Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Left Behind for Another Woman

Rose hadn’t expected Ryan to be home.

He rarely came home these days.

Yet lately, she seemed to run into him every single time.

Hearing the door, Ryan looked up and noticed how exhausted she appeared.

"Work keeping you that busy?" he asked.

So busy that she was hardly ever home anymore.

According to the staff at the family estate, Rose hadn’t sent over any of her traditional herbal remedies in days.

In the past, she would even find ways to have nourishing soups delivered to his office.

But that hadn’t happened lately.

He knew why.

It was still because of Samantha.

This time, however, Rose seemed to have developed a lot more backbone than before.

Rose didn’t want to answer. She simply looked at Martha.

"Where’s the photo?"

Martha wiped her hands and pointed toward Ryan.

"On the master’s desk."

Only then did Rose notice the family photo sitting beside Ryan’s computer.

She had no choice but to walk over.

Just as she bent down to pick it up, a long, slender hand closed around her wrist.

Rose froze and looked up, meeting Ryan’s unreadable gaze.

His expression remained calm as he nodded toward the seat beside him.

"Sit down. Let’s talk."

"Just say what you need to say."

Rose subtly pulled her hand away.

Ryan withdrew his hand without comment.

Then he spoke without warning.

"Give her the house. Name your price."

Rose stared at him in disbelief.

"What did you just say?"

The last thread of her composure was beginning to fray.

Ryan picked up the family photo from the table and slowly ran his fingers along the frame.

"I’ll pay you double the market value. You can find a better property. She likes that one and doesn’t want to choose another."

"So I have to step aside?"

Because Samantha liked something, she was expected to give it up.

Was that what Ryan was trying to tell her?

Rose’s lips twitched slightly.

Yet her eyes remained fixed on the family photo in his hands.

She was afraid that if they failed to reach an agreement, Ryan might tear it apart right in front of her.

"I’ll agree to whatever terms you set."

Ryan didn’t answer directly, but his calm tone left little room for negotiation.

"After all, if you buy it yourself, you’ll need a loan. If I purchase it, you can pay in full. We’ve already signed a property agreement, so there won’t be any future disputes. You also won’t have to carry the burden of loan payments."

How reasonable he sounded.

How thoughtful.

Listening to him, Rose almost believed him.

But she knew better.

It was just an excuse.

Maybe Martha hadn’t found the family photo at all.

Maybe Ryan had deliberately used the one thing she treasured most to lure her back.

He knew exactly how to corner her.

Rose let out a slow breath.

"Since you’ve gone to so much trouble for her, who am I to stand in the way of Mr. Knight making the woman he loves happy?"

How could she possibly refuse?

In this world, money and security were far more reliable than love.

If she couldn’t have one, she certainly wasn’t going to reject the other.

After all, she had no intention of remaining one of the world’s most hopeless romantics.

Ryan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Rose didn’t hesitate.

"Two hundred million. One lump-sum payment."

The property was worth a little over sixty million.

She had tripled the price.

The truth was, she didn’t want the villa anymore.

Just like Ryan himself, even if she managed to keep it, it would only remind her of this moment every time she looked at it.

A daily source of discomfort.

She would rather exchange it for something tangible.

After all, she was the one raising the child.

As Ariel’s father, this would be the only child support she would ever ask Ryan for.

"Fine."

Ryan agreed immediately.

No hesitation.

No regret.

His answer was crisp and decisive.

After the initial surprise faded, Rose quickly understood.

Ryan wasn’t being generous toward her.

He was simply willing to spend that much to make Samantha happy.

She really had benefited from Samantha’s influence.

The moment she finished speaking, Ryan casually returned the photo to the table.

"The money will be in your account by tomorrow night."

It seemed he had come home solely to discuss this matter.

"Get some rest. Don’t wait up for me."

Ryan turned and walked toward the study to retrieve something.

Just like that, he had spent two hundred million to buy Samantha a smile.

Wait up for him?

Had he lost his mind?

She had moved out days ago, yet Ryan apparently hadn’t even noticed.

How oblivious could someone be?

Rose almost laughed.

She couldn’t be bothered with him.

She tucked the photo safely away and headed outside.

When she climbed into her old sedan she discovered that it had broken down again.

The engine wouldn’t start.

No matter how many times she tried, nothing happened.

When she was having a bad day, even the car seemed determined to make things worse.

She checked the time.

A little after eight.

With no other choice, she got out and inspected the vehicle herself.

It didn’t help.

When Ryan came outside, he saw her standing there.

He remembered she’d been driving that car ever since they got married.

After settling into his own car, he instructed the driver to pull alongside her.

The window rolled down.

Ryan looked at her.

"Heading back to the hospital? Get in. It’s on my way."

Rose glanced at him but didn’t answer.

"Donald, open the door for her."

Ryan’s gaze swept over Rose’s wary expression as he spoke calmly.

The driver immediately stepped out and opened the rear door.

"Madam, please."

Rose hadn’t expected Ryan to be so considerate at a time like this.

Still, she knew there was no point making herself suffer.

The car was dead.

This was a private residential area.

Getting a taxi would be difficult, and walking out would take forever.

There was no reason to punish herself just to spite him.

So she got in.

She sat in the back seat with Ryan only a short distance away.

He kept his head lowered, focused on his iPad, making no attempt to start a conversation.

Rose appreciated the silence.

Twenty minutes later, the car finally left the private community.

Just as they were about to merge into traffic, Ryan’s phone rang.

Rose kept her eyes on the window.

But the Maybach’s glass was so spotless that she could clearly see the caller ID reflected in it.

Baby.

The contact name was almost painfully ironic.

Rose immediately looked away.

For a moment, she wanted to jump out of the car.

She had absolutely no desire to sit there and listen to a display of their affection.

The atmosphere felt suffocating.

Ryan apparently chose not to answer because she was present.

Instead, he instructed the driver, "Pull over."

The car came to a stop.

Ryan glanced at Rose, who had kept her back turned toward him the entire ride.

"I have something urgent to handle. Can you take a taxi to the hospital from here?"

His tone was calm.

But it wasn’t really a question.

He was telling her to get out.

Ryan had never explained where he was going.

He had always believed she didn’t need an explanation.

Rose had long since grown accustomed to being abandoned without warning.

Without a word, she opened the door and stepped out.

She certainly wouldn’t delay him from meeting his girlfriend.

The Maybach pulled away.

Rose stood alone at the intersection in the bitter winter cold.

Having just left the warmth of the car, the icy wind made every bone in her body ache.

She lowered her head, took out her phone, and called for a ride.

Her face remained expressionless.

Even though he had left her standing alone on the side of the road on a freezing winter night, Ryan hadn’t shown the slightest concern.

He had been far too eager to get to Samantha.

That was how indifferent she had become toward him.

She felt neither pain nor joy.

Neither sadness nor anger.

It was rush hour, and the wait was long.

Before her ride arrived, a video call from Ariel popped up on her screen.

Rose blinked away the dryness in her eyes, answered immediately, and forced a smile.

"Sweetheart?"

Ariel’s delicate, beautiful little face filled the screen.

Her bright smile revealed two adorable dimples.

"Mommy! Are you off work yet? Why are you outside all by yourself?"

Before Rose could answer, Ariel stared carefully at her smiling face.

The little girl’s expression suddenly froze.

It looked as though she wanted to climb right through the screen and hug her mother.

"Mommy..."

Her voice turned soft.

"Are you unhappy?"