Free Web NovelChapter 26: Chapter 26 Asking legal wife to hide like a mistress
Rose was caught off guard.
Especially since Ryan remained utterly nonchalant, his dark eyes calmly sweeping downward from her bare shoulders and neck.
His gaze passed over the cleavage faintly outlined beneath the bath towel.
She hadn’t completely dried off.
Warm light cascaded down from above, giving her skin a lustrous sheen, like a pearl of the finest quality.
Her legs were long and strikingly eye-catching.
Combined with Rose’s slightly startled expression and her instinctive gesture of covering her chest, she appeared to possess a touch of bashful charm.
But Rose wasn’t shy.
She was simply surprised—and irritated.
"How did you..."
Before she could finish asking why he had entered her room, Ryan had already strode inside.
His gaze shifted away from her.
"When did you start following me?" he asked flatly.
His tone was devoid of emotion, as if he were merely stating a fact.
Yet Rose sensed something else beneath it.
"Following you?"
Did he think she was stalking him?
Ryan sat down on the black leather sofa and tilted his chin toward her.
"This is my private suite."
Rose felt as though a mouthful of gravel had lodged itself firmly in her throat.
Margaret had sent her straight to Ryan again.
And if she explained that Margaret had arranged it, it would only sound like a poor excuse.
"Don’t worry, I will switch rooms."
Rose walked over to the sofa and picked up her phone.
She intended to call the resort’s front desk.
She didn’t want Ryan thinking she was desperate, nor did she want to be labeled a stalker or accused of throwing herself at him.
Although they weren’t officially divorced yet, she still didn’t want to invite gossip.
Ryan didn’t move.
He cast a casual glance in her direction.
Everyone agreed that Rose was stunning.
At five-foot-eight, she was tall and graceful, with excellent proportions and skin so fair it seemed to glow.
Whenever she became emotional, a faint blush would gradually spread across her skin, making her look unexpectedly shy.
She had never dared wander around in front of him wearing nothing but a bath towel.
But now...
Ryan idly toyed with a metal lighter without lighting a cigarette.
Meanwhile, Rose remained completely composed.
Her gaze no longer avoided his.
It was as though he were merely another stranger at a crowded beach full of people in swimsuits.
Rose failed to notice Ryan’s gaze lingering on her.
She had already dialed the front desk.
"Hello, I’d like to change my room. Do you have any other—"
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
She could faintly hear Samantha’s voice outside. "Ryan, are you in there?"
Rose hadn’t expected Samantha to show up.
And certainly not at Ryan’s room.
Had she interrupted a romantic rendezvous?
Rose immediately looked toward Ryan.
He met her gaze and said calmly, "Could you wait in the bathroom for a moment?"
His voice was steady.
Matter-of-fact.
Polished and refined on the surface.
Yet what he was actually asking was for his legal wife to hide like a mistress.
Rose wondered—
Was she the other woman after all?
"Ryan? I’m coming in."
Samantha rang the bell again.
Rose didn’t know whether she was simply stunned by the audacity of it all or deliberately trying to provoke him.
"I’ll make room for the two of you. I’m leaving."
That meant she would inevitably run into Samantha.
Still, if she could disgust both Samantha and Ryan at the same time, it seemed like a fair trade.
"Are you going out like that?"
Ryan’s hand shot out and caught her wrist.
His grip was cold and firm.
Rose looked back at him calmly.
"Are you afraid your sister-in-law might get the wrong idea and think we did something?"
After all, she looked somewhat disheveled.
It wouldn’t be difficult for someone to misunderstand.
Ryan ignored the obvious implication.
He glanced at her once, then stood.
"No need to change rooms. You can stay here."
Without waiting for a response, he walked toward the door and opened it.
Positioning himself squarely in the doorway, he blocked Samantha’s view.
Rose could still hear Samantha’s cheerful laughter from the hallway.
The two of them walked away together.
Ryan truly spared no effort when it came to protecting Samantha’s mood.
Rose ran a hand through her damp hair and let out a quiet sigh.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
The irony was almost amusing.
A man in love could be so considerate that it practically deserved applause.
Rose had no intention of moving rooms anymore.
Ryan had already given up his own suite to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Why should she inconvenience herself?
She slept soundly that night.
As expected, Ryan never returned.
*****
The event was scheduled to begin at ten o’clock.
Diana was already on her way.
After getting ready, Rose headed out.
The two met at the entrance to the resort venue.
Diana was still clutching her laptop and working on a PowerPoint presentation.
Everyone claimed they were here to relax, but Diana clearly couldn’t stop working.
Rose led her inside and found their seats.
Today’s event combined an art exhibition with an auction of rare paintings, sketches, and collectible works.
No sooner had they sat down than a staff member hurried over and bowed apologetically.
"Excuse me, ladies, but this table has been reserved for today’s VIP guests. I’m afraid we’ll need to ask you to move to another table."
Diana glanced up. "Isn’t this Table Six? We didn’t sit in the wrong seats."
The staff member smiled awkwardly.
"You’re correct, but the place cards were mistakenly arranged. We’ll need these seats."
Rose didn’t want to make things difficult for him.
After all, it wasn’t his fault.
"It’s fine. We’ll move."
Diana stood reluctantly, laptop still in hand.
"What kind of big shot needs this much special treatment?" she muttered.
Rose, however, didn’t particularly care.
Every circle had its hierarchy.
That was simply how the world worked.
After they settled into their new seats, a commotion erupted near the side entrance.
The auction house manager personally went out to greet the arriving guests.
It caused quite a stir.
Rose glanced over.
Ryan and Samantha had arrived, surrounded by a crowd.
Samantha’s arm was looped through Ryan’s.
She smiled brightly and graciously greeted everyone who approached.
Ryan escorted her directly to the seats Rose and Diana had just vacated.
The two of them were practically making a public announcement of their relationship.
Samantha shot Rose a contemptuous glance.
Then she smiled sweetly and leaned close to Ryan’s ear, whispering something.
The gesture was intimate enough to be seen by everyone.
Ryan listened quietly, a faint smile touching the corners of his lips.
Diana scoffed. "Damn it. I should’ve checked my horoscope before leaving the house. I was wondering who was ruining my day. Turns out it’s Samantha Hill.
Was Rose, the legal wife, really expected to make room for that woman?
Diana now suspected the seat change had been intentional from the beginning.
A deliberate provocation.
"Pull out the marriage certificate and slap it in her face!"
Diana felt she hadn’t burned enough paper effigies to curse that adulterous pair.
Rose looked down at the drink menu. "Then Ryan will probably slap me back with the divorce papers. We’d end up creating a dramatic scene, and the video would go viral."
"Would he really be that tasteless?"
Diana looked horrified.
She understood exactly how bitter Rose felt.
And because she understood, she felt equally furious.
Rose ordered two mango juices and decided not to dwell on it.
The auction began.
She only wanted to see whether any of her grandfather’s paintings or artwork pieces appeared.
When Logan had seized the gallery years ago, all of Gabriel Bennett’s works had been sold.
Perhaps some were still circulating in the market.
Many antiques appeared throughout the auction.
None caught Rose’s attention.
Nor did she see any works by her grandparents.
Meanwhile, Samantha became the center of attention.
She raised her paddle repeatedly and won item after item.
From their seats, Rose and Diana could clearly hear every conversation.
Whenever Samantha saw something she liked, she would turn to Ryan.
"Ryan, I like this one."
Ryan’s smile was calm and indulgent.
"Then bid on it."
Samantha immediately raised her paddle.
Diana folded her arms and sneered.
"Those two."
A moment later—
"Ryan, this vintage diamond bracelet is gorgeous. It matches your cufflinks perfectly."
Ryan nodded.
"Then let’s bid on it."
Diana muttered, "Shameless."
Another item appeared.
"Ryan, my mother would love this antique crystal vase. The opening bid is one million dollars."
Ryan replied casually, "Then let’s make it three million."
Diana snorted. "What a dazzling display of affection."
Every time something happened at the VIP table, Diana would mutter another insult under her breath.
It was as if she were providing live commentary.
Rose: "..."
