Chapter 9 I Won’t Be the Sacrificial Lamb
In Manhattan, winter had settled over the city.
Snow covered the streets and sidewalks, while the usual stream of luxury cars moved through the busy avenues. Rose eventually brought her car to a stop in front of Monroe Manor.
She stepped out and started toward the entrance.
But as she approached, she noticed an unfamiliar car parked near the driveway, along with a driver standing beside it.
Rose slowed.
Confusion flickered across her face.
Who was visiting their house?
She hurried toward the house and quietly stepped inside, immediately looking around for Oswald.
“Dad?”
Her voice echoed through the foyer.
She glanced around.
“Dad, where are you?”
She called again, but there was no answer.
Then movement from the sitting area caught her attention.
A figure rose from one of the couches.
Rose came to an abrupt stop.
Her eyes widened.
She knew the woman standing before her.
Maria Carrington.
Ivan’s mother.
For a moment, Rose could only stare at her, her entire body going rigid.
Maria, however, looked delighted to see her.
The instant their eyes met, her face brightened as though all her wishes had suddenly come true.
“Rose! Sweetheart!”
Maria immediately hurried toward her.
“I was just wondering when I would get to see you!”
Rose remained frozen, barely able to process the unexpected encounter.
Maria looked exactly as she always did—perfectly polished from head to toe.
Her signature red lipstick was immaculate, and a few carefully styled strands of hair framed her forehead.
She wore an expensive, perfectly tailored outfit that complemented her figure, while a designer handbag rested against her arm.
Maria Carrington had always been meticulous about her appearance in society. Even at home, she was perfectly dressed in clothes that complemented her figure and reflected the wealth of the Carrington family. Rose had never seen her look anything less than flawless, and today was no exception.
“I came to meet your father about something important, but unfortunately, he wasn’t here,” Maria continued as she gently took Rose’s hands into hers.
She held them affectionately, smiling brightly.
“I thought I would wait for him to come home, but it turns out you came home first. Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get in touch with you, but I couldn’t reach you. ”
Rose’s shoulders finally began to relax as the initial shock wore off. She offered Maria a hesitant smile.
“I was just a little busy, Mrs. Carrington. How are you?”
“I’m fine, dear.”
A flicker of tension crossed Maria’s face before she lowered her voice.
“I heard about what happened between you and Ivan.”
Her smile faded.
She reached for Rose’s arm and gently guided her toward the seating area.
“Come. Sit with me.”
Rose followed her, but instead of sitting beside Maria, she gently freed her arm and took a seat across from her in a single armchair.
Maria looked slightly uncomfortable with the distance between them but didn't comment.
“It was a mistake,” she said, her voice becoming more serious. “You know Ivan. He would never normally raise his hand against anyone. This must have been the first time, right?”
Rose studied her carefully, tension returning to her expression. She clasped her hands together in her lap before answering.
“Yes. It was the first time.”
Her voice hardened slightly.
“And it will be the last time he ever gets the chance to do it.”
Maria’s body stiffened.
The smile disappeared from her face completely, and a crease formed between her brows.
“Come on, Rose. Don’t be like this.”
She leaned forward.
“You know it was just a moment of anger. Can’t you forgive him? Mistakes happen in relationships. He won’t dare do it again. I’ll make sure of it. He’ll never raise his hand against you again—not even his voice.”
Maria looked at Rose with a mixture of expectation and hope.
“You two love each other. Surely you understand that mistakes can happen sometimes. Don’t let one mistake destroy something so important. Ivan really cares about you. He loves you, Rose. What happened was simply a terrible moment.”
Rose stared at her for a long moment.
Then she shook her head.
“Yes, but it did happen.”
Her voice remained calm.
“He slapped me. I don't care if it was the first time. I will make sure it never happens again.”
Maria’s expression tightened.
“That’s why I’ve already ended things with him,” Rose continued. “I won’t give him another chance.”
Maria looked increasingly uncomfortable with Rose’s bluntness. It was becoming clear that Rose wasn’t going to be as easily persuaded as she had expected.
Maria had always recognized Rose’s value, perhaps even more than Ivan did.
She knew Rose was kind, understanding, and easy to reason with.
She was the sort of woman who could be persuaded without much difficulty, who would listen instead of making a scene, and who was quick to forgive and make peace.
To Maria, Rose was practically perfect wife material.
Especially because she was the only daughter of a wealthy man.
Maria knew that, as Rose’s husband, Ivan would eventually have a claim to everything Rose inherited from her father.
That made Rose’s value to Maria far greater than just being a good wife.
“Rose, you’re both young. You know how boys are. They have testosterone. They can be hot-blooded. Sometimes things happen in a moment of anger. He never meant to hurt you. I’m sure he regrets it.”
She leaned forward, her voice softening as she tried to reason with her.
“You shouldn’t let one decision made on impulse affect your entire life. You two love each other. Don’t throw away all that love because of one incident. You’ve been together for so long, and you’re supposed to get married. Why not give him another chance?”
Rose’s expression didn’t change.
She remained calm and composed, her face almost indifferent as she listened to Maria. When the older woman finally finished, Rose met her gaze with quiet confidence.
“Mrs. Carrington, I know you love your son. But I’m not making this decision on impulse. I know exactly what I’m doing, and I know what I want.”
She paused, making sure Maria understood every word.
“And what I want is not to have Ivan as my husband. Please accept that this is my decision. It’s final, and I’m not going to change my mind.”
Maria’s expression tightened.
“I don’t love Ivan more than I love myself,” Rose continued, her voice steady despite the emotion tightening her chest. “I’m not going to be a sacrificial lamb, constantly tolerating his demands and enduring his anger every time he loses control.”
Her voice remained steady.
“If this happened once, I have no reason to believe it would never happen again. A man who is naturally hot-blooded isn’t going to magically change just because he marries me. I’m not going to gamble my future on the hope that he will.”
Rose shook her head.
“I don’t want that kind of man as my husband. And honestly, I hope no other woman ever has to experience what I did.”
Maria’s face fell.
For a moment, she looked as though Rose had slapped her.
She had come expecting Oswald to be the one who had canceled the engagement. She had assumed Rose was still willing to marry Ivan and that the decision had been taken out of her hands.
But after speaking to Rose, Maria finally understood.
Rose was the one determined to end the relationship.
And she wasn't going to change her mind.
The Carrington family was already suffering from the canceled business deals, and now Maria realized just how serious the situation had become. Rose wasn’t simply angry with Ivan. She was determined to walk away from him for good.
The shame on Maria’s face was impossible to hide. She was clearly embarrassed by her son’s actions, but she struggled to find the words to express it.
Rose finally rose to her feet.
“I’m not going to forgive him, Mrs. Carrington.”
Maria opened her mouth, clearly preparing to try once more to persuade her with gentle words, but Rose had already made up her mind.
Before Maria could say anything else, Troy appeared from the hallway beside the kitchen. He had been quietly listening to the entire conversation, and the determination in Rose’s voice brought a small, approving smile to his face.
“Troy, please escort Mrs. Carrington out of the house,” Rose instructed.
Without waiting for a response, she turned and headed upstairs to her bedroom.
Troy approached Maria with his usual polite demeanor.
“Mrs. Carrington, please allow me to walk you back to your car.”
Maria had little choice but to follow him.
***
After picking up a few things from her room, Rose returned downstairs. She stepped into the living room and looked around before asking, “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at work, Miss Rose,” Troy answered. “If you’d like, you can go to his company and see him. Would you like me to call his assistant?”
“No, that’s fine. I was just asking.” Rose shook her head. “I don’t have anything important to talk to him about. I’m going to leave now.”
She glanced at Troy.
“Thanks for helping me with Mrs. Carrington.”
Troy smiled knowingly.
“Of course, Miss Rose.”
There was an understanding look between them, and Rose smiled faintly before turning toward the door.
She had barely taken a few steps when Troy suddenly called after her.
“Miss Rose, there’s something else.”
She stopped and turned around.
“There’s a package that your father has purchased for you. Would you like me to bring it out?”
Rose immediately turned back.
“What is it?”
Troy walked toward the table in the living room where the household packages were usually placed. Rose followed him.
There was only one package sitting on the table—a medium-sized box.
“That one, Miss Rose.”
Rose picked up the scissors lying beside the box and cut through the tape. She opened the package and looked inside.
Her expression changed.
The box was filled with snow globes.
She pulled one out.
Her eyes widened slightly when she recognized it.
It was the exact same brand as the snow globe she had broken.