Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 18: Chapter 18 The Woman Who Stole Everything

Through the glass, Rose saw Ryan and Samantha sitting inside. Across from them sat a middle-aged couple, along with the familiar Mike.

She often ran into the three of them.

But that couple...

They were her biological father, Logan Hill, and Daisy Riles—the woman with whom Logan had carried on an affair for years while still married to her mother.

When Diana arrived and spotted Ryan and Samantha inside, she immediately muttered, "Those bastards."

Despite her anger, she quickly noticed Rose’s distressed expression. Taking Rose by the hand, she hurried her toward a table in the dining area.

"I know it’s still hard for you to accept the divorce right now—that’s only natural. After all, not many people could endure seven years of this."

Diana wasn’t the most sensitive person, so she could only do her best to comfort her.

Rose shook her head.

"It’s not because of that."

"Then what is it?"

"Samantha’s stepfather is my biological father—the man who abandoned me in the countryside more than ten years ago and never once checked on me."

Rose let out a bitter laugh.

After all these twists and turns, she had run into Logan again at this exact moment.

Diana’s expression changed slightly.

She knew all about Rose’s past.

After Rose’s mother was injured and fell into a coma, Logan immediately hired a lawyer to file for divorce, forcing his wife—who was lying unconscious in a hospital bed—to leave her fingerprint on the paperwork.

To make room for his mistress, he didn’t hesitate to abandon nine-year-old Rose in the countryside to fend for herself.

All to please the woman he truly wanted.

Because Daisy knew about Rose’s existence, she made a demand: she would marry Logan, but she had no interest in raising another woman’s child, nor did she want Rose competing with Samantha for Logan’s affection.

She insisted that Logan get rid of Rose.

Rose endured countless hardships over the following decade.

Although she had been born into a wealthy family, the life that should have been hers was stolen away.

Samantha hadn’t originally carried the Hill surname.

Daisy brought her into the Hill family, and she eventually took Logan’s last name.

Logan treated his stepdaughter a thousand times better than he ever treated Rose.

Memories from those years resurfaced in Rose’s mind.

Before she was sent away, she had met Daisy and Samantha.

She still remembered the words Samantha had said to her: "It would be better if you and your mother were dead. You’re nothing but a nuisance."

Even now, Rose was astonished that a child could say something so cruel.

But she had been very young then, and many years had passed.

When she encountered Samantha again, she hadn’t even recognized her as the girl who had taken everything from her and helped drive her from her own home.

Logan had publicly declared that Samantha was his daughter—the apple of his eye.

He gave Samantha the very best of everything and showered her with endless affection.

Meanwhile, his biological daughter had been abandoned in a remote mountain village, where she had nearly starved to death.

So now, after suddenly learning Samantha’s true identity, Rose felt an overwhelming sense of irony.

Back then, Samantha had taken away her home and her father.

Now, years later, she had taken away her husband as well.

History was repeating itself.

Rose even found herself wondering whether Ryan knew the truth about Samantha’s connection to her.

If he did, then he truly was heartless.

"A thief has really made a name for herself," Diana said through clenched teeth. "She takes after her mother."

Rose reflected on everything that had happened over the years and finally shook her head.

"If something can be taken away that easily, then it was never worth much to begin with. The fault was never mine or my mother’s."

She refused to let any of it make her doubt herself.

Her conscience was clear.

Diana paused for a moment before giving her a thumbs-up.

"Exactly."

Rose no longer had any expectations when it came to Logan.

She felt nothing for him anymore.

The only thing that still hurt was knowing that her mother remained unconscious, trapped in a hospital bed.

Logan wasn’t her father.

He was her enemy.

That afternoon, Rose headed to the real estate agency to sign a purchase agreement.

The property was in a prime location, surrounded by beautiful scenery and fresh air. A large man-made lake sat nearby, and everything about the house fit her requirements and budget.

As soon as she arrived, the agent handling her account hurried over.

"Miss Bennett, you’re finally here. Someone would like to speak with you."

Rose looked puzzled.

"Who?"

She followed him into a reception room.

The moment she saw Samantha, she immediately had a bad feeling.

Samantha sat with one leg crossed over the other. Hearing the door open, she slowly raised her head.

She seemed completely unsurprised by Rose’s arrival.

"I’ve decided I want the house you put a deposit on," Samantha said matter-of-factly.

Rose looked at her indifferently.

"So?"

"Name your price. I want to buy it."

Samantha didn’t bother with small talk.

She carried herself with the confidence of someone who believed the world should make way for her.

A faint sneer appeared on Rose’s face. "You seem determined to have everything I have. Should I arrange for a few garbage trucks to dump their loads outside your house too? Maybe you’d decide you want that as well."

Samantha’s expression stiffened.

She instantly understood the insult.

Frowning, she sneered. "How crude. No wonder Ryan looks down on you."

She leaned forward slightly. "I’ll ask one more time. Are you willing to give it up or not?"

Her tone wasn’t one of negotiation.

It was a demand.

Now that Rose knew Samantha’s true identity, she was even less inclined to accommodate her.

Turning to the agent, she said firmly, "Let’s sign the contract."

Ignoring Samantha completely, she took a seat.

The agent looked nervously between them.

He recognized Samantha.

She was the physician who had recently appeared on a popular Traditional Chinese Medicine television program and had a powerful reputation.

Lowering his voice, he tried to warn Rose.

"Miss Bennett, you may not know this, but she’s rumored to be Mr. Knight’s future wife. You know the Knight family, right? One of the wealthiest families in the country. It might be best not to make an enemy of her."

Rose’s brows immediately furrowed.

Samantha overheard every word.

The corners of her lips lifted slightly, and her mood visibly improved.

Then she stood.

"No need. She’ll change her mind eventually."

With that, she walked away.

The agent slapped his forehead anxiously. "Oh no... this isn’t good. Miss Bennett, maybe you should reconsider. Everyone knows how much Mr. Knight cares about Miss Hill. I’m only trying to help you."

Rose felt her enthusiasm for the property evaporate.

The agent’s attitude alone was enough to sour the entire experience.

Everywhere she went, people acted as though Samantha already held the position that legally belonged to her.

As though Ryan’s devotion to Samantha was common knowledge.

As though Rose could never compare.

The more people said it, the more she disliked the property itself.

Still, she kept her expression calm.

Looking at the agent, she asked coolly, "And why is that your concern?"

The agent froze.

Without another word, Rose turned and walked out.

She wasn’t in any hurry to sign the contract anymore.

The agent had violated basic professional boundaries by repeatedly taking Samantha’s side after Rose had already placed a deposit.

Rose had no intention of rewarding that behavior.

Besides, she had a feeling this matter wasn’t over yet.

That evening, Rose received a call from Martha.

"I found a family photo in the tea room. Do you still want it?"

Rose immediately remembered it.

The photograph showed her mother, her grandfather, and a younger version of herself.

It was the only family photo they had left.

With everything that had happened recently, it had completely slipped her mind.

"Of course I want it."

"Oh, good. I asked sir first, and he actually suggested throwing it away..."

Rose’s chest tightened with anger.

It was one of her most treasured possessions.

Ryan knew that.

What right did he have to decide whether it stayed or went?

"I’ll come get it right now. Please make sure it’s kept somewhere safe."

Not wanting to take any chances, Rose grabbed her car keys and headed out immediately.

As soon as she stepped inside the house, she bent down to remove her shoes.

Then she spotted Ryan sitting on the living room sofa, watching the evening news.