Chapter 16 Ivan’s Accident
Rose’s head snapped up.
Maverick walked inside, completely unaware of what had happened while he was gone. The moment Rose saw him, whatever composure she had managed to gather disappeared.
She shot to her feet and hurried toward him.
“Maverick…”
Before he could even ask what was wrong, she threw her arms around him.
He stiffened in surprise.
Then, almost instinctively, his arms came around her, pulling her against his chest.
Rose said nothing. She simply clung to him, burying her face against his chest as another wave of emotion threatened to overwhelm her. The familiar scent of him only made the tears come harder.
Maverick’s hand moved slowly over her back.
“Rose…”
When he finally eased her away, his eyes immediately searched her tear-streaked face. The concern that crossed his features was instant.
“What happened?” His voice dropped, each word edged with concern. “Why are you crying?”
Rose looked up at him, desperately trying to hold herself together.
She failed.
More tears spilled down her cheeks.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Why did you have to suffer so much?”
Maverick frowned, clearly confused.
“What are you talking about?”
Rose caught his hand and pulled him toward the couch. He followed without resistance, though his eyes never left her face.
The moment he sat down, she picked up her phone and held it out to him.
“Look.”
Maverick glanced at the screen.
The moment the video began playing, something in him changed. His shoulders stiffened. The warmth disappeared from his face, leaving behind an expression so blank it was almost frightening.
He didn't need to watch for long.
He knew exactly what it was.
Rose watched the color slowly drain from his face as his eyes remained fixed on the screen. Then, without a word, he reached over and stopped the video.
“Forget about it.”
His voice was quiet.
He lowered his gaze, and Rose saw something in his expression that she had never seen before.
Shame.
Her heart clenched.
She immediately moved closer.
“What?”
“Forget you saw that.” His jaw tightened. “It doesn't matter.”
Rose stared at him in disbelief.
“It doesn't matter?”
Maverick said nothing.
She reached up and gently took his face between her hands, turning him toward her.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. “Why are you ashamed of what happened to you?”
His eyes flickered away.
Rose held his face firmly, refusing to let him hide from her.
“You shouldn't be ashamed. Not even for a second.”
Her fingers trembled against his cheeks.
“They did that to you. You were a child.” Her voice broke. “You didn't do anything wrong.”
Maverick looked away again, but Rose gently turned his face back toward her.
“I’m furious at them,” she whispered. “I’m not ashamed of you.”
Something in his expression shifted.
His eyes softened, though the old hurt remained buried beneath them.
Rose swallowed hard, fighting back another wave of tears.
“I don't feel disgusted by you,” she continued. “I feel disgusted by the people who did that to you.”
Her voice trembled as tears gathered in her eyes again.
“How could anyone do that to a little boy?”
“I don’t feel the pain anymore.”
Maverick’s voice was quiet as he carefully wiped the tears from Rose’s cheeks. He held her close until her sobs gradually faded, his hand moving gently over her back.
When she finally calmed down, Rose pulled away and sniffed, still looking at him with tearful eyes.
“I want you to celebrate your birthday with me.” She glanced around the room. “Look. I decorated everything for you, and you didn’t even notice.”
Maverick blinked, then finally looked around.
Only then did he seem to notice the decorations scattered throughout the living room. Balloons, ribbons, and a large birthday banner bearing his name covered the walls. The entire room had been transformed for him.
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
“So that’s why you left the office early?”
Rose nodded, a small smile returning to her face. She slipped an arm around his neck and leaned closer.
“Of course. Birthdays are important. I want you to have at least one day that feels special.” She paused, then smiled mischievously. “And I want you to make a wish.”
“A wish?”
“Yes.” She tapped his chest lightly. “A wish that only a divine being could fulfill, because you can obviously make all your own wishes come true. Someone has to keep you in check—and make sure you always have something left to wish for.”
A faint smile tugged at Maverick’s lips. He gave her a look that made her smile widen before he leaned down and kissed her.
It was brief and soft, but when he pulled away, Rose was still smiling.
Maverick turned toward the cake and reached for the candle.
“Wait.”
He paused and looked back at her.
“You can't blow it out yet.” She pointed at the candle. “Make a wish first.”
Maverick stared at her for a moment before finally indulging her. He drew in a slow breath, brought his hands together, and closed his eyes.
For a few seconds, he remained completely still.
Rose watched him quietly, her expression softening.
‘If wishes really do come true,’ Maverick prayed, ‘then let Rose live until my last breath—and let her spend every one of those years with me.’
His chest tightened with the depth of what he felt for her.
He had never known peace after losing his parents. For years, his life had been nothing but survival, anger, and the determination to reclaim everything that had been stolen from him. He had forgotten what happiness even felt like.
Then Rose had entered his life.
There had been a time when he couldn't approach her because of Zoe’s accident and the coma that followed. When everything in his life had seemed to fall apart, he hadn't believed he would ever feel whole again.
But now, with her beside him, he finally understood how much he had needed her.
He had brought her into his home thinking marriage would simply give him the one thing he wanted most.
Instead, she had become something far more dangerous.
She had become the person he couldn't imagine living without.
The thought of losing her was enough to make something feral twist inside his chest. He didn't know how to explain it, and he didn't want to. He only knew that he wanted her beside him for the rest of his life.
Maverick opened his eyes and blew out the candle.
Rose immediately smiled.
“Happy birthday, Maverick.”
She cut a piece of cake and held it out to him, waiting until he took a bite before speaking again.
“I really hope you live a happy life,” she said softly. “I hope you never have to experience any kind of sadness again.”
Maverick's gaze settled on her.
“Even though it's not my birthday, I'm still going to make a small wish for you.” Her voice trembled slightly, but she continued. “I hope you get everything you want in life. And I hope you live a life so happy that no one can ever take it away from you again.”
Something shifted in Maverick's expression.
His eyes softened, and for a moment, Rose thought she saw something painfully vulnerable beneath all that control.
The thought of someone having treated this man—this man she knew now, this man who could be so gentle with her—as though he were nothing more than a monster broke something inside her.
She couldn't hold herself back anymore.
Rose threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Maverick immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest until there was no space between them.
They stayed like that for several seconds.
Then, against her hair, he whispered the words he had kept buried for so long.
“I love you, Rose.”
Rose froze in surprise.
Maverick was the one who pulled back first. He kept his hands around her waist as he leaned back just enough to look at her, his eyes searching her face.
For a moment, Rose could only stare at him.
Maverick held her gaze, his expression unusually open and sincere. A hint of uncertainty flickered in his eyes, as though he was waiting to see how she would react.
“I’m in love with you,” he repeated, his voice softer this time.
A smile slowly spread across Rose’s face.
She didn't make him wait any longer. Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around him again and whispered against his ear, “I love you too, Maverick.”
His arms immediately tightened around her, pulling her closer as a genuine smile finally broke across his face.
Maverick gently pulled back and cradled her face between his hands. He leaned down and kissed her.
Rose melted into the kiss, allowing him to draw her closer as it deepened. But only a few seconds later, the sudden buzzing of his phone on the table interrupted them.
Maverick's jaw tightened.
He reluctantly broke the kiss and reached for the phone, his irritation obvious as he glanced at the screen.
“Leo.”
He was about to silence the call when Rose caught his arm.
“What if it's important?” she asked.
Maverick looked at her, clearly displeased by the interruption, but after a moment, he finally sighed and answered.
“This better be important.”
On the other end, Leo's voice immediately became apologetic.
“Mr. Bishop, I'm sorry to disturb you. It's about the video that was released online.”
Maverick's expression changed.
He slipped an arm around Rose's waist, drawing her closer as his gaze sharpened.
“What about it?”
“I've already had the video taken down from the major platforms,” Leo explained. “Augustus released it on purpose to humiliate you, but it completely backfired. Someone reported the video to the police, and they are investigating Augustus and Albert.”
Maverick's expression remained cold.
“The police went to the residence while Albert was attempting to leave with his son. They've arrested both of them for child abuse. They're being taken into custody now.”
Leo paused briefly before adding, “So you don't need to worry about it anymore, Mr. Bishop. I've taken care of everything on this end.”
The tension in Maverick's forehead eased slightly.
“Good,” he said before ending the call.
He put the phone down.