Free Web NovelChapter 89: Chapter 89 Let’s Get a Divorce
For a moment, Rose’s ears rang.
She almost thought she had misheard.
“What are you planning to give her as a wedding gift?” she asked, enunciating each word clearly.
Her voice was ice-cold.
Logan noticed the anger smoldering in Rose’s eyes. Frowning, he reproached her, “What kind of reaction is that? It’s just an antique shop. You and Sam are sisters. Why are you being so petty?”
Rose’s lips pressed together until they turned pale. “Sisters?”
A mocking smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You’re willing to be cuckolded and raise another man’s child as your own. Don’t go around calling people sisters.”
She didn’t even care whether Samantha was actually going to marry Ryan.
There was only one thing she cared about.
The Bennett family’s antique shop.
Someone had actually set their sights on it, intending to use it to elevate Samantha’s status and turn it into the capital she would bring into her marriage.
Logan hadn’t expected Rose to be so uncooperative.
His face darkened with disappointment. “Rose, how have you become so sharp-tongued and spiteful? Are you trying to imitate your mother, who’s lying unconscious in a hospital bed? Isn’t family harmony more important than anything else? It’s not as though I’m asking for the moon.”
Ignoring Rose’s reaction, he waved his hand.
Daisy immediately stepped out of the hospital room, unable to hide her smile as she handed him a contract.
Logan passed it to Rose.
“This is the transfer agreement. Back then, your mother placed half the shares of the antique shop in your name. Since you were a minor, I managed them on your behalf. I’ve handled them all these years, and you’ve never been involved anyway. Sign it. It’ll free you from any responsibility.”
If it weren’t for Rose’s share, he would have already transferred the entire shop to Samantha.
Rose’s mother had been far too cautious, planning ahead for Rose years ago.
Rose listened to his self-righteous speech.
The hypocrisy was almost laughable.
Her eyes brimmed with ridicule, and her hands trembled at her sides.
“As for using the Bennett family’s property as Samantha’s Wedding gift?” She laughed coldly. “You can forget it.”
The antique shop had originally been stolen from her mother through Logan’s underhanded schemes.
And now he actually believed he owned it?
The Bennett family had run that business for generations.
Her mother’s life’s work was now being used to curry favor with his mistress and her daughter.
Wasn’t that humiliation?
Wasn’t that trampling all over the Bennett family?
“Do you really not know when to compromise?” Daisy snapped. “You deliberately hurt Sam, and we’re willing to let it go. All we’re asking is that you sign the papers and protect yourself. We’re giving you a way out.”
Most of the antiques in the shop had clear ownership records.
If it weren’t for Rose’s shares, they wouldn’t be stuck in this situation.
Logan glanced at Daisy before softening his tone.
“Rose, your grandfather is old. He doesn’t have much time left. Your father is your real family and your support system. Helping your maternal family prosper won’t hurt you. Supporting your sister will benefit you too.”
“Be a good girl.”
Rose stared at him.
Then she laughed. “Who do you think you are?”
Her expression was full of disgust. “Did I ever say I recognized you as my father?”
Logan’s face turned pale. “Are you really determined to be an unfilial daughter?”
Rose’s smile turned colder. “If you die someday, I’ll even help shovel dirt onto your grave. Is that filial enough for you?”
Logan’s chest heaved with rage.
He had never imagined Rose would speak to him like this.
“Rose!” Daisy shouted. “How dare you speak to your father that way?”
Rose snatched the contract from Logan’s hands. “You weren’t afraid of divine punishment when you had an affair. Why would this bother you?”
Daisy’s face alternated between red and white.
Before she could say another word, Rose tore the contract into pieces.
Rip.
The shredded papers fluttered through the air.
Then she flung them at Logan.
“Don’t ever come begging at my door again.”
Without another glance, she turned and walked away.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remain completely unaffected.
After all, Logan was still her father.
But this father had spent years hurting her.
He had been heartless toward her mother.
Cruel toward her.
And now he was allowing his mistress’s daughter to trample all over his own flesh and blood.
A wedding gift?
Absolutely not.
Rose walked quickly down the corridor.
As though moving faster could leave some of the anger and grief behind.
She made her way to the rooftop and stood by the railing for a long time, letting the cold wind wash over her.
Gradually, she calmed down.
She couldn’t allow a group of shameless people to ruin her entire day.
Taking a deep breath, she turned back.
Work still had to be done.
But her head felt heavy.
Her throat burned.
A fever was coming on.
Whether it was from stress or from catching a chill, she didn’t know.
Rose skipped lunch.
By the afternoon, her fever had climbed high enough that she could barely focus.
She retreated to the lounge to rest.
Six researchers from G.S. and six from Columbia University were participating in the clinical trial.
At lunchtime, everyone gathered in the lounge with takeout meals.
Rose curled up on a single sofa.
Sofia brought her medicine and lunch, but Rose had no appetite.
She thanked her softly and closed her eyes.
Nearby, conversations continued.
“Dr. Bennett, are you sure you don’t want to take the day off?” one of the Columbia researchers asked.
Rose opened her eyes briefly and shook her head.
“I’m fine.”
“You really are a workhorse. Then again, not everyone is as lucky as Ms. Hill.”
The comment instantly drew everyone’s attention.
“That’s true.”
Another person sighed dreamily. “While Ms. Hill was away, she posted on Instagram every day. Every picture showed only one of Mr. Knight’s hands, but it was obvious he stayed with her in the hospital every single day. Twenty-four-hour care. I was honestly amazed.”
“Exactly. A man of Mr. Knight’s status must be incredibly busy, yet he put everything aside for her.”
“How many men would do that?”
The women sighed collectively. “With a boyfriend like that, which direction should we bow?”
Rose kept her eyes closed.
Her body alternated between chills and fever.
Yet every word reached her ears.
She wasn’t Samantha.
When life became difficult, she had always endured it alone.
No one had ever been there to shield her.
“Dr. Bennett, you’re sick too. Why hasn’t your husband come to see you?”
The conversation somehow circled back to her.
Several pairs of eyes landed on her pale face.
Some were curious.
Others simply wanted entertainment.
After all, they had all heard that man’s voice on her phone before, calling her “baby” as though he adored her.
Yet now he was nowhere to be found.
Sofia finally snapped. “That’s enough. Dr. Bennett’s private life is none of your business.”
The woman shrugged. “That’s exactly why I feel bad for her. Look at Ms. Hill—she’s so happy. The comparison is heartbreaking.”
The words were humiliating.
Everywhere she went, she was compared to Samantha.
One woman was cherished.
The other was pitied.
Rose couldn’t listen anymore.
She got up and stepped outside for some fresh air.
The moment she walked into the hallway, she ran into Samantha.
Rose had no intention of speaking to her.
But Samantha stopped and smiled. “I heard you don’t want to give me the antique shop.”
Rose was already feeling miserable.
She looked at Samantha coldly. “If you want it that badly, kneel down and beg me. I might consider it.”
Samantha frowned.
She had always thought Rose was crude.
Unable to speak like a civilized person.
Exactly what one would expect from someone raised in the middle of nowhere.
No wonder Ryan had never been interested in her.
“I’m not here to argue,” Samantha said coolly. “To be honest, the antique shop is already under Dad’s control. If you refuse, he’ll just talk to your grandfather instead. Your grandfather is old and confused anyway. His signature will work just as well.”
Rose felt her temples throb.
For a second, even breathing became difficult. “You’re trying to drive my grandfather into an early grave?”
Her voice trembled with disbelief.
She had never imagined they could be so shameless.
They knew perfectly well that her grandfather was ninety years old.
And yet they still planned to pressure him.
Samantha shrugged. “If you won’t listen, then I’ll talk to someone who will. What’s wrong with that?”
“Does Ryan know about this?”
Rose’s voice was icy.
A faint smile appeared on Samantha’s face.
“My wedding gift?” The arrogance of someone favored by fate practically radiated from her. “What do you think?”
Rose’s headache intensified.
Ryan knows.
That meant he was silently condoning everything.
The Hill family’s actions.
Their humiliation of the Bennett family.
All of it.
The realization nearly made her vision blur.
Especially seeing the smug certainty on Samantha’s face.
As though she had already won.
And Rose had no one to rely on but herself.
Her fingers were ice-cold as she grabbed Samantha’s arm.
“You’ve worked so hard preparing your wedding gifts.”
“So eager to climb into the Knight family.”
“Fine.”
“I’ll grant your wish.”
Rose’s voice was frighteningly calm. “As Mrs. Knight, I’ll show everyone exactly how my future sister-in-law climbed into another woman’s marriage.”
Samantha immediately understood.
Rose intended to expose everything.
To publicly brand her as a homewrecker.
For the first time, panic flickered across Samantha’s face.
She hadn’t expected Rose to go this far.
Over an antique shop.
Rose had completely lost her mind.
“There are more than a dozen people in that lounge!” Samantha hissed.
She tried to pull away.
But Rose’s grip was surprisingly strong.
Her pale face was devoid of expression.
Step by step, she dragged Samantha toward the lounge.
Just as they reached the doorway—
A hand closed around her wrist.
Firm.
Unyielding.
Rose turned to look.
Ryan stood there.
His dark eyes were as cold and unreadable as ever.
Rose didn’t release Samantha.
Instead, she met his gaze head-on. “What is it?”
Her voice was colder than ice. “What would Mr. Knight like to discuss?”
She was curious.
How exactly did he plan to stop her?
Ryan looked at her for several long seconds.
His expression barely changed.
When he finally spoke, his voice was unexpectedly calm. “Rose.”
“Let’s choose a date.”
A brief pause followed.
Then he said, “Let’s get a divorce.”
