"I did, but it's because you surprised me with it. I didn't think I could have this choice again and suddenly I was offered something that I thought I wanted. I didn't even really think before I said yes."

He nodded but said nothing.


Charles was tired of making the first move, always chasing Rosabella.

This time he wants to hear something from her.

She sighed, her brown eyes tired.


"You think I'd leave anyway if you weren't shot? That's what everyone thinks, maybe even Fanny."

He kept his face neutral.


"Isn't that the truth?"

"No, that's not true." She frowned at the window, her cheeks flushed with emotion.

"You know that moment we were in that hotel room, when Archibald was about to kill you, that I didn't want to lose you. I know that, but I still don't want to admit it to anyone. I was stupid and I'm the same wretched Rosabella as ever. And once I've agreed to your offer, I'm too proud to tell you that I don't even want my stupid freedom, I don't want to leave you, don't want my old life admitting defeat, that's stupid. How can love be defeated?" She was silent, her eyes wide.

Charles became silent, like a hunter who didn't want to startle his prey.

She licked her lips nervously while he wished he knew what she was thinking. However, he had a feeling that he already knew.

Maybe she's even waiting for him to say something first, to tell her again that he loves her. But Charles wouldn't open up to her and risk stepping on it a second time.

Admitting something like that leaves one vulnerable and so far Rosabella has given him little reason to risk it.

He'd hunted her down long enough. Now it's her turn and he won't push her in either direction. Everything from this point on will have to come from her.

"You know the offer is still available. You're a free woman. You can go to Michel and tell him. He won't stop you."

"Are not." She said firmly. "I've been running away from my feelings for too long." She propped up her palms and leaned forward.

"I want to be with you, Charles. God, I know I shouldn't, but it doesn't matter anymore. I'm sick of ignoring my heart. I... I love you, ok? Here, I said it." She kissed him almost desperately, her hands finding their way into his hair.

Charles' head is still soft but he'd rather slit his own throat than tell Rosabella to be careful.

He wants to feel her lips, her fingers, her body. He wants all of her. She is his now. Rosabella is finally his.

"Are you sure?" He asked in a low voice as she stepped back.

Rosabella nodded. "That's right. There's no doubt in my mind. I don't care how that makes me. I don't care what other people think of me. Not even Fanny." She pressed her lips together to try to hold her back but ended up in tears.

Charles pulled her down and kissed her again. He will never have enough of her taste.

"I love you, Rosabella. I've loved you for a long time."

She sobbed.

"Shh... this is the third time I've made you cry."

"What?"

He cautiously ran his fingers through her messy hair, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You know, one of the reasons you're not like any other boring girl is because you're not a crybaby. At least you aren't. But this is the third time I've made you cry."

"You know that too?"

They both smiled as he pulled her down close to him again, kissing her gently.

---

A week later, Charles was finally home. He's still recovering, mostly in bed, but he's definitely making repairs.

Rosabella almost never leaves him, administering most of his treatments like dressing changes and tracking his progress and just keeping him company as he struggles to deal with idleness like this.

Charles was used to being busy and working hard, and it became extremely difficult to stay in his room day and night.

"I'm back," Rosabella announced when she entered the room after being away for a few hours, carrying a tray of food.

She carefully placed it on the bedside table to help Charles sit up, placing the tray back on his lap when he was upright.

"You cook?" He frowned in surprise as he looked at the bowl of soup, a slice of Italian bread, and a salad.

Rosabella sat across from him on the edge of the bed and let out a dry laugh.

"You're kidding right?"

He grinned, shaking his head. "That's right, what was I thinking? For you to cook, I probably need to be shot twice."

"At least three times."

Before Charles had a chance, Rosabella grabbed the spoon, dipped it in the bowl to stir the soup to lift it, and blew on it a few times to then bring it to her lips.

He rolled his eyes. "I have the ability to support myself, Rosabella."

"Uh, but in a week you'll wake up and act like an asshole again. So allow me five minutes to feed you, ok?"

He swallowed the small soup and took the spoon out of her hand, taking a second sip himself.

"Who says I don't act like an asshole now."

Rosabella shrugged as she watched him eat, tearing the bread into bite-sized pieces.

"Uhm, there's a key point missing for you to do so."

"That is?"

She added a few pieces of bread to his soup.

"You can't use little Charles right now, that's a big factor."

Charles put down his spoon and playfully glared at her. "Sorry, but I'm not young anymore."

Rosabella acted as if she couldn't remember clearly, tapping her chin with the tip of her index finger. "I must have forgotten."

"You have?"

She shrugged again, suppressing the menacing smile that rose to her face.

"Am I not that memorable?"

Charles narrowed his eyes at her as he stuffed a few green leaves into his mouth, chewing them hard.

"You did it on purpose."

Rosabella couldn't hold back the laughter that welled up in her throat.

"Of course I am. Annoying you is what makes sex even better later on. I'm getting ready for the big day, Charles."

Shaking his head, a smile crept up his lips as he grabbed the tray by the rim and pulled it aside, reaching out to take her hand in his.