Chapter 326 A Promise with Hidden Intent
She knew exactly what she was doing.
She was asking Ryan to marry her.
Under normal circumstances, Samantha would never have been the one to bring it up. She had always imagined Ryan would be the one to propose—that he would put a ring on her finger because he couldn’t imagine spending his life with anyone else.
But this wasn’t normal.
She couldn’t afford to wait.
Not anymore.
Swallowing what little pride she had left, she looked up at him.
"Ryan..."
Her voice trembled with carefully controlled emotion.
"Let’s build a family together."
She rested a hand lightly on his knee.
"I know you’ve always wanted children."
She hesitated before quietly adding,
"Rose couldn’t give you that during your marriage."
"Whatever feelings the two of you once had... they’re gone."
"So let’s stop wasting time."
"Okay?"
She looked at him with hopeful eyes, already picturing the future she’d dreamed about for years.
Ryan remained exactly where he was.
Relaxed against his chair.
One ankle resting over the opposite knee.
His expression gave away nothing as he watched her.
He knew exactly what she wanted.
Not simply marriage.
She wanted him to sever every remaining tie to Rose.
His eyes drifted briefly toward Samantha’s stomach.
Instead of answering, he asked calmly, "Did you confirm it?"
A smile immediately brightened Samantha’s face.
She eagerly took the pregnancy tests from her purse and laid them on his desk.
Every one of them showed two unmistakable pink lines.
"I did."
"I tested three times."
"The second I found out..."
"I came straight here."
Her smile grew softer.
"We’re going to be parents."
Ryan’s gaze rested on the tests.
When he heard those words—
We’re going to be parents.
The corner of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
"So," he said evenly, "if you’re pregnant..."
"...then as the father, I have responsibilities."
Joy flooded Samantha’s face.
Her heart soared.
She leaned toward him instinctively.
"So..."
Her eyes sparkled.
"Does that mean you agree?"
Ryan gestured for her to stand.
"Get up first."
She immediately rose from beside his chair.
Ryan picked up another folder from his desk, flipping it open as though discussing an ordinary business matter.
"Why wouldn’t I?"
Four simple words.
That was all it took.
The anxiety Samantha had carried for weeks evaporated.
She’d expected resistance.
After everything that had happened at the Taylor estate...
She’d expected questions.
Anger.
Doubt.
Instead...
Ryan had accepted it so naturally.
Her chest filled with warmth.
He really did love her.
Far more than she’d dared hope.
"I’ll let you get back to work."
She smiled brightly.
"We can talk about the wedding later."
"There are still a lot of details we’ll need to work through."
"And... a few people standing in our way."
Most of all—
Rose.
Samantha remained convinced Rose had been provoking Ryan on purpose.
The rumors linking Rose to Trevor were nothing more than jealousy.
A calculated attempt to make Ryan regret losing her.
Deep down, Samantha believed Rose could never truly let Ryan go.
"Mm."
Ryan didn’t object.
Satisfied, Samantha left the office in unusually high spirits.
Even discovering that Rose’s birthday opened Ryan’s safe no longer seemed so important.
She quickly found an explanation that made her feel better.
The safe had been a gift from Margaret.
Perhaps Ryan had never even chosen the code himself.
Maybe his grandmother had set it years ago when she still hoped Ryan and Rose would stay together.
Ryan probably just never bothered changing it.
That had to be it.
*****
As the elevator descended, Samantha looked at the phone in her hand.
The confidential photos were still there.
Should she send them to Ethan?
Or delete them?
She was so distracted she barely noticed someone approaching.
The instant she stepped onto the sidewalk outside Kingswell Tower—
A hand grabbed her arm.
Before she could react, she was pulled into the back seat of a black SUV.
The door slammed shut.
"Ethan!"
Her expression instantly changed.
"What are you doing?"
"This is Ryan’s office building."
"Don’t touch me."
Ethan ignored her outrage.
"Did you get it?"
Samantha instinctively tightened her grip on her phone.
That tiny movement was all Ethan needed to see.
His smile widened.
He snatched the phone from her hand.
"Ethan!"
Before she could stop him, he held it in front of her face.
Face ID unlocked the screen.
He opened her photo gallery.
Hundreds of images appeared.
Page after page of Kingswell’s confidential strategy proposal.
A satisfied grin spread across his face.
"I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me."
He laughed quietly.
"My brother’s always been the smartest man in the family."
"Turns out even Ryan Knight has a weakness."
"A woman."
"What are you planning to do?"
Samantha demanded, reaching for the phone.
Ethan caught her wrist instead.
Pulling her against him, he wrapped an arm around her waist.
Then, with deliberate disrespect, he squeezed her hip.
"You’ve already done the hard part."
"I’ll take care of the rest."
His smile grew colder.
"You’ve been far more useful than I expected."
"If you hadn’t fallen for my brother..."
"I’d probably spend my whole life living in his shadow."
Disgust surged through Samantha.
She shoved him away.
"I’m warning you."
"Don’t push Ryan too far."
"And don’t contact me again unless it’s absolutely necessary."
"If you force my hand..."
"I’ll tell Ryan everything."
"I’ll tell him you blackmailed me into stealing confidential corporate information."
For the first time, her threat sounded genuine.
Ryan had agreed to marry her.
She couldn’t allow Ethan to destroy that.
Instead of becoming angry, Ethan laughed.
"Why would I ruin such a valuable asset?"
He casually tossed her phone back into her lap.
"I still need you close to my brother."
"For a little while longer."
Then he smiled again.
"Now that business is finished..."
He leaned closer.
"How about coming home with me?"
Samantha instinctively stepped backward.
One hand immediately covered her abdomen.
She was pregnant.
Whatever happened—
She couldn’t let Ethan touch her.
She opened the SUV door.
"Don’t call me again."
Without another glance, she climbed out.
The SUV pulled away from the curb.
Inside the vehicle, Ethan narrowed his eyes.
Her unconscious gesture—
Protecting her stomach—
Didn’t escape his notice.
Interesting...
Very interesting.
*****
Although Ethan had dampened her mood, Samantha quickly regained her composure.
Ryan had promised to take responsibility.
That was the important part.
But she couldn’t simply sit back and wait.
If she wanted to become Mrs. Knight as soon as possible, she’d have to keep pushing things forward herself.
*****
Saturday arrived.
Rose had already made plans to visit the Bennett Gallery with Grace later that weekend.
That afternoon, there was a knock on her office door.
Caleb stepped inside carrying a stack of reports.
After setting them on Rose’s desk, he smiled.
"My mom wanted me to ask if you’re free tonight."
"For what?"
"Her garden party."
Rose looked up.
"Tonight?"
"It starts around seven."
Caleb shrugged.
"You know how these Upper East Side charity parties work."
"Officially, everyone’s there for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and polite conversation."
"In reality..."
He rolled her eyes.
"It’s networking."
"Business owners meet investors."
"Executives trade introductions."
"Board members make deals."
"It just looks prettier than a corporate conference."
Rose laughed.
That was probably true.
A few conversations over champagne could accomplish more than weeks of scheduled meetings.
She glanced at her calendar.
"I’m free."
She smiled.
"If my sister-in-law invited me, the least I can do is show up and enjoy the free food."
After all, It was Eleanor, Leo’s wife and he is someone who’d watched her grow up.
They were actually quite close.
Paige immediately groaned.
"Please stop calling her your sister-in-law."
Rose couldn’t help laughing.
"Why?"
"Because every time you say it, it makes me sound like I’m a generation younger than you."
Rose laughed even harder.
She finished reviewing the remaining documents from G.S. Biotech, headed home to change out of her work clothes, and then drove uptown toward the Byrne family’s townhouse.
On the way, Eleanor texted her.
[Drive safely. Looking forward to seeing you tonight.]
Rose smiled and replied with a thumbs-up emoji.
When she arrived, however...
The smile slowly disappeared from her face.
Standing near the front entrance were two people she knew all too well.
Rose stopped walking.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.