Chapter 28 – The Truth of That Day

After breaking up with Calvin, Rosie came to Theo in tears.

She burst into his office, still not officially Duke, but handling his father’s work, surrounded by paperwork.

“Theo! What are you going to do!”

Theo frowned at her words he didn’t understand.

“What?”

Rosie stomped in and dropped onto the sofa, covering her face in despair.

“I got dumped again.”

Theo clicked his tongue and returned to his papers.

“Why are you blaming me?”

Rosie lowered her hands and vented her frustration.

“Everyone doubts us! Even though we say we’re just friends, no one believes it! Ugh, seriously!”

She stomped her feet in anger as Theo watched in silence. He sighed softly, put down his pen, and stood up. Sitting across from her, he asked,

“Want some tea? To calm down.”

Rosie pouted.

“Not tea. Alcohol.”

“Alcohol?”

Theo raised his eyebrows, and Rosie nodded quickly.

“You’re partly responsible, so buy me a drink.”

She threatened, leaning forward, but Theo only found it cute. He smiled.

“You can’t even handle alcohol.”

“Hurry up.”

So, they ended up at Floca Hotel. Rosie had wanted to come here, and Theo simply nodded.

The bar at Floca Hotel, with private rooms, was popular among couples.

Theo took off his jacket and looked around the intimate room.

There was a sofa big enough for two people to lie on, facing a table.

‘No wonder her boyfriends misunderstand.’

But he didn’t care. In fact, he was grateful if they misunderstood and left Rosie to him.

“Bring one bottle—no, two—and this, please.”

Rosie boldly ordered drinks and snacks. She didn’t realize it, but Rosie could never date anyone but Theo.

Rosie had no idea how fierce Theo’s glare was toward any man beside her. But other men recognized it—a territorial stare. So Rosie’s ex-boyfriends were always wary of Theo.

‘By now, she should give up.’

Rosie kept trying, kept getting disappointed, kept getting dumped.

When the waiter left and closed the door, Rosie began to complain.

“Mom and the Duchess are always together. Why is it only a problem for us?”

Theo knew the real reason but just listened.

“I wasn’t so narrow-minded before. Now there’ll be rumors in society—‘Rosie Deacon, always dumped.’”

Rosie slumped over the table, mumbling about not being able to marry.

‘That’ll never happen, Rosie.’

If she really loved someone good, Theo would step back. But the men she met were never better than Theo. Why give up the woman he loved to someone worse? He wasn’t a fool.

A knock came, and the waiter pushed in a trolley. He put the dishes on the table and glanced at Rosie.

Her soft blond hair, clear blue eyes, cute nose, and red lips.

Rosie was beautiful not just to Theo, but objectively. So annoying men kept giving her attention.

Theo’s sharp gaze watched the waiter. When their eyes met, the waiter quickly set down the dishes and fled.

Rosie, pretty but clueless, paid no attention to the tension between the men.

She looked at the food and grabbed her fork, cheerful again.

One bottle, two, then three.

For every drink Theo had, Rosie drank two or three. Theo could handle his liquor, but he had to look after Rosie, who would soon be out cold.

After several drinks, Rosie collapsed on the table, her fine blond hair spread out.

“Why, why does this happen to me?”

She mumbled, her tongue thick from alcohol, and Theo smiled.

After a while, Rosie suddenly sat up and moved to sit next to Theo. He watched her, puzzled.

Rosie sat beside him and brought her face close.

“Tell me honestly.”

“What, what?”

Theo, flustered by the closeness, stammered.

“Honestly, really honestly.”

Rosie grabbed his face with both hands as he tried to pull away.

“How do I look to you?”

“Huh?”

“Am I really that bad?”

Her blue eyes, moist with tears, asked him.

“I grew up hearing I was pretty.”

“You are.”

‘So pretty I could lose my mind.’

Rosie was so beautiful, he could go crazy. Her flushed cheeks made her even more lovable. Her red lips twitched invitingly.

‘If I kissed her now, she wouldn’t remember it, right?’

Theo wrestled with himself.

“My figure’s not bad either, right?”

Rosie pulled Theo’s hand to her chest. When he froze, she placed his hand there and even squeezed it for him.

‘D*mn.’

The soft feel of her chest made Theo almost lose control.

Just that, and his pants felt tight.

“How is it? Am I really that bad?”

Rosie tilted her head, blinking up at him.

‘D*mn, Rosie. Really…’

He should shake her shoulders and snap her out of it, but his hand stayed on her chest. His left hand seemed glued there, just kneading her chest.

His fingers stroked her full br*ast through the dress. As he rubbed the edge of the dress, Rosie let out a desperate m*an.

“Mmm. A little more.”

She boldly asked for more. Theo swallowed. The air in the room heated up.

“Hurry.”

She leaned closer, urging him.

‘It’s okay. Rosie said to.’

‘No, Theo, are you trash?’

Two Theos fought in his head.

‘It’s just fingers. Do it. Rosie asked. Rosie. Your Rosie. Are you going to refuse what she wants?’

‘Theo, if Rosie remembers this when she sobers up, she might never see you again. Do you want to be remembered as a perverted creep?’

Theo stood at a crossroads.

Rosie grabbed his hand and shoved it inside her dress. Her loosened neckline made it easy for him to enter.

“Rosie!”

He shouted, but his hand began to move inside. He felt her soft skin and the small nub in the middle. As he touched it, her n*pple hardened.

“Mmm! Theo.”

Rosie called him, and Theo snapped out of it. She was already on his lap. He shook his head, summoning his patience. He couldn’t do this to a drunken Rosie.

“Rosie. No, we can’t. Not like this.”

He tried to pull his hand away, but Rosie grabbed his wrist.

“Hng. It feels good.”

She pouted, whining, and Theo’s self-control snapped.

Theo pulled Rosie’s nape and pressed his lips to hers. Her small, delicate lips accepted him without resistance. His tongue explored her mouth, licking every soft part, gently sucking her tongue.

All the while, his hand kept fondling Rosie’s chest.

Her neckline opened wider, exposing both br*asts. His hands alternated, caressing each, heightening Rosie’s excitement.

“Mmm.”

Rosie’s m*an escaped between her closed lips. Her twitching body made Theo’s arousal almost painful.

‘No.’

Clinging to his last bit of self-control, Theo managed to pull away from her and hurriedly began to straighten her dress.

“Why?”

Rosie, eyebrows drooping, looked at Theo with displeasure as he fixed her clothes.

“We can’t. If we do, it should be when you’re sober.”

But Rosie, seeing him struggle with his restraint, threatened again.

“Then I’ll go ask someone else to check. If I’m really that bad.”

She slid off his thigh as if she might dash out of the room.

‘Someone else?’

She’d do this with someone else?

Let them touch her chest and rub against her?

That could never happen.

Theo quickly took off his jacket and wrapped it around her so no one could see. He couldn’t let Rosie become gossip.

He swiftly picked her up and left the room. Walking quickly on his long legs, he nodded at the front desk, and the staff recognized the Young Master of Durand Dukedom and handed him a key.

He didn’t even remember how he got to the room. The floor felt wavy, his head spinning.

‘Theo, Rosie’s just drunk. Leave her in the room and go home.’

He repeated this as he searched for the room number on the key. Rosie in his arms was quiet, as if asleep. Inside the room, he closed the door with his foot.

He carefully laid her on the bed.

But as soon as her head touched the pillow, Rosie’s eyes sparkled open. She smiled brightly at him.

“Theo!”

She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him close.

He was helplessly drawn in. Rosie’s clear laughter tickled his ears.

“You were going to run away, weren’t you?”

She giggled innocently.

“Rosie, sleep. I’ll send a carriage tomorrow. You’re really drunk.”

Theo brushed her hair from her forehead, smiling as he tried to get up, but Rosie didn’t let go. Her lips curved playfully. She lifted one knee and rubbed against his arousal.

“I know everything. When men are excited, this gets hard. You’re like that now. Really hard.”

“Rosie.”

Theo called her name in a low voice, closing his eyes.

As her knee rubbed, his arousal grew even stronger.

“Hurry, Theo.”

“No, this…”

Before he could finish, Rosie lifted her head and kissed him.

It was irresistible.

It was inevitable.

This was beyond Theo’s control.

Under Rosie’s power, Theo had no choice.

Soon, Rosie was n*ked. Her pale body dazzled him. Theo hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt and asked,

“Rosie, this is the last chance. You can still stop. So answer me—are you really okay?”

“Yes, really, really.”

Rosie smiled, her lips curving up on both sides. For the first time in over twenty years, she seemed devilish.

“There’s no turning back now.”

Theo threw aside his shirt and lowered his face to her.

Her n*pples stood up like red strawberries on white cream cake. He bit them in one mouthful.

“Ha!”

Sweeter than he expected. Rosie’s whole body tasted like sugar candy.

Theo couldn’t hold back anymore. He tasted and sucked her greedily. Finally, he pushed himself inside her and felt indescribable pleasure.

Rosie’s tears at the corners of her eyes were licked away by Theo’s tongue.

He could never let her go now.

Even if someone better appeared, even if she fell in love with someone else.

Theo would never let Rosie go.

Their m*ans filled the room until the moon set and the sun rose. Rosie, shaking with red eyes beneath him, was so lovely.

Everything felt like a dream.

Theo kissed her forehead as she slept in his arms.

“I love you, Rosie.”

He whispered quietly.

Tomorrow morning, he resolved to finally confess the feelings he’d held back for so many years. And to kneel and propose.

He imagined her blushing and shyly accepting his proposal, and fell asleep.