CHAPTER 104: EYES THAT MIRROR PAIN

Rome couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the steering wheel as he drove home to his condo. The road blurred past him, but his mind could still clearly remember his last conversation with his mom.

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"You’re not a fool. You’re smart. I know you see what’s in front of you. You just refuse to accept it because you’re too blind, too in love, to admit the truth."

Her voice had grown colder with every word.

His throat tightened, and a lump rose in his chest. He wanted to shout, to argue, to tell her she was wrong but the sight of his mom’s trembling hands clutching the photos kept him silent.

Her eyes softened slightly, though the disappointment etched deep into her face didn’t fade.

"Rome... I’m your mom. I’m not saying this to hurt you. But you need to wake up before it’s too late. That girl... she’s not worth the downfall you’re willing to embrace. And deep down, you know it."

She stepped closer, her gaze heavy with concern. "Tell me honestly... after seeing all of this, do you still believe she deserves your love?"

Rome looked straight into her eyes. He wanted to deny it, to say that Sylvia’s betrayal didn’t matter to him but the weight in his chest made it hard to breathe, and his throat felt blocked. All he could do was nod slowly, almost imperceptibly.

His mom sighed and shook her head, exasperation and sadness crossing her face.

"You know... it’s better if you just let your father’s anger cool down for both you and Sylvia, at least for now," his mom said softly, her voice filled with quiet concern. "I know... no matter what we say, you’re still going to choose her. Because you love her."

Rome’s jaw tightened, his chest unbearably heavy. Too blind... too stubborn...

He exhaled a shaky breath, running a hand over his face.

"Tell me, Mom," he murmured unconsciously, almost like a plea. "What am I supposed to do now? Father doesn’t want me to be with Sylvia anymore... and Sylvia... she wants to leave me."

His mother’s gaze softened.

"Then maybe... maybe let the moments between you and Sylvia cool down first. I mean, even if you choose to be with her what about her, Rome?...What would you do if she’s the one who no longer chooses you? Instead of fighting both her and your father at the same time, why not give your dad what he wants for now... while you’re also trying to sort things out with Sylvia?"

Her voice trembled faintly, as if she was holding back her own emotions.

"I know you’ve already heard from your father about your engagement to Ingrid. And believe me, I wish I could’ve handled this before it reached this point. I only found out too late that your father had already spoken to Ingrid’s family, that everything was set in motion. And now..." she paused, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Now it can’t be undone. Our family’s reputation is already on the line here. If this engagement is canceled again and on your birthday of all days, the backlash will be severe. It would humiliate us publicly, and it could even harm the company’s future. Your father... he won’t risk that."

Rome furrowed his brows, disbelief and anger burning in his eyes. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Mom? Even if you found out late, why didn’t you at least warn me? It feels like you and Father already decided everything about my engagement to Ingrid without ever asking me how I feel. I know Sylvia betrayed me, I know she cheated... but why does it feel like you’re both just using that as an excuse to push me toward Ingrid?"

"Rome..." His mother’s voice cracked. She reached for him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Son. Don’t look at me as if I’m the one who planned all of this. I swear to you, I didn’t. I only found out about Sylvia’s cheating when your father showed me those photos... I only learned about his decision to make the engagement with Ingrid official afterward. I’m as shocked as you are. If you want... I can talk to your father again. I can try to cancel the engagement. But if I do... we have to accept whatever consequences come with it. The backlash, the humiliation, the risks to the company, we’ll face it together. But Rome, I’m so sorry. I never wanted you trapped in this impossible situation."

Rome stared at his mom, letting out a deep, shaky breath.

What is he even thinking...? Even he began to doubt her.

She was right, he had been too blinded by his love for Sylvia to accept her betrayal. And yet, he knew that if he kept resisting, their family could be put in a difficult position, their reputation at risk.

"It’s just the engagement... that’s all that’s required, isn’t it?" he asked bitterly.

His mom paused. "Y-yes... if that’s what you decide..."

His jaw tightened. "Then I will accept it. I’ll get engaged to Ingrid for the sake of the family, but I will not marry her. In exchange, talk to Dad and convince him that I will still marry Sylvia, no matter what he says, after I’m done with my engagement to Ingrid."

"It’s okay if you don’t marry Ingrid," she said gently. "The important thing is that the engagement happens, so we can secure our contracts with her family. After that... you can go back to your relationship with Sylvia, as if nothing happened. I’ll convince your dad about this, and I’ll personally make sure everything is handled for you."

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Rome didn’t even realize that he had already arrived in front of his condo unit.

His thoughts were still tangled as he replayed his agreement with his mom over and over. He unlocked the door but suddenly froze for a moment.

It was then that he remembered he had locked his condo unit with Sylvia inside.

Panic and guilt pricked at him. Maybe she was angry with him now.

However, when the memory of the photos his father had shown him came back, the evidence of Sylvia with his brother and another man, he completely disregarded his guilt.

No...he told himself. I shouldn’t feel guilty. She’s the one who betrayed me. She’s the one who owes this anger, not me.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside. What greeted him stopped him in his tracks.

Sylvia was sitting on the sofa, knees drawn close to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them.

She slowly lifted her head to look at him. Her hair fell messily around her face, and he could see the remnants of tears in her eyes. Her gaze was heavy, filled with nothing but sadness and disappointment.

Rome tightened his hand on the door for a moment before locking it again behind him.

He approached her slowly, jaw clenched, trying to control the storm of emotions inside him. Beside her lay a suitcase and some of her belongings, neatly packed, as if she had been waiting for him to arrive so she could leave.

How dare she try to leave like this after everything? he thought bitterly.

After cheating on him with his brother and another man, she thinks she can just walk away?

"You’re late." she said, her voice cold and clipped, void of emotion.

She lowered her gaze, clutching her clothes tightly to her chest.

A moment of silence passed, as if both of them were just gauging each other’s presence.

"Why did you do that to me?"

"W-why did you have to lock me here?"

Sylvia and he said at the same time.

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm the rage burning inside him. This isn’t the time to lose control... he reminded himself.

His chest felt tight, his thoughts scattered. He wanted to yell, demand answers, to scream out all the anger and betrayal coursing through him but the sight of her small, trembling figure made him hesitate.

"I... I’ve been waiting for you since earlier," Sylvia whispered, her voice barely audible. "I want to leave... please."

Rome only met her pleading eyes with cold defiance.

He stepped closer to her, his gaze sharp and cold, as if trying to pin her in place.

"No. You can’t leave. No one’s leaving. You’re staying here with me."

...And why would you leave, huh? Don’t tell me... the moment you walk out that door, you’re running straight to Daniel or to that other man?

Those were words burning on his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak them out loud.

No matter how badly he wanted to, the pleading look in Sylvia’s eyes stopped him.

Those tear-filled, hurting eyes seemed to beg him that it wasn’t the right time to confront her. They both knew that once he voiced his pain, there would be no turning back.

Confronting her now, when she wanted to leave, would only deepen the wounds... wounds that might push her away for good.

His throat tightened, his breathing grew heavy. The weight of his pain pressed down on him, almost suffocating him.

Unable to bear the sight of her tear-stained face any longer, he turned away.

His fists clenched at his sides, jaw locked tight. He was afraid—afraid that if he kept looking at her, his fury would spill over and he’d do something he’d regret.

He couldn’t let himself hurt her, no matter how much pain she had caused him.

Behind him, Sylvia’s voice cracked. "Rome... please... I-I never wanted things to turn out like this. Please... if you don’t want me to leave, at least tell me what’s going on..."

His eyes shut tight at her words. A bitter laugh almost slipped past his lips, but he swallowed it down.

Never wanted this? Then why... why did you do it?

His chest ached, torn between love and anger, but instead of answering her, he just walked into his room, refusing to turn back.