Chapter Nineteen: Growing Attraction

Rose’s POV

“Be a good girl while I’m gone, pet,”

Jian leaned in to kiss my cheek before rising to his feet and exiting the dining room.

I drew in a deep breath as soon as I was alone and reclined into my seat, staring at the dishes before me. After our little conversation in the bedroom, I’d finally swallowed my shame and had shown up for breakfast, feeling much better and at peace with myself than I did when I woke up. All through breakfast, my focus was on the meal and I didn’t spare Jian a glance, nor even Greta as I was still too ashamed to face her. But now that I was done, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I cleared the table and carried the dishes into the kitchen, where she was wiping down the counter with a washcloth. When our eyes met, she uttered no words and returned her attention to the work at hand. A pang of guilt tugged at my heartstrings and bile rose in my throat as I searched for the appropriate way to tender my apology.

I walked to the dishwasher and loaded all of