Free Web NovelChapter 11: Chapter 11 A Future Beyond the Knight Family
Samantha had already walked over to Ryan’s side, appearing as composed and at ease as though she were even more well-known and influential than Rose.
“I’m hungry,” she said to Ryan. “Let’s find a restaurant first.”
Ryan withdrew his gaze.
He paid little attention to what the mother had just said.
After all, he knew full well that Rose had never given birth. The only children she had much contact with were the patients in the emergency room.
“Alright.”
Ryan’s cold, piercing gaze swept over Rose without a flicker of emotion.
Then, like a perfect gentleman, he opened the car door for Samantha.
Every move they made drew attention, with onlookers envying Samantha for being so tenderly cared for by Ryan Knight, CEO of Kingswell Group.
The group departed in a grand procession.
Rose, however, let out a long sigh of relief.
She no longer cared how conspicuous Ryan and Samantha were.
All that remained was a bone-deep tension.
Of course she was nervous.
She had nearly exposed Ariel’s existence. Fortunately, Ryan hadn’t become suspicious.
For these final three months, she couldn’t afford to let her guard down for even a moment.
As long as she made it through those three months and secured the divorce decree, everything would be fine.
By then, even if Ryan discovered Ariel’s existence, it would be too late.
She had to make sure the divorce went smoothly.
The divorce agreement had already been signed, and there shouldn’t be any major issues, but still...
Rose lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. She felt it was necessary to take a few extra precautions regarding Ariel.
She helped the mother and child into the ambulance.
Caleb emerged as well.
“What happened?” To avoid being interviewed by reporters, Caleb deliberately pulled Rose aside and slipped away discreetly.
Rose didn’t mention Ryan or Samantha. She simply gave a brief account of how she had saved the child.
Caleb found it amusing.
"If people knew the doctor who saved that little boy was the creator of Aetheris Medical AI—the world’s leading clinical decision and pharmaceutical intelligence platform...they’d think they’d hit the jackpot.”
Rose shrugged with a faint smile.
“That was a long time ago.”
Caleb reached over and lightly tapped her forehead.
“You took Grand Sage Group public all by yourself. Plenty of people would love the chance to meet you. And you’re the sole protégé of Dr. Nathan Hale, one of the most respected pharmacologists and pharmaceutical innovators in America. He spent decades turning away students, then chose you to inherit everything he knew. Every time you try to be humble, it sounds like you’re bragging.”
Although Caleb came from a family of physicians, he knew he couldn’t compare to Rose.
Dr. Hale had said it himself.
A talent like Rose appeared only once in a generation.
Most people could spend a lifetime trying and never come close.
Rose blinked and decided not to argue. The less attention she drew to herself, the better.
“Report to the company on Monday,” Caleb said. “We’re in the middle of a leadership transition, but your position has been waiting for you. After New Year’s, you’ll be leading the new smart-pharmaceutical project.”
The thought of Rose returning to the company put him in an exceptionally good mood.
Rose looked at him curiously.
“Why are you so happy?”
“Seriously?” Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Do you know why I’ve been visiting the temple once a month for the past five years?”
Rose shook her head.
“Every month, I prayed for one thing—that you’d finally divorce Ryan.”
Rose stared at him.
A grin spread across Caleb’s face.
“Five years of persistence finally paid off. Next month, I’m going back to make a donation in celebration.”
“...”
She knew it.
Diana and her inability to keep a secret had already informed Caleb about the divorce.
“When is Ariel coming to New York?” Caleb asked.
Back then, Ariel had been born at a Byrne family hospital in a neighboring city.
The secrecy surrounding her birth had been so airtight that even the Knight family had been unable to uncover a single detail.
“Next month. She’ll come with Dr. Hale.”
Although Ariel had never known her biological father’s love, she had always been surrounded by people who loved her.
Thanks to that man back then, Ariel had been given a legitimate surname and identity that wouldn’t raise suspicions.
Over the years, Dr. Hale had also helped care for Ariel, treating her like a granddaughter.
Rose had always believed Ariel lacked nothing when it came to love.
As for Ryan—her biological father—Rose didn’t think he was all that important.
“Have you enrolled her in kindergarten yet?”
“We’re looking into it. It should be finalized before New Year’s.”
A smile curved Rose’s lips as she imagined the bright future ahead.
Her new life was finally getting back on track.
She loved everything about it.
She was no longer the person who had once depended on someone else’s scraps of affection and redemption just to survive.
When you rely on others, the moment something goes wrong, they can leave you feeling completely stripped bare.
In this world, only you can truly save yourself.
Caleb still looked concerned.
“There won’t be any problems with the Knight family, right?”
Especially Ryan.
Even if his relationship with Rose had completely broken down, if he discovered he had a daughter, there was no telling what kind of trouble might follow.
Powerful families had always placed great importance on heirs.
Rose understood Caleb’s concern.
“Don’t worry. It’s been nearly seven years since Ryan signed the divorce agreement. He just didn’t realize what he was signing at the time. The divorce is already a done deal. Besides, Ariel has the Robinson surname, and the Robinson family is completely beyond the Knight family’s influence.”
That was one of the reasons she had agreed to that man’s proposal to register Ariel under his family name.
Caleb thought of that particular member of the Robinson family.
Finally, he chuckled.
“You’re right. Once the divorce is finalized, Ryan won’t have any way back.”
******
After dinner with Caleb, Rose spent the rest of the evening researching several highly rated kindergartens in New York.
The sun was setting.
She had just left one of the schools when she stopped at a red light in a busy commercial district.
Absentmindedly, she glanced out the window.
Then her gaze froze.
A Bentley pulled up nearby.
A man and a woman stepped out, then turned back toward the vehicle.
A little boy, about five or six years old, grabbed their hands and hopped out with delight.
A trace of warmth softened Ryan’s usually stoic features.
Samantha smiled at him, and together the three of them walked into the mall.
They looked just like a happy family of three.
Rose unconsciously tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
The irony was that she had once imagined a scene exactly like this—one with herself, Ryan, and Ariel.
It was that belief that happiness was just around the corner that had carried her through years of a barren marriage and emotional loneliness.
Yet now, after her feelings had finally been worn away, she watched Ryan effortlessly give Samantha and a child unrelated to him everything she had once longed for but never received.
Rose shook her head with a faint smile.
The whole thing felt strangely ironic.
She knew Samantha had two younger brothers—one in college and the other still quite young.
The boy before her appeared to be around five or six years old.
She hadn’t expected Ryan to go this far.
Not only was he accompanying Samantha on shopping trips, but he was also caring for her younger brother with such patience and attention.
Ryan had always been buried in work.
In the past, he rarely took Rose out to dinner, let alone shopping or the movies.
He never bought her gifts on special occasions or made any effort to cheer her up.
Now she finally understood.
It wasn’t that Ryan didn’t know how to nurture a marriage.
He simply didn’t want to spend that effort on her.
He had never reserved that patience or thoughtfulness for her.
What surprised her even more was that Ryan seemed to genuinely like children.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Her phone kept vibrating.
Only then did she blink her dry eyes and look down.
It was a group chat.
The chat included many of New York’s most prominent second-generation heirs and socialites.
Despite being a member, she had never once spoken there.
Someone had posted several photos.
They were pictures of Ryan and Samantha taking her younger brother shopping.
[So Mr. Knight’s famous white moonlight is really Samantha? I guess the long-hidden Mrs. Knight will have no choice but to step aside.]
[That kid looks so much like Samantha. If you didn’t know better, you’d think she was his mother.]
[Don’t be ridiculous. That’s Samantha’s biological younger brother. I’ve even seen Mr. Knight personally buying baby supplies for him. He was incredibly meticulous. He’s probably practicing for fatherhood.]
[I’m so jealous of Samantha. If Mr. Knight has children someday, he’ll definitely be an amazing father.]
Everyone had quietly chosen to forget that Ryan was already married.
And just as quietly, they ignored her—the long-neglected Mrs. Knight.
Instead, they openly celebrated what they believed was her husband’s new relationship.
She remained nothing more than an outsider watching the absurd spectacle unfold.
The light turned green.
A car behind her honked.
Rose’s eyes flickered.
She felt only relief.
She had kept Ariel hidden from public view all these years.
Her daughter would never want a father like that.
Exhaling softly, she turned off her phone and drove away without hesitation.
She wished Ryan well.
And she was grateful to have been given a second chance at life.
She hadn’t even made it back to her neighborhood when she received a phone call.
The moment she answered, a sharp, stern voice rang out from the Knight family estate.
“Rose! How dare you!”
