Two: Party Announcement.

CHAPTER TWO:

“Have sex with me.”

Those words shocked Rose as much as they shocked Jasper. 

Why had she requested that? She had no idea.

Perhaps it was desperation? Or was she truly jealous of Lillian? 

“You can’t be serious,” he laughed.

The mockery in his tone made her feel small and stupid. She probably shouldn't have asked that. 

But she couldn't back down now. 

“I’m serious, Jasper,” she said firmly. “We haven't had sex in over a year…” 

His eyes narrowed. “Sometimes, I think I know you all too well but then I realize I don't. Weren’t you the one who needed a break from sex and now you’re demanding it?”

Alright. That was not really true. 

She hadn't outrightly asked for a ‘break from sex.’  After she lost the ninth pregnancy last year, she’d been depressed, tired, and on the verge of losing her sanity. 

So naturally, their sexual encounters declined. 

But Rose couldn't understand why he seemed upset, shouldn't he be happy that she was ready now? 

She took a deep breath. “Why are you being so weird about this? I’m in a better state of mind now and I want to have sex with my husband. What’s wrong with that? Or don’t you want to have sex ever again?” 

Surely, he missed sex? 

A look crossed his face. One she couldn't decipher.

“Fine, we’ll have sex,” he said gruffly. “And what’s your second condition?”

Her expression remained calm. “You and Lillian will move to her room. She doesn't have to move into our bedroom since it will only be a temporary arrangement.”

Rose saw the exact moment her husband’s eyes hardened with anger, the way the muscle around his jaw flexed.

“Unfuckingbelievable!” He snapped, charging towards Rose like a bull who’d just sighted a red flag. 

She stumbled back, eyes wide, caught off guard by her husband’s sudden rage. 

“Who do you think you are?!” His thunderous outburst made her heart pound erratically.

Why was he so angry? 

“What did I do wrong?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I didn't stop you from looking after her at night, I merely made a sensible suggestion.” 

“Sensible suggest—”

“Rose, Jasper. Hey!" 

Lillian’s overly sweet and excited voice had the couple turning toward where she stood at the top of the stairs. 

Jasper instinctively created a distance between himself and Rose, his face lighting up immediately. 

“Lilly,” Rose greeted, with an awkward smile. 

If Lillian had noticed the earlier tension between them, she didn't show it. She descended the stairs, a bright smile on her face. 

“What are you two lovebirds doing?” Her smile remained intact. “I thought we all made plans to rewatch ‘Mean Girls' this evening? You know it’s my favorite.” 

Jasper gently took Lillian's hand in his. “Of course, Lil. I haven't forgotten about it. I’ve made preparations.”

 The smile on his face could have powered an entire street, but it was the fondness in his eyes that drove the dagger deeper into Rose’s heart. 

She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt that fondness directed at her. Last year? Two years ago? 

“You’re the best, J. Rose is so lucky to have such a caring and thoughtful husband like you, I’m almost jealous,” she laughed and he joined in like that was the funniest thing ever. 

Rose cleared her throat, drawing their attention. “So, Jasper told me about your complaints. I'm sorry, I didn't know you felt lonely at night.”

“Nonsense,” Lillian replied. “You don't have to apologize. And I’ll understand if you decline my request to spend the night in your bedroom. I’ll manage even though I feel really alone at night.” 

She rubbed her belly—since it was barely four months, there was hardly a bump. “You know, pregnancy hormones suck.” 

Her words undoubtedly made Rose uncomfortable and guilty which was honestly what Lillian had been aiming for. 

She knew Rose loved her and she was too kind for her own good.

“I’ve already agreed,” Rose murmured, her eyes fixed on her toes. “You don't have to spend nights alone anymore.” 

Jasper scoffed. “Don’t think I will move into her room, you're the one who should move out.”

Rose’s eyes snapped up to his. “No.” 

She knew she was asking for trouble, but she wanted this ONE win for herself. 

“What did you just say?”

“I won’t allow it.” 

“What is wrong with you today?” He snarled. “Why have you changed so much?!” 

Because of you. 

Rose wished she could say those words. “I am not asking for too much,” she said instead. 

“Do you really have to be so unreasonable and difficult?!” 

“J, please. Calm down,” Lillian cut in, her hand rubbing Jasper’s chest. “You don't have to fight because of me, it’s uncomfortable.”

Rose’s eyes were fixed on Lillian’s hand. Long, pink manicured fingers caressed her husband’s chest, they slowly crept up, cupping his face. Even worse, Jasper sighed softly and looked down at her so… tenderly. 

“Let’s both share my room,” Lillian said softly. “What matters is that I have you with me at night.”

“Why only at night?” Jasper frowned. “You can have me all day, Lil. It’s what you deserve.” 

Those words? They knocked the wind out of Rose.

She couldn't even pretend she wasn't jealous and hurt anymore. She stormed out of the living room, hot tears burning her eyes, and a lump of emotions lodged in her throat. 

~  ~   ~ 

Rose didn't join them for the stupid movie date as planned. She couldn't sit through an hour plus of what looked like another round of disrespect and pain.

It had crossed her mind once that Lillian and Jasper may have developed feelings for each other during these past few months but she brushed it aside, not wanting to entertain such thoughts. 

She believed Lillian wouldn’t do that and Jasper—even though he was being an asshole these days—would never betray her like that. 

She hated how much resentment she had for her best friend who’d been there for her since high school. 

Sure, Rose and Jasper were friends first as both of their parents were best friends who decided their children were besties from birth and would get married one day. But the bond she had with Lillian was different and special. 

But recently, that bond felt nonexistent. 

Exhausted from overthinking everything, Rose decided to fix herself a quick dinner as she had gone the whole day without food. 

Unfortunately for her, the last person she needed to see after the painful encounter earlier was her mother-in-law, Elaine.

The older woman barely acknowledged Rose as she walked in. She was focused on making orange juice. 

Rose smiled at her mother-in-law. “Hello, Elaine.” 

Her greeting was met with silence.

Good thing she’d grown used to it. 

She’d just taken out a leftover baked chicken from the refrigerator when Elaine finally spoke to her. 

“Get me ice cubes,” She ordered. 

Rose obeyed, not wanting trouble. Elaine could be brutally mean to her when she was upset.

Who would have thought a day would come where she would have to tiptoe around the woman who took her in and raised her after her parents tragically died when she was only twelve? 

“Here you go.” She placed the cubes on the island next to the jar of organic juice. 

“It’ll be better if you're not there tomorrow,” Elaine said casually, carefully placing ice cubes into the jar. 

Rose laughed awkwardly. “I don't understand.” 

Elaine turned to her. “Didn’t Jasper inform you?”

“Inform me of what?” She asked, confused.

She  stared at Rose like she was a bug under her feet. And then she scoffed. “I guess he didn't think it was necessary.”

“We’ll be hosting a party in Lillian’s honor, tomorrow.” 

A shocked gasp escaped her lips. “A… a party?” 

“Yes, a party,” Elaine smiled cruelly. “She made it past the first trimester of her pregnancy unlike a certain someone.” 

~  ~   ~ 

She looked at her face in the bathroom mirror and sighed. “I look like shit.”

And she did. 

Her curly, blonde hair was a mess, her eyes were puffy and bloodshot red, from crying the whole night, and barely gotten any sleep. Her head hurt so bad that it even hurt to blink her eyes. 

Rose wished she hadn’t let Elaine’s words get to her but she was only human. A lonely one who wished she had her mother and father to run to. 

“You’ll be fine,” she said to her reflection, a weak smile on her lips. “You just have to endure until—”

KNOCK! KNOCK! 

The pounding on her bedroom door made her pause.

“Hold on a sec!” She called out, tightly securing her towel around her chest.

She unlocked the door and pulled it open, thinking Jasper was the one on the other end of the door.

Her smile fell as Elaine’s face came into view. 

“It’s past one pm and you’re still locked up in your bedroom?” Elaine yelled. 

Rose froze. She hadn't known it was one pm, she’d only finally fallen asleep around nine am.

Still, her mother-in-law had no business monitoring her like this. She stood straighter. “Is something wrong, Elaine?” 

Elaine scoffed. “While my son works himself to the bone to fund your expensive lifestyle, what do you do? Lie in bed all day?”

“I was unwell and woke up late, you don't have to be so angry,” Rose replied. “And you of all people know I work from home because Jasper insisted on that.”

“Same old excuses,” She sneered. “You’re just a useless leech!”

Rose gave a faint smile. “Is there something you need me to do for you?”

Elaine only ever spoke to her when she wanted to hurt her with words or send her on an errand.

The older woman huffed.  “The party starts at four and Lillian’s dress was sent out this morning for adjustments, I need you to pick it up.”

Rose’s smile remained intact even though her heart was bleeding. “Is that all?”

“The pantry is almost empty, I forwarded the list to you. And oh, I wanted to bake a separate cake and some of Lillian’s favorite cookies, so get the ingredients.” 

“The maids can do that,” Rose said. Her voice was hollow even to her own ears. 

Elaine’s face twisted with anger. “Yes, but I want you to do it! You don’t have a say in this house, don’t you understand that by now?” Her voice cracked with rage. “When I give you an order, you follow it. No complaints. Jasper lets you live in luxury even though you don't deserve it, the least you could do is be grateful and do whatever you're told!”

Rose looked away from Elaine, biting her lower lip to keep the pain in her heart from spilling out. She was also holding back from snapping at Elaine. 

Rose watched silently as the older woman retreated down the hallway until she was no longer in sight. 

She closed her door, collapsing against it as she let out the breath she’d been holding.

She blinked back tears as Elaine’s words replayed in her head. It was strange that Elaine kept speaking as though Rose were a liability. 

A&T Holdings Group wasn't just Jasper’s it was hers too. Her parents and his parents had built the company together from scratch. She had every right to it. She handled sixty-five percent of the paperwork because Jasper sort of hated being a businessman since his true passion was to play hockey professionally. She contributed to half of its success, by keeping up with trends and creating a safe space for clients. 

So why had Elaine said that to her? 

What were they up to? 

Rose hoped she wasn’t overthinking any of this.