Free Web NovelChapter 16: Chapter 16 She Tried to Slap Samantha
Rose was nearly overwhelmed by her emotions.
Embarrassment. Disgust. Anger. Fear.
The turmoil left her utterly exhausted.
She knew one thing for certain.
Only an extreme reaction would stop them from demanding to search her phone.
She was a woman with secrets.
She couldn’t afford to take any risks.
James and Ryan were both stunned.
Was Rose really going this far over a phone?
Even Mike, who had been crying at the top of his lungs, forgot to continue his performance and peeked out from Samantha’s arms to stare at her.
Ryan’s expression barely changed.
Yet the darkness gathering in his eyes was like a winter night—cold and devoid of warmth.
His gaze slowly shifted from Rose’s face to the shattered phone.
"So," he said quietly, "I guess I can’t look?"
Rose was not someone who typically lost control of her emotions.
Yet today’s behavior suggested there was something hidden in that phone that absolutely could not be revealed.
The atmosphere became unbearably tense.
Ignoring everyone’s reactions and refusing to answer Ryan’s question, Rose bent down and picked up the broken phone.
Then she looked at Samantha.
"No one likes looking at things that offend the eye, and no one likes keeping trash on their phone. You’re the one who started this, and now my phone is broken. You’ll be paying for it."
Samantha immediately frowned. "I didn’t break it. Are you even being reasonable?"
Rose brushed the dust from the cracked screen. "It wasn’t yours to begin with, yet you were the one fighting over it. Funny how thieves always find a way to act righteous afterward."
Samantha’s expression instantly darkened.
The sarcasm in Rose’s voice was impossible to miss.
Ryan knew those words were harsh.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Do I need to teach you how to watch your mouth?"
Lately, Rose seemed to have developed a rebellious streak.
Or perhaps she had always been this way.
Her protective instincts were obvious.
Rose clenched her fists. "Oh, right. I forgot your Miss Hill is practically a public figure. A scandal involving a romantic relationship with her cousin would be quite inconvenient. I’ll be more careful next time."
Samantha’s face changed.
Rose was being deliberately vicious.
She couldn’t help glancing at Ryan.
Fortunately for her, Ryan appeared completely unmoved.
His expression remained cold and indifferent.
There was even a trace of displeasure in his eyes.
Samantha relaxed.
Just then, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
A server hurried over.
Clearly sensing the strange tension in the air, she nevertheless followed her instructions and approached Rose.
"Miss Bennett?"
Rose turned toward her.
"Your dinner guest is waiting for you in the private dining room on the fourth floor. Whenever you’re ready, you may head down."
The moment those words left her mouth, every pair of eyes turned toward Rose.
No one had expected that.
James was the first to laugh.
Crossing his arms, he tilted his head and grinned.
"Miss Bennett, I’m impressed."
After all the commotion she’d caused...
Now she had someone show up to support her story?
A date?
Impossible.
In his mind, it was obviously another one of Rose’s schemes.
After all, she was Ryan’s wife.
What right did she have to see another man?
Marriage was protected by law.
It wasn’t meant to be treated like a game.
James glanced at Ryan’s expression and smirked.
"Looks like Ryan isn’t falling for your tricks. "Maybe you should spend less time chasing Ryan and more time accomplishing something of your own. Miss Hill could probably teach you a thing or two about how to establish yourself in society."
The implication was obvious.
Samantha’s smile deepened slightly.
Samantha believed Rose could never compare to her.
The marriage certificate meant nothing.
Sooner or later, Ryan would hand Rose a divorce certificate.
Ryan clearly had no interest in whatever drama Rose was trying to create.
Naturally, he gave no thought whatsoever to this supposed date.
"Let her do whatever she wants," he said indifferently.
Samantha was extremely satisfied with that response.
At least it meant Rose had failed.
Then she suddenly smiled. "When I was video chatting with Ryan, I saw Aunt Isabella hit you. Are you feeling better now?"
The unexpected mention of that humiliation made Rose pause.
What caught her attention most, however, was the phrase "Aunt Isabella."
Not long ago, Samantha had nearly become Isabella’s daughter-in-law.
Now that she was with Ryan, she’d changed her tune immediately.
Still, Rose understood exactly what Samantha was doing.
This wasn’t concern.
It was humiliation disguised as sympathy.
"I’m sorry," Samantha said gently. "You ended up taking the hit because of me."
James looked surprised.
"What happened?"
Samantha glanced up at Ryan.
"It’s not important. Ryan was only trying to protect me."
Watching the display of affection between them, Rose suddenly found herself in no hurry to leave.
She nodded thoughtfully. "Since you’re admitting I took that slap because of you, then you owe me."
The room fell silent.
No one had time to react.
Rose suddenly raised her hand.
She swung with all her strength toward Samantha’s face.
Samantha’s expression changed dramatically.
She froze.
Rose’s slap was fierce and decisive.
But just before it landed—
A hand caught her wrist.
Firm.
Warm.
Familiar.
All of her momentum vanished instantly.
The force rebounded through her arm, leaving a dull ache behind.
Rose looked up.
Her eyes met Ryan’s.
Dark.
Calm.
Unreadable.
"Rose," he said coldly, "that’s enough."
The sight of him protecting another woman brought her sharply back to reality.
Right.
She had almost forgotten.
Her husband—the man she was about to divorce—was still standing there.
How could he possibly tolerate any harm coming to his precious Samantha?
When Rose was humiliated, Ryan watched like a stranger.
But when Samantha was involved, every protective instinct he possessed came alive.
Rose’s eyes burned.
She rolled them upward slightly, trying to ease the sting.
At this point, even Ryan’s touch felt unbearable.
She yanked her hand free.
She didn’t want to say another word.
Turning around, she walked away.
Ryan watched her for a brief moment.
For some reason, an image flashed through his mind.
One of the photos he’d glimpsed in her phone.
It had looked like a little girl.
A very pretty little girl.
But the thought disappeared almost as quickly as it came.
Rose liked children.
Perhaps it was simply a photo she’d saved online.
With that conclusion, he dismissed it entirely.
Then he turned and returned to the private room.
He had no intention of chasing after her.
Nor did he intend to explain himself.
Or comfort her.
A faint smile returned to Samantha’s face.
Mike followed closely behind her.
Meanwhile, Rose hurried toward the elevators.
Looking down at the broken phone in her hand, she lost herself in thought.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
Someone stopped beside her.
She looked over.
It was James.
He stood there casually.
Whether he was there to mock her or simply happened to be passing by, she couldn’t tell.
Nor did she care.
Her expression remained ice-cold.
James, however, seemed unconcerned.
After everything that had happened, he assumed Rose was embarrassed.
"It’s just a phone," he said lazily. "You’ve been a housewife for a few years, but surely you’re not that narrow-minded. If you had opportunities like Samantha’s and actually saw the world, maybe you wouldn’t be so obsessed with romance. Is Ryan not giving you enough money? If that’s the problem, I can help."
James had dated plenty of women.
He considered himself an expert at reading them.
In his mind, Rose must feel miserable right now.
Although he didn’t think highly of her, she was still a woman.
Why make life so difficult for herself?
The elevator arrived.
The doors slid open.
Rose finally looked directly at him.
Then she smiled. "Ryan doesn’t seem worried. Why are you?"
James’s smile froze instantly.
Without another glance, Rose stepped into the elevator.
The doors closed.
The elevator slowly descended.
Leaving James standing there alone—
Half amused.
Half furious.
And completely speechless.
