“Please, can you let me go first?” she pleaded.
Rosalind had never seen Ulric so domineering and uncompromising before, which made her somewhat afraid.
Eventually, Ulric heard the trembling in her voice and couldn’t bear to continue tormenting her. After clenching his teeth a few times, he suddenly embraced her tightly.
Both of them were covered in sweat, breathing heavily in the darkness. They could feel each other’s heartbeat.
It was like an unspoken agreement.
Rosalind didn’t say anything, and Ulric didn’t ask again.
But the answer had long been decided.
They lay in each other’s arms for a while before Rosalind tentatively asked in a soft voice, “Should… I draw you a bath?”
“Rosalind, what exactly are your concerns?”
He couldn’t understand, and he couldn’t think of anything else that her parents could use to threaten her.
“I promise I will protect Floyd and Jake. I’ll make sure nothing happens to them, and I won’t let my parents have any contact with you alone anymore, okay?”
Rosalind steadied herself and forced a smile. “I’ve already said it has nothing to do with all this! Of course, I trust that you will protect our children. As for your parents… I never had any contact with them to begin with.”
“Are they threatening you with Malcolm’s safety? Or Tilda?”
Ulric stubbornly insisted on figuring it out.
He had been alone in the hospital room today, going through every possible scenario in his mind! The conclusion was that as long as Rosalind was willing, he would help her deal with any troubles and worries. Even if… it meant hiring someone to protect Malcolm, his rival!
“No, your parents didn’t threaten me.”
“And sending both children to the Walters family was also your voluntary decision?”
Rosalind pursed her lips and then nodded slightly. “Yes, although it was your father’s suggestion, I agreed after considering it myself. It would be better for them to live with the Walters family.”
“What about me?”
“Rosalind, have you considered me?”
She had been avoiding this question all along, not willing to respond about anything regarding their future. It was clear that she was looking for an escape route!
Ulric wasn’t stupid. He could see it.
But he could also see that when Rosalind was with him, she was happy and not repulsed. So why… couldn’t she agree to remarry?
“Of course, I have considered you!” Rosalind tried to answer in a lighter tone, pretending to be at ease. “For example, right now, I think you should take a bath. Otherwise, your cleanliness obsession might act up.”
“Rosalind!”
“Alright.” Rosalind took the initiative to hold his hand and spoke warmly, “Give me some time, okay? One month. I’ll give you an answer one month from now! At least until you’re discharged from the hospital, I promise to tell you my answer before then.”
“You want me to think carefully too, don’t you? We’ve been apart for so many years. You haven’t changed much, but I have changed a lot. After experiencing so many things, I don’t think I should make the decision to get married lightly.” Rosalind smiled. “And you can also take some time to reconsider whether your persistence is just because of your obsession from our youth or if it’s true love.”
Suddenly, Ulric burst into laughter.
She could hear a hint of disappointment in his laughter…
“Do you think my feelings are just obsession?”
“Yes, that possibility can’t be ruled out! Maybe you only wanted what you couldn’t have when we were young.”