Chapter 5 Sounding Him Out

Rose met Burke's eyes. She was now staring at a handsome face, with fine features and perfect outlines. This was the face she had loved for twelve years.

But now, Burke had said something hurtful.

Right before her face, he warned her not to disgrace the Gu Family's name.

All the while, Rose thought that the worry she saw in Burke's eyes was for her. It turned out, he was only worried that she would do something to stain his family name.

She had no place in his heart at all.

While Burke was looking at Rose's eyes, he was shocked to notice that there seemed to be a trace of pain in there.

Perhaps she was hurt by what he said just now. He also couldn't understand why he had easily lost control of his temper when he was in front of her.

When Burke came back last night and couldn't find Rose, he called her so many times. When he couldn't contact her, he called everyone that she knew. No one could give him any information about her whereabouts, so he drove to the prison in the suburbs, thinking that she might have gone there to visit her father.

He looked for her all night. This morning, he even pushed back a few things that had been arranged beforehand to wait for her at home.

Burke was both worried and terrified.

He was scared of losing her.

But then, he realized that it was not good for him.

He shouldn't let himself fall in love with her.

"Don't you think you have something to explain? Rose..." Burke looked at her. But he tried his best to conceal the passion in his eyes. He also restrained himself from holding her in his arms.

Rose closed her eyes and shook off his hand. She then went to the other side of the sofa and sat down, too tired to contend with him. Besides, she felt that the pain in her back had worsened.

"Just think whatever you want to think," she said. Rose felt that it was meaningless to explain anymore. She had intended to tell him everything just now, thinking that he would listen. But before she could even open her mouth, he had already judged her.

Burke got annoyed by her attitude at once. He picked up the car keys on the table and said coldly,

"Rose, I hope that you will always remember your duty." He then turned around and was about to leave.

"Burke..." Rose suddenly called out his name. Her voice was so gentle that it made him think they were not fighting at all.

She opened her eyes and looked at his tall figure standing in the hallway. She then said softly, "Let's have a baby."

She deliberately sounded him out about having a child.

Burke looked at her and asked in a stiff tone, "Why are you suddenly saying that?"

"Nothing. I...I just want to have a baby real soon. I feel lonely staying alone in this house all the time," she replied, looking at his gloomy face.

"If you feel lonely, you can go to accompany Grandma often. There are many things you can do. I have told you in the first place that I don't want a baby," he firmly said and turned around again, leaving no room for her to negotiate.

Rose was left in the living room, staring at his receding back. When he disappeared behind the door, the entire house became so quiet again.

Burke said he didn't want a baby.

She wasn't sure if he really didn't want a baby, or he only didn't want a baby from her.

Rose closed her eyes again and subconsciously put her hands on her belly.

She was a wife who hadn't been valued. And now, she was about to have a child unwanted by the father.

Thinking how absurd her situation was, she couldn't help laughing out loud. It was a kind of laugh that she had never made before as she was always mindful of her behavior in this house.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her cold laughter gradually turned into sobs that resounded through the empty house.

Rose buried her face in her hands with sadness.

The next morning, she was awakened by the heat of the sunlight that peeped through the white curtains. Several blue and white hydrangeas in the pots by the window were now a little withered because they hadn't been watered for a long time.

Her little body still curled up under the quilt, feeling lazy to get up.

She was not able to sleep well last night. At first, she thought that it was because the air conditioner was too cold.

But when she turned it off, she felt hot again.

Later on, she realized that her sleeplessness had nothing to do with the temperature in the room but her mood.

Rose opened her eyes in a daze and fumbled at the other side of the bed. It was empty and cold.

It only meant that Burke didn't come home last night.

A wry smile appeared on her face. He didn't want to be with her at all.

She hadn't seen him since he left yesterday morning.

Well, what was she expecting?

He had been like this since they lived together. She should have gotten used to it.

When her phone suddenly rang, Rose was forced to get up. She checked who was calling, and found out that it was from the Gu Family's villa.

She took a deep breath to adjust her mood before she answered it.

"Hello?"

"Rosy, this is Grandma."

"Good morning, Grandma." Rose subconsciously smiled when she heard the familiar soft and gentle voice. She could say that the person who treated her best in the Gu Family was Burke's grandmother.

She could feel that the old woman truly loved her.

"Rosy, don't forget the family lunch this noon. Ask Burke to bring you here on time, okay? Grandma hasn't seen you for a long time. I miss you so much."

Rose was a little stunned when she heard Burke's name. But she immediately collected herself and answered, "Okay, Grandma."

"That's good. Well, I'll hang up now. Let's just talk more when you're here later."

"Okay. See you later, Grandma."

After hanging up, Rose stared blankly at her phone.

It was already half-past eight.

She hesitated for a moment. Should she call Burke? Her car was in the repair shop, and it was difficult to hail a taxi in this area. But she had promised his grandmother that she would be there on time.

While she was still pondering on what to do, her phone vibrated.

The message said, "I'll pick you up at ten-thirty. Be ready ahead of time."

Only Burke would send her a short and concise message like this.

He was like a superior, giving an order to his subordinate. Simple and decisive.

Burke had always been treating her like this.

Rose heaved a deep sigh and walked barefoot to the bathroom. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing a white nightdress, and her long hair draped on her shoulder. Her face looked haggard and pale.

It seemed that she needed more effort to fix herself up today. She must also dress up well.

Even if Burke wouldn't appreciate it, at least she could impress the rest of the Gu Family members.

As she thought of him again, her heart sank.

Just like what Burke had said in his message, Rose dressed up ahead of the time. She then stood outside the villa to wait for him. She knew that he was always punctual and disliked dilatory.

As she expected, his car halted in front of her on time.

Today, Rose chose to wear an off-shoulder blue chiffon dress, and her hair was tied in a ponytail. It made her look more energetic.

Burke felt warm in his heart as he looked at her from afar. She was so beautiful, with fair and smooth skin. She was like a lotus, so pleasing and serene.

As his car approached her, he hid all the emotions that surged up in his heart and eyes.

He rolled down the window and said softly, "Hop in."