I Said Divorce When He Sent Me Red Roses Chapter 09

I Said Divorce When He Sent Me Red Roses Chapter 09

Callum knew every detail of what had happened.

Every time I brought the incident up, he rushed to excuse Maris.

“She was just a kid back then, she didn’t know any better.”

“It’s only natural she’d grow jealous when she suddenly found out her father had another daughter.”

“She’s carried this heavy guilt all these years. Annelise, why can’t you just forgive her?”

I stared at Callum as he stood there waiting for my answer, a crushing weariness washing over me all at once.

A strange sense of relief settled in my chest too.

People who truly understand you will always see your side of things.

Those who don’t will only dig through your deepest wounds to pin all the blame on you.

“I told you on our wedding day, if you ever wanted a divorce, all you had to do was send me red roses.”

I held his gaze and spoke each word slowly.

“The moment you forced me down that corridor lined with red roses to reconcile with the woman who killed my mother, everything between us was already over.”

“It’s never just been his affair.”

“It’s every single time you chose Maris over me.”

Callum froze where he stood.

He hesitated for ages before he could get any words out.

“Annelise, I… I only wanted more people in this world who’d love you.”

“Maris is your family too, isn’t she?”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“Family that murdered my mother?”

“Family that seduced my husband behind my back?”

“Or the family that stole my company shares and took over my office?”

“Callum Rourke, did you stop to consider how all of this made me feel before opening your mouth?”

Callum went quiet, unable to come up with a single comeback.

He spotted the red tint flooding my eyes and seemed to finally grasp how brutally his words had cut me. He lifted a hand, reaching for my shoulder.

I stepped away before he could touch me.

His hand hung suspended mid-air.

“Annelise, I was wrong.”

“Please, just forgive me.”

“I’ll change every single thing you hate from now on.”

“Don’t file for divorce, okay?”

His voice grew more frantic by the second.

“I need you by my side.”

“The biotech firm can’t function without you either.”

“We made plans, remember? A son and a daughter someday.”

I finally saw right through him—his true intentions had slipped out at last.

He’d never loved me half as much as he claimed.

He only needed my expertise to keep Rourke Biotech afloat.

I had no desire to waste another second arguing with him and turned to leave.

Callum shot forward, grabbing my wrist with unyielding force. The more I twisted my wrist to break loose, the harder he clenched it.

“Annelise, why won’t you give me even one chance?”

I tilted my head up to meet his eyes and suddenly smiled.

“You know full well red roses tear me apart, yet you still made me walk through a hall overflowing with them.”

“Do you remember how things were when we first got together? You were never this cruel back then.”

“That alone proves your love for me has died.”

“Is regret really what’s driving you right now, or something else?”

I ripped my wrist free from his grasp, my tone ice cold.

“Callum, this desperate act of yours makes me sick. Don’t make me lose every last shred of respect I hold for you.”

The words struck Callum like a blade. His eyes turned red, and he lunged forward to pull me into his arms.

Before he could close the distance, Elias sprinted around the corner, shoving Callum hard before landing a solid punch straight to his jaw.

Callum’s head snapped to the side, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Elias laced his fingers through mine and pulled me behind his frame to shield me.

Callum wiped the blood off his lip and glared at Elias, raw jealousy burning bright in his pupils.

“Who are you?”

“Her new lover?”

“Do you not realize she’s still my wife?”

Elias’s expression remained calm and unruffled.

“I know. I also know your divorce papers are practically finalized.”

“For now, all that matters is she has no wish to speak with you.”

Callum charged straight at Elias in a blind rage.

Terrified Elias would get hurt, I darted between the two men to separate them, then fixed Callum with a frigid stare.

“We’re both members of a classified federal research project.”

“Do you understand the severe consequences that await you for harassing and attacking someone near the research facility?”

“Callum Rourke, leave this premises immediately. If you refuse, I will contact the police without hesitation.”

Callum stiffened in place.

The memory of the sealed delivery bag marked Federal Biomedical Research Bureau crossed his mind, and he recognized I wasn’t issuing an empty threat.

Color drained steadily from his face, leaving him ashen.

After a long stretch of silence, his voice trembled as he spoke.

“Annelise, I’ll come back for you again.”

I said nothing in reply.

I simply stood hidden behind Elias’s shoulder and watched Callum take slow, backward steps away from us.

“Annelise, mark my words—I will return.”

I tugged Elias toward the staff lounge and fetched first-aid supplies to clean the cut on his lip.

“There’s no need to act so impulsive next time.”

“This wasn’t recklessness.”

Elias locked his eyes on mine and spoke deliberately.

“Annelise, my feelings for you are completely genuine.”