He Watched Me Shine Without Him novel Chapter 124

Rose’s face dimmed with emotion. She waved weakly. “You can go.”

After Owen left, she sat alone on the couch, her mind spinning with possibilities. But each one felt like a bottomless pit—dark and terrifying.

She shook her head, unwilling to accept those grim suspicions.

Then from the bedroom came Houston’s faint voice: “Rose…”

Rose hurried in, thinking he had woken up. But when she entered, she realized it was just sleep talk.

She sat beside the bed and reached out to smooth his furrowed brow. Suddenly, Houston grabbed her hand in his sleep, clutching it tightly as if he were afraid she’d vanish.

“Rose… don’t go. We promised. We’d never leave each other.”

Tears filled Rose’s eyes in an instant. Compared to Houston’s unwavering plea, her decision to walk away had been immature.

“Okay… I won’t go,” she whispered, eyes reddening.

“Rose…”

Houston’s eyes fluttered open, dazed.

He reached up and gently wiped away her tears. “Rose, don’t be angry at me. Please?”

He looked like a child who knew he’d done wrong, humbly begging. “I didn’t mean to deceive you. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you… who I really am. To others, the name ‘Ryan’ represents power and status. But to me, it’s… shame.”

Pain flickered visibly across his features. He looked lost, helpless—like a boat adrift in stormy seas. Even his fingertips trembled.

Rose held his hand tightly and soothed, “Houston, I forgive you. I’m sorry for misunderstanding you.”

Houston murmured, “The Clarke family gave me a nightmare of a childhood. Just thinking about it drives me to the edge. I can’t even bring myself to speak of those filthy, unbearable memories.”

“Rose… I only wanted to show you the best parts of me.”

“I’m sorry I let you down.”

Rose looked into his eyes, bloodshot with emotional strain. Watching him wrestle so hard to suppress his pain split her heart wide open.

She pressed herself gently to his chest, sobbing, “I’m sorry, Houston…”

He stroked her hair. “I’m the one who should apologize. Rose, I know hiding my identity from you was terrible. But I still want to beg for your forgiveness. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I should have realized earlier,” Rose said through tears. “Your insomnia—it must be tied to deep wounds. I shouldn’t have lashed out like I did.”

“I haven’t been a good wife.”

“No, Rose. You’ve been perfect,” Houston said, hugging her tightly. “I shouldn’t have kept secrets from you. We’re married—there shouldn’t be anything hidden between us.”

“Give me some time,” he added. “I’ll tell you everything. Bit by bit.”

“…Okay.”

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