Free Web NovelChapter 253: Chapter 253 The Apology She Refused to Hide Behind
Rose knew very well that, to carve out a place for herself in society, it was often better to let things slide. Being generous and magnanimous would make life easier and relationships smoother.
But she simply wasn’t willing.
After all, every word Oliver had said and every action he had taken in the past had hurt her to some degree.
She refused to minimize that pain.
Especially during the period when she had first begun the divorce process with Ryan.
The favoritism those so-called friends showed Samantha, along with the barbed remarks they directed at her, had caused genuine, tangible pain.
So Rose looked directly at Oliver.
“You need to admit what you did wrong.”
For a spoiled rich heir like Oliver, that was no easy task.
But that was Oliver’s problem.
Oliver met Rose’s calm yet unwavering gaze.
His throat tightened.
A wave of shame washed over him.
What hurt him wasn’t the act of apologizing itself, but the realization of just how foolish he had been.
The old man hadn’t expected there to be an actual grievance between them.
He slammed his hand on the table.
“Speak!”
Cold sweat appeared on Oliver’s temples.
Looking at Rose and recalling the past, his face pale, he finally forced the words out.
“...I didn’t know the truth. I’m sorry.”
At the same time, the anger of having been manipulated surged within him.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he turned and stormed out, his expression dark.
He had made a complete fool of himself.
And Samantha was the one responsible.
By now, he was almost certain that Samantha had been misleading and using him all along.
When he thought about it carefully, every loss he had suffered recently—losing tens of millions of dollars, being demoted and exiled to a branch office, and enduring one setback after another—had all stemmed from Samantha.
Before making the investment, he had sought Ryan’s advice.
Ryan had told him only one thing.
“It depends on your mindset. Are you investing as a businessman seeking profit, or are you repaying a debt of gratitude?”
At the time, Oliver thought the answer was ambiguous.
He had asked Ryan to explain further.
But Ryan had simply said: “If you trust her abilities, there is essentially no difference between the two.”
Back then, Oliver had believed Samantha was genuinely capable.
Supporting her financially would both repay her kindness and earn him a return.
He never expected to fall so hard.
He had even lost his standing within the family.
Oliver strode out with a grim expression.
At the corner, he ran into Ryan.
Ryan looked at him coldly. “What happened?”
Oliver thought of Samantha.
He looked at Ryan and took a deep breath.
*****
When Ryan returned to the private room, Rose didn’t even turn around.
The old man asked, “Where’s that brat?”
Ryan took his seat, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know.”
The old man decided not to dwell on it, though he felt even more guilty toward Rose.
The fish was served.
Rose tasted it carefully and thanked Mathew for his hospitality.
Although the old man wasn’t entirely sure what had happened, he still said to Rose,
“No matter what Oliver did, consider this two favors that Grandpa owes you. If you ever need anything, come to me anytime.”
Rose thanked him.
As they were preparing to leave, it began raining again.
Mathew glanced at Ryan, who was replying to emails, and said directly, “Ryan, take Miss Bennett home. She took a taxi here, and there aren’t any cars available at the restaurant right now. It would be convenient for you to give her a ride.”
Ryan seemed to hesitate briefly before nodding.
“That’s fine.”
Considering how long it would take to drive down the mountain and return to the city, Rose instinctively refused.
“No need. I’ll call—”
“Get in.”
Ryan had already walked to the car, opened the passenger door, and turned to look at her.
Rose’s words stopped abruptly.
She met his dark eyes, which seemed covered by a layer of ice.
The old man continued urging them.
“Go on. The rain’s getting heavier, and the roads will only become more dangerous.”
Rose pressed her lips together.
It wouldn’t be appropriate to show signs of conflict with Ryan in front of Mathew.
She had no choice but to walk over and reach for the rear door.
Ryan glanced at her. “I’m not your chauffeur.”
Rose looked at him. “Do I need someone’s permission to sit in the front seat now?”
Ryan seemed uncertain about what she meant. “Whose permission do you need?”
Rose saw no point in continuing.
Their conversations had always been like this—calm on the surface, yet filled with hidden clashes.
She simply walked over and sat in the passenger seat.
Ryan had driven himself today.
After getting into the car, he started the engine without another word.
Rose noticed a small blue pouch hanging from the rearview mirror.
It was a beautiful shade of blue, simple and understated.
She knew what it was.
Back when Ariel frequently fell ill, she had visited temples and obtained protective charms for health and safety.
Unless she was mistaken, the pouch contained an amulet.
But Ryan had never hung such things in his car before.
He wasn’t someone who believed in such things.
And the color was clearly something a woman would choose.
As expected.
Samantha had hung it there.
Her presence had already filled Ryan’s private space.
Rose showed no reaction.
The interior of the car was dim.
Because of that, one small glimmer stood out especially clearly.
She glanced sideways.
Ryan’s long fingers rested on the steering wheel.
The plain ring on his finger reflected a cold silver light.
She quietly looked away.
Neither of them spoke.
The confined space was deathly silent.
Rose kept checking the time.
It felt as though hours had passed, only for her to realize that less than ten minutes had gone by.
The drive back to the city would take at least two hours.
She couldn’t help but frown.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated.
It was a video call.
Rose looked down.
It was Ariel.
She was startled.
Quickly turning the screen away, she didn’t answer.
Ryan’s voice sounded beside her. “We can pull over. Do you want me to arrange for someone to pick you up?”
Rose replied coldly, “What? Are you planning to pull the same trick again and leave me stranded on the roadside?”
Her words seemed to remind Ryan of something.
He turned his face away.
His profile was hidden in the darkness.
He didn’t answer.
But her phone continued vibrating.
Recently, Ariel had developed the habit of video-calling Rose before bed.
But today wasn’t the right time.
Ryan turned slightly, his expression unreadable.
“You can answer it. Aren’t you going to let me meet your daughter?”
He had seen it.
The profile picture that had appeared moments earlier—a cartoon character, clearly belonging to a child.
A chill ran down Rose’s spine.
She ended the call and sent Ariel a message instead.
Ryan wasn’t looking at her.
Yet he seemed to know exactly what she was doing.
His tone remained indifferent. “It’s a shame. I won’t get to know what kind of people your child and the child’s father are.”
The words sounded ordinary.
But to Rose, they felt like hidden blades.
Still, she refused to explain.
As though silently accepting every misunderstanding Ryan held.
She put away her phone and said calmly, “If you want an apology from me, I can give you ten. A hundred, if necessary. Do you need them?”
She said it so matter-of-factly.
As though she were willing to apologize for her “betrayal.”
