Chapter 9 Giving Up

'What is the use of sending Xavier to appease me?' Rose thought inwardly. When she woke up a few days ago, she told Burke that she wanted a divorce. He got annoyed and walked out. Since then, they had never seen each other again.

And now, he sent Xavier to help him change her mind. If he really cared for her, why didn't he show up for many days? If he really cared about their child, why did he say such ruthless words to her?

A wry, self-mocking smile appeared on Rose's face. She was a wife who had never gotten her husband's attention. Her existence didn't matter to him at all.

As his nominal wife, she had no right to bear his child and gain his love. She should always remember this reality.

"The Gu Group has encountered some difficult problems these days, and Burke is very busy every day. I've even heard from his assistant that the whole company is working overtime with him now. They are all on call around the clock too," Xavier explained. Although Rose didn't say it, he could already tell what was in her mind by just looking at her face. So he wanted to let her know of Burke's current situation.

However, Rose was not interested to hear his explanation. She didn't need any representative to explain things on Burke's behalf.

As if she didn't hear anything, she stared at the pitcher on the table. She then licked her dry, cracked lips and said, "Can you get me a glass of water? I'm thirsty."

Xavier was stunned for a moment. After pondering for a long time, he finally understood that Rose didn't want to talk about Burke. So he nodded and turned to get her a glass of water.

Rose's ward was luxurious, and it had everything she needed. When Xavier was pouring water into the glass, he saw some wolfberries on the table. He remembered that he had seen some online documentaries about this fruit. So he added some into her water and thought of telling her some jokes to make her happy.

He handed the glass of water to her and said, "You know what they say on the Internet? When we reach a certain age, eating wolfberries while drinking beer is helpful to lessen the harmful effect of alcohol on the body. And if you love wearing jeans with holes in winter, it is better that you wear long johns inside them. We are more vulnerable when we get older."

Rose felt better when she took a sip of water because the temperature was just right. And when she heard what Xavier said, she couldn't help smiling.

"Oh, that's it, Rose. You look more beautiful when you smile. You should do it often." Xavier felt relieved to see that Rose was no longer as sickly and lifeless as she was when he first saw her sleeping just now. He pulled a chair from the corner and sat down, picked up an apple from the basket beside her bed, and peeled it. He then said, "My mom always tells me that apple is good for the nourishment of our blood, so you have to eat this one."

While he was peeling the apple, Rose covered herself with the quilt and reminded him, "Be careful not to cut your fingers."

Xavier looked at her, blinked a few times, and grinned playfully. "Oh, Rose, you really care for me. You are very different from Burke. That evil capitalist always oppresses me. He has never been kind to me."

He just tried to crack a joke. But since he mentioned a name that she didn't want to hear, she couldn't afford to laugh.

Xavier soon realized that he made a mistake, so he shut his mouth. When he finished peeling the apple, he handed it to her, looked at her face, and said, "Rose, I can't guarantee anything else, but I can guarantee that Burke really loves you. Maybe he just hasn't realized it yet. But growing up with him and being with him for so long, I know him well. I can feel that you are special to him. He has never treated any other women the way he treats you. Believe me. Amanda is..."

"Xavier, you don't have to explain anything for him," Rose interrupted whatever else he wanted to say. Her eyes looked so calm when she added, "The problems between us are far more complicated than you think."

Xavier wanted to defend Burke more. But when he met her eyes, he could only sigh.

"Are you sure you don't want to give him another chance?"

"Xavier, I am also a human being. I have my limitations. And I can't stand it anymore."

Rose then turned her head and looked outside the ward, intending to stop the topic.

Amanda said at the family lunch last time that she didn't regard herself as an outsider to the Gu Family because she had known Burke for ten years.

But Rose had been in love with Burke for twelve years. Why did she feel like he was still treating her as an outsider? Perhaps he never knew that she loved him, and he didn't intend to love her either.

She had given him countless chances, tolerating him and making concessions again and again. But he didn't change at all. In his eyes, she was still his nominal wife.

But Rose could only take so much. She didn't want to suffer anymore. So getting divorced was probably their best ending.

The prison was located on the outskirts of the city, and the road going there was really difficult, although the place was sparsely populated. It was also hard to walk around this mountainous area. This place used to be a cemetery that was transformed into a prison. So not far away, there were still many deserted tombs.

After traveling the whole day, Rose was finally close to her destination.

Sitting in the backseat of the taxi with a thin blanket wrapped around her body, she stared outside the window in a trance.

The taxi driver in front was constantly glancing at her through the rearview mirror, feeling scared. This was his first time to send a passenger to this place. If Rose hadn't offered to pay him twice the regular fare, he wouldn't have agreed to take her here. He didn't expect that this place was so bleak and gloomy. All of a sudden, he remembered the news about some taxi drivers being tricked and killed in desolate mountains, and it gave him the creeps.

Finally, they arrived outside the prison. Rose got out of the taxi, turned to the driver, and said, "Please wait for me for two hours. I'll pay you twice the price once again."

"Okay," replied the driver as he nodded ambiguously and fumbled for a cigarette in his pocket.

Rose looked up at the cold towering grey walls that surrounded the prison and took a deep breath.

She was going to visit her father.

Before she came here, she had already prepared herself. But when she saw her father coming out of his prison cell in a prison uniform and handcuffs, she couldn't help crying.

Her father had grown many years older than his real age. He was once a high-spirited and vigorous man. But now, he was greying at the temples and looked dispirited. But upon seeing her, his face lit up, and he smiled gently.

Behind the glass wall, he lifted the phone from its cradle and said, "My dear Rosy."

"Father..." When Rose heard the familiar voice that she hadn't heard for a long time, tears started to stream down her face again.

All of a sudden, she felt like all her grief and sorrows disappeared.

"Rosy, please don't cry. Is something wrong?" Looking at his daughter's tearful face, Ray hurriedly stood up. He was so distressed while holding onto the iron fence. If only he could go out and hug her.

"I'm fine, Dad." Rose snuffled and forced a smile. She took out a pack of tissue from her bag and turned around to wipe her face and blow her nose.

She didn't know that the forced smile on her face made Ray feel more painful.

He took care of her since she was a little girl, and he had never seen her force herself to smile. Perhaps those people outside were still making life difficult for her.

"Rosy, tell me what happened to you, okay? I will listen." Ray clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Those people seemed to be forcing him to spit out the truth.

"Dad. I just miss you, so I came to see you," Rose said while shaking her head. When she was discharged from the hospital, she did not inform anyone from the Gu Family. She didn't want to go back to their suffocating home anymore. She wanted to relax alone.

People always wanted to be with someone closest to their hearts when they were at their most vulnerable state.

And for Rose, Ray was the only person in this world closest to her heart. Besides, he was the only one left related to her by blood.

"Is Burke bullying you?" he tentatively asked. Ray didn't know about Rose's marriage that much since he was put in jail. On the one hand, he was grateful that she had a strong background, and she wouldn't be bullied and humiliated by others. But on the other hand, he was worried that Burke might not be treating her well. Being in the business world for many years, he was always cautious about people.

"No, he doesn't." A hint of disappointment flashed across Rose's eyes as she spoke, but she quickly disguised it. She didn't want Ray to worry about her.

Ray heaved a deep sigh and said, "Burke has visited me several times here before."

"What?" Rose asked in disbelief.

"Well... that kid... He kept trying."

Actually, there were two reasons why Burke had visited Ray several times. First, he wanted to make sure that his father-in-law was well taken care of, and second, to find out the truth.

But since Ray had already seen too much darkness in the world, he remained on guard even against Burke.

He didn't dare to tell Burke the truth to protect Rose, his only daughter.

"Dad, I'll take you out of here..."

"Rosy," Ray interrupted. "Don't worry. I am doing well here. What I want is, you take good care of yourself. I won't be there anymore to protect you, so you have to be strong."