Free Web NovelChapter 30: Chapter 30 Public Humiliation
Samantha was surprised that Oliver would go out of his way to help her like this.
Especially in a setting like this.
It was effectively cementing her status.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
She looked up at Ryan, who was sitting right beside her. “Ryan, don’t listen to Oliver’s off-the-cuff jokes. There are so many people here.”
The atmosphere instantly heated up.
“Cross-arm toast!”
“A toast!”
“A wine kiss!”
The cheers rose and fell in waves.
Ryan rested his elbows on his knees, his long fingers holding a wine glass as he swirled it slowly. “The star of the show today is Oliver.”
Oliver clinked glasses with him. “So what if I’m the guest of honor? What matters most is our friendship.”
Everyone in the circle present today was someone with whom he had a close personal relationship.
Although everyone knew the rumors from years ago about Ryan’s early marriage, no one found anything amiss with the current situation.
In high-society marriages, harmony is often merely superficial.
Who doesn’t have affairs behind closed doors?
Who doesn’t have a confidante?
Oliver cast a meaningful glance toward the corner.
Samantha had saved his grandfather, so he owed her a huge favor. If Rose could see the reality of the situation, realize how insignificant she was to Ryan, and back off, that would be the best outcome.
The tension reached its peak.
Rose was forced to watch this absurd farce unfold right before her eyes.
The crowd was thick.
She could barely make out what was happening on Ryan’s side.
She truly never expected things to become this ridiculous.
Rose turned her back, but the atmosphere behind her remained as frenetic as ever.
She was the only one who didn’t belong here.
She downed the wine in her glass in one gulp, set it down, and headed for the exit.
“Rose, wait.”
Samantha caught up with her.
Rose turned around. Samantha had stepped away from the crowd and was standing right in front of her.
She didn’t know whether Ryan and Samantha had actually shared a drink or exchanged a kiss.
But...
The lip gloss at the corner of Samantha’s mouth was slightly smudged.
It was a clear sign.
They had kissed.
Samantha maintained her usual grace, smiling at her. “I remember you used to study photography. Why don’t you take a group photo for us?”
“Take a group photo, and then a photo of Ryan and me. I don’t trust anyone else to do it.”
“Sure.” Rose’s expression remained largely unchanged. “One hundred thousand dollars per photo. How would you like to pay?”
The smile on Samantha’s lips faded slightly. “If you’re that short on cash, I can ask Ryan to lend you some.”
As she spoke, she lifted her wrist slightly.
A diamond bracelet gleamed there.
“Ryan won another diamond bracelet like this for me at the auction last night. He’s generous. If you ask, he won’t refuse you.”
Rose stared at the bracelet.
No wonder Ryan had given her the heirloom pendant.
It was because he had compensated Samantha with something even more valuable.
He really didn’t let Samantha lose out in the slightest.
He exchanged the warm jade to ensure Samantha wouldn’t be harassed by the Knight family, then gave her additional gifts to make her happy.
What a grand extramarital affair.
Although Rose wasn’t surprised, she couldn’t say her feelings weren’t affected.
She smiled. “Thank you for telling me how my husband spends money on you. I’ll reclaim the marital assets as soon as possible. Oh, right—you still have a few shows to film, don’t you? Pay me back quickly, or it won’t look good if I have to ask for it on air.”
The prenuptial agreement she had signed with Ryan back then had been arranged by the late Chairman Knight.
Only the three of them knew about it.
Although she had no way of controlling how Ryan spent his money, she could still use it to intimidate Samantha.
The smile in Samantha’s eyes vanished completely.
“Rose, you can’t force matters of the heart. If you’re not loved, then you’re the one standing in the way. By stepping aside and making room for others, you’d at least be doing something good.”
“Then go ahead and make it a law,” Rose replied calmly.
Samantha frowned.
She hadn’t expected Rose to be so stubborn.
Seeing that Rose was about to leave, Samantha took a few steps forward. Her heels were too high, and she suddenly lost her balance on the carpet.
The wine glass in her hand tipped over, spilling red wine across her chest.
She fell to the floor.
The commotion immediately drew attention from nearby guests.
“Why did Miss Hill fall?”
“And who’s that woman standing in front of her?”
“Did she push her?”
Samantha heard the whispers.
She offered no explanation, merely pursing her lips and casting a fleeting glance toward Rose.
It was true that she had lost her balance.
But since everyone had already reached their own conclusions, why should she bother explaining?
Rose glared coldly at Samantha.
Was this another one of those clichéd romance-drama tricks?
Did Samantha really intend to spend her entire life falling over whenever something went wrong?
“Rose! Don’t take this too far.”
Oliver frowned, rushed over, and shoved Rose’s shoulder.
Caught off guard, Rose stumbled backward, her lower back slamming into the corner of a table.
Pain shot through her instantly, turning her face pale.
The impact nearly sent her collapsing to the floor.
A strong arm wrapped around her waist.
She looked up and met Ryan’s cold, stern gaze.
“Ryan?”
Witnessing the scene, Samantha pressed her lips together and called his name softly.
Ryan immediately released Rose, his expression completely impassive, making his desire to avoid any appearance of impropriety painfully obvious.
He glanced at Rose, his gaze devoid of warmth.
“How did she fall?”
Rose had thought he was simply helping her up.
It turned out he had come to question her.
What a close call.
She had almost felt touched.
Ignoring the pain in her lower back, she straightened her spine and met his eyes defiantly.
“Can’t you check the surveillance footage? Are you the CEO, or am I?”
Perhaps Rose’s tone was too sharp.
The people around her immediately began criticizing her.
“How can you act like you did nothing wrong? That’s Mr. Knight, not your boyfriend. He’s not obligated to tolerate your princess attitude.”
“Is it really that hard to admit your mistake and apologize? What’s wrong with Mr. Knight standing up for his girlfriend?”
“Are you that desperate for attention? Why can’t you stand seeing someone else happy?”
The accusations came one after another.
Each one felt like a thorn piercing Rose’s skin.
If she were weaker, she felt she would have died a thousand times over.
Especially because her husband—the one person who should have stood by her side—was protecting someone else.
“I won’t make things difficult for you, so don’t worry.”
Samantha had already gotten back to her feet.
Seeing Rose looking so disheveled while she herself remained the center of attention, a barely noticeable smile tugged at her lips.
She reassured the concerned guests around her before turning to Rose.
“Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Rose, you may go. I won’t hold this against you.”
Those words practically confirmed that Rose had intentionally harmed her.
Rose understood.
She knew she was the target of everyone’s anger.
Even with her husband present, he was no shield for her.
A faint smile curved her lips.
“No. You’re obviously so precious that everyone is rushing to defend you. Since all these people believe I pushed you, we should get to the bottom of it. Let’s review the surveillance footage. If it shows that I pushed you, I’ll kneel down and apologize in front of everyone. But if it proves I didn’t, then you’ll kneel down and apologize to me.”
Samantha’s eyes turned cold.
Rose really didn’t know when to back down.
Even now, she was still picking a fight.
“That’s going too far. She’s already said she won’t hold it against you. There’s no need to be so aggressive and petty.”
Oliver frowned.
“Besides, she’s a public figure. Watch your tone.”
His grandfather had repeatedly reminded him to show proper gratitude toward his savior.
Naturally, he wasn’t about to let Samantha be bullied.
“Since everyone has already decided I pushed her, and the surveillance footage should settle the matter, why are all of you so nervous?” Rose smiled faintly, her eyes full of contempt.
Was she being unreasonable simply because she wanted to clear her name?
Did the world really work that way?
Oliver’s gaze toward Rose grew even colder.
In his eyes, she was inferior to Samantha in both ability and character, and now she was trying to humiliate Samantha publicly.
Rose didn’t care what they thought.
Since they were already slandering her, she might as well ruin the entire event.
She turned to the hotel manager standing nearby.
“Manager, please pull up the surveillance footage and play it for everyone.”
