Chapter 2
On the other end of the phone, Alistair Lima’s voice carried a note of disbelief. “Rosie, you’re seriously coming home? And you’ll actually meet the guy I want to introduce you to? What happened to that boyfriend you were so crazy about?”
“I don’t love him anymore,” Rosalie replied softly. “And I never will again.”
After his initial excitement faded, Alistair’s instincts kicked in. His tone immediately sharpened. “Did
that bastard hurt you?”
Rosalie’s mind flashed back to those cruel conversations, the videos Dante had so casually
mentioned, and his cold, calculating voice.
The pain cut deep, but she needed to stay level–headed.
Her brother had been her protector since they were kids. If he knew the truth, he’d probably be on the next flight to New York with a small army.
She couldn’t put that on him. This nightmare was hers to handle.
“No, Ali, nothing like that,” she forced her voice to steady. “I just need to wrap things up here, and then I’m coming home.”
After reassuring him a few more times, her brother reluctantly hung up, and Rosalie returned to the penthouse apartment she shared with Dante.
She took a long, hot shower first, washing away her tears before walking to the coffee table, where she took out a piece of paper and began to make a list.
Her pen wrote several lines: Retrieve personal belongings, Pack essentials, Resign from Ballet Academy, Say goodbye to friends, Delete videos.
These were her exit tasks – things she needed to handle before escaping this three–year lie.
Her gaze lingered on the final item, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Recalling the birthday scheme she’d overheard at the restaurant, she knew she had to vanish before her birthday arrived.
With this in mind, she picked up the calendar on the table and circled the date heavily with a red
The Ultimate Payback: When I Married Your Enemy. My Stepbrother
13:00
0.6%
“Making sure you don’t forget our special day?”
The apartment door opened, and Dante Wolf’s voice suddenly came from behind her, carrying that tender played tone that now made her skin crawl Rosalie’s fingers froze, her pen dragging a long reark across the peper.
she turned to see Dame leaning against the doorframe, designer jacket in hand, his custom shirt coller slightly open to reveal tus collarbone.
His gaze fell on the calendar in her hand, the corner of his mouth lifting in that charming smile she once loved. “As if i could forget my baby girl’s birthday, I’ve got something major planned for you that day.”
Rosalie’s fingers tightened around the pen as she looked up to meet his eyes, forcing a smile. “I’ve prepared something special for you too.”
Dante paused, then laughed. “Why would you be surprising me on your birthday? That day is all about you, beautiful.”
He walked to her side, running his fingers through her hair in that affectionate way that used to make her melt. “Hey, I was thinking… have you invited your brother for your birthday dinner?”
Rosalie’s heart skipped a beat, her fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of the table.
She looked up, carefully maintaining her composure. “Would you want him there?”
Dante looked down at her, something complex flashing behind his eyes.
He smiled, his voice dropping to that intimate tone he used only with her. “Yeah, invite him. It’s time
to end this stupid feud. I’ve been butting heads with your brother forever and never planned to back down, but what can I say? I fell hard for his little sister. If giving up the fight is what it takes to make you happy, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Every sweet word now felt like poison. Rosalie’s throat constricted, unable to respond.
When Dante leaned down to kiss her, she turned away, whispering, “I’m not feeling great today. Rain
check?”
Dante paused momentarily. He chuckled softly, pressing his lips to her forehead instead. “Of course, sweetheart. Get some rest. I can wait.”
1300
The Ultimate Payback: When I Married Your Enemy. My Stepbrother
0.7%
Chapter 2
He turned and headed to the bathroom.
Rosalie stood frozen, listening to the shower running, her fingers still digging into the table edge.
Her eyes fell on Dante’s phone, carelessly tossed onto the Italian leather sofa. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs.
She quietly picked up the phone and tried several possible passwords, but the device remained
locked.
Her fingers trembled in frustration, a wave of helplessness washing over her.
Finally, she returned the phone precisely where he’d left it, forcing herself to calm down and strategize another approach.
Early the next morning, when Dante woke up, he found Rosalie sorting through their shared
belongings.
At her feet was a growing pile of their matching couple items–monogrammed mugs, custom slippers, photo frames, keepsakes from vacations…
Dante frowned, walking to her side with concern in his voice. “Hey, what’s going on? Why are you throwing all our stuff away?”
Each item represented a moment she’d treasured, a memory she’d thought was real Now they were
just props in his elaborate revenge fantasy.
Rosalie didn’t look up, her voice deliberately flat. “I just don’t like them anymore. We can get new
ones sometime.”
What she didn’t say: There is no “sometime.” There is no “we.” Not anymore.
Dante didn’t push, merely offering that easy smile. “Leave it, babe. I’ll have Maria take care of it
later. Aren’t you running late? Want me to drive you to the Ballet Academy?”
Rosalie shook her head. “No need. I called Madame Beaumont yesterday. I’ve resigned.*
Dante paused, genuine surprise crossing his features. “Wait, what? I thought dancing was everything to you. The spring showcase is coming up–you’ve been rehearsing for months.”
Rosalie looked up, meeting his gaze steadily. “I need a break. It’s been… overwhelming lately.”
13.00
The Ultimate Payback: When I Married Your Enemy, My Stepbrother
they
Dante crudies hay face for a moment before gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “If that’s wter you need, I support you trancing takes a toll on your body anyway, and besides…
#fingers hy traced her waist, his votre dropping to that intimate whisper that once sent advere down her epine. “These gorgeous dancer’s curves of yours–sometimes I get jealous thinking adines all thever people watching you on stage when i want you all to myself
Botable mepped away from has touch, suppressing a shudder. “You should
ressing a shudder. “You should go. Don’t you have that deeriopment meeting downtown?”
After Dante left. Rosalie methodically continued purging their life together, throwing away not just physical meine fast mentally dismantling every memory, every moment she’d cherished. Each discarded object was like cutting a string that tied her to this beautiful lie.
Three years of her life, wasted on a man who never loved her. Three years of passion and promises–all put a calculated game to hurt her brother.
Standing in the half empty living room, she felt something between grief and rage lodged in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Just then, her phone vibrated with a notification.
She picked it up to find a message from an unknown number: “Meet me at Blue Bottle Coffee at 3
- PM. I’m Dante Wolf’s fiancée.”
Rosalie’s fingers tightened around her phone until her knuckles turned white.
(
(0)
13.00
