chapter1141

Rosie's face went cold the second she heard those words. She didn't even look at Marilyn, just grabbed her cup and took a furious sip.

Marilyn's heart skipped. She had no idea what she'd said wrong.

Maisie noticed and quickly tried to smooth things over. "Rosie, Jackson's just under

a routine investigation. He'll be fine. Really, relax."

That's when Marilyn finally realized she'd messed up. Wait, Jackson was being investigated? She'd brought him up without even thinking. Now she just wanted to slap herself.

Rosie was just as confused. Her uncle had always been fine, so why was he suddenly being questioned? It had been ages already, and there was still no news. Not a word from anyone. Her parents were worried sick, not to mention the Hydes family. If something really happened to her uncle, she didn't even want to imagine the fallout. The Hydes family would be done for, and her own family would go down with them. So would all the other families who had sided with Jackson.

So Marilyn mentioning Jackson right now was basically pouring salt on the wound. Trying to change the subject, Maisie jumped in. Rosie, you already broke things off with Alfie. Maybe you should find a chance to tell Carter how you really feel. Otherwise, he'll have no idea why you're so upset."

Rosie hesitated, thinking it over. She'd almost telling Carter about her feelings earlier when she saw him with Lydia. Maisie's advice was exactly what she wanted to hear. She knew she had to tell Carter soon. What if Lydia got to him first?

Luckily, dinner between Lydia and Carter hadn't looked intimate at all.

Lydia finished eating, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and said, That was dinner with an audience."

Carter's cheeks turned red. "Sorry, that was on me."

"It's alright. The food here is actually great."

Lydia got up to leave, and Carter hurried after her. Rosie saw this and instantly got up too, worried Carter might get whisked away by Lydia again. It was late, and she wasn't about to let him slip away.

"Carter, I need to talk to you."

Carter felt a headache coming on. After seeing Lydia off to her car, he turned to find Rosie waiting nearby "Miss Gibson, I thought I'd made things pretty clear. From now on, hope you won't waste your time on me. I'm not interested."

He knew saying it out loud like this might hurt Rosie, but if he didn't, she'd just keep thinking he had feelings for her.

Rosie stood there like she'd been

there

struck by lightning. The speech she had practiced over and over was completely stuck in her throat. Her hand curled into fists nails digging, into her balms, but even the pain wasn't enough to take away the sting of rejection.

From her point of view, she was from a good family, she was beautiful, and she was

sure she was a great match for Carter. Yet he had turned her down with no hesitation at all.

"Carter, I... Rosie tried hard to keep it together, her voice shaking as she forced herself to speak.

But Carter stepped back, widening the space between them. His voice was calm but decisive. "Miss Gibson, appreciate your feelings but you can't forge these things. think it's better if we keep our distance."