Chapter 118
Hoseanne paused, as if something clicked in her mind. She muttered, “Could it…” She suddenly looked up at Julian, pressed her lips, and asked in a low tone, “Is she your wife?” Her gaze was full of hurt, as though Julian had been caught cheating. Hoseanne wasn’t just playing innocent; she was testing the waters, carefully gauging Juliana’s relationship with Rosalie.
Even though she was convinced Iouale was merely a replacement, she had to admit Rosalie was beautiful. Having been around for over a year, she didn’t believe Julian really had no feelings for her. Roseanne kept telling herself it wasn’t possible, but hearing it from Julian himself would give her the desperately craved peace of mind. It could reassure her that she still had a place. She hoped Julian would deny it or explain he was forced to marry Rosalie.
But Julian’s answer immediately crushed her hopes. “Yeah, she’s my wife.” Roseanne’s face instantly drained of color. In her mind, she thought, “He didn’t hesitate. He admitted it without trying to explain he was forced. They’d signed divorce papers, so why would he still claim her as his wife? Does this mean he regrets the divorce?” She ran through excuses, trying to make sense of it all, but nothing helped. The jealousy bubbling inside her distorted her thoughts, though she did her best to mask it.
Then, Julian continued, his words like a slap. “You switched lanes without warning. That’s your fault. My wife already called the insurance company. Did you call yours?”
Julian’s gaze settled on Roseanne, and his words landed like a crushing blow. He not only referred to Rosalie as his wife, but he didn’t sugarcoat the truth about the accident. He shut down her attempt to play the victim and backed up Rosalie. Roseanne couldn’t muster a defense. She was left speechless, her attempt to argue completely squashed.
Kaleb raised his eyebrows, surprised by Julian’s outburst. Kaleli looked at Julian—his wife left, and he finally acted like a man. Too late, though. Whatever he did now, she wouldn’t see it. He mused with amusement, “Well, look at that.” Roseanne’s expression flickered as she struggled to regain control. After a long, uncomfortable pause, she forced a smile and stammered, “I must have misunderstood. I’ve been abroad for so long, I’m not familiar with the traffic laws here. I guess I owe your wife an apology.”
At this point, Roseanne had no choice but to back down and admit fault, hoping to salvage what little grace she had left. Julian retorted, “Switching lanes like that is your fault, no matter where you are.” Roseanne’s face turned gloomy; this time, she couldn’t even fake a smile.
Kaleb smirked. He thought, “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Is this guy emotionally clueless, or just a straight-up guy? Seriously, he really knows how to preserve someone’s dignity.” Roseanne probably never expected Julian to be so sharp-tongued. Even Kaleb himself was taken aback. He didn’t think Julian would keep adding fuel to the fire. He wondered if such a straight-up guy was really ready to give up Knalle for Roseanne.