Six: Rage.

CHAPTER SIX:

The shocked expression on Jasper’s face gave her a tiny bit of satisfaction, however, she’d just put herself in a very awkward position.

“Roseanne, are you drunk?” Kai’s deep voice boomed through the speakers.

How did he even know it was her? She’d only saved his contact on her phone earlier but she hadn't called until now.

She brushed the thought aside and resumed her act. “Of course,” she giggled. “I’ve just told him about the divorce. We can finally be together. I’ll tell you everything, just please, come pick me up. Please!” 

She said the last word with every bit of urgency, hoping Kai would read her cry for help as she abruptly ended the call, facing a red-faced Jasper.

“You were cheating on me.” He didn't ask, he accused and if eyes could kill, Rose would have been six feet under by now.

“You pretended to be a dutiful and loyal wife, you acted like you were in love with me and yet, you had an affair?!” He bellowed, body trembling with pure rage.

Rose subtly took a step back, he'd slapped her earlier, there was no telling what he could do to her now that he was visibly enraged.

“I think it’s hilarious that you're this angry over something you're equally guilty of,” she stated calmly, relishing her small victory.

Jasper let out a humorless, angry laugh. “You think cheating on me is hilarious?”

She shrugged. “I mean, that's not what I said but if you think it is, then that's on you.” 

His hands were around her throat in the blink of an eye. He squeezed hard, stealing the air from her lungs as she scratched and pulled at his strong hands.

“You’re a shameless pathetic slut!” He barked in her face, sprinkles of saliva hitting her skin. “How dare you cheat on me? How dare you?!”

Rose was in a state of panic, she fought and struggled but to no avail. Her heart frantically tried to pound its way out of her chest as tears sprang to her eyes.

“S-s… stop. Y-you’re hurting me,” she managed.

But Jasper was past reasoning now. His eyes were wild and red, his nostrils flaring. He looked like he was out for blood.

Her blood.

Rose couldn't die here. Not like this. Not at the hands of this traitorous bastard.

She dug her nails into his skin, dragging it with as much strength as she could muster, and in their wake was pink exposed flesh and little bubbles of blood. 

But that didn't stop Jasper. He squeezed tighter, his veins bulging as he called her every derogatory name under the sun.

Her eyes were slipping shut, and her heartbeat began slowing down. 

But then—

“Jasper! Stop!” His father’s voice suddenly warned. “Stop right this instant! You'll not ruin your life for some worthless woman!!!” 

Rose had never been this happy to see her in-laws walk into a room.

His mother inched closer. “Son, please, listen to your father. This girl isn't worth it. She's nothing but a jinx to this family. Let her go.”

Several beats passed and slowly, his hands fell from her neck.

Rose tumbled over, coughing and gasping for breath, her eyes watering up again. Her throat hurt and her chest burned as she sucked in huge gulps of air.

She collapsed to the floor as she watched Elaine hug her son tightly, while Lillian rubbed his back, staring daggers at Rose. 

John Thompson walked over to where she sat on the floor gasping for breath and stared for a second too long. And then, he spoke. “What did you do to my son? What did you do to make him so angry that he'd behave this way?”

Wait. What?! 

Rose was dumbfounded. 

She wasn't even sure why she was surprised at this point. The Thompsons had always spoiled Jasper rotten. But Jasper had almost killed her, yet somehow… it was her fault.

She stood up, holding herself up on her trembling legs, her head felt light. “I’m not—”

A maid rushed in, fear etched on her face. “I’m so sorry. I tried to stop him, I swear I did!”

Before anyone could comprehend what the maid was rambling on about, ‘he’  walked in.

Dressed impeccably in a dark grey suit that seemed to have been made for his body, the black dress shirt he'd worn beneath it had three undone buttons, revealing an impressive chest and a glinting gold chain. 

“Kaiser?” John Thompson said, shocked. 

Elaine and Jasper froze in place but the shock on their faces was clear as day. 

Rose almost cried tears of joy. 

He came! He really came! 

“W-what are you doing in my house?!” John barked as his shock wore off. “Get the hell out of my house!”

Kai’s expression remained unreadable but his eyes were on Rose as he spoke. “Trust me, it disgusts me to be standing here and in the presence of the likes of you. However, I’m here to take home what's mine.”

“No way… no fricking way,” Jasper laughed maniacally as it all made sense to him. He shoved his mother a little and turned to Rose. “Don’t tell me he's the one. You fucked my cousin?” 

The gasps in the room were like music to Rose’s ears. 

She smiled cheekily but said nothing. 

The small gesture made Jasper even more furious. 

He turned around to his cousin. “Over my dead body will I allow you to take my wife from this house.”