Page 335 of Hateful Games

“You should get a lawyer, it’s going to be a long court case,” he advises. “Even with all the evidence, your father will not be easily put behind bars. I hope you’re prepared.”

“I will be.”

Nova and I are alone once again. I gather my emotions at the revelation that despite my plea, he went ahead with his threat. The world might think it was nothing but a rumor, but the damage to my mom and sister is already done. It must be why neither are here yet.

“You did it,” I state, laughing humorlessly. “A day. That’s all I had asked for.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t listen, Rose.” He crosses the room to me but I pull away from his touch, unable to stand him in this moment. His arms fall to his sides. “I made a mistake I’m going to regret for the rest of my life. But please, give me a chance to fix it. Don’t be like me. I didn’t mean any of it. I love you. I could never not be in love with you. I’m begging you to forgive me.”

“Why should I forgive you, Nova?” My calm vanishes, anger and pain replacing it. “When you weren’t even willing to do the same. You threw me to the wolves. You didn’t believe me. I begged you for a chance. And you kicked me out. I made a mistake and came back to you, yet still you didn’t believe me. I wanted to die in the that fire.”

“And I would’ve followed you.” Turning my cheek toward him with a little pressure, he torturedly says, “You dare to sacrifice yourself for me again, you kill me first. I’ll never live in a world you aren’t part of. I fucked up badly. Punch me, kick me, hurt me… hate me, but never say that. I’ll take everything with a smile except you ever uttering you want to die.”

“I’m tired of it all, Nova. We’ve both made mistakes.” I push his hand down and steel my resolve. “And I do forgive you even though I don’t blame you for what happened. I love you so much…”

“I love you too, Rose.”

“But I can’t do this anymore.”

“No. No!” he shakes his head, a tear falling. “No. Don’t push me away now. We can get through this together.”

“Sometimes love isn’t enough. I can’t be with a man who doesn’t trust me. One forced to be with me. I would rather stay invisible than be seen and ignored. We only know how to hurt each other and bring our worst qualities out of one another.”

“You’re wrong. Don’t do this,” he pleads, panicking. “We’re stronger than this.”

“I am not. I pretend because the reality is, I was nothing but a puppet to every man in my life,” I whisper. “The people with the strongest shell on the surface have the most fragile of hearts, Nova. They have the shell to protect what’s inside so nobody sees how broken and rotten they really are.”

His hands cup my face again. “Then let me be your shell, Rose. Let me protect and cherish you. I’m not leaving your side as long as I’m alive, certainly not while you’re in a hospital. You’re mine, you love me. I’m not letting you go.”

“It’s not your choice. I need to be on my own for a while, become my own person without the shadows of my past hanging over my head. I just want to be Rosalie. If I stay with you, I’ll never be. I’m sorry, but please leave, Nova. We’re over.”

He doesn’t move.

I close my eyes and look away.

If I stare at him any longer, my resolve will crumble. He may not realize it but he needs to heal too. We can’t cling onto each other. He’s my scar, while I’m his.

Together, we’re infectious and poisonous.

I tremble when I feel the ghost of his lips on my forehead.

His soft breath teases my ear as he whispers, “I will respect your wishes, but we could never be over… You and I are forever, Rose.”

Chapter Eighty-seven

Rosalie

The next morning I’m sitting in the hospital bed with Bianca and Iris on either side of me when the door slams open, and in walks my mother. For the first time in my life, I see her not so put together. Her eyes are red and rimmed with dark circles, the color of her beautiful face pale.

“Oh my god, Rosa,” she runs to my side and gingerly touches my hand. Afraid of unintentionally hurting me.

Little does she know, I’m used to it.

Every night she wasn’t home when I was locked in my room.

Every time Dad cornered me in his office to berate and she pretended everything was peachy.

Every trip she took around the world while she neglected me.

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