Free Web NovelChapter 262: Chapter 262 The Marriage Agreement
Ariel sensed Rose’s emotional turmoil and quickly sat up, gently wiping away the tears at the corner of Rose’s eyes with her tiny hand.
Putting on a brave face, she patted her little chest and said, "I’ll give you a hug."
Rose couldn’t help but laugh.
Even though it made her heart ache.
She wished Ariel could simply be a carefree little girl her own age—untouched by the burdens of the adult world and never forced to grow up too soon.
Still, Rose couldn’t help thinking that perhaps Ariel had inherited Ryan’s personality. That quiet maturity seemed almost innate.
As for Ariel’s question—"Is it because Daddy I have never met?"—Rose couldn’t answer it.
Ariel had always believed her biological father was no longer alive.
Pulling her daughter into her arms, Rose whispered, "It’s not because of him anymore."
After seven years of struggling alone, she had already given that relationship everything she possibly could.
Ariel nodded, only half understanding.
For once, Rose stayed by her side, telling her a bedtime story until she drifted back to sleep.
As for everything that had happened that night—
Whether it was flipping over the banquet table and causing a scene at the Knight family’s cocktail party...
Or deciding to marry Trevor...
She wouldn’t regret any of it.
Even if the Knight family sought revenge for publicly defying them, she would accept the consequences without hesitation.
As long as the marriage went through and Ariel’s future was secured, she was prepared to fight the Knight family to the very end.
*****
The next morning, Rose woke to several text messages from Trevor.
Trevor: [I’m flying to London today. I’ll get the paperwork taken care of as quickly as possible. Leave the certificate proving you’re free to marry to me.]
Rose knew he was referring to obtaining the necessary legal documents.
Trevor had always been reliable. Once he said he would handle something, she never had to worry about it.
She scrolled down to the next message.
Trevor: [You can start looking at different wedding styles, venues, or even countries. If you find something you like, let me know anytime. You’ve never planned a wedding before, but every woman has some dream about her special day.]
Rose honestly had no idea what she wanted.
She had never imagined having a wedding at all.
To her, this was simply a marriage of convenience, nothing more.
Yet now that they were actually planning a wedding, she found herself unconsciously taking it seriously.
The realization left her strangely unsettled.
Rose decided to stop dwelling on it.
What she needed to prepare now was a prenuptial agreement that would fully protect Trevor’s interests.
Once Ariel’s custody issue was resolved, they would divorce peacefully, with no disputes over property or finances.
She contacted an attorney to draft the agreement.
After carefully reviewing the document, she sent the draft to Trevor.
Rose: [Feel free to add or revise anything you’re not satisfied with.]
That evening, Trevor replied.
Trevor: [Rose, you really don’t know how to protect your own interests.]
Rose: [ ?]
Trevor: [Apparently, all my money is nothing more than worthless paper in your eyes. It doesn’t tempt you in the slightest.]
Rose smiled.
She knew he was joking.
She also knew the agreement was comprehensive enough to fully protect Trevor’s assets.
*****
The following day, Rose headed to NYU.
She hadn’t printed the prenuptial agreement yet, planning instead to do it once she arrived on campus.
The weekly inter-university research meeting was being held in NYU’s laboratory building.
As soon as Rose entered the conference room, she saw Ryan already seated in the front row.
Sitting beside him was Samantha, who had naturally taken a front-row seat now that her status had risen alongside his.
Rose wasn’t surprised.
Ryan was the lead investor in the neuropharmaceutical research project, so his attendance was expected.
The moment Samantha noticed Rose, her expression turned cold.
Ever since Rose had exposed the truth at the Knight family’s cocktail party, rumors had spread everywhere.
People had been openly and privately asking about Samantha’s relationship with Ryan.
The gossip had become increasingly vicious.
To Samantha, it was humiliating.
Rose had done it deliberately.
The Knight family valued reputation above everything else.
Now that everyone knew Samantha had once been Ryan’s sister-in-law, how could the family openly accept her?
Rose pretended not to notice Samantha’s hostile stare.
She calmly took her seat.
The fact that Ryan had attended today’s meeting—and had openly appeared beside Samantha despite the Knight family’s disapproval—made his intentions perfectly clear.
He wanted everyone to know that Samantha was the only woman he had chosen.
From the moment Rose walked into the room, Ryan never once looked her way.
It was as though her presence meant nothing to him.
Alicia, seated beside Rose, couldn’t help glancing back and forth between Rose and Ryan across the conference table.
As someone within their social circle, she had already heard the explosive rumors.
Including the story of Rose publicly severing ties with the Knight family.
She also understood the complicated relationship between Rose and Ryan.
Looking toward Samantha, Alicia couldn’t hide the trace of indignation in her eyes.
She leaned closer to Rose and muttered, "Why is he sitting all the way over there? He didn’t even say hello to you... It’s like you’re complete strangers."
The moment the words left her mouth, Alicia realized she’d made a mistake.
Her face filled with regret as she nervously studied Rose’s expression.
Rose, however, remained completely calm.
Feeling increasingly awkward, Alicia quickly reached into her bag, pulled out a ticket, and handed it to Rose.
Lowering her voice, she said, "Professor Rose, this is an admission ticket to an antique gallery. They’re incredibly hard to get. Would you like to go? I’d love to give this one to you."
Rose looked at the ticket.
The building and storefront printed on it looked remarkably familiar.
After staring at it for a moment, she smiled.
"That’s my family’s shop. It belongs to my mother—it was her property before she got married."
Alicia’s eyes widened.
"Really?"
She looked pleasantly surprised.
"Professor Rose, your family is incredible! Then... would you like to go together?"
Rose knew Alicia was simply trying to apologize without making things awkward.
She appreciated the kindness and accepted the invitation.
"Sure."
Not far away, Samantha had naturally noticed Alicia and Rose chatting happily together.
Knowing Alicia belonged to the Taylor family made Samantha even more displeased.
Rose always seemed to know exactly how to win over people who could benefit her.
She was far too calculating.
Still, Samantha reminded herself that Alicia wasn’t an important figure within the Taylor family.
Besides, Rose had already fallen out with James.
Trying to win favor with the Taylors now would be meaningless.
More importantly, Rose had offended the Knight family.
She was already in deep trouble.
Even exposing Samantha and Ethan’s affair had gained Rose nothing in the end.
Samantha simply waited for the day Rose would destroy herself.
Rose paid no attention to Samantha’s thoughts.
The meeting covered several major agenda items, with a scheduled twenty-minute break halfway through.
Throughout the meeting, Rose never once made eye contact with Ryan.
When the break began, she quietly left the conference room.
She needed to print the prenuptial agreement she and Trevor would sign.
Deliberately avoiding the crowd, she headed to the printer.
After printing two copies, she stapled them together.
Kneeling beside the printer, she picked up a pen and signed her name on the signature line at the end of both copies.
Once she carefully confirmed everything was in order, she took a photo and sent it to Trevor.
Holding the agreement in her hands, she turned around.
She hadn’t expected someone to be standing directly behind her.
Caught off guard, she walked straight into a solid chest.
The impact sent the agreement slipping from her hands.
Rose instinctively reached down to pick it up.
But Ryan was faster.
He bent down first.
As he picked up the document, his eyes fell on the four bold words printed across the first page.
Prenuptial Agreement.
