"Of course my mother never told me about the situation until she was completely desperate. That was about the time I first met Cal. We already knew the Hockleys previously because I practically grew up with Cal's younger brother…Anthony." Jack frowned slightly as he saw a shadow of sadness cover Rose's pale face.
"Rose? Are you all right? Is something the matter?"
Rose shook her head slightly as if to disregard the memories coming back to her. "No…I'm fine, thank you." On looking up into Jack's eyes, her thoughts were gone and a smile appeared on her face. How lucky she was to find Jack. "Anyway, my mother thought that arranging a marriage between Cal and I would fix all her problems and she wouldn't have to worry about money ever again. To me, Cal seemed like the perfect gentleman. He helped me through my worst times of despair and proved to be a wonderful companion. It was only a matter of weeks before my mother invited the Hockley's to a dinner party at our home to "discuss" our issues. And so it was then that I became engaged, much to my bewilderment. I truly didn't love Cal and everyone knew it. But for some stupid reason, he was in love with me and found much satisfaction in finally winning the prize he had been trying so hard for. I was being used, treated like a possession, a business deal. After the dinner, I had privately told my mother that I would refuse to marry him, but she paid no head to my pleas."
"After the wedding date was set, I was forced to spend nearly every day with him, eat every meal at his home with his family, and spend all of my evenings at parties dancing with him so he could show me off to his friends. I grew impatient and opinionated. By doing so, I started to test both my mother and Cal's patience. That's when I found out what Cal was really like. He was abusive, cold hearted, self centered, and unable to love anyone but himself. Things just got worse. I tried talking to my mother but she ignored my requests. She thought that a woman's main purpose in life was to be a good wife and bear children. I guess I had different views on the whole matter. I knew there was more to life than what I saw before me, I just knew I'd never be able to have it. I had given up on life and before I knew it, I was preparing to end it. That's when I met you. And that's when I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Jack had been carefully listening and digesting every word that had come out of her mouth. It touched him like nothing ever had before. This was something new to him- a way of life he had never known about.
"Oh Rose," Jack gently wrapped his arms around her shaking body in an effort to show his understanding. He wanted so much to take away her pain…the pain she had felt and the pain she was feeling now. He heard a soft cry escape her lips and her trembling hand resting on the back of his neck. He pulled away slightly, kissing away a tear on her cheek. He looked her in the eyes and reached down for her hand, carefully examining it and running his artist roughened hands across it.
"Rose, I'm sorry you had to go through that. I know life isn't fair sometimes, trust me I know, but it all works out in the end. Everything happens for a reason. Fate brought us together Rose, don't you see that? And right about now, I'm forever thankful to Fate just like my ticket on Titanic- they brought me to you Rose. For that, I'll be in debt for the rest of eternity.
"As for the money- I couldn't care if you had a million dollars or 50 cents. I'm still as helplessly in love with you. I'll love you no matter what. I want you to remember that always and forever."
As Rose looked up at him, she could feel her heart leap and immediately knew why she loved him so much. He was one of a kind. He didn't live in a luxurious estate on Hill Drive. He hadn't gone to the finest schools in all of Europe and he probably didn't even know a thing about businesses or stock markets. He was Jack and to Rose, that's all that really mattered.
Chapter 6
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