Free Web NovelChapter 76: Chapter 76 The Matching Watches
Rose’s head was throbbing just listening to this.
She paced back and forth before finally finding her voice.
“Mike is still going to the same school as Ariel?”
“You bet!” Diana scoffed. “A friend of mine—her father is on the kindergarten’s board—told me everything. When Ariel’s spot was taken, I went to confront them about it. Today, my friend finally admitted that Ryan pulled some strings, and the school made a special exception to create an additional spot for Mike.”
Diana couldn’t help sneering. Several times, she nearly cursed outright.
“If he’s so powerful, why didn’t he arrange an extra spot from the beginning? Why did he have to take Ariel’s spot first? And now he won’t even transfer Mike to another school. If they run into Ariel sooner or later...”
That was exactly what worried Rose.
She had naturally assumed Ryan would find another excellent school for Mike.
She had never imagined this would be the outcome.
The school year was about to begin.
It was already too late to transfer Ariel elsewhere.
After all, she wasn’t Ryan. She couldn’t expect people to make exceptions for her.
If Ariel missed enrollment, her education would be delayed.
Getting into a school in New York was already difficult, let alone a top-tier private kindergarten like this one.
Rose’s thoughts were a mess.
She rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“Unless Ryan starts personally picking Mike up from school every day, the chances of them running into each other aren’t very high.”
“That’s true,” Diana agreed. “Given Ryan’s status—and since Mike is, after all, a child of the Hill family—there’s no reason for him to be hanging around the school regularly.”
Even so, Rose couldn’t shake her uneasiness.
Diana quickly reassured her.
“It’ll be fine. No matter what, our daughter carries the Robinson name. My brother is returning next month, and he’s Ariel’s legal father. Even if Ryan meets her, he won’t suspect she’s his daughter. We still have our backup plan.”
Rose nodded.
Aside from the fact that Ariel was legally registered as Trevor’s child, even if Ryan eventually discovered the truth, he had already signed a voluntary termination of parental rights agreement.
He couldn’t simply change his mind.
To protect Ariel, Rose had prepared plenty of contingency plans.
Thinking of Trevor’s role in everything—and the fact that the divorce was nearly finalized—helped ease some of her anxiety.
“We’ll take it one step at a time. In the end, Ariel will stay with me.”
She wanted to become stronger as quickly as possible.
She wanted enough power to stand up to the Knight family so Ariel could live openly and honestly in the light, rather than hiding in fear.
She had considered asking Ryan whether Mike could be transferred to another class or another campus.
But then she remembered she had already blocked him.
The idea was immediately discarded.
Speaking of blocking him...
Ryan probably didn’t even know yet.
After all, unless it was absolutely necessary, he rarely contacted her.
Rose let out a quiet sigh.
If she hadn’t secretly taken Ariel away and raised her on her own, she might have exposed everything long ago, regardless of Ryan’s relationship with Samantha.
If she didn’t have someone she needed to protect...
If she didn’t have a vulnerability that could be used against her...
With her personality, she never would have accepted such humiliation.
For the first time in her life, she had truly been forced to play the role of the “reasonable” ex-wife.
*****
Early the next morning, Rose was eating breakfast while scrolling through her social media feed when she received a call from Sofia.
“Dr. Rose~ Ms. Hill has submitted the test data for the Western medicine ingredients. It really paid off that you went to see her! I heard she became ill, and to make sure she could rest properly, President Knight arranged for New Hope’s research team to assist her.”
“President Knight’s devotion and support are honestly enviable.”
Just then, Rose’s finger paused on the screen.
A new message from Oliver appeared.
Oliver: Sam got sick, so he bought her a pair of matching watches worth $250,000 to cheer her up. They’re absolutely perfect together.
Attached was a photograph.
Taken from a third-person perspective inside a luxury boutique.
Two matching watch boxes sat side by side on the counter.
In the corner of the image, a man’s long, elegant hand held a bank card, ready to make the purchase.
Rose recognized Ryan’s hand instantly.
He never even wore his wedding ring.
Yet for Samantha, he was willing to break his own rules and wear matching watches.
“Dr. Rose?”
When Sofia didn’t hear a response, she called out several times.
Rose finally replied, “I know. Let’s discuss it when I get to the office.”
Only then did she remember Oliver—that loose end still lingering in her WhatsApp contacts and ruining her morning.
She immediately blocked him as well.
Only afterward did she spare a thought for Ryan’s decision to assign New Hope’s researchers to assist Samantha.
Rose knew exactly how prestigious New Hope was.
It housed some of the most respected experts in the industry.
And now those experts had effectively been reassigned to clean up after Samantha.
In the end, the results and recognition would still belong to Samantha.
Perhaps it was because of Rose’s remark at New Hope about replacing Columbia University’s project leader.
Ryan wasn’t just helping Samantha solve the problem.
He was also issuing a warning.
Making sure Rose would no longer have the opportunity to make things difficult for Samantha.
Rose couldn’t be bothered dwelling on it.
After all, Samantha had only submitted the test data.
The crucial Western medicine formula still wasn’t finished.
If she missed the deadline, Rose would remove her from the project regardless.
*****
That afternoon, Rose received confirmation of the documentary’s filming schedule.
The production would proceed without interfering with the team’s research work.
She thought it was an incredibly meaningful project.
It would serve as an excellent educational resource and help the public better understand medical research.
*****
Meanwhile, Samantha was at the hospital receiving an IV drip.
Oliver had taken time off to visit her.
“Is that really what Rose said?” he asked, laughing. “I didn’t realize she thought so highly of herself. Just because she got lucky enough to join G.S., she actually believes she has some authority now?”
She had actually threatened to replace Samantha.
The idea was laughable.
Who did Rose think she was?
Did she honestly believe she could tell Caleb what to do?
If she were a world-renowned expert like Aster, maybe she’d have that right.
But as far as Oliver was concerned, she was nothing more than an ordinary employee who had spent a few years working in the ER.
Samantha smiled helplessly.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m focused on research and helping patients. If she insists on turning this into a drama about two women competing over one man, I really don’t have time for it.”
“You’re too kind,” Oliver replied.
“Besides, isn’t this all because Ryan is backing you? Rose doesn’t dare cause trouble for him, so she’s taking it out on you instead.”
A faint blush spread across Samantha’s cheeks.
His words filled her with a quiet sense of pride.
Naturally, she would never compare herself to someone like Rose.
“Look how much Ryan cares about you,” Oliver continued while taking a bite of an apple. “You skip meals, stay up all night working, and he practically takes care of you personally. I’ve never seen him treat anyone else like this.”
Samantha smiled softly.
She knew very well that she was the exception.
Some people were simply destined to remain in the background.
“By the way,” Oliver said, suddenly remembering something, “aren’t you appearing in that documentary?”
The government had been placing increasing emphasis on cultural and scientific education, and as a key partner in the G.S. project, Samantha would naturally be featured.
“I will,” Samantha replied. “After all, I’m one of the few public figures in this field, and I can help attract viewers.”
Her smile carried unmistakable confidence.
After all, she was a celebrity doctor.
She had more than three million social media followers.
With her credentials, reputation, and public image, she would undoubtedly become one of the documentary’s central figures.
Oliver immediately clapped his hands.
“I heard that if the documentary performs well, it could receive government recognition and even win awards. Wouldn’t that practically make you part of history?”
At that moment, Ryan pushed open the door and entered.
Hearing the conversation, he glanced at them calmly.
Samantha raised an eyebrow, her mood brightening even further.
By the time the documentary aired, it would become another testament to her accomplishments.
It would also improve the Knight family’s perception of her.
Eventually, they would accept her once again and approve of her becoming Ryan’s wife.
As for Ethan...
She had no obligation to wait for him.
He couldn’t get out anytime soon, and even if he did, he wouldn’t dare challenge her while Ryan stood behind her.
“It’s not that dramatic,” she said modestly.
But Oliver suddenly had an idea.
His eyes landed on Ryan, who had already taken a seat.
“If Ryan made even a brief appearance in the documentary, wouldn’t it become a symbol of your love?”
Samantha froze.
Then her heart began racing.
What Oliver had just described sounded almost like a romantic documentary centered around her and Ryan.
“Ryan, if you have the time, would you be willing to make a guest appearance?” Oliver asked directly.
Unable to help herself, Samantha looked toward the man seated across the room.
Joy filled her eyes.
At the same time, she knew Rose would also be involved in the documentary as part of the project team.
If Ryan viewed Rose as a complication or a nuisance, he might refuse.
The thought made Samantha unconsciously press her lips together.
Rose truly was an annoyance that refused to disappear.
Only then did Ryan lift his gaze and meet Samantha’s hopeful eyes.
After a brief two-second silence, his expression relaxed slightly.
“There’s no reason not to.”
