Marrying Without You

I Could Only Save One

If anything, Rosalyn was lucky for not getting a concussion despite that nasty fall.

However, the lump on the back of her head was real and could be distinctly felt if touched.

While she was touching it, she wasn't looking where she was going and bumped headlong into someone.

"Sorry… Mr. Hammond," she said as she looked up and saw the familiar face.

Eric Hammond was wearing a grey silk shirt and a tailored suit, accentuating the elegant lines of his body from shoulder to waist.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

He was tall—the top of her head only reached his chin, so he naturally saw the lump on her head.

"I'm fine." Rosalyn took a step back, withdrawing from his hand.

He slid it into his pocket without missing a beat, his dark gaze studying her as he asked, "Do you need help?"

"I'm fine," Rosalyn repeated, and then remembered something. "Oh, congratulations on your wedding!"

He stopped looking at the lump just then with a mysterious twinkle in his eyes. "Likewise."

Likewise? What?

Was she supposed to celebrate being dumped by the man she loved for seven years as he married another woman?

Wait, she was going to get married too, and on the same day as well… so 'likewise' did make sense.

Rosalyn glanced at him again and said, "Goodbye."

With that, she was gone.

-

The fall was not completely terrible for Rosalyn—she could now take sick leave to pack her things.

Carl owned the house where she lived, and they had both lived together until three months ago.

He moved to Maple Park after Zoe returned, and this place had become her bachelorette pad.

Even so, Carl's personal effects were everywhere—his socks were in the shoe cupboard, his clothes in their shared closet, and the bar was filled with his favorite stock of alcohol.

Even the blanket he used was left on the couch.

Rosalyn never moved any of it for the last three months, as if Carl would return if she didn't.

But now, she understood.

Neither she nor those things would see the day he returned.

So she packed her things while leaving his untouched, gathering everything from decorations, trinkets, clothes, and other daily necessities.

When Carl arrived, he immediately noticed that something was wrong but couldn't put his finger on what it was.

He stopped coming since he got together with Zoe and was surprised to find the place unfamiliar.

Rosalyn was surprised that he came too. "Yes, Mr. Grant? Does Ms. Quayle need something else?"

Carl stared at her pale face and asked, "How's your head?"

"I won't die," she replied brusquely.

After she got hurt, she had to go to the hospital on her own because he was hugging Zoe.

Because Zoe was scared.

Rosalyn was only human—even if he was heartless, and she wouldn't beg for his sympathy, she still had a temper.

She had been with him when he was down and out.

Even if there was no love involved, he should at least show some loyalty to a comrade whom they had fought to build an empire with.

But when she got hurt, he had told her to go to the hospital on her own.

Carl strode up right then, pulling her into his arms and brushing her hair off the lump, touching it.

It hurt so much that she cringed and pushed him away.

Carl reached for her hand again nonetheless. "Why didn't you get that checked? We're going to the hospital."

Rosalyn quickly avoided him. "The doctor said it's a blood blister. What, am I supposed to drain the whole thing at the hospital?"

It would only shrink as the bad blood was slowly reintegrated.

Carl grimaced, feeling pained for her. "Look, Rosie… It's not like I didn't want to save you. It just happened out of the blue, and I could only save one…"

He could only save one, so he saved the one he loved.

Instincts truly reflected the heart as they said, and Rosalyn understood even without him telling her.

"She's your fiancee—I understand," she said, hanging her head and unable to stop the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Rosie…"

But before Carl could explain, his phone rang.

Seeing the number, he silenced it and said, "Just get some rest—someone else will handle the wedding, but you have to be there on the day of."