My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 113: Unwelcome Alliance

Chapter 113: Unwelcome Alliance

Rose’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t mask her shock. How could he say that so casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world? "My House," he had said, It wasn’t just the words but the nonchalant tone that left her reeling.

She stared at him, confused, trying to piece together his intentions. Sure, he had guessed that she’d been punished—he was right—but why was he suddenly being... nice?

Her mind drifted back to the humiliation she’d endured. Punished for drinking and coming home late, her parents had seized her car keys after she narrowly avoided an accident while drunk. They’d declared she wasn’t an adult yet and gone further by confiscating her apartment keys. To drive their point home, they’d instructed the security guards not to let her back into the house, locking her out for at least two days.

That’s why she’d shown up at Naomi’s doorstep. It hadn’t been the right thing to do—she knew that—but Naomi was the only person she could turn to. Now, though, Naomi was married, and Rose couldn’t help but feel like an intruder.

The hum of the engine pulled her back to the present. Rylan had started the car and was now steering it smoothly down the road. His calm demeanor only heightened her suspicion.

"Wait. What" That was all she said in shock.

"If you don’t want to come to my house, fine," he said, breaking the silence without so much as glancing at her. "You can leave the car."

Her eyes darted toward him, narrowing slightly. Was he seriously trying to manipulate her? Was he using her weakest point—her helplessness—against her?

The gates to the mansion loomed ahead, slowly swinging open as the car sped down the driveway. The sight of the grand estate barely registered in her mind as her attention remained fixed on Rylan.

"Why your house of all places?" she finally asked, her voice carrying a note of defiance.

Without sparing her a glance, he replied, "You can’t possibly stay with Mrs. Naomi now that she’s married. They’ll need their privacy."

"I know that," she shot back, her tone sharp. She studied him through narrowed eyes and added in a low, almost accusatory voice, "Who knows what your intentions are?"

Before she could continue, the car screeched to an abrupt halt, throwing her forward slightly against the seatbelt.

"Why did you stop?" she demanded, her voice tinged with panic.

"Leave the car," Rylan said coldly, his gaze meeting hers through the rearview mirror for the first time.

Rose gawked at him, stunned. "Leave the car? In the middle of the road? Mr. Housekeeper, how do you expect me to find my way back in the middle of nowhere?"

His gaze didn’t waver, and his expression remained unreadable. "Who knows what my intentions are?" he said, echoing her earlier words with a hint of mockery.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she lowered her gaze. After a moment of tense silence, she muttered, "I’m sorry."

A slow, almost unreadable smile curled on Rylan’s lips, as though her apology amused him. "I didn’t quite hear you," he said, his tone laced with mild sarcasm.

This time, she lifted her head and spoke louder. "I said, I’m sorry."

Satisfied, Rylan nodded and resumed driving. As the car surged forward, Rose sat stiffly, glaring out the window. He was the most infuriating man she’d ever met. The nerve of him! Yet, as much as she hated to admit it, she was in no position to argue.

Unable to hold back any longer, she finally asked, "Why did you decide to drive me to your house?"

"We need to clear the air," he replied simply, his tone giving nothing away.

Her mind immediately flashed back to their last encounter—the kiss. It hadn’t gone as planned, leaving an unresolved tension between them. Still, she wasn’t about to let him know that it had been bothering her. She gave him a pointed look and said, "Clear what air? As far as I’m concerned, the air’s already been cleared. If it hadn’t, I wouldn’t be talking to you this normally."

Rylan’s lips twitched, but he said nothing. She could tell, though, that her words hadn’t convinced him. There was still something in her tone, a lingering resentment she couldn’t quite hide.

The car slowed as they approached the estate. The sprawling duplex came into full view, and Rose’s breath caught in her throat.

Her gaze darted across the pristine lawns, the grand marble fountain, and the towering columns that framed the entrance. The place was worth millions—it was practically a..... How rich are these people? She turned to Rylan, wide-eyed with disbelief.

Before she could speak, he had already exited the car and was opening her door. His calm, collected demeanor only irritated her further.

"Want to keep staring? You can do that inside," he said with a hint of sarcasm.

Snapping out of her daze, she rolled her eyes dramatically, making sure he noticed. "Pride. Pure pride," she muttered under her breath.

Rylan’s eyes widened slightly at the comment, but he quickly masked his surprise. Did she just accuse him of pride? After everything he’d done for her, she had the audacity to—

"If you’re going to stay here," he said, his tone sharp, "you’ll have to tell me what happened."

Rose sighed heavily, her frustration evident as her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "Fine. My parents punished me. I stayed out drinking, got drunk, almost had an accident. They took away my apartment key, my car, and even cut my allowance for the month. That’s why I’m here."

Rylan studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Her words had confirmed what he’d already suspected, but hearing it from her made it all the more glaring.

"Well," he said finally, "you can stay here for now. Maybe find a job, get your own place eventually. Or," he added with a smirk, "if you can’t find one, I could hire you as a housekeeper."

Rose’s head snapped toward him, her eyes blazing. "Hire me? No, thank you, sir! I’ll find a job myself."

The irony wasn’t lost on her. She had insulted him for being a housekeeper, and now he had the nerve to suggest she take the same job. Was this karma at its finest?

Unbothered by her reaction, Rylan shrugged. "Suit yourself. But if you change your mind, the offer stands."

They reached the entrance, and Rylan paused to open the door. Turning to her, he added, "Though, judging by your current situation, I wouldn’t be too proud."

Her mouth opened to retort, but she snapped it shut, swallowing her anger. She couldn’t afford to argue with him—not when she needed a place to stay.

As the door swung open, Rose’s breath hitched. The interior of the house was breathtaking. The living room was immaculate, every detail meticulously designed. Two luxurious sofas framed a glass coffee table, and a golden chandelier cast a soft, warm glow over the room. The scent of polished wood and faint citrus lingered in the air, adding to the ambiance of perfection.

She bit her lip to keep from gasping aloud, but her wide eyes betrayed her awe.

"I’ll show you to your room," Rylan said, breaking the silence.

She followed him up the stairs, her curiosity growing with each step. At the top, they stopped in front of a large door. She hesitated, wondering if they were going to share a room, but before she could voice her thoughts, he opened the door and stepped aside.

The bedroom was expansive, its elegance rivaling the living room. A massive bed dominated the space, its dark sheets neatly arranged. A see-through wardrobe displayed an array of perfectly organized clothes, and the faint scent of cologne lingered in the air.

Rose’s thoughts spiraled. Were they actually going to share this room? What was wrong with this man? She was about to ask when he opened another door within the room, revealing a much smaller space.

"This is your room," he said bluntly.

Her eyes widened as she took in the bunk bed, the small table, and the single chair. The contrast between this space and the grandeur of the rest of the house was almost laughable.

"You can use my bathroom—it’s big enough," Rylan added, handing her a key.

Rose’s temper flared. "You expect me to stay in this room? I’m not staying here, Mr. Housekeeper! I’ll stay in the main bedroom."

Rylan’s gaze turned icy. "Say one more word," he said softly, his voice dripping with warning, "and these lips of mine will shut you up."

Rose clamped her mouth shut, the seriousness in his tone sending a shiver down her spine.

This was exactly what he had said to her last time—and he had done it—but right now, she felt annoyed. This man was really getting under her skin.

"Go on, do that, and my legs will hit those balls of yours," she snapped.