Free Web NovelChapter 67: Chapter 67 A Place Worth Fighting For
Rose hadn’t expected even an outsider to think they were a harmonious couple.
She didn’t know whether Ryan had introduced Samantha that way.
Or perhaps they simply appeared so affectionate that strangers naturally assumed their relationship was deep.
Samantha had originally intended to ignore Rose and go straight to Ryan.
But she hadn’t expected that, the moment she arrived, she would hear the principal introduce her and Ryan to Rose as husband and wife.
She slowly came to a halt.
A hint of satisfied amusement flickered across her face as she leisurely glanced at Rose.
“There’s nothing to discuss. We have priority access. Miss, you’d best stop making a fuss.”
Miss?
Rose nearly let out a cold laugh.
After meddling in her marriage, Samantha now pretended to be aloof and dignified in front of others, acting as though she didn’t even know her.
“Samantha, have you gotten addicted to being a thief? Stealing someone else’s husband is one thing, but do you have to grab everything you see? Are you a beggar?” Diana couldn’t tolerate such provocation.
Her words left no room for compromise.
Samantha’s face turned cold.
If Diana weren’t the young miss of the Robinson family, Samantha wouldn’t have given her the time of day.
She had clearly been spending too much time with Rose. Who knew how much badmouthing she had heard to make her so rude?
“We all have to face reality, don’t we? Results don’t lie. We’re adults now. We have to accept that we aren’t always that capable or that charming. I still hope you can accept reality and stop treating everyone as an imaginary enemy.”
Rose understood exactly what she meant.
Samantha was saying that since Ryan had chosen her, it wasn’t stealing.
True love?
“Imaginary enemy?” Diana laughed in disbelief.
How could someone be so shameless?
No matter what, Rose was the lawful wife.
The way Samantha spoke made it sound as though Rose were the other woman.
“Ryan?”
Samantha didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to look at the man striding toward them after ending his call.
Pursing her lips, she said, “It seems Miss Robinson and her group want to take Mike’s spot at the school.”
Rose frowned.
Take it?
Was she really the one taking it?
Ryan’s deep, piercing gaze lingered on Rose’s face for several seconds.
“Which child are you enrolling?”
He always got straight to the point.
Rose silently cracked her knuckles.
After all, Ryan knew there was no one left in the Bennett family.
“Does Mr. Knight care about the Robinson family’s child too?” Diana noticed Rose’s unease, stepped forward, and shot Samantha a mocking glance. “Mr. Knight, has the Hill family run out of relatives? You’re running around so much for their child that anyone who didn’t know better would think you fathered him yourself.”
Her sarcasm was off the charts.
Who would have thought a man like Ryan could be so hopelessly lovestruck?
Ryan, of course, wasn’t about to get into a verbal spat with Diana.
He merely looked at Rose impassively and said bluntly, “The spot has already been given to Mike. The Robinson family has plenty of resources. They shouldn’t be short of this one.”
He addressed Rose directly.
His stance was crystal clear.
Rose understood.
Ryan had secured this spot for Mike.
He made no attempt to hide it.
He was also warning her not to push too far.
The emotions Rose had managed to suppress all this time now threatened to overflow.
No matter how he treated her, she could remain indifferent.
Even if he took everything away and gave it to Samantha, she could still step aside.
But there was one thing she would never compromise on.
Ariel’s rights.
She would never surrender them.
“Either transfer your lover’s younger brother to another school, or I’ll have Grandma make the decision.”
Rose’s tone was cold and composed.
She had never been this resolute before.
Her beautiful eyes were icy and unwavering.
She stared intently at Ryan’s face.
For a split second, the man narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly.
Whether it was her imagination or not, Rose thought she saw the faintest trace of a smile in them.
“Is calling on grandma the extent of your temper?” he said slowly.
The meaning behind his words was unclear.
Rose automatically assumed he was mocking her for always seeking reinforcements.
“If it gets the job done, why worry about the method?” Rose shot back. “That’s a lesson you taught me yourself.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes slightly.
Samantha’s expression changed as well.
She knew Margaret’s temperament all too well.
In her younger years, Margaret had fought alongside the former chairman in the business world, developing a sharp eye and ruthless methods.
If Ryan hadn’t been shielding her from Margaret’s wrath these past few days, Samantha doubted she could have endured it.
Now Rose was threatening to run to Margaret.
If she exaggerated the story even slightly, Margaret would undoubtedly fly into a rage and take it out on her.
How shameless.
Using Margaret as a threat.
Rose, however, felt she had done nothing wrong.
Ryan had taken his own daughter’s school placement for the sake of his mistress’s younger brother.
She would never allow her daughter to endure that humiliation.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
Even the principal standing nearby looked uncertain.
From the snippets of conversation he had heard, the situation seemed rather complicated.
So who exactly was in the right?
But he quickly found his answer.
Since ancient times, wives had rarely been the favored ones.
Otherwise, there wouldn’t be the saying about favoring a concubine over a wife.
He cast a sympathetic glance at Rose.
It was obvious who wasn’t favored.
“Never mind. Mike has never been one to compete with others.”
Samantha suddenly spoke up.
She shot Rose a cold glare.
To create conflict with Ryan over a child from the Robinson family?
How foolish.
Diana nearly laughed out loud.
How noble.
Steal someone else’s belongings, create a mess, and then act as though you’re above fighting over it.
“Let’s do it that way.”
Ryan finally spoke.
A hint of amusement seemed to flicker at the corner of his lips as his gaze swept past Rose and landed on the principal.
“Proceed as usual.”
The principal immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, he had no desire to offend anyone.
As Ryan prepared to leave, he cast Rose a sidelong glance.
That single glance seemed to carry countless meanings.
But Rose had no interest in deciphering them.
As long as the spot went back to Ariel, nothing else mattered.
If Samantha’s interests hadn’t been at stake, Ryan probably wouldn’t have given it up at all.
His priorities couldn’t have been clearer.
Rose no longer cared whom he loved.
At least this time, she had won.
*****
Mike had gone to the restroom.
Samantha and Ryan stood waiting on the veranda.
Although Samantha felt resentful, she didn’t show it.
Instead, she said helplessly, “I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, Rose wouldn’t have been able to use Margaret to pressure you.”
Even though Rose had reclaimed the spot, Samantha still felt a trace of sweetness in her heart.
Because she could tell Ryan had only yielded in order to protect her.
Rose was no match for her.
“It’s fine.”
Ryan glanced at his wristwatch.
He didn’t seem particularly concerned about the matter.
The kindergarten grounds were spacious.
The children were playing games during recess.
Their laughter and cheerful voices were infectious.
Ryan watched the tiny figures running across the playground.
No one knew what he was thinking.
Just as he stepped down from the veranda, a small figure suddenly came racing around the corner.
Caught completely off guard, the child ran straight into his leg.
