Free Web NovelChapter 80: Chapter 80 Why Are You Holding Rose?
Rose knew Caleb’s concerns weren’t without merit.
She could still recall the look in Ryan’s eyes earlier. He wasn’t an emotionally volatile or quick-tempered man, but it was precisely that outward calm that made him so terrifyingly inscrutable.
“But if I don’t settle the score today, it’ll be even harder later. He won’t give me another chance to get even.”
Anyway.
She and Ryan had nothing left to lose.
One more grudge wouldn’t make any difference.
“In any case, I’ll play it safe. If I wrap up the project with Columbia University as soon as possible, I won’t give them a chance to make a move.” Rose was surprisingly philosophical about it.
Ryan didn’t love her.
Naturally, he wouldn’t cling to any lingering affection for her.
She really did need to think things through more carefully.
To keep Ariel from noticing her injury, Rose wore a back brace beneath her clothes as she helped Ariel bathe, brush her teeth, and apply her skincare. Then she coaxed her to sleep. Watching Ariel’s little hands cling tightly to her arm, Rose felt a pang in her chest.
But she had to grow stronger.
Strong enough to shield Ariel from life’s storms.
After kissing Ariel’s fair, delicate cheeks over and over, she tiptoed out of the room.
The joint research project between G.S. and Columbia University had reached its final stages. Once the animal and clinical trials were approved, they could apply for official authorization.
The project wouldn’t truly be complete until the drug received official approval.
Diana had also notified everyone of the documentary’s filming schedule.
Rose’s back still hadn’t fully healed. She had to wear a back brace; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to stand or walk for extended periods.
Today’s task was to conduct animal testing at the New Hope Laboratory.
It was also the first day of official filming.
Upon arriving at the elevator lobby in the New Hope building, Rose spotted Samantha approaching, surrounded by people fawning over her.
Her gaze drifted downward casually.
She noticed the watch on Samantha’s wrist.
It was the women’s watch from the matching set Oliver had mentioned earlier—the one Ryan had bought.
Rose’s eyes lingered on it for a moment.
Then she calmly looked away.
David, the man who had picked her up at New Hope last time, and New Hope’s general manager, William, were both smiling broadly as they chatted with Samantha.
Surrounded by them, Samantha appeared to be in excellent spirits.
The swelling from the slap she had received earlier had already gone down, leaving no visible trace.
When Samantha noticed Rose standing by the elevator, a cold glint flashed through her eyes, and she immediately walked over.
Just then, the elevator doors opened.
David saw Rose and greeted her with a smile.
William, however, politely addressed Rose.
“Miss, would you mind stepping aside and letting Ms. Hill enter first?”
Rose looked at him. “Am I in her way?”
William was caught off guard.
He had only been trying to curry favor with Samantha, so he awkwardly replied, “You may not know this, but Ms. Hill is CEO Knight’s girlfriend. If you stay on good terms with her, it’ll definitely benefit you.”
Only then did Samantha smile.
After all, New Hope belonged to Ryan.
The fact that New Hope’s executives deferred to her and expected Rose to do the same was, in a way, a slap in Rose’s face.
Naturally, it made Samantha feel a sense of satisfaction.
The frustration from being slapped by Rose earlier eased considerably.
Rose’s lips twitched slightly.
She had been Mrs. Knight for seven years.
Was she really supposed to rely on Samantha’s influence now?
Unfortunately, too many people were waiting for the elevator.
It would have been inappropriate to stand there and make a scene.
The crowd filed into the elevator.
Yet a comfortable space had been deliberately left open around Samantha.
As Ryan’s darling, she naturally enjoyed every special privilege.
They soon arrived at the New Hope Experimental Zone.
Diana and her team had already secured their camera positions.
The Columbia University team had also arrived.
The moment they saw Samantha, they immediately gathered around her.
“Ms. Hill” this.
“Ms. Hill” that.
Every now and then, someone would throw in a “President Knight.”
Samantha smiled warmly and chatted happily with everyone.
Rose couldn’t be bothered with them.
She didn’t see Diana.
Most likely, Diana was in the control room monitoring the footage.
One of Diana’s assistants approached and said, “Everyone, don’t worry. Just work as you normally would. No confidential data will be filmed, and our production team won’t disturb you. Just proceed at your usual pace.”
Samantha smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”
Rose paid her no attention.
She efficiently sanitized her hands, changed into a sterile gown, put on a mask, and headed off to test the purity of Columbia’s Western medicine raw materials.
There was plenty of work to do today.
Purification.
Toxicity testing.
One experiment after another.
Rose became so busy that she forgot they were even filming.
For more than five straight hours, nobody had time for lunch.
She nearly lost her balance several times.
Her back hadn’t fully healed, forcing her to secretly lean against the lab bench every so often to rest.
Sofia leaned over. “Dr. Rose, are you having low blood sugar?”
Rose was about to shake her head.
Just then, a voice came from the doorway.
“Everyone, work is important, but so is your health. President Knight knows how hard you’ve all worked today and has specially prepared fruit platters and lunch for everyone.”
Expressions of gratitude immediately spread through the room.
“We never get treated this well. It’s all because Ms. Hill is here.”
“Mr. Knight isn’t worried about us—he’s worried about her.”
“A single-serving meal from Delicious Delight? My goodness, those are so expensive and nearly impossible to book. One meal costs three days’ worth of my salary. President Knight is incredibly generous.”
Samantha laughed shyly. “Ryan is only being extra careful because I had low blood sugar after pulling an all-nighter last time. Everyone, take a break and grab something to eat. There’s no need to thank me.”
Sofia couldn’t help looking at Rose. “Dr. Rose, why don’t you go grab something to eat?”
Rose wasn’t actually hungry.
Watching Samantha distribute food to everyone, she pulled her mask back on.
“It’s fine. You go ahead and eat. Have a couple of extra servings. Let’s make sure Mr. Knight gets his money’s worth.”
Sofia still looked worried.
Rose simply wanted to sit down and stretch her aching lower back.
She had barely settled into her chair when she heard the group around Samantha speaking enviously.
“Ms. Hill, do you think Mr. Knight will appear in the documentary too? By then, everyone will probably realize you two are dating.”
Hearing this, Samantha smiled slightly.
“If he isn’t too busy, he might come.”
She remembered what Oliver had said.
If Ryan appeared on camera with her, all she needed was the slightest hint of intimacy, and people would immediately figure out their relationship.
After all, aside from meal breaks, the documentary was being filmed continuously.
“Mr. Knight is so good to you, Ms. Hill. He always says yes to everything and is even willing to make the relationship public. I’m so jealous.”
“Ms. Hill, since Mr. Knight treats you so well, are you two getting married soon?”
Rose didn’t even bother lifting her head.
Her mind was busy trying to figure out where the data ratios had gone wrong.
Samantha’s data simply refused to align properly.
Catching sight of Rose from the corner of her eye, Samantha finally smiled.
“When there’s good news, I’ll let everyone know.”
A wave of laughter swept through the room.
Everyone understood exactly what she meant.
That answer did make Rose pause for a moment.
Did they already have plans?
Would they get married immediately after the divorce was finalized?
Ding.
WhatsApp buzzed.
Diana: [She just gave you such a smug look. I saw it clearly on the backstage monitor. What a bitch!]
Diana: [May that giant tumor in her head burst. She’s driving me crazy!]
Diana: [I’d love to see the faces of those Columbia people when they find out Samantha was the other woman—and that you’re actually Mrs. Knight.]
Diana continued ranting.
The chat was flooded with laughing emojis.
Nearly every sentence was heavily censored.
Rose hadn’t expected Diana to be able to see all of this.
There really were cameras everywhere.
Following along in the group chat, Rose quietly replied: [Exactly. Absolutely.]
After successfully calming Diana down, Rose rubbed her lower back.
Ryan’s future remarriage was none of her concern.
She had rested long enough.
Getting to her feet, she changed her gloves, adjusted her mask, and returned to the instruments to continue analyzing the pharmacological data.
Filming resumed quietly.
Rose moved from one laboratory to another.
After an entire day of intense work—and with a severe back injury that hadn’t fully healed—she felt a sudden, stabbing pain shoot through her lower back as she entered the next lab.
Unable to steady herself, she instinctively reached out for support.
Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her firmly into an embrace.
Another hand settled against her back.
The arm around her waist tightened, taking nearly all of her weight and drawing her flush against a solid chest.
Rose looked up.
Her gaze collided with a pair of dark eyes framed by thick lashes.
She froze.
Her brows hadn’t even had time to furrow.
At the same moment, more than a dozen pairs of eyes in the laboratory turned toward them.
Surprise.
Suspicion.
Shock.
And then, almost instinctively, everyone looked toward Samantha, who stood not far away.
Finally, someone blurted out in astonishment:
“Mr. Knight... why are you holding Rose?”
