Chapter 252: Rose Jackson Burst into the House

Rose Jackson burst into the house, her vision blurred by tears. She slammed the door shut and slid down against it, her back pressed to the wooden surface. For the first time in over twenty years, she allowed herself to appear this disheveled.

Her nails dug deep into her palms, but she felt no pain. She remembered Nolan Brooks's words when he first held her hand: "Rose, you deserve the best in this world." Now, all she tasted was bitterness.

"Big sis?" Rose's younger sister, Grace, called from outside the door.

Rose hastily wiped her face, only to find her cheeks drenched. She hadn't realized she'd been crying so hard.

"I'm fine," she forced out, her voice hoarse and broken.

The door creaked open. Grace stepped in with a cup of hot tea, pausing when she saw her sister's red-rimmed eyes.

"You saw everything?" Rose gave a bitter smile.

Grace set the tea down and crouched beside her. "Saw what? That my sister was bullied into hiding and crying in her room?"

The words broke the dam. Rose covered her face, her composure crumbling. "They called me shameless... said I was seducing men right after my divorce... Grace, am I really that despicable?"

"Bullshit!" Grace yanked Rose's hands away. "Who said that? I'll tear their mouths apart!"

Rose shook her head, tears splattering on the floor. "The whole village is saying it... Nolan's mother publicly called me a homewrecker today..."

"So what?" Grace shot to her feet. "Are you going to give up your happiness because of some gossiping busybodies?"

Rose froze. She looked up at her sister's flushed, furious face and suddenly remembered the rainy night when Nolan had waited for her outside the factory, an umbrella in hand, his eyes shining just like this.

"But—"

"No buts!" Grace knelt and gripped her hands tightly. "Big sis, you divorced to live like a human being, not to become someone else's punching bag!"

Rose's hands trembled. She recalled her ex-husband's drunken fists, her mother-in-law's cruel words, and then Nolan's gentle fingers as he carefully applied ointment to her wounds.

"I'm afraid of dragging you and the kids into this..."

"Afraid of what?" Grace scoffed. "Since when have the women of our family ever feared idle gossip?"

A loud thud came from outside. Grace yanked open the curtains to see Nolan standing in the yard, a half-empty sack of flour at his feet.

"I... I brought this..." he stammered, his ears burning red. "Rose, my mother's words don't count! I'm marrying you, no matter what!"

Rose burst into laughter, though her tears fell harder. Seeing Grace's teasing grin, she suddenly felt lighter than she had in years.

"Hear that?" Grace poked her forehead. "Someone's waiting to marry you, and here you are wallowing in self-pity."

Rose wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and stood. She smoothed her clothes and lifted her chin as she strode toward the door.

"Sis?"

"I'm going to have a little chat with Nolan's mother," Rose said, turning back with a smile, her eyes still wet but blazing with determination. "Can't let her insults go unanswered, can I?"

Grace stared for a second before bursting into laughter. She hurried to loop her arm through Rose's. "Let's go. I'm with you!"

Outside, Nolan fidgeted nervously. When he saw the sisters approaching, his face lit up, though his hands still twisted anxiously. "Uh... my mother, she—"

"Lead the way," Rose cut in, tilting her chin up. "I'm going to have a proper talk with her."

The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground. Grace watched her sister's straight-backed figure and suddenly saw the same big sister who'd once fought off village boys to protect her.

This was catharsis. This was how life should be lived.