Chapter 25—No More Rose and Max

Rose Hastington "Let's bet." I looked at him in disbelief. In this situation, he wanted to have a bet with me?

"No thanks. I'm wasting my time meeting a man like you here.” I said as I took my bag, but Max held my hand.

"Let's have a bet, Rose. If you win, I'll let you go this once but If I win you have to do anything I say." He held my wrist tightly and I felt the burn around my wrist because of his touch.

"Do you think this is a joke?" I asked and he suddenly took something from his pocket. I saw the die in his hands, and I was shocked to see that he still had it.

"You know this right? You still remember it?" he asked, and I just looked at him.

"Pick it.”

"Let me go!" I pulled my hand back, but he kept holding my hand tightly. He pulled me in so that I could sit next to him.

"One until six, pick one. Like we usually do." He said and I sighed.

"Four.” I prayed that I'd win. He threw the die in the air, and it landed on the table, spinning around.

Suddenly, it stopped and showed five. I lost.

So this was our usual tradition when we had a bet. The thing was we had to pick a number, and it was based on luck, actually. If you picked four, then you had to get four. That was our bet, and yes, it was insane, but that was our thing together.

"Six," he announced and threw the die to the air. "As usual, below or above?" he asked.

"Below." That meant if it showed below four—wait. s***…he picked six. My eyes widened, and I turned to him, but I could already see him smirking.

"Shoot! You know this will happen!" I bursted and he just shrugged.

"You're the one who picked below, love, so I'm not the one to blame here." Oh freaking shoot, he threw the dice and it showed—oh crap. It was five. I saw Max have a really big smile plastered on his face.

"Dang it!" I cursed under my breath. He quickly threw the dice to the table—and please be six… Please. My eyes widened as the dice stopped. I looked at the dice and cursed a lot under my breath.

"I win love." He announced happily and I sighed, I didn't say anything and just stared at that dice for a long time. He still had it. I thought he had lost it.

"Let's have a date." He stated and I shook my head.

"I don't want it.”

"Fair play, love. I win, so you have to do anything what I want.” He said proudly and I turned to him.

"Max, this isn't the time for us to joke around.” I looked at him coldly.

"Until when you won't talk to me?" He asked and held my hand.

"There's no chance for you anymore. Stop trying." I pulled my hand back, but he held it tightly.

"What should I do to make you to forgive me? Tell me, I'll do anything!”

"Stop, Max. I’ve had enough. Please don't force me to get back to you again.” I said and tried to pull my hand from his grip.

"I'm a jerk, I really admit that. I admit that I was wrong in this situation but please, I—I’ve already changed. I promise you I won—"

"No.”

"The answer is no, Max. There won't be a chance for you again.” I shook my head.

"Please. I'll do anything. I swear this time I won't hurt you again. I love you." That made me turn to him.

"What took you so long to say that? Why? I've waited that word for so long and you said it in this situation. You're so mean Max, you hurt me again and again. I forgive you but you betray me all over again.”

"I'm—"

"We're not meant to be together. There won't be any Max and Rose again in the future. We're done." I slowly pulled my hand and he let go, he looked at me seriously.

"Let's get married." He suddenly said and my eyes widen. I didn’t expect that coming.

"No." I shook my head.

"I'll do anything to make you forgive me and take me back Rose. I swear I'll do anything." I looked into his eyes, and I couldn't say anything right now.

"Why? Why do you hurt me so much? Is my love not enough for you? I gave you everything, Max. I gave you everything why it’s still not enough for you?" I asked as tears filled my eyes and he quickly hugged me. He stroked my hair slowly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Rose.”

"You crushed my heart, you stepped on it, you tore it apart, and in the end, you threw it away like it was nothing," I said as tears came out my eyes.

"I was insecure. I'm not confident enough to make you happy Rose. I love you since the day I lay my eyes on you. Everything about you is just…different. I felt your love every day, but it's me. I'm not confident enough to show it, to give you…to make you happy. I never know what love is, Rose.”

"I had a rough life before and I just never felt love before, I grew up loveless and when suddenly you showered me with love and everything. I felt weird because I never felt it before. I know you love me that much, but I still sleep with other woman because I just—I was a jerk. I know that I hurt you, but I…I admit I'm wrong, Rose. It's like I—”

"Didn't I told you to use me? I love you so much that I want to sacrifice everything, but you jus—" I sobbed, and he held me tighter.

"I know. I'm sorry. I just realized it now, Rose. I'm sorry. Give me one more chance to show you that I've changed. I've changed, and I want to start everything from the beginning and show you how much I love you. I'll make you happy. I'll—"

"We're over, Max.”

"Please don't say that, Rose. Don't say that.”

"I'm going to start a new life without you in it. I'm moving on.”