Can’t Win Me Back novel (Alyssa and Jasper) novel Chapter 1702

Silas tightened his arms around her as he spoke as if fearing she might escape him.

A warm blush crept up Rose's chest, a pleasant tingle settling in her heart. Her voice dipped to a playful whisper, more of a tease than a scold. "Well, at least you know you're being sneaky."

"Rosie." Silas couldn't tear his gaze away. A captivating blush painted Rose's pale face as he murmured, "Well, you're just as cunning. You're the sneak who's stolen my heart."

Rose found herself at a loss for words.

She remembered listening to Alyssa chatter about her family and Silas. He had such a handsome face. Yet, he was so dense and cheesy that it raised concerns for him.

It seemed Alyssa was right.

Silas noticed her sudden silence and fell into a surge of panic. He turned her to face him. "Are you still upset with me?"

"Silas Taylor."

Silas' panic intensified at the sound of Rose addressing him by his full name. Unconsciously, he swallowed hard.

"I am an illegitimate daughter of the Emerson family. I am a disgrace. Even the Emersons would come to me and cause trouble. I have no peace. I don't deserve you. It'll only be harder for you if you stay by my side."

It felt as though she was tearing a piece of her heart away with each word uttered. "You deserve better."

Rose continued, "There are plenty of reasons why you might feel this way about me, and perhaps one of them is because your emotions stem from a desire to protect me—a misplaced sense of sympathy.

"But once the initial rush fades, you'll see what I see—love is fleeting and nothing but trouble. You come from a good place, and even if you don't need someone of equal standing, you deserve a well-educated woman with a respectable family background.

"My life... it's forever marked. Today was just a glimpse, a mere whisper of the darkness I carry."

Beneath the icy veneer of a renowned designer, Rose harbored a wellspring of bitterness and insecurity. Her extravagant creations were a carefully crafted façade, a shield to deflect from the vulnerability beneath.

Despite her prestigious Emerson name, Rose felt adrift, a life without roots. She could never bring herself to proclaim her lineage.

"And as for my family and father, you have nothing to fear. Their acceptance knows no bounds. My father even embraced my brother's sexuality wholeheartedly. He even welcomed Jasper despite his past transgressions with Lyse. So why wouldn't he extend the same warmth to you? Why couldn't he?"

A fresh wave of ache washed over Rose, constricting her heart. Squeezing her eyes shut, she shook her head. Her hands pressed against his chest, forcefully pushing him away.

"Dr. Lovelace is the second in line to helm the Lovelace Group, and Jasper is the president of the Beckett Group. They're royalty compared to me. There's a world of difference. Don't waste your time on me anymore."

Rose was truly obstinate, and she was getting on Silas' nerves.

Frustration flickered across Silas' face, reddening his face. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.

Rose averted her gaze and turned to leave as she said, "My assistant mentioned you were here to collect Dr. Lovelace's suit. You're here on Lyse's order because she is occupied, right? My assistant is packing it now. You can head home after that. I'm exhausted and in need of some rest."

"That's not all. There's one more thing." Silas' voice, now icy, came from behind her. "You still have my badge, don't you? I have an important meeting to attend, and everyone is required to wear their badges. Please return it to me."