
He Was Her Everything Until He Betrayed Her
Chapter 8
Rosalie gathered all her clothes and stuffed animals over the years, carefully packing each item to donate.
Luke had once dedicated an entire floor as her wardrobe, saying that the memories of growing up should be cherished and preserved.
Now, as she sorted through each piece of clothing and the gifts he'd given her year after year, she realized the past hadn't been a lie—only that people change.
By the time she finished, she had filled an entire truck with her old belongings.
The volunteer collecting the donations handed her a small souvenir, saying, "Thanks for contributing to charity."
Rosalie offered a small smile. She didn't feel like she'd done anything remarkable. From her first year in Florida, Luke had set up a charity foundation in her name, and she often visited orphanages, feeling a special kinship with the children there.
Luke's generosity had once made her feel safe and cared for. But now, she understood that the only person she could truly rely on was herself.
Just as the truck was pulling away, Luke pulled up and noticed the full load of boxes.
"What's all this?" he asked.
Rosalie looked at him from the doorway, her voice casual. "Just things I don't need anymore. Doing a little clearing out."
He looked mildly suspicious but didn't press further. "Well, with the engagement party coming up, it's time to replace old things with new."
His eyes stayed on his phone, barely glancing her way.
Just before he drove off, he lowered his window and reminded her, "Tomorrow's Fiona's art exhibition. The perfume incident was partly your fault, so you should use the opportunity to apologize to your aunt."
Rosalie nodded indifferently, and her calmness seemed to surprise him. He'd expected her to argue or defend herself, but her quiet agreement caught him off guard.
"You're growing up, Rosalie. It's time to be sensible. You'll live with Fiona soon, so learn to get along."
Watching him drive away, Rosalie thought he wouldn't have to deal with her much longer.
Old things were being replaced, and old faces were also moving on.
The next day, Rosalie returned to her school to organize her graduation materials. All that was left was to retrieve the original of her graduation project.
But when she arrived at her teacher's office, she was told her project had already been picked up.
"It was someone claiming to be Luke Williams. Didn't you know?"
This puzzled her.
Luke had rarely been involved in her school life. He hadn't even attended her graduation ceremony.
Why would he take her graduation project?
She remembered his comment about the art exhibition and felt a surge of unease.
When Rosalie arrived at the exhibition, it was already in full swing. The venue was buzzing with people and surrounded by luxury cars.
Backed by Luke's connections, Fiona's event was turning out to be a grand success. Ignoring the glitz, Rosalie went inside, determined to find answers.
She spotted Luke standing near Fiona, introducing her to an influential group of guests.
With a wry smile, one of the guests commented, "Mr. Williams, you're quite lucky. We thought you’d keep that Rosalie girl by your side forever."
Luke responded with a polite but distant smile. “You're joking. Rosalie's just a child I raised."
Rosalie had expected to hear something along these lines, but seeing him and Fiona together, looking like a perfectly matched couple stirred a raw, lingering pain that cut through her attempts to remain numb.
Taking a breath, she stepped forward and asked, "Where is my painting?"