The Groom's choice

Chapter 4- The Marriage Licence

Dehlia's sharp gaze landed on Roseline, her eyebrows arching with suspicion. "Roseline, are you seriously pretending to be sick? Why are you lying to us?"

Roseline's heart pounded, but she forced herself to remain calm. She couldn’t afford to let her emotions betray her now—not when she had worked so hard to reach this point. If Dehlia started doubting her, everything she had built would come crashing down.

Taking a deep breath, Roseline steadied her voice and let a wounded expression settle on her face. "Mrs. Hart, I'm not faking anything. I've had health issues since I was a child. I’ve seen so many doctors, yet no one could ever figure out what’s wrong."

She let her voice quiver slightly, just enough to sound truly exhausted. "Who would choose to be unwell? What would I even gain from pretending? Honestly, Amelia, I never thought you’d dig through my medical reports like this. What are you trying to do? Embarrass me?"

A fit of coughing overtook her, and she allowed herself to stagger slightly, her lips parting as if in distress. The concern on Rafeal and Dehlia’s faces told her they were buying it. Good. Now was her chance to turn the tables.

"Amelia, did you set this up just to make Mrs. Hart think I'm a liar?" Her voice cracked as she cast her gaze downward, feigning sadness. "Are you afraid I'll take her away from you? Because I never wanted to steal anything from you."

Dehlia’s face softened with guilt, and she turned toward Amelia with a skeptical frown. "Amelia, why would you dig up Roseline’s medical records? I thought you were okay with her being here. What’s really going on?" There was something accusing in her voice, as if she were questioning Amelia’s character more than Roseline's own.

Roseline saw the frustration flicker in Amelia’s eyes as she let out a bitter laugh. "Honestly? Whether Roseline stays in this family or not doesn’t matter to me anymore. But since you all missed my wedding, there’s something you should know."

The tension in the room thickened as Dehlia, Rafeal, and Roseline exchanged uncertain glances. Amelia’s voice cut through the silence. "I’m married now. I just came back to get my things. I won’t be in your way anymore."

Roseline's breath caught in her throat, but she schooled her expression, keeping her emotions hidden. Amelia was leaving? For real? She should have felt triumphant, but instead, an unsettling feeling stirred in her chest.

Dehlia looked utterly shocked, Rafeal confused. "Who did you marry while I wasn’t around?" he asked, his tone laced with disbelief.

Amelia smirked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You do realize there are plenty of people in Downhill who would marry me, right? Not just you, Rafeal."

His jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. "Amelia, I know I messed up missing the wedding, but you’re just trying to get under my skin, aren’t you?"

Roseline could see the doubt creeping into his expression, his mind racing. She almost wanted to smirk, but she kept her lips pressed into a tight line, playing the part of the silent observer.

Amelia shrugged, moving past them toward her room, and a heavy silence settled between them. She was really leaving. Rafeal looked ready to storm after her, but his phone rang, shattering the moment. He snatched it up, his expression turning even darker as Mrs wright sharp voice exploded from the speaker.

"Rafeal, get back here! Do you even realize what that woman did? She married someone else! Right at your wedding! She humiliated the wright family!"

Rafeal stiffened, his fingers tightening around the phone. "Who the hell did she marry?" His voice was a dangerous growl.

Roseline held her breath, waiting for the answer. Who had Amelia run off with so quickly?

Meanwhile, outside the estate, Amelia was making her way down the villa path, her suitcase rolling behind her. The whispers followed her like shadows.

"Isn't that Amelia? I heard Rafeal ditched her at the wedding, and she married some random guy out of spite."

"What a reckless move. No wonder the Hart family threw her out."

Amelia’s pace quickened, clearly trying to block out their words, but Roseline could see the weight of their judgment pressing down on her.

Just as Amelia was about to step into the street, a firm hand reached out, catching her by the arm. "Careful!"

The voice was deep, familiar.

Amelia turned, her eyes widening.

"What are you doing at my back?"

Johnson gaze was steady as he looked at her. "I remembered there’s something important I still need to do."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression wary. "And what’s that?"

Without hesitation, he grabbed her suitcase and tossed it into his trunk before opening the passenger door.

"Get in."

"Where are we going?" she asked, eyes narrowing.

"To get our marriage license."

Amelia froze, her lips parting slightly in shock.

From where Roseline stood, watching it all unfold, she clenched her hands at her sides. So that was it? Amelia had really moved on?

For a moment, she felt a sting of something unfamiliar. But she quickly pushed it down, plastering on a soft, sorrowful expression as Rafeal’s gaze turned back toward the road, his whole body radiating tension.

He didn’t chase her.

Because he still believed she’d come crawling back.