Free Web NovelChapter 280: Chapter 280 The Battle Between Two Men
Hearing that voice, Rose snapped out of her daze and abruptly turned around.
From a distance, she saw Trevor striding toward them. His usually calm expression was now unusually cold and solemn.
Ryan’s expression remained impassive as he glanced to the side.
His gaze met Trevor’s as the latter approached.
He slowly straightened up, his dark eyes revealing nothing.
“Mr. Robinson.”
Trevor first looked Rose over, making sure she was unharmed.
Only then did he shift his gaze to Ryan’s hand wrapped around her elbow.
“Rose doesn’t like this. I’d appreciate it if Mr. Knight would respect her wishes.”
His tone wasn’t harsh, but it was far from polite.
The unspoken tension between the two men was unmistakable.
Ryan merely looked at him coldly.
Without warning, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
Seizing the opportunity, Rose immediately shook off Ryan’s grip without hesitation.
She pressed her lips together and took a quiet breath.
“Did you come to see me?”
“Yes. I just got off the plane.”
Only then did Trevor look at her.
“I still have something to take care of. If it’s convenient, could you wait for me?”
Rose knew that since Trevor had come straight to NYU from the airport, he was most likely here to see her.
Or perhaps it had something to do with the certificate of single status they planned to apply for.
Their conversation was natural and relaxed.
Ryan simply leaned casually against the car door.
Lowering his gaze, he took out his lighter, absentmindedly flicking it open and shut as small blue flames danced in the sunlight.
“That’s fine,” Trevor replied.
Then he turned to Ryan, who had remained silent all this time.
“If you have a moment, Mr. Knight, perhaps we could talk.”
“I might be able to give you the answers you’re looking for.”
For a brief moment, Rose sensed a faint hint of provocation in his words.
Perhaps...
It was only her imagination.
After all, Trevor had always been known for his calm and steady temperament.
Ryan remained equally indifferent, silently waiting for him to continue.
Trevor spoke evenly. “It seems Mr. Knight wants an explanation regarding the child.”
“I can give you that explanation.”
He raised his eyes. “Just assume I was the one who seduced Rose.”
“Assume I was the one who made the mistake.”
“Assume I pursued her relentlessly until things reached this point.”
“After all, Mr. Knight, you were the one who neglected a young woman first, weren’t you?”
Rose pressed her lips together.
She hadn’t expected Trevor to shoulder all the blame so effortlessly.
All of it...
Just to help preserve her dignity.
Ryan stared at Trevor with an unreadable expression, offering no reply.
Yet his gaze was as sharp as ever.
Trevor continued calmly, “Ariel is my daughter.”
“Rose was simply too soft-hearted back then. She refused my suggestion to divorce you and be with me.”
“As it turns out, showing mercy to the wrong person isn’t worth it.”
“She wasted so many years of her youth.”
“What do you think, Mr. Knight?”
Listening to his words, Rose felt a chill run through her.
Trevor knew exactly how to avoid the crucial details while delivering the most convincing explanation.
“That’s why I raised the child myself.”
Trevor met Ryan’s eyes. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten, Mr. Knight.”
“I am Trevor Robinson.”
“If Ariel weren’t my own flesh and blood, why would I willingly raise another man’s child?”
With those words, he effectively sealed the matter.
At the same time, the hostility between the two men reached its peak.
Rose understood exactly what Trevor was doing.
He was pushing the story to its absolute limit to convince Ryan that Ariel had nothing to do with him.
Ryan remained expressionless.
Only his dark, penetrating eyes revealed the storm beneath the surface.
He snapped the lighter shut with a flick of his thumb and let out a faint, mocking laugh.
“Mr. Robinson certainly has a talent for making something that belongs in the shadows sound perfectly respectable.”
“But what makes you believe I’m someone who can simply be treated this way?”
Rose understood exactly what Ryan meant.
His words pushed the confrontation to the edge.
Ryan rarely allowed anyone to provoke him.
Even more rarely did he take anything seriously.
Until now.
“If Mr. Knight wishes to make amends,” Trevor said calmly, “Rose and I will do our best to accommodate you.”
As he spoke, Trevor stepped beside Rose.
He reached out and gently took hold of her wrist.
Although Rose felt slightly uncomfortable, she showed nothing on her face.
She simply stood there without resisting.
Seeing the two of them standing together against him—as though he alone were the outsider—caused Ryan’s eyes to grow even darker.
His gaze rested silently on Trevor’s hand holding Rose’s wrist.
They looked exactly like a couple determined to face the world together.
As though they were silently asking him to let them finally be together.
The blazing afternoon sun seemed almost distorted by the heat.
Yet the air between them felt colder than ice.
Ryan’s gaze slowly returned to Rose’s face.
It sent a chill down her spine.
Yet he wasn’t angry.
Nor did he speak another harsh word.
Rose couldn’t tell what Ryan was thinking.
She couldn’t tell how he truly felt after hearing Trevor’s almost ruthless explanation—the explanation that completely destroyed his suspicion that Ariel might be his daughter.
But at that moment...
She felt there was nothing wrong with that.
They were already divorced.
Each of them should move on with their own life.
There was no point in leaving behind even the slightest lingering attachment.
She knew that once she decided to marry Trevor, the truth about Ariel—even if Ryan eventually learned it—would remain manageable.
After all, the custody waiver she had quietly signed had already taken effect.
But...
She refused to give Ryan even the smallest sliver of hope.
She wanted no further entanglement with him.
Of course, she also knew Ryan well enough to understand that Trevor’s words would never break his heart.
He didn’t love her.
He wouldn’t feel despair.
At most, he’d feel insulted... and mildly amused.
Ryan was never a man who tolerated being challenged in front of others.
She had no idea how far this situation might escalate.
Just then, a soft female voice broke the suffocating silence.
“Ryan, why haven’t you come inside yet?”
Samantha walked over from behind, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere.
She naturally slipped her arm through Ryan’s.
The gesture was so familiar it seemed almost instinctive.
Then she turned to Trevor. “Mr. Robinson, it’s been a long time.”
Completely ignoring Rose, Samantha continued, “Ryan and I have some matters to attend to, so I’m afraid we won’t have much time to chat.”
As she spoke, it was as though she had only just noticed Rose.
A trace of coldness flashed across her eyes. “I came to the university today to resolve the issues between us.”
“But Rose, if you’re going to make accusations, you need evidence.”
“No matter how much you resent me, you still have to follow the proper procedures.”
Her mother had been right.
Wasn’t Rose hiding her identity from the very beginning simply to deceive and trap her?
Just thinking about it filled Samantha with indignation.
Hearing such shameless words, Rose let out a cold laugh and was about to respond.
Trevor spoke first. “I’ve already learned what happened.”
He looked at Ryan. “Mr. Knight, some people are simply beyond saving.”
“This investment of yours has certainly damaged your reputation for never making a bad investment.”
The words landed like a slap.
Samantha’s expression changed instantly.
Her face turned stiff with humiliation.
Ryan, however, remained perfectly calm.
“Thank you for the reminder.”
“I know that better than Mr. Robinson.”
With that, he turned and led Samantha toward the building.
Only then did Rose finally relax.
Trevor looked down at her. “I’ll go in with you.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Two against two.”
“I won’t let you come out on the losing side.”
