Free Web NovelChapter 298: Chapter 298 The Woman He Never Loved
Rose felt an immediate wave of nausea. She couldn’t help thinking how humiliating the whole situation was.
In the seven years she had known Ryan, he had never been the type to lose control or behave recklessly. Yet now he had become the subject of hotel gossip, involved in an incident that sounded impulsive and embarrassingly indiscreet.
The thought left her with complicated emotions.
After all, she and Ryan had known each other for well over a decade.
How had things ended up like this?
"Mom? What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
Ariel noticed the troubled look on Rose’s face. Standing on her tiptoes, she reached up and gently touched Rose’s cheek.
Rose snapped out of her thoughts and smiled.
"I’m fine, sweetheart."
Without sparing Samantha another glance, she took Ariel to the waiting car.
They were divorced now. It wasn’t jealousy or lingering feelings.
The whole situation simply felt so absurd that it sent a chill down her spine.
*****
The Taylor family estate sat within an expansive private garden, accessible only to invited guests.
Luxury sedans pulled up one after another, dropping off attendees.
The moment Rose stepped out of the car—
"Professor Rose!"
A bright, cheerful voice rang out.
Rose looked over to see Alicia hurrying toward them.
The moment Alicia spotted Ariel, her eyes lit up.
"What an adorable little girl!"
Ariel smiled politely.
"Hello, sister."
Alicia nearly melted.
She was just about to crouch down and pinch Ariel’s cheeks when another car pulled up beside them.
Samantha stepped out.
The instant Alicia saw her, her smile stiffened.
She glanced awkwardly at Rose.
"Professor Rose... it looks like she..."
Rose knew exactly what Alicia meant.
If Samantha truly was the Taylor family’s long-lost daughter, then Alicia would soon have to call her sister.
Samantha walked over with a warm smile.
"We’ll probably have to adjust our relationship from now on."
She glanced at Rose before continuing pleasantly, "We’ll get to know each other over time. Don’t feel awkward about being close to someone else. As your elder sister, I won’t hold it against you."
Those words only made Alicia feel even more uncomfortable.
Samantha smiled graciously.
"I’ll head inside first."
She behaved as though Rose didn’t exist.
Rose had no intention of acknowledging her, either.
As Samantha walked away, however, Rose couldn’t help noticing the neckline of her dress.
Whether intentional or not, it was cut low enough to reveal the faint outline of what looked unmistakably like a hickey.
A subtle but deliberate reminder of intimacy.
Watching Samantha disappear into the estate, Alicia scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
"Professor Rose... I honestly don’t know how to explain how I feel."
"I’ve always hoped my sister would come home someday. Now that she’s here... I hope you won’t distance yourself from me because of her."
She hesitated.
"I know she has a history with you... and even..."
...helped destroy your marriage.
She sighed.
"If the two of you could somehow put the past behind you..."
Rose found Alicia’s thinking innocent, even naive.
But she didn’t say so.
How could someone Alicia’s age truly understand everything she had endured?
She simply smiled.
"Let’s go inside."
Alicia opened her mouth as if to say more, then simply nodded and followed.
*****
The entrance to the Taylor estate featured a traditional raised threshold.
Rose held Ariel’s hand as the little girl carefully stepped over it before happily hopping down on the other side.
Rose lifted her own foot to cross.
Guests flowed continuously through the entrance.
Someone brushed past her shoulder.
Caught off balance mid-step, she nearly stumbled.
A steady hand caught her around the waist before she could fall.
"Tha—"
The words stopped in her throat.
Looking up, she found herself staring into Ryan’s cold, expressionless eyes.
Her face immediately hardened.
Without hesitation, she shoved him squarely in the chest.
He took two steps back.
His hand slipped away from her waist.
"Don’t touch me."
Her voice was icy. "I find you disgusting."
Those words escaped before she could stop them.
They were her genuine feelings.
She hadn’t even bothered pretending to be polite.
Ryan merely adjusted his footing.
A faint emotion flickered through his eyes at the word disgusting, disappearing almost instantly.
He slowly buttoned his suit jacket.
"Then I shouldn’t have stepped in."
His tone remained calm.
Yet somehow, those simple words made Rose feel as though she’d landed no blow at all.
Nearby, Ariel looked back and forth between them, completely bewildered.
Something about the atmosphere between her mother and this uncle always felt strange.
Just then—
"Ryan."
Samantha approached after noticing the scene.
She walked straight past Rose, slipped her arm through Ryan’s, and only then looked at Rose.
Her expression turned cold.
"Please be more mindful of your behavior in the future."
"He’s in a committed relationship now."
"As a member of the opposite sex, you should maintain an appropriate distance and show some respect."
Rose nearly laughed.
She had, of course, noticed Samantha’s attitude had changed.
The possessiveness.
The confidence.
It was almost as though she wanted the entire world to know they had slept together.
Rose smiled faintly.
"Then you’d better keep a close eye on him."
"If he could have one mistress, he can certainly have another."
"If you can’t handle that possibility now, it’ll only get harder later."
With that, she took Ariel’s hand and walked away.
Samantha’s expression immediately darkened.
Rose’s words had struck exactly where it hurt.
Ryan simply watched Rose leave without saying a word.
*****
Alicia hurried after them.
"I really think Mr. Knight treats Professor Rose differently."
Rose sounded uninterested.
"What makes you think that?"
"I’m serious."
Alicia spoke earnestly.
"Professor Rose never goes easy on him. You’re blunt with him, and you never give him any room to save face."
"But Mr. Knight has never once lost his temper with you."
"I’ve never even seen him frown."
"As far as I know, he’s not exactly known for being patient."
"If it were anyone else..."
She shook her head.
"No one would dare speak to him that way."
"So I think there’s something unusual between you two."
Rose crouched down and smiled at Ariel.
"Daddy’s inside. Want to go find him?"
Ariel nodded enthusiastically and ran off.
Rose wasn’t worried.
Security at the Taylor estate was exceptionally tight.
With Grace Taylor’s status, the estate was protected by a dedicated security detail.
It was one of the safest places Ariel could possibly be.
Only after watching her disappear did Rose answer Alicia.
"You think he’s unusually tolerant of me?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"That’s simply who he is."
"He doesn’t waste energy on people who don’t matter."
"In his eyes, arguing with me serves no purpose."
"Ending the conflict is simply the more efficient choice."
"That’s exactly how calculating—and emotionally detached—he is."
Alicia stared at her, speechless.
Finally, she asked, "Ms. Bennett... how can you be so sure?"
Rose answered with complete calm, as though she were speaking about someone else’s story.
"Because..."
"He never loved me."
*****
Meanwhile, guests continued approaching Ryan to greet him.
When there was finally a quiet moment, Samantha looked at him shyly.
After hesitating for several seconds, she finally asked softly, "About last night..."
"Were we both drunk?"
