Free Web NovelChapter 36: Chapter 36 When Someone Finally Stood Up for Rose
Nathan’s attitude left no room for compromise.
A pang of bitterness rose in Rose’s chest.
She knew Nathan was only this furious because he was protecting his own.
At his age, he still worried about her enough to let it affect him.
He was even going out of his way to help her save face.
A sharp pain stabbed through Samantha’s heart.
She was certain Rose had been stirring up trouble behind her back.
The current situation felt like being thrown into a fire pit.
Was she really being forced to admit that she had destroyed Rose’s family?
Wouldn’t that mean she was being publicly rejected?
“Dr. Hale, I still hope you’ll give this careful consideration. Whatever reasonable requests you have, I’ll do my best to accommodate them.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes slightly as he rose to his feet, calm and composed as ever.
At the same time, he made absolutely no concessions.
Naturally, he would never agree to let Samantha suffer such humiliation or endure being publicly berated.
Rose saw everything clearly.
A trace of ridicule tugged at the corners of her lips.
Love truly was a remarkable thing.
Even someone as proud and accomplished as Ryan was willing to lower his head for Samantha.
Yet she was the one who had been slandered and dragged through the mud.
And he remained completely unmoved.
Rose’s chest rose and fell heavily.
Slowly, she unclenched her fists.
Deep nail marks had already been pressed into her palms.
Nathan looked at the dignified and composed man before him with growing disappointment.
Now he was even more certain.
Ryan was unworthy of being Ariel’s father.
“Then forget it.”
Nathan said nothing further.
With a cold expression, he pushed open the door and left.
Samantha looked anything but pleased.
Never before had she been humiliated so publicly.
And the person responsible for all of it was Rose, who had maliciously slandered her.
If Rose hadn’t poisoned Nathan’s opinion of her, he wouldn’t have refused to take her as a disciple.
Rose couldn’t be bothered to care how Ryan felt about being rejected.
After exchanging a few words with Caleb, she hurried after Nathan.
The old man was angry.
She needed to calm him down.
As soon as Rose left, Ryan turned his gaze toward Caleb.
His tone was polite but distant.
“Thank you for your time today, Mr. Byrne. We’ll meet again another day.”
He didn’t mention asking Caleb to put in a good word.
He simply turned the page and moved on.
Caleb wasn’t foolish enough to bite the hand that fed him, so he casually gestured toward the door.
“Well then, Mr. Knight, take care. No need to see me out.”
Ryan nodded.
Just then, his phone rang.
Answering the call, he walked out of the reception room.
Samantha had hit a wall today.
Just before leaving, she paused.
Turning to Caleb, she spoke with apparent sincerity. “I don’t know what Rose may have told you, Mr. Byrne, but I’m not the type of person who goes around trying to prove myself.”
Caleb watched her silently.
The situation was difficult to put into words.
Suppressing her frustration, Samantha continued.
“But I can say there’s a misunderstanding here. I don’t want one-sided stories influencing your opinion or Dr. Hale’s opinion of me. Perhaps you haven’t seen some of the negative news surrounding certain people. The person truly accused of moral misconduct is actually someone else. I mean no offense—I simply don’t want a company as outstanding as G.S. to be damaged by a single bad apple.”
Rose was currently being accused online of being a homewrecker.
Despite her damaged reputation, she had still managed to join G.S.
If Caleb wasn’t aware of that, Samantha felt obligated to warn him.
After all, Rose was merely an ordinary employee.
Someone of Caleb’s status surely knew who was worth associating with.
Rose couldn’t prove she was Mrs. Knight.
As long as Ryan refused to acknowledge it, she was powerless.
With that confidence, Samantha wasn’t worried about Rose causing trouble.
Even Caleb, who had met every type of person imaginable, nearly burst out laughing.
Unable to hold back, he asked, “Are you saying Rose came between you and Ryan?”
Samantha avoided answering directly. “Let’s not discuss personal matters.”
Caleb wanted to laugh even harder.
Was she trying to appear magnanimous by graciously refusing to expose Rose?
“Sorry, I had to take a call.”
Ryan returned at that moment.
Only then did Samantha compose herself.
Looking at Caleb once more, she said, “Mr. Byrne, I still hope we can collaborate more closely in the future. Would you reconsider?”
Ryan also looked toward him.
Caleb sneered inwardly but remained expressionless.
“There aren’t any openings on our team at the moment. Thank you for your interest.”
Samantha frowned.
Shouldn’t talent like hers be difficult to find?
Even if there wasn’t room for her, would it really be that difficult to replace someone insignificant?
She didn’t believe that excuse for a second.
There had to be another reason.
Still, now wasn’t the time to press the matter.
Ryan didn’t pursue it further.
A faint smile touched his lips.
“It’s fine. Partnerships are all about timing.”
Then he left with Samantha.
The two walked away side by side, appearing perfectly at ease.
Caleb watched them go and frowned.
For the first time, he truly understood how suffocating Rose’s situation must have been.
To anyone looking in from the outside, Samantha was the one openly favored.
The one publicly acknowledged.
The one confidently standing at Ryan’s side.
Was this what confidence looked like when someone was loved?
Even when that person was the other woman?
******
Rose had no idea what had happened after she left.
By the time she ran outside, Nathan had already driven away.
With no other choice, she returned upstairs.
As she approached the elevator, she saw Ryan and Samantha emerging together.
Samantha shot her a cold glare before walking away with her arm linked through Ryan’s.
Ryan remained on the phone.
He didn’t spare Rose so much as a glance.
He probably believed she had been gossiping about Samantha and poisoning Nathan’s opinion of her.
Rose couldn’t care less what Ryan thought.
*****
That evening, Oliver organized a gathering.
Samantha didn’t bother hiding the fact that she’d been rejected.
Pressing her lips together, she said, “I can’t think of any other explanation. Rose must have said something. That’s why Dr. Hale is biased against me.”
“Since she doesn’t dare confront you directly, she resorts to underhanded tactics.”
Oliver frowned before offering comfort.
“It’s okay. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet him in the future. Once Dr. Hale gets to know you, he’ll see through Rose’s lies. Don’t worry. We’re all on your side.”
Samantha couldn’t help smiling.
“Besides, you have Ryan backing you. What is there to be afraid of?”
James looked up from his phone, amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes.
Samantha smiled faintly.
She knew they were only trying to cheer her up.
She had saved Oliver’s grandfather, which naturally made Oliver grateful and attentive.
As for James, he looked down on Rose’s character and openly supported Samantha.
That alone proved he recognized her as a friend.
When it came to winning people over, Rose simply couldn’t compete.
Samantha had influential people standing behind her.
What did Rose have?
Turning toward Ryan, Samantha’s gaze softened.
“But I still wasn’t able to become Dr. Hale’s student. Ryan, do you have any other ideas?”
Ryan lowered his eyes and poured himself a cup of herbal tea.
“Yes.”
His tone remained calm.
“Leave it to me.”
The smile in Samantha’s eyes deepened.
Ryan was always patient with her.
Always willing to help.
No matter how many schemes Rose came up with, it would all be pointless.
“You two eat first. I need to take care of something.”
James stood up.
Ryan glanced at him. “Any news?”
Samantha looked puzzled as well.
“Something important?”
Oliver shrugged. “James has a biological younger sister. For various reasons, they were separated when they were young and never reunited. He’s spent years searching for her.”
“He recently discovered she might be in New York. That’s one of the reasons he moved here.”
The Taylor family’s missing heiress.
The person James treasured most.
He had been searching for her for years.
Samantha was surprised.
“Really?”
James waved his phone.
For a brief moment, frustration flickered across his usually carefree face.
But he quickly shrugged it off.
“I’m not lacking in patience. I’ll find her eventually.”
Samantha fell silent for a moment before smiling.
“So you’re a sister-con after all.”
She had always thought she was the only one in their circle like that.
Apparently, she wasn’t.
******
After leaving the lab, Rose was approached by Caleb.
“The partnership has been finalized. After the New Year, there’ll be government funding for international pharmaceutical research initiatives. Old Doc suggested partnering with Columbia University’s School of Pharmacy on a joint drug-development project.”
Rose had no objections.
“Columbia University’s School of Pharmacy maintains one of the nation’s most extensive biological sample repositories. Both institutions have unique strengths, so I don’t see any problem with the collaboration.”
“Before leaving, Samantha was still trying to join the project team.” Caleb laughed. “Does she think the whole world revolves around her? She’s dreaming.”
For a project of this caliber, countless people would do anything to get involved and strengthen their research credentials.
Rose gave him a thumbs-up.
“Thanks. At least now I won’t have to work with her every day. Otherwise I’d need a lifetime supply of stress medication just to survive.”
Caleb looked at Rose’s seemingly carefree smile.
A trace of emotion stirred within him.
Ruffling her hair roughly, he said,
“Once you’ve established yourself and achieved something significant, the Knight family won’t be able to push you around so easily.”
Then Rose would finally have the confidence to stand her ground.
Her talent would shine sooner or later.
And when that day came, she wouldn’t have to tolerate this nonsense anymore.
Rose tilted her head back and smiled.
“I’ll take that as a good omen.”
*****
That afternoon, Rose accompanied G.S.’s R&D team to Columbia University.
They were scheduled to meet with the university’s research team.
The car pulled up outside the building.
Rose had just stepped out, carrying a stack of laboratory data.
Suddenly, she collided head-on with someone approaching from behind.
The person’s reflexes were astonishingly fast.
An arm immediately wrapped around her waist, steadying her before she could fall.
