Free Web NovelChapter 284: Chapter 284 Grace’s Recognition
When Rose saw Daisy, she immediately pieced together part of the situation.
With the Hill family now at the center of the storm, many of their business operations had been forced to shut down. They were no longer welcome in their industry or professional circles. Unless they sought opportunities outside their usual network, it would be difficult for them to find a way out.
Yet Ryan still seemed unconcerned about the damage being done to the Hill family.
Toward Samantha, he remained exactly as he always had.
A faint, sarcastic smile tugged at the corners of Rose’s lips.
Just then, she locked eyes with Samantha.
The moment Samantha saw her, her gaze turned sharp, filled with cold resentment.
Yet beneath that resentment was a subtle trace of smugness.
Rose couldn’t be bothered to figure out what Samantha was thinking. Whether it was hatred or resentment, it was all the result of her own actions. Rose had no intention of carrying someone else’s emotions.
As they entered, many guests approached Ryan out of respect, greeting him warmly.
Throughout the entire time, Ryan never spared Rose a single glance.
It was as though she didn’t exist.
Daisy caught the exchange and shared a mocking look with Samantha, her eyes filled with disdain.
Oliver stepped out of the car behind them.
Noticing Rose, he turned and walked toward her.
“You’re here too?”
It was surprisingly rare for him to greet her without a trace of sarcasm.
Rose merely shot him a sidelong glance, made no effort to respond, and walked away.
Oliver’s lips twitched slightly.
In the end, he said nothing. It wasn’t worth getting upset over, so he simply rubbed the bridge of his nose with a faint sigh.
Just then, Trevor had already descended the staircase to meet Rose.
He walked directly to her and offered her his arm.
“Let’s go inside.”
Rose looked at the gentlemanly gesture. Without the slightest hesitation or embarrassment, she slipped her hand through his arm.
Only then did Trevor nod politely to those around them.
Together, they walked past Ryan.
Ryan’s gaze lingered on their retreating figures, resting on Rose’s silhouette for two brief seconds before shifting away indifferently.
Oliver, however, glanced between them before instinctively looking at Ryan.
“Ryan?”
Things between Trevor and Rose seemed to be... progressing very smoothly.
If this continued...
“Let’s go.”
Ryan ignored Oliver’s question and spoke directly to Samantha.
A smile immediately appeared on Samantha’s face.
When someone doesn’t love you, it has nothing to do with how exceptional you are.
Rose had struggled for so many years, yet she still hadn’t been able to win Ryan’s heart.
*****
This was Rose’s first time attending a formal gala with Trevor.
As soon as they entered, many curious eyes turned toward them.
Trevor paid no attention to the stares. “President Knight brought Miss Hill here today to make a statement. As long as Miss Hill remains under his protection, no one here will dare openly take advantage of her current situation.”
Rose said nothing.
She had already figured that out.
Ryan had no real need to attend an event like this.
He was here to show support.
To make a public statement.
Rose had no interest in wasting energy thinking about Ryan.
Looking around the ballroom, she spotted Grace engaged in conversation with several guests.
Although already in her eighties, the elderly woman remained energetic and sharp. Even at her age, she still stood at the forefront of medical advancement, carrying the hopes of the next generation.
Today’s gala had also been organized through Grace’s connections. Out of respect for her, everyone present was willing to contribute resources and support.
“Should we go say hello?” Trevor noticed the admiration in Rose’s eyes.
Rose smiled faintly. “There’s no rush. We can speak with her privately after the event.”
Trevor immediately understood.
Given Rose’s current position—which was already attracting enough attention—approaching Grace too eagerly would only invite speculation that she was trying to curry favor.
He turned, picked up a glass of wine from the table, and handed it to her.
“Knowing how to make use of your position is a skill. When opportunities and connections are right in front of you, taking advantage of them to accomplish your goals isn’t shameful. Only the weak use words as weapons.”
Rose looked at him and couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Thank you for reassuring me.”
When she smiled sincerely, the dimples at the corners of her mouth softened her naturally cool and distant features, giving her an unexpectedly warm and lively charm.
Trevor’s gaze lingered briefly on her face.
Then, seemingly changing his mind, he took back the wine glass.
After taking a sip to moisten his throat, he set it aside and picked up a fresh glass for her.
“You’re welcome. Perhaps this is also a good opportunity for me to study the art of a harmonious marriage.”
Rose could tell he was joking.
But Trevor rarely smiled.
He was usually decisive, calm, and composed, carrying an innate authority that occasionally surfaced. Even his jokes sounded remarkably serious.
She didn’t take it to heart.
She simply smiled, the curve of her lips gentle and graceful, before accepting the new glass he handed her.
Not far away, James had just arrived.
He had been on a business trip to Washington, D.C. and had only just returned.
The moment he entered, he saw Rose and Trevor chatting comfortably together.
In truth, James had long accepted Trevor’s "betrayal" of his sister.
However, the two families had yet to formally meet to discuss ending the engagement.
As a result, he walked directly toward Ryan.
His gaze paused briefly when he noticed Samantha.
Samantha smiled at him just as she always had.
“Mr. Taylor.”
James merely glanced past her before looking at Ryan.
“Why did you bring her here?”
The meaning behind "her" was unmistakable.
The smile Samantha had been forcing onto her face instantly stiffened.
What did James mean by that?
They had once been friends.
He had admired and appreciated her.
Perhaps he had even once harbored feelings for her.
So why was he now... drawing such a clear line between them?
Ryan’s eyes drifted across the selection of drinks arranged on the table.
“When did you get back?”
He completely ignored James’s question.
James frowned. “Given everything that’s happened, isn’t it inappropriate to bring her here? Won’t the Knight family become the target of even more criticism?”
His words were blunt.
They left Samantha with almost no dignity.
She truly hadn’t expected their friendship to prove so fragile.
James had severed ties so decisively, showing not the slightest regard for everything that had come before.
It was as though all of their previous interactions had been nothing more than polite social courtesy.
It felt unbearably heartless.
Now he was even urging Ryan to distance himself from her.
Ryan met James’s eyes and caught the faint dissatisfaction there.
James then shifted Ryan’s attention elsewhere. “Trevor and Rose seem to get along even better than I expected.”
Ever since learning that Rose was the legendary Aster, James had realized that, with Rose and Trevor already raising a child together, Ryan had effectively become an opponent of the Robinson family.
He wanted to see how Ryan would react.
Only then did Ryan casually glance in their direction.
After watching Trevor hand Rose a fresh glass, he lowered his gaze coldly, picked up a glass of champagne, and said quietly, “Not even close.”
James frowned, unable to understand what he meant.
Samantha had no desire to think about Rose anymore.
She simply pursed her lips as she looked at James.
It was obvious now.
He had completely abandoned her.
But...
She slowly took a deep breath.
One day, James would regret treating her this way.
*****
Rose declined the wine.
Instead, she selected a glass of champagne before saying, “I can’t drink mango liqueur. I’m allergic to mangoes.”
Trevor glanced down at the untouched drink before moving it farther away.
“Understood. I’ll remember that.”
As they spoke, Grace spotted Rose.
She smiled warmly, waved from a distance, and strode confidently toward her.
On the way, she walked directly past Daisy, who had been about to greet her.
Grace completely ignored her.
The smile on Daisy’s face froze instantly.
