Chapter 18
Rose walked away; Victoria's venomous words followed, infuriating Alexander.
"Mother, please stop," Alexander intervened, his tone firm but laced with irritation.
But Victoria continued, her malice unchecked. "She's a manipulative, selfish woman who only cares about herself."
Alexander's patience snapped. "We've signed the divorce agreement, Mother. She'll soon be out of our lives. Let her be."
Victoria's eyes sparkled with malice. "Ah, then this is a celebration! We should party, considering the unwanted daughter-in-law will soon be out of our lives."
Alexander's anger boiled over. "There's nothing to celebrate, Mother. And I won't join in your twisted jubilation."
His voice rose. "I have urgent work to attend to. I'll leave you to your... celebration."
With that, Alexander stormed out of Bellavista, his anger and frustration simmering.
Outside, he scanned the area, searching for Rose, but she was gone.
Alexander's anger shifted to self-directed frustration. Why had he let his family's toxicity get to him?
He should have stood up for Rose, or at least apologized for his family's behavior.
Regret and annoyance swirled within him as he walked away from Bellavista, leaving the toxic atmosphere behind.
"Why does it always have to end like this?" Alexander thought, his mind reeling with frustration and regret.
"Again, my family has hurt Rose. Again, I've stood by and done nothing."
He couldn't shake off the memory of Rose's painful expression as his mother's words cut her down.
"Why can't Mother accept her?" Alexander wondered. "Why does she have to be so cruel?"
The thought of his mother's celebration sickened him. "She wants to rejoice because Rose will soon be out of our lives? What kind of person does that?"
Alexander's mind struggled to comprehend his family's dynamics. "Is this what we've become? A family that revels in hurting others?"
He felt trapped, powerless to stop his family's toxic behavior. "I've failed Rose once again. I've failed to protect her."
Alexander's thoughts swirled with self-doubt and anger. "Why did I let this happen? Why did I let my family's poison consume us?"
He remembered the love he once shared with Rose, now tainted by his family's malice. "We were happy once. Before Mother's interference, before..."
Alexander's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "I should have fought harder for us. For Rose."
The weight of his regret settled heavy on his shoulders. "Now it's too late. Rose has moved on. And I'm left with the guilt of what my family has done."
They settled into the car, and Chris's anger boiled over. "Rose, I'm so sorry you had to endure that. Alexander's family is despicable. How could they treat you like that?"
Rose's eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling. "I've been dealing with their cruelty for years, Chris. It's exhausting."
Chris's face darkened. "Unbelievable. They're heartless, every single one of them. And Alexander...he's something else entirely."
His voice rose in indignation. "Why did he never take your side? Why did he let them walk all over you?"
Rose's shoulders sagged, her words barely above a whisper. "He's trapped, Chris. Trapped in his own family's web of toxicity. He doesn't know how to escape."
Chris's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "That's no excuse. He should have fought for you, for your love. Instead, he let them destroy it."
Rose's tears spilled over, her body shaking with sobs. "I thought he loved me, Chris. I thought we had something real."
Chris's expression softened, his voice gentle. "You deserve so much better, Rose. Someone who'll stand up for you, fight for you."
He reached out, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm here for you, Rose. I'll always be here."
As Chris held her, Rose's sobs gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of gratitude. "Thank you, Chris. Just being with you makes me feel safe."
Chris's hold tightened. "You are safe with me, Rose. Always."
Rose pulled back, wiping away her tears. "You know what, Chris? I'm done. I'm finally free from them and their toxic grip."
Her voice gained strength. "I don't care about Alexander or his family anymore. They can't hurt me anymore."
Chris's eyes sparkled with approval. "That's the spirit, Rose. You deserve to be free from all that negativity."
Rose's smile grew, a sense of liberation washing over her. "I feel like I can breathe again, like I've shed a weight I've carried for far too long."
