Free Web NovelChapter 61: Chapter 61 Burning the Wedding Photos
Though his words were delivered without any emotion, Rose found them hard to swallow.
She couldn’t be bothered to analyze the deeper meaning behind them right now.
Because she knew this wasn’t the thoughtful help one would expect from a husband.
Rather, it was a bargaining chip.
Rose felt she had never been so calm. Ignoring Ryan’s seemingly joking remark, she said, “At this point, I think we need to be clear about things. Given the scale of President Knight’s business, disputes are bound to arise. If possible, I’d like you to sign a document transferring full ownership to me.”
This museum’s crown jewel had been hard-won.
She was always cautious and would not tolerate any missteps.
Moreover, she had already laid all her cards on the table with Ryan at the hospital regarding their divorce.
He had certainly read the divorce agreement in its entirety. With the divorce imminent, he was funding the repurchase, and she regarded it as compensation for his infidelity—naturally, she had to settle the accounts clearly.
Ryan had no objection.
“Alright, I’ll have someone draw up the deed.”
“Then it’s a deal. When will I get the results?” Rose exhaled in relief, a look of delight spreading across her fair face.
As long as the Bennett family’s property could be recovered, what harm was there in doing her soon-to-be ex-husband a favor and keeping his relationship with Samantha a secret?
“Go home and wait for me.”
Rose immediately frowned.
Go home?
They were about to get divorced—and he wanted her to go back?
“You...” She wanted to suggest meeting somewhere else to talk.
But before she could say another word—
Beep, beep, beep—
Ryan hung up almost immediately.
Cutting off Rose mid-sentence.
It was as though he were hanging up on a subordinate—high-handed, autocratic, and devoid of emotion.
Rose had long since grown accustomed to it and remained completely unfazed.
But the ownership of this Ru Kiln Twin-Lotus Vase had to be settled.
Diana, listening nearby, understood the implications.
“Antiques like this aren’t easy to buy or sell. The process is bound to be complicated—and he actually went to all that trouble?”
A flicker of hesitation crossed Rose’s eyes.
Finally, she shrugged.
“Actually, not really. What I want is the rosewood pendant from my grandmother’s heirloom collection. He refuses to give it to me for Samantha’s sake, so he’s probably using this Twin-Lotus Vase to shut me up.”
Diana clicked her tongue.
“So is he spending this money on you, or on Samantha?”
“It doesn’t matter. The Bennett family’s prized artifact has returned to the Bennett family. Even if he made me serve his mistress during her postpartum confinement, I’d accept it.”
Rose curled her lips into a wry smile.
She gazed at the Ru Kiln vase, her heart racing as a smile spread across her lips. After all, this was her mother’s most cherished museum piece—how could this not be cause for celebration?
Once they have the written agreement, we’ll avoid any complications down the road.
Only then did Diana link her arm through Rose’s.
“From now on, stick to business and leave love out of it. If you don’t want him, just fleece him for money. Scum like that will always get what’s coming to them—even in death, his grave will explode!”
Rose knew that Diana had suffered a great deal because of her own marriage.
She quickly pinched her puffed-up cheeks.
“Don’t be upset, don’t be upset. I’ll treat you to that seafood buffet you love so much.”
“Then I want the one that’s $1,988 per person,” Diana demanded, asking for the moon.
“...Then you can keep being a pufferfish.”
Diana immediately bared her teeth and lunged at her.
“You’re so mean! You’d sell a friend for money!”
Rose laughed and dodged her, but her mood improved considerably.
Regardless of why Ryan had gone to such great lengths to buy back the Bennett family’s prized artifact from overseas at an exorbitant price, at the very least, he had resolved her most pressing concern.
What was there left to complain about?
*****
She carefully returned the Ru Kiln Twin-Lotus Vase to her rented apartment.
She then accompanied Diana out for a meal, taking her to that seafood buffet. Rose didn’t eat much, as she avoided cold foods during her period.
She had planned to drive back, but then realized she had eaten drunken shrimp.
She absolutely couldn’t drive, so she had to call a ride to Moon lake Villa.
She had moved out nearly a month ago.
Clearly, Ryan was quite pleased with this arrangement; he hadn’t called to check on her even once.
Or perhaps—
Given how little he cared about her, he might not have even noticed she’d moved out.
Was that why he’d asked to meet her at Moonlake Villa?
Rose didn’t dwell on the absurd thought.
Upon arriving at the villa, she entered the living room.
Five servants were working there, currently in the kitchen cutting fruit and preparing a fruit platter.
Martha had taken the day off, so Rose didn’t see her.
Turning to the others, she asked, “Has Ryan come back yet?”
“Sir hasn’t come home yet, but one of his friends is visiting today.” One of the younger maids looked a little uneasy.
Rose glanced at the time and asked casually, “Who is it?”
“Mr. Taylor.”
James?
Rose instinctively frowned.
She didn’t exactly have a high opinion of James. He came from a privileged background, had been at the top of the social hierarchy since birth, and couldn’t hide his arrogance. He’d never liked her, and their interactions had always been unpleasant.
“Where is he?”
“He’s having a cup of coffee in the back garden.” The housekeeper hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t mention that there were others there as well.
Rose nodded.
She didn’t want to sit around waiting for Ryan. Instead, she planned to check the bedroom for the things she hadn’t been able to take with her before. If she could salvage a few more belongings, all the better.
The moment she entered the master bedroom, Rose immediately sensed that something was wrong.
The specially designed photo display wall... was empty.
The wedding photos of her and Ryan were gone.
Rose stopped in her tracks.
She stared at the blank wall for a long moment before the housekeeper came in carrying freshly folded laundry.
Rose pointed at the wall.
“Where are the wedding photos?”
The housekeeper stammered, “Madam, please don’t be angry. The wedding photos were taken down and moved to the back garden. We tried to stop them, but we couldn’t...”
They were tearing apart the room she had shared with Ryan?
Rose could hardly imagine anyone else being behind it.
She turned and headed toward the back garden.
By the time she arrived, plumes of black smoke were already rising before her eyes, and tongues of fire curled in the wind.
In the courtyard stood a large metal drum. The largest wedding portrait had already been tossed inside, while the remaining display frames that hadn’t made it into the drum were piled beside it.
Mike’s plump figure stood directly in front of the barrel.
When he saw Rose, a mischievous grin spread across his face, and he grabbed another wedding photo and tossed it into the flames.
“Ha ha ha! Why should your photos stay in my sister’s boyfriend’s house? My sister and her boyfriend’s new wedding photos will be hanging here in the future!”
The child’s shrill voice made Rose’s temples throb.
The flickering flames illuminated the color draining from her face. Her blood boiled inch by inch, only to turn ice-cold the next moment.
Samantha’s younger brother had come into the room she shared with Ryan and was burning her wedding photos.
Who had ordered this?
And who... had silently approved it?
The answer felt like thorns piercing her bones; every breath carried a relentless ache.
She had never imagined that this child would show up in her marital home, act as though he were the young master of the house, and start calling the shots as if he owned the place.
James was on the phone not far away.
Hearing the commotion, he turned to look.
Glancing at Mike, he couldn’t help but think the child was indeed ill-mannered, yet he made no effort to intervene.
Instead, he gave Rose—whose face had gone completely pale—a half-smile.
“He’s only six years old. Surely you won’t hold it against him.”
Rose heard those matter-of-fact words.
She treated James as if he were invisible.
Her face expressionless, she walked toward Mike.
“What are you going to do? You want to hit me again? You wicked, evil woman! If you dare, Ryan will teach you a lesson!”
Having been slapped by Rose last time, Mike was instinctively afraid.
But then he remembered that this was a place where he would be protected.
He bent down, grabbed one of the solid-wood display stands from the pile on the ground, and, with all his strength, hurled it viciously at Rose.
