Free Web NovelChapter 258: Chapter 258 Rose’s Final Act of Defiance
Rose gazed at the elderly woman standing before her.
That face was nearly flawless.
To anyone else, she appeared to be a loving elder who doted on her younger relatives.
It was completely at odds with the woman who had once set her up with a scoundrel, nearly condemning her to a miserable life, and who had handed her a fake divorce decree without the slightest concern for her well-being.
Within the Knight family—this den of predators—
No one could bear to look too closely.
They were all half-human, half-ghost.
For no apparent reason, Rose smiled.
Her eyes brimmed with sarcasm, laid bare for everyone to see.
The moment Margaret noticed her expression, unease crept into her heart. She slowly frowned.
“Rose, what’s with that look? If you’re unhappy about something, just say so.”
Rose studied Margaret’s expression.
Margaret simply valued Rose’s current status. She wanted to bind her to the Knight family for their own benefit—to turn her into a resource the family could exploit at will.
Yet they still pretended it was for her own good.
As though they were doing her a favor.
Rose suddenly laughed.
Ryan looked at her, his dark eyes betraying no emotion.
She was clearly not herself.
Rose walked over to a nearby table, picked up a glass of champagne, and drained it in one gulp.
Ryan’s gaze followed her.
Margaret frowned, disapproving of Rose’s behavior. It lacked the grace and dignity expected of a lady.
She was just about to speak when—
After finishing the champagne, Rose raised the glass high and slammed it onto the marble floor.
The sharp crack echoed throughout the room.
It cut through the soft music playing in the background.
Instantly, every guest turned toward her.
Margaret stared at her in disbelief. “Rose, what are you doing? Stop making a scene.”
Rose wiped the wine from her lips with her fingertip.
She could feel countless eyes fixed on her.
Including Ryan’s.
Selena, who had been entertaining guests nearby, walked over and said coldly, “Rose, what kind of behavior is this? You’re acting drunk before you’ve even had a second drink.”
She rebuked her sharply.
As shards of glass scattered across the floor, one sliced the back of Rose’s hand.
She ignored the pain.
She ignored Selena.
Only after making certain that everyone’s attention was on her did she turn toward Ryan and say clearly:
“I, Rose Bennett, and Ryan Knight—our relationship is over.”
Her voice rang throughout the ballroom.
Every guest heard her.
Many had only just recognized her as the renowned professor specially appointed by NYU, and before they could conceal their surprise, it transformed into outright shock.
Something flickered briefly in Ryan’s eyes.
Surprise.
And something else.
Margaret was even more stunned.
“Rose!”
She tried to stop her.
But Rose maintained that faint smile as she met Ryan’s deep, unreadable gaze.
“The Knight family’s honor, disgrace, rise, and fall have nothing to do with me. Today, I want everyone here to witness that fact.”
Her determination to destroy everything caused Margaret’s expression to change dramatically.
Ethan had just arrived and had never expected the situation to develop like this.
He looked at Rose. “With so many guests present, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Rose looked at him coldly. “I’m not capable enough to serve as the Knight family’s perfect cover. Nor am I as impressive as you, Ethan Knight—able to maintain the appearance of harmony while your own fiancée is in love with your older brother.”
The entire room fell silent.
Her words tore away the curtain hiding the truth.
The guests stared at Ryan and Ethan in disbelief.
Was she saying that the younger brother’s fiancée was involved with the older brother?
But Rose was not finished.
“I’m sure everyone is familiar with the leading actress involved—Miss Hill.”
Ethan’s expression changed immediately.
Then his face darkened.
“Rose! Have you lost your mind?”
It wasn’t only Ethan.
Margaret and Isabella were so shocked by Rose’s words that they nearly lost their composure.
Rose had not come here to bring honor to the Knight family.
She had come to destroy the evening.
She intended to drag the Knight family’s reputation through the mud and turn them into a laughingstock.
How could she expose this in public?
She had been explicitly told to keep quiet.
At the entrance, Samantha had just arrived when she heard Rose’s words.
The smile on her face froze.
She looked at Rose, panic filling her eyes.
What was Rose trying to do?
Did she want to destroy everyone?
If this secret became public, how would Samantha ever marry Ryan?
Even Margaret, who was usually calm and composed, trembled with anger.
“Enough! Ryan, take Rose downstairs so she can calm down.”
From beginning to end, Ryan seemed almost like a spectator.
Even as the fire spread to him.
Even as Rose threatened the Knight family’s interests.
Even as their reputation was trampled beneath everyone’s feet.
He slowly lowered his gaze.
His eyes fell on the cut on the back of Rose’s hand.
Then he looked into her reddened eyes.
Step by step, he walked toward her.
His shoes crunched against the broken glass.
Only when he stood directly in front of her did he say calmly to a waiter nearby: “Bring me a bandage.”
The waiter finally came to his senses, hurriedly searched his pocket, and handed him an adhesive bandage.
Ryan seemed completely unconcerned by the chaos surrounding them.
He opened the package and took hold of Rose’s wrist.
Rose’s face was icy as she struggled fiercely.
But his grip only tightened.
Her strength was no match for his.
Ryan was overwhelmingly stronger.
He gave her no opportunity to pull away.
Ignoring her attempts to resist, he carefully covered the wound on her hand.
When he finally looked into her eyes again, his own gaze remained cold and clear.
“Satisfied?”
Rose replied, “Not even close.”
What did she have left to fear?
Today, she intended to sever every remaining tie with the Knight family.
From the entrance, Samantha watched Ryan bandaging Rose’s hand.
Hatred filled her eyes.
She resented Rose for trying to destroy everyone.
But she also could not bear to watch Ryan hold Rose’s hand in public.
Without thinking, she rushed forward.
However, after taking only a few steps, someone suddenly grabbed her arm.
She turned and found Ethan standing there.
He had been humiliated as well.
His face was grim.
He gripped Samantha’s chin tightly. “What are you doing? Trying to use this opportunity to make people think you and Ryan are together so he can announce your relationship? How shameless can you be?”
Samantha’s jaw ached. “Let go of me.”
“What? Haven’t you slept with me before? What are you pretending for now?”
Ethan slapped her. “I don’t care what tricks you used to make Ryan fall for you, but don’t even think about taking advantage of today’s chaos.”
Samantha’s face darkened.
Ethan tightened his grip.
“I told you before—our business isn’t finished.”
Shock flashed through Samantha’s eyes.
Chaos still consumed the ballroom.
Rose knew that Ryan had treated her wound only to maintain appearances.
But she had accomplished her goal.
By creating a scandal, she had publicly severed her ties to the Knight family.
She had brought their private conflicts into the open.
The Knight family could no longer keep her bound to them.
And withholding her divorce decree no longer gave them any leverage.
Ryan released her hand at just the right moment.
Unlike the rest of the Knight family, he showed no anger.
He remained calm, as though none of it concerned him.
A faint smile touched the corners of his lips.
“Thanks to you, things are going to become very interesting in the Knight family for a while.”
Rose showed no concern for offending the family.
“Then please don’t offend me again in the future.”
Selena was equally furious.
She walked over and said, “Have you completely lost your mind? This is disgraceful. What do you gain from making such a scene? Do you really think you can afford to offend the Knight family?”
From the very beginning, Rose had intended to cut all ties with them.
Naturally, she had no intention of showing anyone any respect.
She replied coldly, “You climbed into your own brother-in-law’s bed to advance your position. What right do you have to lecture me about dignity?”
