He Watched Me Shine Without Him novel Chapter 41

Meliora stared at Ethan, deadpan. "Where do you get the idea that Rose would forgive you?"

Ethan grinned shamelessly. "Well, you never know unless you try."

Meliora called toward the bedroom. "Rose, Ethan and Vivian are here."

Rose, dressed in long pajamas, heard Ethan’s name and instinctively reached for a jacket to throw over her shoulders.

But even that simple act made her pause.

She realized that her aversion to Ethan felt almost instinctive. They’d known each other for ten years, yet she still felt stiff and awkward around him.

It wasn’t like that with Houston. Sure, she’d been shy at first, but after a few times... now when Houston kissed her, all she felt was warmth and sweetness.

"Rose," Meliora called again.

Rose hurried out.

Ethan’s eyes flickered with something sharp when he saw her bundled up.

"What are you two doing here?" Rose asked coldly.

Vivian nudged Ethan.

Ethan said, "Rose, New Year’s Day is almost here, and so is our wedding. I truly hope you’ll come."

Rose remained unmoved.

Ethan pressed on. "Rose, this is one of the biggest days of my life. Are you really not going to be there?"

Rose looked at him flatly. "Skipping a wedding that doesn’t matter to me? Not a big deal. Missing my own—now that would be."

Ethan’s eyes widened. "What do you mean? Are you getting married on New Year’s Day too?"

A quick idea popped into Rose’s mind. Actually... that’s not a bad excuse. "That’s right. I’m engaged. My engagement is on New Year’s Day, so I won’t be free to attend your wedding."

Ethan was immediately agitated. "You’re lying! You don’t even have a boyfriend. Who would you be getting engaged to?"

Meliora jumped in. "Ethan, I can back her up. Rose isn’t lying. She’s seeing someone."

But Meliora just grinned mischievously. "Vivian, you better believe it. I’ve met him myself. And trust me, after all the men I’ve seen, this is the first one I’d give a perfect score. Rose really hit the jackpot this time."

Rose tugged at Meliora’s sleeve, embarrassed. She didn’t want her making Houston sound so perfect. In her mind, he was just a regular guy with a regular job—and good looks alone weren’t enough to build a future on.

But the fact that Rose had moved on and that her new man was apparently better in every way shattered whatever pride Ethan and Vivian had left.

Vivian forced a smile. "Rose, what a coincidence. Ethan and I are getting married on New Year’s Day, and you’re getting engaged the same day. I guess the neighbors won’t know which party to attend."

But her fake smile gave her away. Everyone knew Vivian’s father was a deputy chief in the cardiology department at the hospital. The neighbors often relied on him, so they went out of their way to be friendly with her family.

Rose’s parents were kind and got along well with the neighbors, but they didn’t have the same influence. Anyone could guess that with both events on the same day, the neighbors would likely favor Vivian’s side.

Vivian’s words were a thinly veiled jab at the Marshall family for holding an engagement party on the same day.

But Meliora stood her ground. "Vivian, whether the neighbors choose the Brown family’s wedding or the Marshall family’s engagement party… well, I guess we’ll just have to see."

The message was clear—Vivian shouldn’t be so sure of herself just yet.