Free Web NovelChapter 58: Chapter 58 A Fireworks Show for Someone Else
At Rowan’s words, Selena and the others all turned to look at Rose with puzzled expressions.
Only Rose looked up, feeling slightly awkward.
Margaret, however, remained gracious. She turned the screen toward Rose.
“They’re all here. Ryan and Rose are both here.”
Caught off guard, Rose found herself making eye contact with Rowan through the phone screen.
He looked exactly as she remembered.
The room behind him was brightly lit, making his face—which bore a striking resemblance to Ryan’s—appear especially radiant.
“You’ve lost weight,” Rowan said, breaking the silence.
Rose scratched behind her ear. “I’m fine. I’ve just been busy lately.”
Rowan chuckled softly. “You’re still the same as ever. Take good care of yourself. Don’t settle for less in life.”
A rare warmth stirred in Rose’s heart.
She and Rowan had attended the same school since middle school. He had been her senior.
Back then, Rowan was the one who introduced her to the Knight family.
When Margaret suffered a sudden medical emergency, Rose happened to be present and stabilized her condition before paramedics arrived. After that, the Knight family often welcomed her into their home and later supported her through college.
To Rose, Rowan had always been more like an older brother.
Compared to the rest of the Knight family, he was approachable, gentle, and easy to talk to.
“Alright. You too,” Rose replied with a smile.
Only then did Rowan turn to Ryan.
“Ryan, when you have some time, shall we discuss our strategic plans for Northern Europe?”
Ryan finally looked up.
His expression was calm yet commanding, and he offered a faint smile. “Alright.”
New Year’s greetings always seemed to drag on.
With Rowan’s call, the atmosphere in the room noticeably lightened.
Margaret, in particular, could hardly hide her delight.
Rowan was the only son of the Knight family’s third branch and Margaret’s favorite grandson. Years ago, he had gone to Northern Europe with the former chairman to expand the family business.
Since he still had work waiting for him there, he ended the call shortly afterward.
But the conversation didn’t stop.
At some point, Selena suddenly turned toward Rose and smiled.
“Rose, do you still keep in touch with Rowan? You two used to be classmates and were so close. Back then, after that incident, I almost thought the two of you would end up together.”
The spacious private dining room fell silent.
Rose paused involuntarily.
Margaret frowned. “Why bring up uncertain things from the past? Rose and Ryan are living happily together.”
Rose knew Margaret was worried Ryan might misunderstand.
But...
She instinctively turned to look at the man beside her.
Only to discover that Ryan was looking down at his phone, typing a message.
Her gaze drifted downward.
The contact name read: Baby.
And Samantha had just sent him a photo.
A selfie in a bathrobe, her smile bright and radiant.
Ryan looked at the screen, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
He hadn’t been listening at all.
Or perhaps he simply didn’t care about what everyone was discussing.
His full attention was on chatting with Samantha on WhatsApp.
Perhaps the stares directed at him had become too obvious.
Ryan finally noticed and reluctantly looked up from his phone.
“What’s going on?”
He glanced around the room.
Clearly, he hadn’t heard a single word that had been said.
The group exchanged looks.
Especially Isabella, who shot Rose a contemptuous glance.
What a failure.
After seven years of marriage, she still couldn’t keep her husband from straying.
He didn’t even care enough to react to rumors involving another man.
Was there anyone more pitiful than Rose?
Margaret finally changed the subject. “Never mind. The hotel has some activities later. Ryan, why don’t you accompany Rose and have some fun? I heard there are even couples’ games. You two should go and enjoy yourselves.”
Ryan instinctively ran his fingers across his phone.
Something—or someone—seemed to make him hesitate.
After a brief pause, he finally replied, “Alright.”
Rose didn’t miss that reaction.
Her eyes flickered slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Margaret really was overthinking things.
Ryan wouldn’t care.
And he certainly wouldn’t overthink anything involving her.
Everyone had clearly seen his reaction, and the topic soon died out.
After all, if the husband himself didn’t care, why should anyone else waste their breath?
The meal continued.
Rose found it as tasteless as chewing wax.
If Ryan hadn’t tricked her into coming here, she would have been video-chatting with Ariel and the others right now.
The only reason she stayed was because they were all at the same hotel.
Refusing outright would have created an awkward scene.
Adults had to navigate situations with diplomacy and tact, weighing every consequence.
After dinner, they escorted the elders out.
Rose and Ryan were the last to leave.
The two of them entered the VIP elevator alone.
Standing beside her, Ryan watched the floor numbers flash across the display.
Finally, he lowered his gaze. “Do you want to go?”
He was referring to the hotel activities and couples’ games.
Rose understood immediately.
People should have some self-awareness.
If he asked, “Are you going?” it meant she wasn’t.
If he asked, “Do you want to?” it meant she shouldn’t.
He was planning to go see his girlfriend.
The implication was obvious: know your place.
“Sure. Why not?” Rose replied expressionlessly. “Grandma asked me to.”
She deliberately pretended not to understand.
Why did Ryan get to make all the decisions?
Was she just a tool?
Someone to summon when needed and dismiss when convenient?
Even though she had no interest whatsoever in this so-called couples’ event, she occasionally felt the urge to expose the hypocrisy of people like Ryan and Samantha.
Sure enough, Ryan studied her for a moment before letting out a faint chuckle.
“If you don’t mind, I can let you come with me to meet someone else.”
There was no need to explain who that “someone else” was.
“......”
Rose felt a twitch at her temple.
Ryan understood exactly what she was trying to do.
He didn’t mind in the slightest.
In fact, he was prepared to counterattack.
Because he knew perfectly well she would never follow him to watch him and Samantha act like a lovestruck couple.
Ding.
The elevator arrived.
Ryan walked past her and stepped out.
He knew she wouldn’t follow.
The doors slid shut again.
Only then did Rose let out a long breath.
For a brief moment, it had felt as though a suffocating pressure was slowly corroding her heart and lungs.
Instead of returning to her room, she wandered downstairs alone to soak in the New Year atmosphere.
Just then, Ariel video-called her.
A sweet little face immediately filled the screen.
“Mommy! Happy New Year! Am I the first person to wish you a Happy New Year?”
Rose laughed.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
Sure enough, the people who loved her cared about every tiny detail—whether they were the first or the only one.
Unlike Ryan, who remained completely indifferent to the rumors linking her and Rowan.
“Great-Grandpa wants to talk to you too. Mommy, I’m borrowing you for a few minutes.”
Rose’s smile widened.
“Okay.”
Gabriel looked especially cheerful today.
Dressed in a suite, he appeared warm and approachable.
“RoRo, have you been eating properly? Since you’re not spending the New Year with Grandpa this time, I’ll make you strawberry cake when you come back, alright?”
Rose nodded obediently.
“Okay.”
“What about Ryan? Is he with you?”
Boom!
Fireworks exploded across the sky, painting the night in brilliant colors.
Rose looked up.
At that moment, someone hurried past.
“Hurry up and look! Mr. Knight is putting on a fireworks show for his girlfriend. We’re getting a free show tonight!”
The curve of Rose’s lips softened.
As she watched the fireworks bloom one after another, she thought quietly:
He’s busy.
Busy being in love.
Busy winning over his girlfriend.
His schedule was packed.
After chatting with Gabriel and Nathan for a while longer, Rose returned to her room without looking back.
As for the fireworks display dedicated to love— She had no desire to watch it.
After showering, she turned on her laptop and began reviewing clinical data from recent years.
Before she realized it, the hours slipped away.
As midnight approached, the suite door opened.
Rose looked up and saw Ryan walk in.
She was slightly surprised.
She had assumed he wouldn’t be returning tonight.
But that was none of her business.
Lowering her head again, she resumed her work.
Ding.
Her phone buzzed.
Rose glanced at the screen.
Trevor Robinson: Rose.
Trevor Robinson: Happy New Year.
It was a formal greeting.
Although it came in two separate messages, it clearly wasn’t a mass text.
He had addressed her by name.
At that moment, Ryan walked behind the sofa.
His peripheral vision caught the screen.
He saw the name.
And the words Happy New Year.
Robinson.
Trevor.
In their social circle, there was only one Trevor Robinson.
“Do you know Trevor Robinson?”
Ryan’s hand slowed as he removed his watch.
He sounded genuinely surprised.
After all, Trevor Robinson was not an ordinary person.
Annoyed that Ryan had been looking at her phone, Rose answered flatly.
“Not really.”
After all, he was merely her daughter’s legal father on papers.
