The Groom's choice

Chapter 3: Meet With Her Ex-husband

Sitting on the garden swing that Amelia's parents had lovingly built for her, Roseline wrapped her arms around Rafeal's neck and leaned in for a kiss.

The swing creaked, and Rafeal was taken aback for just a moment before he jumped right in, wrapping his arms around her slim waist.

The wind blew gently through the fluttering petals as they shared a passionate kiss. Roseline could feel Amelia's gaze burning into them, her pain palpable even though she tried to hide it. Roseline knew she still hurt, but what could she do? It wasn't her fault Rafeal had fallen for her instead.

At first, he had pursued Amelia for ages until she finally gave in. But even after becoming a couple, it took her a long time to let him into her heart. Roseline watched from the sidelines, knowing it was only a matter of time before Rafeal saw what she had always known—Amelia wasn’t the one for him.

Amelia tried, Roseline would give her that. Between her hectic college life and everything else, she still made time to cook for him on more than a few occasions. But love wasn’t just about effort. Roseline could tell Rafeal felt the distance growing, even if Amelia couldn’t. She wasn’t giving him what he needed, and Roseline knew exactly what that meant.

Amelia had always been stubborn, clinging to her principles. She refused to have s*x with him before marriage. That was her choice, but Rafeal was a man, and men had needs. Roseline didn’t have a problem fulfilling them, so could Amelia really blame him for choosing Roseline?

Roseline almost felt bad for Amelia—almost. But at the end of the day, Rafeal and Roseline were the perfect match. A b***h and a scumbag, Amelia probably thought. If that’s how she saw it, so be it.

Amelia pulled her gaze away, stealing herself as she approached the house. Just as she reached for the door, it swung open.

"Amelia, you're back!" Dehlia’s voice was filled with surprise, her eyes widening at the sight of Amelia in a wedding dress.

They hadn’t attended Amelia’s wedding because Roseline had fallen ill. Not that it was Roseline's fault, but Dehlia still felt guilty about it. "Yeah, just came to grab a few things," Amelia replied stiffly, her expression unreadable.

Roseline watched as Amelia's face shifted slightly, a flicker of hurt in her eyes when Dehlia hesitated. Once upon a time, Dehlia had looked at Amelia as if she were the center of her world. Now, she looked at her like an outsider.

Because, in truth, that’s what she was.

Amelia moved to step past Dehlia, but just then, Rafeal’s panicked voice called out, "Amelia."

He rushed toward her, his expression one of desperation. Roseline knew he didn’t want to let go of her completely, but he had made his choice. He had chosen Roseline. Roseline had won.

Dehlia turned her head at Rafeal’s voice and finally noticed them in the garden. Her eyes widened as she took in Roseline's disheveled state—her lips stained with smudged lipstick, Rafeal’s wrinkled shirt. Roseline saw the guilt flicker in Dehlia's eyes, but she said nothing.

Amelia slowly turned back to face Rafeal. The warmth that once filled her gaze was gone. Instead, her eyes were cold, unreadable. "Amelia, the wedding—" he started, but she cut him off with a sharp look.

"I'm so sorry, Amelia! It's all my fault!" Roseline rushed over, tears already welling in her eyes. She grabbed Amelia's hand, only for her to pull away as if she were poison.

Roseline bit her lip and let her voice tremble. "If I hadn’t fainted, your wedding with Rafeal wouldn’t have been postponed. You can blame me. Rafeal was just worried about me. He didn’t mean to leave you hanging."

Her voice wavered as she added, "Just blame me. You could have handled it without Rafeal. Meanwhile, I can’t seem to do anything right—I just keep relying on him."

Roseline knew how she must have looked—helpless, vulnerable, the picture of sorrow. And it worked. Her plans worked perfectly.

"Roseline, you’re so full of yourself now, huh?" Amelia suddenly let out a sneering laugh, her voice dripping with disdain. "You should be living the dream after I let you take everything from me, yet here you are, sulking all the time. Aren’t you tired of it?"

Her words stung, but Roseline didn’t let it show. Instead, she put on her best wounded expression. "Amelia, I think you’ve got it all wrong. I never meant for it to happen!"

She wiped away a tear, her voice trembling. "It’s all because I had such a rough childhood, and that’s made me so weak. I just end up being a burden. I'm so sorry! I’ll just leave."

She turned toward the door, taking slow, hesitant steps, knowing exactly what would happen next.

"Roseline, come back!" Dehlia’s voice was firm as she reached out, holding onto Roseline's arm. "This is your home. You don’t have to go.".

Although no paternity test had been done yet, Dehlia had already decided in her heart that Roseline was her real daughter. She wasn’t going to let her go. Not after everything.

Roseline lowered her head, her voice small. "Mrs. Hart, please, let me go. Amelia will be upset if I stay."

She could feel Dehlia’s arms tighten around her as she patted her back. Over her shoulder, Roseline glanced at Rafeal, her eyes red and glistening with tears.

"Rafeal, I'm really sorry for how things turned out and for causing you to fight with Amelia. You should talk to her. I know it's been tough with everything you’ve been through together."

His gaze softened. Roseline knew Rafeal still felt guilty, but guilt wasn’t enough to make him leave her. If anything, seeing her like this only made him more protective of her.

He turned to Amelia, disappointment flickering in his eyes. "Amelia, why do you have to be so aggressive? Roseline can't control being sick."

Even Dehlia jumped in. "Come on, Amelia, it’s already happened. Just let it go. You and Rafeal’s wedding doesn’t have to happen today."

Roseline hid her smirk as she listened to them defend her.

Amelia’s fists clenched at her sides, her entire body rigid. She was the one whose wedding had been ruined, yet here she was, being made to feel like the villain.

Finally, her voice came out icy and detached. "Not well, huh?"

With that, she stormed into the living room and returned moments later, slamming a thick medical report down onto the table.

"Take a good look and see what exactly is wrong with her."

Dehlia hesitated before slowly picking up the report. As she read through the pages, her face paled. Rafeal leaned in as well, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Because the truth was clear—

Roseline had been perfectly healthy her entire life. Why did she pretend to be sick all of a sudden?.