Chapter 8: The unexpected warmth

When I opened my eyes the next morning, my head was pounding. The gown I had been married in still hung over the chair.

I almost refused to answer when my phone rang, but my father’s name flashed on the screen.

“Rose,” his voice said, a little too steady. “The Millers want you to come home with them. Megan said it’s better that way. You’ll stay there until things calm down.”

“Calm down?” I whispered. “Dad, I was left at the altar.”

He cleared his throat. “That’s between you and Connor. Just… be respectful, okay? We still need to keep good relations with them.”

There it was again we. Not me.

By the time I reached the Miller mansion, I’d already promised myself I wouldn’t show a single tear.

The iron gate opened slowly, and I was surprised to see two maids waiting at the driveway. They straightened as soon as I stepped out of the car, bowing slightly.

“Welcome, Mrs. Miller,” one of them said.

The word Mrs. Miller hit me like a knife. I wasn’t sure if I should correct her or just keep walking.

When I entered, Megan — my mother-in-law — was waiting near the staircase, her smile warm and practiced. She walked up to me with open arms.

“My dear, come in. You must be exhausted,” she said, wrapping me in a hug that smelled faintly of expensive perfume.

“I’m sorry for what happened yesterday,” I muttered, stiff in her arms.

“Don’t apologize for that boy’s stupidity,” she replied firmly. “You’re part of this family now, and I won’t let anyone humiliate you again. Not even him.”

Before I could answer, Connor’s voice drifted from the living room.

“Mother, can we not turn this into a pity party?”

He was sitting casually on the couch, legs crossed, scrolling through his phone as if nothing had happened. His shirt was half-buttoned, his hair uncombed — careless, arrogant.

Megan shot him a glare. “Connor, watch your mouth.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What? It’s the truth. She knew what she was walking into.”

I stared at him, expressionless. “I walked into a marriage, not a circus.”

He chuckled without looking up. “Well, welcome to the show.”

Before I could respond, Sean’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“That’s enough, Connor.”

Sean was standing at the bottom of the staircase, his sleeves rolled up, his expression unreadable but firm. He didn’t raise his voice, but the authority in it made Connor shift uncomfortably.

“She’s your wife,” Sean continued, walking toward him slowly. “At least pretend to be a man about it.”

Connor scoffed. “You’re not my father.”

“No,” Sean said evenly, “but I am your brother — which is worse, because I actually care about how you disgrace this family.”

For a moment, the air between them was thick. Megan folded her arms, shaking her head in disappointment.

“Connor, apologize to Rose,” she ordered.

Connor finally looked at me, his eyes cold. “For what? For being honest?”

Sean stepped closer, his jaw tightening. “Stop acting like a child.”

“Don’t start lecturing me, Sean,” Connor snapped back. “You think you’re so perfect — you with your company, your fancy degrees, your fake morals. You don’t know what it’s like to be forced into something!”

Sean’s tone stayed calm but sharp. “No one forced you to humiliate her in front of hundreds of people.”

Connor’s face twisted. “You always take their side. First Dad, now her. Maybe you should’ve married her yourself.”

The room went silent. Megan gasped. I froze. Sean just stared at him for a few seconds — then gave a quiet, humorless laugh.

“Go to your room,” he said finally. “Before you say something you’ll regret.”

Connor pushed himself off the couch, brushing past me without another word. When the door upstairs slammed, I realized I had been holding my breath.

Megan sighed and turned to me. “Don’t take his words to heart, sweetheart. He’s just… confused.”

I managed a small, awkward smile. “I’m fine.”

“Fine?” Sean muttered under his breath. “You shouldn’t have to be fine.”

I looked at him, unsure how to respond. He had this way of speaking — quiet, controlled, but heavy with something that made you pay attention.

Megan motioned for the maids. “Prepare lunch, and have the driver take Connor’s things to the guest house. He can stay there for a while.”

Sean raised an eyebrow. “You’re really kicking him out?”

“I’m not kicking him out,” she said. “I’m giving Rose peace.”

Later, Megan insisted I sit in the lounge with her. “I have something for you,” she said, snapping her fingers. One of the maids brought out two elegant gift bags and placed them on the table.

“These are for you,” Megan said, smiling proudly. “Two retail stores — fully under your name. And these are your cards. You can use them for whatever you need.”

My eyes widened. “Mrs. Miller, that’s—”

“Please, call me Mom,” she interrupted gently. “And nonsense, it’s nothing. You’re part of this family now.”

Before I could even process it, Sean appeared behind her chair, his voice calm but teasing.

“Mom, don’t scare her off already.”

Megan turned to glare at him playfully. “Oh, hush, Sean. You act like I’m some monster.”

Sean smirked. “You just gave her two stores before she’s even unpacked. That’s a lot of love in one morning.”

Megan chuckled. “That’s what family does.”

But as I thanked her softly, I could feel Connor’s eyes on me from across the room — bored, indifferent, but still watching. He didn’t say a word. Just stared, like I was some stranger trespassing in his life.

When Megan showed me to my room later, I paused outside another door Connor’s door. I heard a woman’s voice inside. Sharp, angry, familiar.

Curiosity got the best of me. “Who’s that?” I asked.

Megan frowned and pushed the door open. “Connor?”

Inside, the same woman who had crashed my wedding stood by the bed, her hair wild and her makeup smeared. She looked furious, cornered.

“You told me you loved me!” she screamed at Connor.

Megan’s face darkened. “What is this?”

Connor’s jaw clenched. “Mom, it’s not what it looks like.”

“It looks exactly like what it is,” she snapped. “Get this girl out of my house!”

The woman’s eyes darted toward me. “You think you’ve won?” she spat. “He’ll never love you!”

Before I could answer, Megan pointed at the door. “Out. Now.”

She left, slamming it behind her, muttering insults under her breath.

Connor turned to me, his face full of annoyance. “Next time, mind your business.”

Before I could even react, Sean’s voice came from behind me. “You should start acting like a man before giving orders, Connor.”

Connor spun around, his tone mocking. “What now, big brother? Gonna scold me again?”

Sean’s eyes were cold. “No. I’m going to remind you that respect is the only reason you’re still standing here.”

Connor scoffed and brushed past both of us, heading downstairs.

Sean waited until the echo of his footsteps faded, then looked at me. “Are you alright?”

I nodded stiffly. “I don’t even know what ‘alright’ means anymore.”

He smiled faintly. “Fair enough.”

We walked downstairs, and he motioned to the dining table. “Sit. I’ll get you something to eat.”

“You cook?” I asked, surprised.

He gave a quiet laugh. “I try. Don’t expect miracles.”

He returned minutes later with two plates of pasta and a small bowl of salad. It was simple but warm. For a moment, it felt strange — this quiet domesticity after so much chaos.

As we ate, he said, “Don’t waste your energy trying to fix him.”

I looked up. “Connor?”

He nodded. “He’s always been reckless. He thinks pain is freedom. He’ll learn — maybe too late, but he’ll learn.”

I frowned slightly. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you look like someone who blames herself for everything.”

His words caught me off guard. “You don’t even know me.”

He leaned back, studying me. “I know enough.”

There was silence for a while. Then he stood and poured two glasses of water. “Mom arranged massages for the afternoon. Said you both could use a little comfort.”

I blinked. “That’s… thoughtful.”

“She means well,” Sean said, handing me the glass. “She just doesn’t always think about how overwhelming she can be.”

I smiled slightly. “She’s been kind.”

“She has,” he agreed softly. “But she’s not the only one who should be.”

His eyes met mine, and for a moment I forgot how to breathe. There was something in his gaze — gentle, steady, nothing like the cold image people painted of him.

I looked away quickly. “Thank you… for today.”

He nodded. “Don’t thank me. Just promise you’ll stop pretending you’re fine.”

I let out a quiet breath. “If I stop pretending, I might fall apart.”

Sean’s expression softened. “Then fall apart. Sometimes that’s how you start over.”

When he turned to leave, I caught myself watching him. The man everyone said was cold had been the only one to notice that I was breaking.

And for the first time since the wedding, I wasn’t sure whether that scared me or comforted me.