Chapter 37

Rosie

By the time I was walking back to the café after the Sophia encounter earlier and I couldn’t stop smiling because I was so incredibly happy about how Jude had put her in her place.

Suck it up!

He’d completely deflated her ego and he was so hot when he did that, all cold and threatening and protective. The way his voice had gone low and dangerous, the way he’d held me—God, I’d never seen anything more attractive in my life.

That moment, my lower body was buzzing with excitement and I couldn’t help but kiss him hard right after he walked me out of the arena. He’d kissed me back with the same fervor, his hands tight on my waist and pulled me closer.

And I wanted to scream to the whole world—that’s my man. I was still feeling giddy from it, my lips tingling from the memory of his mouth on mine.

Jude was mine. Actually mine.

Sincerely, I’d had this tiny terrified thought at the back of my mind that maybe, just maybe, he’d give Sophia a chance because she was gorgeous and confident and everything I wasn’t. She’d always been the pretty twin, the wanted twin, the one people chose.

And I knew Sophia always got what she wanted. She always took everything I had. But he’d rejected her completely and even threatened her and told her she disgusted him.

I couldn’t believe he actually rejected her. Like, Sophia Martinez—the Martinez beautiful daughter, not the black sheep. The golden child. The perfect one.

Her face had been red with embarrassment when she realized Jude would pick me over a gorgeous goddess like her, and it felt like justice for everything she’d done to me though not one half of them but it was still satisfying. Like finally, someone was choosing me and not her.

As I reached the café, I was still smiling, practically grinning while I waved at Maya through the window. Nothing could dampen this feeling, the happiness bubbling in my chest.

But as I opened the door and entered the Cafe, the gaze staring at me were different. Normally, the customers either waved at me, some even smile or nodes in greeting. Well, some total ignored me but today look looked familiar and I swallowed the nerves stuck in my throat. I could already feel nausea forming in my stomach.

No. Sophia wouldn’t. She was just bluffing. But has my sister ever bluffed? Has she ever made an empty threat?

As I reached the counter, Maya quickly walked over and grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the back room. Her movements were urgent, and frantic at best. Before I could even ask what was happening, I saw her face—etched with worry and something that looked horribly like pity.

And I could feel the dread in the pit of my stomach...

“What’s going on?” I asked in a hushed panicked voice, my heart already thumping against my rib, anticipating bad news.

Because gut feeling never proves you wrong.

Maya wet her lips nervously, which was so unlike her. Since I’d known her, Maya was always confident, always collected. “Don’t panic, but something happened. Something bad.”

“What do you mean something bad?” I stuttered, clenching my hands into fists at my sides. My nails dug into my palms.

“Someone posted an anonymous link,” Maya said quietly, each word coming out heavy. “On the school forum. With your name tagged. It’s been up for a few minutes now.”

I staggered. My stance faltered as my racing heart went into overdrive.

I staggered, my stance flattered as my racing heart overdrive yet everything around me stopped and due to my heart beating furiously, I couldn’t breathe... My ears were ringing and my head was trying to process what maya just said.

I thought I was safe, I thought I’d left everything behind, I thought I’d try again here but they followed me here again.

Sophia!

I could feel anger, betrayal and hatred surging through me. She was supposed to be my twin... ShShe was supposed to... YeYet she took joy in destroying my life over and over again.

When I finally thought I was happy with Jude, reality checked on me that I couldn’t never be free from the past clutch. It would always find me and always drag me back down.

Now everyone knows. Now I wanted to hide and run away again.

But the thought of running made a painful tug in my heart because that meant I wouldn’t be with Jude anymore. I’d have to leave him. Leave the only person who’d ever made me feel safe and wanted.

“No,” I whispered in denial, shaking my head frantically and tears blurred my vision. “No, no, no, that can’t be—I can’t—” I heaved loudly, clutching my chest as my lungs refused to work properly.

“Rosie, breathe,” Maya said while grabbing my shoulders, but I couldn’t look at her. My head was already a mess, whispering cruel words I couldn’t silence. Everyone knows. Everyone saw. You’re disgusting. You’re nothing.

“Rosie, please...” Maya called again, then swore under her breath before rummaging through my tote bag and pulling out my phone.

She held me with one hand as she clumsily pressed the screen with her left hand. I could barely see through my tears as she pressed call.

He answered on the first ring. “Sweetheart, miss me already?” Jude chuckled, his voice was warm, teasing, and happy. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

“Jude...” My voice broke.

I heard something being knocked over on his end. “Sweetheart, are you okay? What’s wrong? Are you hurt? What happened?” His voice went sharp with panic.

“The video,” I choked out through sobs as Maya held my phone while rubbing my back. “She released it on the school forum and everyone’s going to see it...” I hiccupped, my chest heaving. “And I can’t do this again, I can’t—”

I heard his sharp intake of breath. “Fuck, sweetheart.” His voice was rough with an edge. Then softer and gentler, “Breathe for me, sweetheart.”

“I can’t...” And I literally couldn’t. My lungs felt too small, my chest too tight. I didn’t even know how I managed to talk to him between the panic and tears. Maybe his voice had some calming effect on me. Maybe just hearing him made it slightly more bearable.

“Sweetheart,” he said softly, and I could hear rustling like he was moving. “Where’s Maya?”

“She’s with me,” I managed.

“Okay.” He replied. “Stay with Maya. I’ll handle everything. I promise you, sweetheart—I’ll fix this.”

I sniffed, rubbing the snot from my nose with the back of my hand. “Okay.” I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. That reassurance did so much to calm the storm inside me.

The lin e went dead and I just stood there crying while Maya held me and whispered that it would be okay, that Jude would do something.

And I believed her.

Because I believed in Jude would do something. He’d promised me.