Chapter 239

[ 1,403 words ]

After Samantha stepped out of the private room, she had barely rounded the corner when someone grabbed her arm and dragged her into the stairwell.

A hand covered her mouth.

Looking up, she saw Ethan standing in front of her, and terror immediately filled her eyes.

Ethan looked her up and down with undisguised contempt.

“You slut. You betrayed me and still think you can have a happy ending with my brother? Who do you think you are?”

Samantha didn’t dare provoke him.

She had always known that Ethan was a spoiled rich heir who had never cared about chivalry or treating women gently.

With his hand gripping her throat, she could only make muffled sounds.

Ethan was furious.

He had never suffered such humiliation before.

His fiancée had seduced his own older brother.

How was he supposed to show his face in society now?

He slapped Samantha across the face.

His eyes were filled with anger. “I may not be able to touch Ryan right now, but dealing with a woman like you—a nobody from an ordinary background—is easy.”

Samantha trembled.

Even so, she forced herself to say, “Ryan won’t allow it.”

Ethan’s eyes darkened.

He pinned her against the wall. “You want to marry into the Knight family? Keep dreaming. Do you really think they would give up Rose, a woman everyone wants, and choose you instead?”

His voice became even more mocking. “Rose is now an NYU professor. She’s standing in the spotlight while you’ve failed over and over again. Do you think the Knight family runs a charity?”

Samantha’s eyes shook violently.

“Stop dreaming,” Ethan sneered. “As long as Rose exists, the Knight family will never accept someone like you.”

He smiled coldly. “Sam, we have plenty of time. I’ll make you regret every stupid thing you’ve done.”

He released her and walked away.

Samantha clutched her neck, gasping for breath.

Her eyes were filled with fear.

She was terrified of what Ethan might do.

But he had spoken the truth.

Rose now held a position of influence.

Countless people wanted her favor.

As long as Rose remained standing, the Knight family would never truly give up on her.

Samantha clenched her teeth.

After taking several deep breaths to compose herself, she returned outside.

From a distance, she saw Ryan standing by the second-floor railing, smoking.

He leaned casually against the railing, his gaze fixed somewhere far away.

Walking over, she asked softly, “Ryan? What did Grandma and the others say?”

Ryan flicked the ash from his cigarette and looked up.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Samantha lowered her eyes, lost in thought.

At the very least, she could not continue waiting passively for disaster to arrive.

*****

After receiving the paternity test results, Rose met Trevor at the family courthouse to transfer Ariel’s legal custody.

She had gone home to gather all the necessary documents, including the crucial divorce certificate.

The moment Trevor entered the building, he attracted everyone’s attention.

He walked toward Rose with long strides.

Rose’s palms were damp with sweat.

Trevor looked down at her, took a neatly folded navy checkered handkerchief from his pocket, and placed it in her hand.

“It’s okay. This isn’t difficult. We simply need to complete the paperwork.”

He knew she was worried the application might not be approved.

Rose nodded.

When they reached the counter, the clerk explained, “Since you’re requesting an amendment to the child’s birth records and a change in legal parentage, the process is more involved. Because the two of you were never married and Mr. Robinson is currently listed as the legal father, the review and approval process may take up to fifteen business days.”

This was exactly what Rose had expected.

And she could accept it.

After all, the relationship between Trevor, Ariel, and herself truly was complicated.

Fifteen days wasn’t very long.

She had already waited this long.

A little more time would make no difference.

Submitting the application now essentially meant the matter was settled.

All that remained was waiting for approval.

After leaving the family courthouse, Trevor received a call from Ariel’s kindergarten.

He glanced at Rose, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

“Would you like to attend Ariel’s parent-teacher conference?”

Rose had never attended one as a parent before.

Her eyes immediately brightened.

“Of course.”

Now that the divorce was final, she had nothing left to fear.

Trevor opened the car door for her.

“I’ll go with you.”

Rose was in such a good mood that she didn’t even ask whether he was busy.

When they arrived at the kindergarten, many parents had already arrived.

Rose easily led Trevor toward Ariel’s classroom.

“This must be your first time at Ariel’s school, right?”

Trevor looked around.

“That’s right. I’m cherishing this opportunity.”

As he spoke, he looked at Rose’s smiling face.

“Since we’re attending together, what identities should we use?”

Rose stopped walking.

For a moment, she genuinely didn’t know how to answer.

They weren’t married.

Nor were they in a romantic relationship.

Yet they were Ariel’s mother and father.

She found herself unable to answer.

Trevor simply smiled. “That’s alright. Let’s go inside.”

He had no intention of putting Rose in an awkward position.

Rose could only follow him and let the matter drop.

By the time they entered the classroom, most of the parents had already arrived.

Only a few empty seats remained.

The children had been taken elsewhere to play games with other teachers.

Almost immediately, Rose felt someone looking at her.

She followed the gaze.

Her eyes met Ryan’s deep, unreadable stare.

He sat in the back row, one long leg crossed over the other.

His perfectly tailored suit was nearly wrinkle-free.

Even sitting there quietly, he naturally drew attention.

Many of the mothers seated nearby glanced at him and began whispering among themselves.

Sitting beside him was Samantha.

Ryan had come to Mike’s parent-teacher conference as Mike’s guardian.

Trevor was, at the very least, Ariel’s legal father.

But what exactly was Ryan to Samantha and Mike?

Ryan’s devotion to Samantha was obvious.

Even after Ethan’s return, he had made no effort to avoid suspicion.

Trevor also looked toward Ryan.

The two men met each other’s eyes.

Neither revealed any emotion.

At that moment, the teacher on stage noticed Rose and Trevor.

“There are two seats available over there. Please have a seat.”

Trevor had no objections.

He walked over first.

Although Rose hesitated briefly, she followed.

She ended up sitting directly beside Ryan and Samantha.

Samantha smiled politely. “Mr. Robinson.”

Trevor nodded slightly.

His attitude remained distant.

Samantha paused.

Trevor seemed even colder than she had expected.

There were still ten minutes before the conference began.

Samantha completely ignored Rose.

Instead, she turned toward Ryan and spoke openly, without caring whether Rose could hear.

“I looked at several interior designers. They all seem excellent, so it’s hard to choose.”

Rose remembered overhearing Samantha’s phone conversation earlier.

They were already discussing renovations for their future home.

Ryan rolled back his sleeve and glanced at his watch.

“Take your time.”

Samantha smiled softly.

The happiness and anticipation on her face were impossible to hide.

“I don’t have many requirements for the house, but if we’re doing this, we absolutely need a children’s room. It represents a happy family.”

She looked at Ryan. “Have you thought about what the children’s room should look like?”

Trevor glanced at Ryan.

Discussing future plans with his lover in front of his wife—

Talking about children, a home, and a happy family—

It was difficult not to find it inappropriate.

Ryan answered calmly. “I don’t know much about that.”

Samantha didn’t seem bothered.

Instead, she turned toward Trevor with a smile.

“Mr. Robinson has experience raising a child. I wonder how you designed your daughter’s room?”

Trevor replied calmly. “I always hire professional designers. There’s no need to waste time overthinking it or asking others for advice.”

Samantha’s smile stiffened slightly.

She couldn’t tell whether his words were intentional.

Had he said it casually?

Or was he deliberately responding to her?

Rose knew Trevor hid sharpness behind his gentle smile.

His words toward Samantha were certainly not without meaning.

She chose not to join the conversation.

Instead, she simply turned toward the window.

Suddenly, Ryan’s voice sounded from beside her.

“Mr. Robinson, you may be overthinking things.”

He looked at Trevor. “Perhaps Rose has more experience with this than you do.”

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