Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 297: Chapter 297 The Stars of Last Night’s Scandal?

Ryan hadn’t been expecting Rose to shove him.

Caught completely off guard, his tall frame staggered backward.

He took two unsteady steps before catching himself.

For some reason, his body suddenly felt unusually heavy, making it difficult to keep his balance.

Lowering his gaze, he frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Rose instinctively pulled Ariel behind her.

She no longer trusted Ryan.

Especially now that he believed Ariel was the daughter she had with Trevor.

Seeing him alone with Ariel...

She couldn’t stay calm.

What frightened her even more were the faint bloodstains on Ryan’s white shirt.

For one terrifying moment, she thought he might have hurt Ariel.

Ryan raised a hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

His head felt strangely dizzy.

Only then did he look at Rose.

His vision had begun to blur, yet he could still clearly see the suspicion and hostility in her eyes.

He said nothing.

Just then, his phone rang.

Ryan answered.

Samantha’s anxious voice came through the speaker.

"Ryan... when are you coming upstairs?"

"I’m not feeling well."

"Could you come up for a minute?"

Without another word to Rose, Ryan turned away.

Steadying himself briefly against the hallway railing, he walked off with long strides.

Rose watched him disappear around the corner.

Only then did the tension in her body finally ease.

She neither cared nor wondered how Ryan and Samantha’s evening would end.

Looking down, she gently asked, "Ariel..."

"Did he say anything to you?"

"Or do anything?"

Ariel immediately noticed how tense Rose was.

She raised the hand covered with a Band-Aid.

"No."

"I accidentally cut my hand."

"Uncle Ryan cleaned it and put this on for me."

Then she looked up curiously.

"Mom..."

"What are you so afraid of?"

She had noticed long ago.

Whenever her mother was around Ryan...

Everything became different.

Friends weren’t supposed to act this way.

Rose fell silent.

Looking down at Ariel’s bandaged hand, she chose not to answer.

"It was bleeding?"

"Did you lose a lot of blood?"

Ever since Ariel was born, everyone around her had been extraordinarily careful.

Even the smallest scrape was enough to worry them.

Ariel hugged Rose.

"It’s okay, Mom."

"It was just a tiny cut."

Rose finally let out a breath.

A moment ago...

She had allowed her imagination to run wild.

She had actually suspected Ryan might take out his resentment on an innocent child simply because Ariel was Trevor’s daughter.

Then another thought suddenly crossed her mind.

Ryan hadn’t seemed quite right.

His steps had been noticeably unsteady.

She frowned.

Maybe...

He’d had too much to drink.

Whatever the reason...

It wasn’t her concern anymore.

******

Upstairs...

Samantha finished another glass of water.

It finally eased the nervousness in her chest.

After ending the call, she switched off the main lights in the suite.

She slipped off her robe...

Then climbed into bed.

Earlier...

She had deliberately told Ryan she wasn’t feeling well.

It was the perfect excuse to get him alone.

She had even dissolved a small, carefully measured dose of medication into her bathwater.

That way...

If anyone asked later...

She could truthfully claim she hadn’t realized anything unusual.

Just thinking about spending the night alone with Ryan...

Her heartbeat quickened.

Her cheeks flushed bright red.

A few moments later...

Footsteps stopped outside the suite.

Her heart pounded.

Softly, she called, "Ryan..."

******

Rose planned to take Ariel back to the room so she could properly clean and disinfect the cut.

The elevator stopped on the thirty-first floor.

Suddenly...

The display screen flickered.

The doors slid open—

But refused to close again.

Almost immediately, a hotel employee hurried over.

"I’m so sorry, ma’am."

"The elevator system detected a malfunction and automatically disabled the doors."

"What floor are you staying on?"

"You’ll need to use the stairs."

Rose smiled.

"It’s fine."

"We’re on the thirty-third floor."

"It’s only two floors."

She took Ariel’s hand and stepped out.

The two of them walked down the quiet, carpeted hallway toward the stairwell.

As they passed the employee break room...

They overheard two hotel staff chatting.

"I just delivered room service."

"When I walked past Suite 3116..."

"The couple inside didn’t even finish closing the door before they started making out."

The other employee laughed.

"Seriously?"

"It was that intense?"

"No kidding."

"A lighter had fallen into the doorway, so the door wouldn’t latch."

"I had to sneak over, pick it up, and close the door."

"I could hear everything."

"That woman was definitely taking the lead."

Rose didn’t even slow down.

Hotels were full of gossip.

Nothing really surprised her anymore.

Still...

Being overheard because you forgot to shut the door completely...

That was certainly embarrassing.

She quietly covered Ariel’s ears as they continued walking.

Then...

By pure coincidence...

They passed Suite 3116.

Rose glanced at the room number.

It was the exact suite the employees had been discussing.

She sighed softly.

Then quickly led Ariel away.

*****

The night passed peacefully.

The following morning...

At ten o’clock sharp...

The Taylor family sent out the day’s itinerary.

Grace’s birthday celebration would be held at the Taylor family’s estate.

The property combined traditional architecture with beautifully landscaped gardens and sprawling grounds capable of hosting hundreds of guests.

Rose got up early.

She chose an elegant pearl-white embroidered gown with classic Eastern-inspired detailing.

She had brought three different jewelry sets and let Ariel decide which one looked best.

Without hesitation...

Ariel picked the sapphire butterfly brooch.

It had been Trevor’s gift.

Rose smiled warmly.

"Then that’s the one I’ll wear."

The Taylor family had arranged transportation for every guest.

All Rose and Ariel had to do was wait downstairs.

Trevor had already texted that morning.

He had business to attend to first and would meet them directly at the estate.

Rose had no objections.

Holding Ariel’s hand, she walked into the hotel lobby.

Several black Mercedes-Benz sedans were already lined up outside, waiting for guests.

From a distance...

Rose spotted Samantha.

She appeared to be waiting for someone.

She looked radiant.

The driver assigned to Rose had already told her where to meet him.

Unfortunately...

She had to walk past Samantha to get there.

Without acknowledging her, Rose simply continued forward.

Samantha noticed her immediately.

She was speaking on the phone.

Turning toward Rose...

She slowly smiled.

It was a smug smile.

Almost provocative.

Only then did Rose notice Samantha’s flushed cheeks.

She looked unusually alluring.

And...

Just above the neckline of her strapless gown...

A faint love bite peeked through.

At that moment, Samantha’s cheerful voice carried clearly across the distance.

"I left my earrings by the pool."

"Could you please bring them to Suite 3116?"

"Thank you."

Rose’s footsteps stopped for the briefest moment.

An overwhelming wave of nausea suddenly rose in her stomach.

Disbelief filled her eyes.

The hotel employees’ gossip from the previous night...

Had they really been talking about Ryan and Samantha?