Chapter Twelve
In the evening when Jaden came home, he saw Allison and Stuart sitting with Rosalie. Stuart got up and gave him a hug.
"Thank God they didn't arrest you. Shouldn't you be more careful?" He reprimanded Stuart and he scratched his head.
"Yeah, sorry bro. You know how I feel about Allison. I saw red when I went there and lost control," said Stuart. Jaden knew the feeling too well.
"Yeah, I know. Let's go and have a drink," he said, leading him to the bar. They sat down with a glass of whiskey each.
"How serious is Mr McAllister? What if he slaps charges on you?" He asked Stuart.
"Oh then I'll slap charges on him too. I have nothing to lose. Everyone knows I'm a hot-tempered guy," Stuart said, winking. "But Mr McAllister's reputation will be at stake if the video goes viral and if everyone knows that he offered money for a woman to marry her against her will."
"Yeah, you have a point. He's very particular about his reputation," said Jaden.
"I know. Too particular if you may ask. No wonder he's marrying Rosalie and not his mistress," said Stuart casually.
Jaden's eyes popped out with shock. His jaws dropped and he finished his drink in one gulp. "What mistress?" He asked Stuart.
"I saw him coming out of our hotel with Jennifer. I saw them at least five times. Every time they booked a room for a night, came at around lunchtime and spent around 4 hours with each other. I don't believe they play hide and seek in the room," said Stuart and Jaden stared at him, shocked.
"That means they are having an affair. Shouldn't we inform uncle Edwards?" Jaden asked.
"Yeah, we should. Let's do something. Whenever they book next time at the hotel, I'll inform you. You can intimidate uncle Edwards. He could catch them red handed, " said Stuart and Jaden agreed. They drank a little more and Stuart forwarded him some photographs that he had taken discreetly of Jennifer and Mr McAllister.
Rosalie and Allison discussed last night's episode at her office. "You shouldn't have told him about the baby. What if he harmed my baby?" Rosalie asked, scared.
"There's nothing he can do. Do you think Jaden can't take care of him? If he lays a finger on you Jaden will murder him. He's as fierce as Stuart. They both trained in taekwondo and kickboxing together. Only difference is Stuart is short-tempered and Jaden is level headed," said Allison.
"How do you know so much?" Asked Rosalie.
"Stuart told me yesterday night," she informed her.
"Well, are you two together then?" Asked Rosalie.
"Are you crazy? He's my houseguest only. I cook for him so he protected me," she said and Rosalie made a face.
"Liar, liar, pants on fire, " she said and Allison laughed.
They left after dinner and Jaden showed Rosalie the photographs that Stuart forwarded of her stepmother and Mr McAllister at the hotel. Rosalie stared at them, "Maybe they're planning the wedding together. We shouldn't jump to conclusions, " she said.
"You're too naive, love. They're fu*king each other inside the hotel room for four hours, regularly. Stuart saw them five times already, " Jaden said as she stared at him in disbelief.
"But he wanted to marry me," she said, her eyes wide with shock.
"Yeah, only for his reputation. A showpiece wife while he was busy having an affair with your stepmother," he said.
Rosalie couldn't believe Jennifer would stoop so low. She was glad that she didn't have to marry that hypocrite who was just a puppet in her stepmother's hands.
She went up to her room and changed for bed. Jaden came to get his clothes from his closet. Rosalie caught his wrist. "Please Jaden, stay," she said.
"Why?" He asked, coming closer to her.
"Because I want you to," she said.
"And?" He asked, coming closer and pulling her closer to his chest.
"And what?" She asked at a loss of words.
"And we belong to each other. I love you so much. You're mine and I'm yours. Only yours," he said, claiming her lips in a hungry kiss. He kissed her gently, tasting her sweetness. Rosalie kissed him back too. She loved him too.
He picked her up and they went to bed and slept cuddled up in each other's arms.
The next day passed by as usual. Jaden came home from office to find Mr Edwards sitting with Rosalie with a grave expression on his face. He concluded that Rosalie might have told him about his wife's deceit.
He sat down with them. "Did you tell uncle Edwards?" He asked Rosalie and she nodded.
"It's not a surprise to me actually. I was suspicious for a long time. But I kept quiet since I didn't have any proof. But now the pictures are proof enough," said Rosalie's dad.
"Dad we can catch them red handed." Said Jaden explaining the plan that Stuart had come forward with.
"Yeah, I'm ready for it. Just inform me the name and location of the hotel. I'll go and check it out beforehand. When they book and go there together, I would waste no time and catch them," said her dad. Jaden gave him the address of Stuart's hotel.
They chatted for a while and he left. They had dinner and went to bed early.
The next day, after breakfast as Jaden was getting ready for office, the doorbell rang. Who could it be so early in the morning. Rosalie was in the room with him so Betty opened the door.
She went rushing upstairs and knocked on their bedroom door. Jaden opened it wide. He was already dressed for work.
"Who is it Betty?" He asked.
"Sir, a well dressed lady with lots of makeup is yelling for Rosalie. I closed the door shut on her face and came upstairs," she informed in a very panicked tone.
"That would be Jennifer," said Rosalie, panic was a small word for what she was feeling.
They went downstairs to the constant peal of the door bell. Jaden opened the door angrily. Jennifer stood with a furious, red face, ready to blast anyone who stood in her way.
"Where's the bitch? Call Rosalie immediately, " she shouted.
"You mind your language. Rosalie wouldn't meet you," he said calmly.
"I'm her mom. How dare you talk to me this way. Don't you have any etiquette, young man?" Jennifer shouted.
"You're her step mom. So don't teach me how I should talk to you. You ill-treated her all your life. Don't you have any etiquette?" He shouted back.
Jennifer glared at him. "You call my daughter or I'll call the sheriff," she said.
"Rosalie won't meet you. I can call the sheriff here for you. He's my brother's best friend, Chase McGuire," said Jaden and Jennifer's face fell.
"Next time I won't leave you so easily, you son of a bit*h. I'll come prepared. Just wait and watch," she threatened.
"Go ahead, my brother's the best criminal lawyer of the state," said Jaden. She huffed and puffed all the way to her car and sped off.
Jaden hugged Rosalie and calmed her. "Don't worry, love. I'm here for you," he said as she hugged him tightly.
She was thankful to God that she had her Jaden with her.
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Featured picture: Cate Blanchett as Jennifer Edwards
