Chapter 38- From Rome with love

Rose's POV

"She isn't my mother-in-law, and she doesn't know that Alec is her grandson." I corrected and breathed deeply. "By the way, we are doing a collaboration."

"Oh my goodness! Congratulations! It was your dream. I am so happy for you, dear." She exclaimed happily and hugged me. "We should celebrate it." She added in excitement as she pulled back.

"I don't have time. I have to finish my work here and return to New York." I refused. "And I am not in the mood for celebration." I added, sighing.

"Because of your sister?" She gave me a compassionate look. I nodded, sighing. "Do you still love him?" She asked, placing his hand on top of mine.

"I... It doesn't matter. I can't do it to my sister. How can I be happy with Troy when I know my sister is suffering? She loves him and thinks he just got cold feet. They were going to marry." I said, desperate and ruffled my hair, pursing my lips together.

"I understand you, but Troy doesn't love her. If he loved Kate, he wouldn't break up with her." She squeezed my hand, giving me a sympathetic look. I heaved a sigh without saying anything. "Rose, if she was in your place, would she make such a sacrifice for you?"

I bit my lower lip, thinking. It had occurred to me before too. Would she make the same sacrifice, or she wouldn't care about my feelings?

"She has never cared about you. Your father's one word was enough for her to avoid you." She reminded, giving me a compassionate look.

"You love each other; you should not feel guilty. You didn't do anything to separate them. You and Troy have met before. You had even hidden his son from him because he was engaged to your sister." She sighed, shaking her head as she paused. "So forget everyone and follow your heart, putting your fear and pride aside. Give him a chance." I bit my lower lip, lost in my thoughts.

***

After pulling a blanket over my son's body, I placed a soft kiss on his forehead and went to my room.

I sighed and looked at my wristwatch; Troy hadn't come back since he left this afternoon. I called him a few times, but his phone was turned off.

Suddenly, I heard noises coming from the other room. It must be Troy. I went to the living room quickly.

"Good evening." I mumbled as I approached him.

Troy nodded as he sat down on the couch and placed his jacket beside himself. His hair was disheveled, and he looked tired. Moreover, he smelled alcohol.

"Have you been drinking?" I asked as I sat down in the armchair beside the couch.

"Yes, a little." He mumbled, sadness in his eyes and sighed. "Where is Alec?"

"He is sleeping." I replied and bit my lower lip uneasily. He nodded without looking at me.

"Troy, today Ann..."

"Do you have feelings for him?...Eduardo." He cut me off, looking into my eyes.

"No!" I replied honestly. He nodded, entwining his hands on his lap while resting his elbows on his thighs.

I heaved a deep sigh and confessed. "We went on a date a few times. Then we decided not to continue it. I never had feelings for him. It was just a few dinner dates, nothing more."

"Don't get me wrong, I cannot ask you for an explanation about it when I was engaged to someone else. I don't have any right to be angry at you or anything else." He said gloomily, looking into the space. "But... I can't stop myself from being jealous. Thinking of another man beside you and... my son..." He breathed deeply, closing his eyes, and shook his head. "It is unbearable for me. It aches my heart to think that another man could be your husband, or my son could see him as his father." He looked at me as sadness crossed his features. I had never seen him like this before; he looked so doleful.

"Troy..."

"What about me?" He asked. I gave him a questioning look. He stood up and approached me. "Do you love me?" Troy asked, looking into my eyes as he bent down in front of me and grabbed my hand.

I looked at him, my mouth agape while he was waiting for my answer hopefully. He caught me off guard.

"Troy.." I mumbled as I stood up, pulling my hand away, and ruffled my hair, walking away from him slightly.

"Please, Rose. I need to know your true feelings. Do you still love me? Are my feelings mutual? I have to know if there is some hope for me." Troy begged me as he approached me and placed his hands on my arms.

"Troy, it doesn't matter how I feel. There can't be anything between us." I replied, avoiding his gaze while holding my tears back.

"Rose, please." He pleaded as he placed his finger under my chin and lifted my head up, letting our eyes meet. "I love you so much. There was no day when I stopped to love you or think about you." He declared, looking into my eyes as his eyes welled up.

"Troy, it is too late. We can't be together." I mumbled as tears shimmered in my eyes.

"Please, Rose. Give me a chance. Please. I am begging you." He pleaded, leaning his forehead against mine as he cupped my cheek and brushed his lips against mine, wrapping his arm around my waist.

I rested my hands on his shoulders as he pulled me closer to him while deepening our kiss.

I moaned as he squeezed my buttock, pressing his bulge against my stomach. He moved his lips from my lips to my neck while he slipped his hand under my dress, stroking my thigh.

"We have to stop." I mumbled as I pulled back while my body tried to refuse.

"Rose..."

"No, Troy." I said firmly and ran to my bedroom as tears ran down my cheeks.

***

"Dammit!" I exclaimed in frustration, throwing the magazine onto my desk as I stood up and approached the window in my office. There were my photos with Troy and Alec at the airport; they claimed that we were closer than normal and went on a vacation together. I couldn't understand how they found out about our trip.

I breathed deeply as I ruffled my hair angrily and looked at the magazine, reading the headline again.

Sweet sister-in-law

"Asshole! What a headline! Sweet sister-in-law!" I commented, frustrated and rolled my eyes.

Suddenly, my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I exhaled, trying to calm down, and grabbed my phone. My heartbeats increased as I saw my father's name on the screen.

Shit!

Actually, I had been waiting for his call since I saw the news, but he didn't call me; probably, he had recently seen it.

I gulped nervously and picked up the phone.

"I am waiting for you in the mansion. Come here quickly!" He snapped as soon as I picked up and hung up without letting me say anything.

"Shit!" I exclaimed and nibbled my lower lip nervously.

When I walked into the living room, my parents and Kate were here. My mother looked worried while Kate was crying. Meanwhile, my father was pacing back and forth angrily. As soon as he saw me, he stopped and gave me a murderous look.

"What..."

"Mommy!" Alec exclaimed, rushing towards me as he interrupted my father.

"My boy." I gave him a slight smile, bending down. I kissed his cheek and straightened, looking at my father nervously.

"You! What a slut you are! You ruined your sister's happiness. How shameless you are!" My father snarled, approaching me, and grabbed my arm tightly. "I feel ashamed that you are my daughter." He added, full of rage in his eyes while shaking my arm angrily.

"Dad...you are hurting me." I pleaded, trying to pull my arm away as my eyes welled up. "I didn't do anything."

"Let go of my mother!" Alec exclaimed as he tried to push my father away, placing his little hands on my father's legs.

"Steven! Calm down!" My mother demanded as she approached us, concerned.

"Stay away from me!" My father snapped at my son and pushed him back with his free hand.

"Dad!" I exclaimed in frustration when Alec lost his balance and fell down.

"Steven! What are you doing?! Are you out of your mind?!" My mother shouted as she stepped in, shielding Alec and me.

I bent down and helped my son to stand up. He hugged me tightly while crying. I hugged him back, stroking his back, trying to smooth Alec.

"I told her to keep a low profile and keep her bastard away from the paparazzi, but she..." My father clenched his fist, giving me a disgusting look.

"Dad!" I exclaimed angrily as I straightened, holding Alec's hand tightly. "Don't dare to call my son a bastard!" I warned him firmly.