A Storm of Love: Please Love Me Gently

"Josie, you and Mrs. Walsh used to be best friends. Therefore, it should be your daughter who marries her son..."

As soon as Rosina Bentley made it to the door of the ward, she heard a man's voice inside and stopped abruptly in her tracks.

"What're you trying to say, Perry?" Josie Morris said bitterly, glaring at the man in front of her. "I just lost my son. How dare you try to steal my daughter from me? You're a heartless bastard!"

Eight years ago, Rosina's father, Perry Bentley, had abandoned her and her pregnant mother in a strange foreign land. A month ago, when Rosina's brother got into a car accident, Perry didn't even bother to come.

But now he showed up out of nowhere to marry Rosina to a stranger.

"What son? He was just a bastard. Why're you so angry?" Perry rolled his eyes. "The man Rosina's going to marry is a Walsh. He's handsome and rich. Rosina will live a carefree life if she marries him."

"Don't you have a daughter with that bitch? If marrying a Walsh is such a good thing, make your daughter do it! As long as I'm still alive, I won't allow anyone to hurt Rosina!"

Perry fell silent. He felt somewhat guilty.

Mr. Walsh was indeed a noble man, but a month ago, he had gotten into a car accident while abroad. Now, he was disabled and his sexual libido was also impaired, rendering him infertile.

Whoever married him wouldn't be able to have a child with him.

"I'm just here to inform you that this is happening. You have no say in the matter." He glanced around the ward meaningfully. "Your hospital bills must be really expensive, am I right? How long will you two survive, relying on your daughter's measly income? Don't be so stubborn!"

"Perry! You fucking bastard!" Josie, who was in bad health, was so worked up that she started to cough violently.

"I'll marry him." Rosina pushed the door open and quickly rushed to her mother's side. While patting her mother's back, she looked at Perry emotionlessly. "I'll marry him, but on one condition."

Stunned, Perry looked at her in a daze.

Over the past eight years, she had grown a lot, but she was very thin-almost malnourished even. In Perry's eyes, she was nowhere near as pretty as his other daughter.

"What?" Perry asked with a frown.

"You have to take us back home. And you have to return all the property that belonged to Mom." Rosina's voice was cold yet impenetrably firm.

"Rosina..." Josie tried to persuade her daughter not to do this.

Rosina had gone through so much suffering with her. Josie didn't want to see her marry a stranger for her sake.

Worried that Rosina would change her mind, he said hurriedly, "As long as you marry him, I'll let you come back."

"What about Mom's property?"

Seeing that Perry still hesitated, Rosina sneered.

"I'm sure my half-sister is very beautiful, right? So you wouldn't want her to marry a disabled man, or else her life will be ruined. Moreover, you and my mother have divorced. Isn't it only right that you return her things to her?"

Perry broke out in cold sweat. How did Rosina know that the man she was going to marry was disabled?

And she was right. His other daughter was gorgeous. How could he let her marry a disabled man?

Thinking of this, Perry gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I'll give everything back after you marry him. Your mother didn't raise you well, you rude girl!"

As he spoke, he looked Rosina up and down coldly. Now, he hated her even more. Not only was she sharp-tongued, but she was greedy, too.

Rosina rolled her eyes but didn't intend to argue.

She had nothing on him now, so she couldn't afford to irritate Perry.

"Pack your things. We'll leave tomorrow." Without waiting for a response, Perry stormed out of the ward.

"Rosina, marriage is no trivial matter. I can't let you do this." Josie frowned.

Rosina reached for her hand and said softly, "Well, I'm not marrying a total stranger. He's the son of your friend, right?"

"Yes, but she died a long time ago. And I never met her son. Even if it means breaking my promise to her, I can't let you marry someone you don't love. It's not a good idea to use marriage as a bargaining chip. I'd rather stay here for the rest of my life than put you through this." Josie squeezed her hand lightly and sighed.

Someone she loved? Rosina smiled bitterly.

She lowered her head to hide her conflicted emotions. It didn't matter who she married. What mattered was taking back everything that had been taken away from them.

Unable to change Rosina's mind, Josie left the country with her the following day.

Perry had already made arrangements for them to live in a rented apartment.

As soon as Rosina put down her luggage, she suddenly felt sick and couldn't help but retch.

"Rosina, are you okay? You look pale!" Josie rushed to her side, brows creased with concern.

"I'm fine. I'm just tired from the flight. Anyway, I'll go to my room now."

Rosina didn't want her mother to worry, so she came up with a perfunctory excuse and retreated to her room.

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to suppress the urge to retch.

It had been more than a month since that night, and her period was ten days late...

Rosina shook her head and didn't dare to finish that thought.

The following day, Rosina went to the hospital to get herself checked without telling Josie.

When she walked out of the hospital, the doctor's words kept replaying in her mind.

"You're six weeks' pregnant."

In a trance, she subconsciously put her hand on her belly.

A month ago, she needed money badly so that her brother could receive treatment. She was so desperate that she ended up agreeing to an absurd deal and spent a passionate night with a total stranger.

Rosina's eyes turned red. She had no idea what to do.

Thinking about an abortion left a bad taste in her mouth.

Rosina clutched the B Ultrasound report tightly.

Suddenly, her phone started to ring. Seeing that it was Perry calling, Rosina hesitated for a moment before finally answering it.

"What?" she snapped impatiently.

"How dare you talk to your father like that?" Perry roared angrily.

"Father? What kind of father would abandon his family in a foreign country?"

Perry had left her and her pregnant mother alone in that country without a single penny.

If it weren't for the fact that Rosina and her mother took on multiple part-time jobs, they would've starved to death.

Father? What a joke!

"That's water under the bridge. Anyway, meet me at the mall. I'll text you the address."

Then, without waiting for a response, he hung up abruptly.

Rosina frowned, but considering the fact that Perry hadn't given back her mother's stuff yet, she decided she had to obey him in the meantime.

Half an hour later, her taxi stopped in front of a high-end women's clothing shop.

As soon as Rosina got out of the car, she found Perry standing at the door impatiently.

"What're we doing here?" Rosina asked in a low voice.

Perry looked her up and down and wrinkled his nose in disdain. "Mr. Walsh wants to meet you. Do you really want to meet him in such shabby clothes? Are you trying to embarrass me?"

"If I were rich, do you think I'd be wearing these clothes? Would my brother die because I didn't have money to pay for his treatment? As my so-called father, you should know all these things, right?"

Rosina's eyes flashed fiercely and she clenched her fists.

Being scolded like this, Perry looked a little embarrassed and coughed awkwardly. "Forget it. You're lucky I'm looking out for you now. Anyway, the Walsh family will be at the house soon, so hurry up and buy some new clothes. We can't keep them waiting."

Rosina rolled her eyes, but she didn't say anything more.

As soon as she stepped foot inside the shop, a friendly saleswoman approached them. Perry pushed Rosina forward and grunted, "Something decent for her, please."

The shop assistant studied Rosina's figure and then nodded. "Please follow me, miss."

The shop assistant trotted over to a rack and pulled out a light blue dress. "Here, try this. The fitting room is over there."

Rosina took the dress and walked in the direction the saleslady pointed at.

"Caldwell, do you have to marry that Bentley girl?" asked a woman. There was a hint of grievance in her coquettish voice.

Rosina pricked her ears and peeked through the crack between a door and its frame curiously. Inside the private fitting room, she saw a woman with her arms wrapped around a man's neck, pouting like a spoiled child. "You should be marrying me, not some other woman. That night, didn't you say...?"

Sonya Brewer let her voice trail off on purpose.

Looking at her aggrieved expression, Caldwell Walsh felt bad. "Did it hurt that night?" he asked softly.

Sonya lowered her head and leaned against his chest, replying shyly, "Yes."

That night, Caldwell needed a woman. She was no longer a virgin, but she couldn't let him know that, so she resorted to tricks.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of you." Caldwell pulled her close.

Sonya nodded, smiling secretly.

Seeing that the two were about to come out of the room, Rosina hurried to hide in the fitting room next door.

While she was trying on the dress, she thought about the conversation between the couple in the fitting room just now. It seemed that they were talking about the Bentley family.

Was he the man she was going to marry?

No, it couldn't be him!

Rosina shook her head.

The man in the fitting room was standing perfectly fine while her future husband was a cripple.

After getting changed, Rosina stepped outside and peeked at the fitting room next to hers, but the door was closed.

"It suits you!" The shop assistant complimented her with a smile.

Seeing her in the dress, Perry nodded in approval and went to pay for it. But when he heard that the dress cost over thirty thousand dollars, his blood ran cold. Remembering Rosina was about to meet Mr. Walsh, he gritted his teeth and handed over his credit card. Then, he said in a cold voice, "Let's go."

Lowering her head, Rosina followed him into his car.

Soon, they pulled to a stop in front of a villa.

Standing at the gate, Rosina snorted.

While she and her mother were living a miserable life in a foreign country, slaving over her brother's illness, her father and his mistress were living a luxurious life in this magnificent villa.

"Why are you just standing there?" Perry looked back in annoyance.

His voice brought Rosina back to her senses and she trotted to catch up to him.

A servant let them in, saying that Mr. Walsh hadn't arrived yet. Perry told Rosina to wait in the living room.

In the living room, a beautiful piano was placed near the French windows. Rosina's mother had bought it for her on her fifth birthday.

Ever since she was a child, Rosina liked playing the piano. However, she hadn't touched one ever since she was sent abroad.

With her index finger on the key, Rosina pressed down slightly. A clear, melodious note played.

The familiar feeling warmed Rosina's heart.

"Who said you could touch my piano?" An angry voice sounded from behind her.

Rosina looked over her shoulder and glanced at the girl indifferently.

This was probably her half-sister. She looked a lot like Perry's mistress, Aurora Bentley, and was good-looking.

But at this moment, her pretty face was contorted in anger.

"Your piano?" Rosina's eyes flashed coldly.

The girl's mother had destroyed her mother's marriage and taken away everything that was hers. Now, she had the audacity to lay claim to this piano!

"You... You're Rosina?" Tiana Bentley pursed her lips unhappily.

She still remembered the day Perry had sent them abroad. The little Rosina had fallen to her knees, begging pitifully for him to let them stay.

"You must be dying from happiness now that Dad brought you back." Crossing her arms across her chest, Tiana looked at Rosina with disdain. "He only brought you back because he needs you to marry into the Walsh family. The man you're going to marry? He's-"

Tiana covered her mouth and sneered.

If Rosina married a cripple, her life would be over.

Rosina frowned tightly, but before she could say anything, a servant suddenly approached.

"Mr. Walsh has arrived," she said.

Perry practically bounded out the door to receive them personally.

Soon, a man was wheeled inside the living room. When Rosina saw the man's face, her expression changed.

Wasn't this the man she saw in the fitting room just now?

It turned out that he was the man she was going to marry.

But just earlier, she saw him standing up unaided. He even held a woman in his arms.

What the hell was going on?

"Rosina, come here quickly. This is Caldwell Walsh." Perry pulled Rosina in front of Caldwell and smiled at the man flatteringly. "This is my daughter, Rosina Bentley."

Caldwell looked Rosina up and down, frowning.

Before his mother died, she kept nagging him about the marriage she had arranged for him. He couldn't go against her will, so after the accident, he spread fake news about his disability, hoping the Bentley family would be the ones to break off the engagement.

Seeing that Caldwell's face was becoming livid, Perry thought he wasn't satisfied with Rosina, so he quickly explained, "Rosina has just turned eighteen. I'm sure she'll blossom when she's older."

Caldwell smiled wryly. "I went on a business trip recently and got into an accident. I'm afraid I'll never be able to walk again, and I cannot make your daughter a mother."

"I don't mind," Rosina replied flatly.

As long as she married into the Walsh family, Perry would return her mother's things. Even if her marriage lasted only a day, he had to fulfill his end of the bargain.

Rosina looked at the man in the wheelchair steadily. She knew what he was trying to do.

The reason why he came to the Bentley family in a wheelchair was that he wanted them to break off the engagement. If the Bentley family broke it off, he would be free to marry the woman in the fitting room earlier.

But what Caldwell didn't expect was that Perry would be willing to sacrifice Rosina to keep the promise between Josie and Caldwell's mother.

Caldwell frowned and narrowed his eyes at Rosina.

Being stared at coldly, Rosina felt bitter. It wasn't like she wanted to marry him.

But if she didn't marry him, she wouldn't be able to get her mother's property back.

Thinking about this, Rosina forced a smile and said, "The deal was made when we were little. It doesn't matter who you've grown up to be. We should get married. It's what our mothers wanted."

Caldwell's expression instantly darkened. This woman was quite eloquent.

Perry didn't notice that anything was off and asked tentatively, "As for the wedding date..."

Caldwell's jaw tightened. "The wedding will push through as agreed."

Rosina lowered her eyes and restrained her emotions. She didn't dare to look at Caldwell. Obviously, he was dissatisfied with the marriage.

"If Rosina makes any mistakes, please punish her for me," Perry joked, laughing heartily.

It was perfect for Perry if he could marry his unwanted daughter to Caldwell. That way, he could benefit from it.

Perry bowed slightly and said in a low voice, "I've asked the cook to prepare us a scrumptious dinner."

"No, thanks. There's something else I have to deal with." Caldwell refused without missing a beat.

With that, Tyson started to wheel Caldwell out. As they passed by Rosina, Caldwell raised his hand, indicating to Tyson to stop.

Caldwell raised his head and locked eyes with Rosina. "Are you free now, Miss Bentley?"

Although it was phrased as a question, it was posed as an order.

Rosina had no choice but to nod. It seemed that he had something to say to her.

It was fine with Rosina. She also had something to say to him.

Perry cast a warning glance at Rosina and whispered, "Behave yourself."

Rosina ignored him and followed Caldwell out.

She knew exactly what Perry was up to. How could this man be so confident that she would help him after she married into the Walsh family?

Just because he was her father?

But did he ever treat her as his daughter?

Did he have any idea how her life had been a living hell the past eight years?

Rosina was so lost in thought that she didn't notice that the wheelchair in front of her had stopped. She bumped into its back and staggered back clumsily.

Turning the wheelchair around, Caldwell narrowed his eyes at her. "You want to marry me even though I'm disabled? You're no picky woman. Why? Is it because of my money? Are you so eager to marry into a rich family?"

Rosina's scalp tingled under his intense gaze, but she managed to keep a calm expression on. "Aren't you pretending to be disabled?"