Chapter 407: Izaak’s Past 7
"I think we need to stop seeing each other for a while," Roseline said softly, her voice tinged with frustration. "Last night, I was nearly caught because of the bruise you left. I told you to be more careful."
Brandon’s brow furrowed as he clenched his fists. "I don’t understand, Rose. How much longer do we have to hide like this? It’s been five years already. You promised you’d find a way out, but we’re still stuck in the same place."
Roseline sighed, her eyes reflecting a mixture of guilt and helplessness. "Izaak refuses to take the throne, and that’s what’s holding me back. As long as he won’t step into his role, I can’t risk separating from him. I thought that becoming Queen would give me the leverage we need, that it would make things easier. You know how much I love you, Brandon," she added, her fingers gently tracing the curve of his jaw. "For you, I even... I even terminated the child I was carrying for Izaak."
"Yes, I know," Brandon said. "What I don’t understand is why your hatred for Prince Izaak runs so deep. Do you really think that if he were to find out about us, he’d spare us? This is the fear that gnaws at me every single day. Despite our luck so far, the danger remains ever-present."
He brought Roseline’s hand close to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles. The gesture was meant to offer comfort but also to emphasize his concern.
Roseline looked away, her expression a mix of anguish and defiance. "I wanted to be in love with him," she began, her voice trembling with suppressed anger.
"But in the early years of our marriage, he avoided all forms of intimacy with me. It was as if I was invisible to him. And then, there’s the fact that he’s murdered three of his previous wives. The thought that he might turn on me next has always terrified me. He often speaks of them with a cold detachment that only adds to my fury. But what enrages me the most is his constant suspicion. He’s never truly understood me, never grasped what I need or desire. His lack of empathy and understanding makes everything worse."
Brandon cupped Roseline’s face in his hands and kissed her gently, his touch both soothing and reassuring. "Calm down, Rose," he murmured between kisses. "I can wait for you, no matter how long it takes. The truth is, I love you more than my own life. Your happiness means more to me than my own."
As his lips brushed against hers, he conveyed his deep affection and unwavering commitment.