He Watched Me Shine Without Him novel Chapter 5

"I’ll go start cooking, then." Rose headed toward the kitchen, throwing anxious glances back at her parents, who were clearly being overly warm to Houston. She felt a pang of worry for him.

She took pork ribs, fish, and shrimp out of the fridge… but as she weighed the ingredients, a sharp clarity hit her like a splash of cold water.

Baby back ribs, Cajun blackened fish, garlic butter shrimp—those were all Ethan’s favorites.

But this meal wasn’t for Ethan. It was for her new husband, Houston.

Rose put everything back and instead prepared a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup with a few simple farmer’s market sides—roasted carrots, sautéed greens, nothing fancy, but comforting and nourishing.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Sam and Linda sat across from Houston, all four eyes sharply inspecting him.

They’d always believed that any man who came to their house looking for Rose was just trying to make a move on her.

Now that Rose was supposedly engaged, their default approach to male visitors was simple: block, dismantle, and destroy.

"Houston," Linda began, "Rose and Ethan are getting married on New Year’s Day. You must come to the wedding."

Houston’s smile curved upward. His wife marrying another man? And he was expected to attend as a guest? Sorry—he wasn’t that open-minded.

"New Year’s Day?" he repeated. "What a coincidence. I’m getting married that day too."

Of course he’d be at the wedding. He was the groom.

Linda glanced at Houston’s bare finger and a flicker of suspicion crossed her face.

"Well, what are the odds? Houston, be sure to send me an invitation. I’d love to attend your wedding."

Houston smiled and shot back, "Then I’ll take one of Rose’s invitations too."

"Sam, the invites," Linda said quickly.

Sam opened the drawer of the coffee table and handed him a pre-printed wedding invitation.

Houston accepted it with both hands. His eyes narrowed as they landed on the names: Ethan and Rose, surrounded by a little heart with the words Forever Together.

His smile vanished.

So it really had gotten that far between her and Ethan?

Houston was fiercely competitive. Ethan was part of Rose’s past—but there was no way he’d allow himself to lose to that man.

"Well, looks like Ethan finally came to his senses. Congrats to Rose. She finally got what she wanted." He deliberately emphasized finally, highlighting how long Ethan had dragged her through the mud.

Sam and Linda’s expressions darkened. Their resentment toward Ethan flared again.

"Where’s the wedding being held?" Houston pressed.

Their faces fell even further. The truth was, the Marshalls were footing the entire bill. If word got out, it’d make Rose look desperate.

"Rosewood Estate," Sam muttered. He’d picked the venue himself—a budget-friendly place with a classic touch.

Houston frowned. "Rosewood? That place is leftover colonial architecture from the last century. Only hosts budget weddings. Nothing special except the low price. Rose deserves better than that."

Sam and Linda lowered their heads, guilt setting in.

Houston had just dragged Ethan’s name through the dirt, and his smug, cold gaze sparkled with calculated triumph.

When Rose came out with the food, she found her parents looking defeated and Houston sitting there like he’d just won a war.

She blinked in confusion. Her parents—usually iron-willed interrogators—had lost to the quiet Houston?

Linda looked at the table and frowned. "Rose, didn’t I tell you to make the seafood? How could you serve this to a guest?"

Calling him a guest—there was distance in that word.