When Rosalind saw those bite marks, she felt jealousy and envy for the first time in her life. As someone with experience, she knew exactly what they meant. And it must have been intense.
Rosalind felt as if her heart had been torn open, wind rushing in so fiercely that she didn’t know how to react. When her rationality slowly returned, she pulled her hand back as if electrocuted and quickly distanced herself from Ulric’s bed.
How could she forget… He was a married man! It was normal for him to sleep with his wife. Even if he hadn’t moved on from her, did that give her the right to overstep boundaries?
What was she doing now? Breaking into another woman’s husband’s home, touching another woman’s husband!
Rosalind quickly turned to leave but suddenly heard Ulric stir behind her, his voice faint.
“Rosalind…”
He was calling her name. But Rosalind couldn’t stay any longer. She immediately left the bedroom and fled Easthaven Bay like she was escaping.
On the way back to the hotel, she couldn’t stop thinking about the bite marks on Ulric’s shoulder. It felt like someone was choking her, making it almost impossible to breathe. Her heart ached so much that she needed to take deep breaths just to survive.
But… he had removed his tattoo and now had a new woman by his side. Wasn’t this what she wanted? For him to forget about her and move on-hadn’t she told him that?
What right did she have to be in pain now!
…
Rosalind didn’t even know how she got back to the hotel, moving like a zombie. Malcolm, who hadn’t slept, heard footsteps and immediately opened the door, seeing her desolate state.
“Rosalind… what happened to you?”
Rosalind looked up, her eyes red from crying, causing Malcolm’s heart to ache.
“Malcolm, he… he has a new life.”
“What did you see?” Malcolm quickly went over to support her trembling body.
“He has a new life. I should be happy for him, right?”
Malcolm pressed his lips together. “What exactly did you see?”
“Just tell me, right or wrong! Shouldn’t I be happy for him instead of feeling this pain!”
She had already said enough for Malcolm to guess what happened. “You saw him with another woman?”
Rosalind lowered her head. “They must be very loving.”
“Sigh! Rosalind, he’s just a man; he needs someone by his side.” Malcolm didn’t know how to continue comforting her because he too suffered from similar feelings day and night.
Rosalind’s sadness and tears-how were they any different from his own?
“I’m fine. I’ll be okay after some sleep.” Rosalind opened her room door and was about to go in.
Malcolm couldn’t let her go just like that; afraid she’d do something foolish, he held onto her.
“Rosalind, do you want a drink?”
“…”
“There’s a restaurant in Northville City that’s really good! We’ve been busy all day; I haven’t eaten and I’m starving. Come eat with me!”
Rosalind had no appetite but lowered her lashes. “Malcolm, I-”
“I’m begging you! Come with me!” Malcolm smiled. “Isn’t there a saying? There’s nothing a good meal can’t fix; if there is, then two meals will!”