't care about her. I do. But I can no longer stand you two together.”

Lillian burst into a fit of laughter, startling Rose. She laughed so hard her eyes watered. 

“Lil, stop it," Jasper murmured, not taking his eyes off Rose as if, gauging her reaction. 

“No, it is this delusional bitch who needs to be stopped.” She laughed even harder. 

Rose’s brows arched. “I’m delusional and a bitch to you now, Lillian?”

“Yeah, because if anyone should leave, it should be you,” Lillian replied, all traces of humor gone from her face. 

“Alright, enough,” Jasper stepped in, grabbing Lillian’s arm. “No one’s leaving.”

She snatched her arm back. “No. I’m tired of pretending. I’m done!”

“Lil, don't do this.” 

Wait. Did Jasper sound like he was pleading? 

Dread pooled in Rose’s stomach, her lunch threatened to come back up. “Pretending? About what?” 

He turned to her. “None of your business. And we’re done here.” He reached for Lillian again and tried to drag her off with him but Rose blocked their path. 

“No. No one leaves here until I know what this is about.” 

“Don't let me use force on you, Rose,” he warned, his tone dangerously low. “Today might just be the first time I lay a finger on you if you push me.”

Rose was dumbfounded. “You’d hit me? Because of my best friend?”

“Ex-best friend,” Lillian declared. “I’m sick and tired of acting as if I like you.” 

“It’s fine. I'm more than happy to cut you off,” Rose lied, masking her pain. “But only after the baby arrives and you receive proper postpartum care, I promise, we’ll never cross paths ever again."

Lillian laughed. “What baby?”

“Lillian, stop!” Jasper barked. 

“Why are you still on her side?” She fired back. “Even now why are you trying to protect her? What does she have over you?”

He snapped. “Nothing!” 

Lillian approached Rose, only stopping when their toes were almost kissing. “You think the baby in my womb was made in the lab?” She mocked. “Do you truly think this is some science project? Wake up, dumb bitch. This isn't IVF with surrogate bullshit—this is me, carrying my baby! My own flesh and blood!”

Jasper muttered under his breath. “Fuck’s sake, Lil.”

The world spun around her, and she almost stumbled. 

Rose’s eyes kept darting from Lillian to Jasper. There was no denying what her mind already told her from the moment she saw the fitting necktie and dress. 

She whispered in dread. “Oh, no.” 

“Well, yes.” A taunting smile stretched Lillian’s pink, glossy lips. “I fucked your husband. And he got me pregnant.” 

“Christ,” Jasper groaned, pulling her to him. “Lillian, you're being unreasonable right now.”

“Fuck being reasonable,” she retorted, struggling against his hold. 

Rose shook her head, hot tears running down her cheeks as everything in her flipped upside down.  “No.” 

It couldn't be, Jasper promised to always love her.

“Why do you think Elaine’s throwing me a party?” 

“Okay, Lil. That's enough. Let’s go back to the party.” 

But Lillian wasn’t done. “This family has been so generous to keep a woman like you and yet, you walk around the house like a peacock, shoulders high when you’re incapable of giving them an heir.”

“How long?” Was all Rose could muster as she angrily wiped her tears. 

“I’m sorry, what?” Lillian laughed. 

“How long have you been stabbing me in the back?” Rose snapped. “How long have you hated me? Or better yet—how long have you been desperately whoring yourself to someone else’s husband?”