Page 58 of Rose

Before Ahzii could open her mouth, Savior’s voice cut through the air like a blade.

“Allure, you don’t have to answer that,” he snapped, eyes burning into his mother. “Why is she the only one being questioned? Gold and Sin brought guests too.”

Ahzii gently placed her hand on his shoulder, calming him with a touch. “It’s fine,” she said softly, never breaking eye contact with Selene.

“Again, I don’t mind answering.”

She set her fork down, her tone calm but resolute.

“My twin brother and I were homeless after our parents died. We learned how to survive early, until we were adopted by a woman who gave us everything we were missing.”

The room went quiet.

“More facts about me, since I seem to be the topic of the evening.” Ahzii’s voice remained level, but her words landed with intent. “I graduated from FAMU with a business degree. I co-own a tattoo shop with my brother. I was married... and I had a child.”

Silence deepened like a crack spreading through glass.

“You said was ,” Saint spoke again, this time softer than before. “Used to be married. Had a child. What happened... if you don’t mind me asking?”

“You don’t have to answer that,” Savior said, voice thick now, barely restrained .

But Ahzii shook her head gently. She looked at Savior with a small, comforting smile, then back to the table.

“He died a year ago. So did my daughter.”

A collective hush fell over the room like a dropped curtain. Even Selene’s cold composure wavered—if only for a second.

“I’m just now learning to live again,” Ahzii continued. “And your son... is a big part of that.”

Savior looked at her like she was sunlight.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Saint offered quietly. Aunt Marley echoed him, her voice laced with genuine sympathy.

“You’re a strong woman,” she added, and Ahzii gave them both a small nod of thanks.

Then came Selene’s voice, light and laced with something venomous.

“Oh... that makes sense.”

Heads turned. Eyes narrowed.

“What makes sense?” Savior asked, already bracing himself, blood beginning to boil.

Selene tilted her head, smiling like she held a secret everyone else was too naive to see.

“Why you ‘ love ’ her,” she said, the air around the table shifting instantly. “I wanted to meet her to see who had my son’s heart. I needed to understand why. And now I do.”

“By all means,” Ahzii replied, her tone sharp but composed. “Enlighten us.”

Selene leaned forward, eyes glinting. “He loves you because he feels sorry for you.”

The words dropped like a grenade.

“ Selene! ” Aunt Marley snapped.

“ Ma?! ” Sarai’s voice followed, appalled.

Even Saint stared at his wife like she had finally lost her mind.

Selene ignored them all, fixated on Ahzii.

“Savior never had a heart. Saint raised him that way. So when I heard he was in love, I had to know why. But now it’s clear, he doesn’t love you. He’s saving you. He always had a thing for doing that. Saving the helpless.”

She smiled like she’d said something profound, like she had won.

Ahzii didn’t blink.

She sat still, her posture straight, her face unreadable. But her eyes—they cut deep.

And Savior?

He was shaking. But not with fear. With fury.

“Saint, get your wife , ” Aunt Marley snapped, her tone sharp and unflinching.

“No!” Selene barked, eyes wild, voice rising. “Savior, tell this woman you don’t know what love is. Even if it slapped you in the damn face. You’re not in love, you’re just saving her. Just like you saved Olivia from her past. I love Olivia like a daughter, but this? It’s giving déjà vu.”

“Selene,” Saint said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’ve had too much wine. You need to lay down. ”

But Savior was already standing, heat radiating off him, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.

“Nah. Let her talk,” he growled. “Because she wants me to say that shit—to make her feel better. You want to believe I don’t know what love is? Truth is... I didn’t know what it was. Not until I met Allure. ”

Selene flinched, but Savior wasn’t done. He couldn ’ t be.

“You never once showed me love. Never gave me the shit I deserved. You were too scared of your fucking husband to love your son. ”

His voice cracked with fury, and something deeper. Something old.

“You feel so fucking guilty for what you didn’t do, you’d rather tear down the only woman who’s ever truly had my heart just to make yourself feel justified. For what? For standing there while he beat my ass under the excuse of training?”

He stepped closer, eyes locked on Selene.

“And what did you do?” he demanded, louder now. “When I begged you with my eyes to save me? To love me? To give me just one ounce of fucking motherhood? You looked away. Because you loved being a wife more than you ever wanted to be a mother. Well at least to me.”

Ahzii stood, her hand finding his, grounding him as his chest rose and fell with unspoken pain.

“I might have a savior complex,” he said, voice hoarse now, “but that’s because of you. I save people... because I was never fucking saved. Not a day in my life.”

He turned to Ahzii, his gaze softening as tears rimmed his eyes.

“But this woman… she saved me more than I ever saved her.”

His voice cracked.

“I love the ground she walks on. And I won’t sit here and let you try to belittle her—or make her think I don’t love her—just to satisfy your own broken conscience.”

He exhaled hard, chest rising, every word drenched in conviction.

“I don’t need you as a mother. I never did. But I need her. Every fucking day I wake up, I need her.”

Selene’s lip trembled, tears finally falling—silent, but too late.

“That’s a love I never thought I’d have,” he finished, “and it’s one you never believed I deserved.”

He turned to Ahzii. “Let’s go, Allure.”

She nodded, wrapping her hand in his.

Before they left, she turned toward the table—face calm, voice gentle but firm.

“It was great meeting you, Mr. Carter,” she said, nodding at Saint. “It was good seeing and meeting the rest of you. And I hope to see you at my art show.”

Her eyes flicked to Selene—who was now quietly sobbing, broken and exposed.

“Despite what happened tonight, everyone is invited.”

With that, Savior and Ahzii walked out of the house without looking back.

“Sav!”

Saint’s voice boomed behind them just as Savior reached for the car door. He paused, jaw tight, his eyes still burning with the rage left behind, but Ahzii’s hand in his was enough to keep him grounded.

Savior turned around slowly .

Saint stood beneath the porch light, the weight of guilt etched across his face. His voice was steadier this time, but heavy with something rare—regret.

“Look,” he began, “I apologize for what happened tonight... and for every fucked up thing I did to you growing up.”

Savior’s breath caught in his throat.

“I wasn’t a father to you. Not the way I should’ve been. And I regret that shit every single day. This dinner tonight? It was supposed to be my chance to say all that, but your mother had... other plans.”

Saint let out a slow breath. “I know words alone don’t fix what I broke. But I am sorry. And I do love you, son. I just had a fucked-up way of showing it.”

Savior stood frozen.

For thirty-three years, all he’d ever wanted was this— acknowledgement . Just one act of love. One moment where he didn’t have to fight to be seen.

And now, hearing his father own the truth?

It cracked something wide open inside him.

“Please,” Saint whispered, voice shaking now. “ Please forgive me.”

Savior didn’t speak.

Instead, he stepped forward, and pulled his father into a tight hug.

Tears fell freely, soaking into Saint’s shirt.

“I love you, son,” Saint murmured, clutching him.

“I love you too, Pop,” Savior choked out, burying his face into the shoulder of the man he once feared… now finally felt.

When they pulled apart, Savior’s eyes were rimmed red but lighter than before.

Saint turned to Ahzii, who had quiet tears in her eyes but a proud smile on her lips.

“It was really good meeting you, Ahzii,” he said, voice sincere. “I’m sorry for how my wife treated you. I hope it doesn’t change the way you feel about my son.”

She shook her head gently, still holding Savior’s hand.

“I was a horrible father to him,” Saint continued, “but I know he’ll be an amazing husband to you. After everything you’ve been through, you’re strong... resilient. Beautiful, too. I hope next time we meet, it’s under better circumstances, maybe even get a chance to really connect.”

Ahzii smiled warmly. “Thank you, Mr. Carter. And I am serious about your son. Your wife wasn’t completely wrong—he did save me... but not out of pity. He saved me through love. ”

Saint’s eyes glimmered with a mixture of pride and guilt.

“Call me Saint,” he said. “I’m gonna let y’all go—Marley’s probably in there chewing your mama out right now.”

They all chuckled lightly.

“You two have a good night.”

Savior opened the car door for Ahzii, helping her in before circling around to the driver’s side. He sat for a moment, engine off, staring out the windshield.

“Sav,” Ahzii said gently, watching him. “Talk to me. How are you feeling?”

He finally looked at her, a slow exhale escaping his chest. “ Relieved. ”

She smiled, reaching for his hand.

“Your mom’s gonna come around,” she said softly. “Just like your pops. ”

Savior let out a small laugh. “That shit still shocks the hell outta me.”

He paused, then added, “But even if she doesn’t? That don’t change shit.”

He leaned over and kissed her, slow and sure.

“I’ll kill to see this allure.”

Her smile widened against his lips. “You better.”

And with that, they pulled off into the night—heading back to Savior’s place.

The place that had slowly, and quietly, become home. For both of them.

And Ace too.