Chapter 6

Ryan showed no obvious change in expression, yet his dark, cold eyes remained fixed on Rose with faint displeasure.

James and Oliver both froze.

Wasn’t what Rose had just said a little too harsh?

Was this some calculated change in tactics to attract Ryan’s attention?

And a public apology?

Wasn’t she deliberately trying to humiliate Samantha in front of everyone?

Samantha’s expression turned cold as she pressed her lips together, looking deeply wronged.

“Rose, have you had enough?”

Watching Samantha speak with such righteous indignation, Rose suddenly realized how effective it was to twist the truth and turn the tables on someone.

When people are determined to believe something, she has absolutely no desire to waste her energy explaining herself.

They were getting divorced anyway.

Arguing with a scumbag would only exhaust her further.

Rose turned and walked away.

But as she passed Ryan, the man’s indifferent gaze locked onto her. The corners of his lips twitched faintly as he spoke slowly.

“Playing hard to get?”

Rose paused, not reacting immediately. “What?”

Ryan lowered his eyes slightly and let out a faint, mocking laugh.

“Why aren’t you arguing back now?”

Wasn’t she quick-witted just a moment ago?

Rose finally understood.

Her eyes reddened instantly.

She had been provoked.

Whether it was her hysteria, emotional breakdown, or numb despair that drove her to walk away, in his eyes, it was all nothing more than a calculated act.

Even when she was furious enough to feel like she might collapse from the strain, he still believed she was merely pretending.

Unlike Samantha, she had never possessed the confidence that came from being protected and cherished by everyone around her.

If she kept arguing, she would only make herself look more pathetic.

Besides—

Ryan believed she was simply “throwing a tantrum,” and he viewed her behavior as childish and immature.

No matter what she said or did, he would never trust her.

So why bother wasting her breath?

Gradually calming down, Rose lost all desire to continue arguing. She nodded obediently and said softly, “Then I wish you both well. Is that okay?”

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked away without looking back.

Three months.

She only had to endure three more months before this miserable marriage would finally come to an end.

Ryan cast her a cold sidelong glance.

After only two seconds, he looked away again.

He had no intention of indulging Rose’s emotions.

Some emotions, once ignored long enough, would naturally disappear.

That had always been the unspoken understanding between them throughout the past seven years.

---

Rose didn’t tell Diana what had happened, afraid Diana would become so angry she might start a fight.

Having completely lost her appetite, Rose returned to the apartment after parting ways with Diana and began packing her belongings.

By the time she was nearly finished, it was already close to nine o’clock.

Only then did she realize she had forgotten the medical text her mentor had given her.

Rose rubbed her forehead helplessly, remembering she had left it in the safe at the Moon lake Villa.

Without wasting time, she grabbed her coat and drove there immediately.

Ryan rarely came home anyway, so the chances of running into him were slim.

Familiar with every corner of the house after seven years, she walked upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door.

The moment she stepped inside, her eyes met the man standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Ryan stood there holding his phone, a video call still active on the screen. In that brief instant, Rose caught sight of Samantha’s face.

They looked exactly like a couple deeply in love, unable to bear even a moment apart.

Ryan frowned as he looked at her.

“Why didn’t you knock?” he asked coldly.

The question rendered Rose speechless.

As his wife, in the house they had shared for seven years, was she now expected to knock before entering simply because he was openly involved with Samantha?

“Get out,” Ryan ordered sharply.

As though she had intentionally barged in to eavesdrop.

Rose’s heart clenched painfully.

Instinctively, she stepped back and closed the door behind her.

She had no masochistic tendencies.

She had no interest in listening to her husband flirt sweetly with another woman.

Heading downstairs, she saw the maid, Martha, emerge after hearing the commotion.

The moment Martha saw her, she said quickly, “Madam, Mrs. Margaret is on the line.”

Rose glanced toward the landline.

After a brief hesitation, she walked over.

Martha knew that although Rose was neglected by her husband, the matriarch of the Knight family still treated her kindly. Naturally, she paid little attention to household gossip and turned upstairs to collect the laundry basket.

“Rose?” Margaret’s gentle voice came through the receiver.

Rose glanced at the time, still thinking about retrieving her medical book.

“Grandma, you’re still awake?”

Margaret chuckled playfully. “This old lady is in excellent health. I’m learning to stay up late from you young people. Besides, with all the tonics you keep sending me, how could I possibly feel unwell?”

Rose quietly waited for the real purpose of the call.

Sure enough, Margaret soon continued warmly, “Rose, since you understand medicine so well, why don’t you prescribe some tonics for yourself too? You should prepare your body properly before having children. As you know, the Knight family has too many men and too few girls. It would be wonderful to have a sweet great-granddaughter. Besides, having a child could strengthen the bond between husband and wife. Ryan actually likes children very much.”

For years, the pressure to have children had never stopped.

Rose had never revealed a single word about Ariel's existence.

Now that she had already decided to divorce Ryan, there was even less reason to say anything.

Even if they weren’t divorcing, what would be the point of “regulating” her body?

Ryan was colder than ice.

Nothing she did could change that.

Besides—

Ryan himself had claimed years ago that he couldn’t have children.

Margaret couldn’t possibly be unaware of the rumors about Ryan being infertile.

Yet she still urged Rose to “take care of herself.”

At that moment, Rose truly felt that women in this world were endlessly exhausted and blamed for everything, no matter how much they sacrificed.

It was unbearably unfair.

But for now, she simply wanted to change the subject.

Tightening her grip on the receiver, she said honestly, “Grandma, I intend to divorce Ryan.”

Silence instantly fell over the line.

Margaret was clearly shocked.

After a long while, she finally spoke stiffly.

“I know you’ve suffered. Ryan has never been good at loving people, but at least he has always maintained basic respect and propriety. Rose, why don’t you reconsider?”

“I won’t reconsider. I’ve already made up my mind.”

Margaret fell silent again before sighing heavily.

“Rose, the Knight family has wronged you. Don’t worry. Even if you divorce, Grandma will make sure you have a good future ahead of you. There are many excellent young men in our circle. If I find someone suitable, I’ll arrange things for you as soon as possible.”

Rose froze for a moment.

She truly hadn’t expected the matriarch to say something like that.

Arranging a new partner for her before the divorce was even finalized?

…Wasn’t that a little too fast?

Yet at the same time, her heart felt bitterly complicated.

So everyone had known all along how miserable her marriage to Ryan truly was.

They had simply assumed she would continue enduring it forever.

That she would always compromise and tolerate Ryan, no matter how badly she was treated.

So they had all chosen to ignore her pain.

But from now on, things would be different.

After ending the call, Rose glanced at the time.

Ten minutes had already passed.

Surely Ryan had finished flirting with his beloved girlfriend by now?

She only wanted to retrieve her medical book and leave as quickly as possible.

Just as she was about to head upstairs, the front door suddenly burst open.

Isabella Walker, the wife of the second son of the Knight of the family, strode inside with a dark expression and marched directly toward Rose.

Without warning, she raised her hand and slapped her.

Rose reacted quickly and instinctively stepped back half an inch.

The slap didn’t land fully, but Isabella’s nails still scraped harshly across her cheek.

Smack!

A burning sting spread across Rose’s face.

Then Isabella pointed at her furiously and shouted, “Rose, has jealousy driven you insane? What good does it do to act like some bitter, vicious woman dragging everyone down with you just because your life isn’t going the way you want?”

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Rose hadn’t even regained her composure yet.

She didn’t have time to argue with Isabella.

At that moment, she heard footsteps descending the stairs.

Turning around, she realized Ryan had come downstairs at some point, his video call still connected.

Rose stared in disbelief as Samantha, visible on the phone screen, suddenly let out a soft laugh.