Chapter 329 The Return of the Chairman
Rose hadn’t expected to see Ryan outside the Byrne estate.
Then again...
It wasn’t difficult to guess why he was there.
Samantha was probably waiting to leave with him.
The image of the prenatal report flashed through Rose’s mind.
A wave of revulsion rose in her chest.
Without thinking, she shoved him aside.
Hard.
Ryan stumbled back two steps before catching himself.
He looked at her steadily.
"Did I do something to upset you?"
Rose almost laughed.
Was she supposed to tell him she simply couldn’t stand looking at him anymore?
There was no point.
Besides...
Seeing Samantha’s pregnancy had reminded her of something she’d tried very hard to forget.
When she’d been pregnant with Ariel...
She had cautiously tested the waters.
Not by telling Ryan outright, but by trying to see whether he wanted children.
His response had been painfully indifferent.
No excitement.
No curiosity.
No expectation.
It had been as though the subject meant absolutely nothing to him.
Now...
He was personally accompanying Samantha to prenatal appointments.
The contrast couldn’t have been clearer.
Everything she’d sacrificed during those years of marriage suddenly felt even more meaningless.
It wasn’t just that he’d never loved her.
He’d rejected the future she’d once imagined they might have together.
Rose let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
She had no interest in arguing over something that no longer mattered.
Without answering him, she brushed past and walked away.
Ryan slowly turned.
His eyes followed her retreating figure.
Her back remained straight.
Her pace never faltered.
The disgust in her eyes had been impossible to miss.
He stood there for a long moment.
Only after watching Rose drive away did he finally look down when his phone rang.
He answered.
Margaret Knight’s voice came through immediately.
"Ryan."
"Come home tonight."
Her tone was unusually serious.
"Your grandfather called."
"He’s flying back to New York."
"He’ll be here in two days."
Ryan showed no surprise.
He began walking toward his car at an unhurried pace.
"I understand."
*****
The next two days passed in a blur.
Rose divided her time between teaching at NYU, overseeing research at G.S. Biotech, and checking on the final development stages of the G.S surgical robot.
Only her age—and stubborn determination—allowed her to survive the nonstop schedule.
Late on the second afternoon, her phone buzzed.
A message from Rowan.
Rowan: [Rose, I’m back in New York.]
Another message appeared almost immediately.
Rowan: [Why weren’t you at the family dinner the first night?]
Rose blinked in surprise.
Rowan had spent years living overseas with Edward Knight.
He’d suddenly returned?
She and Rowan had known each other since high school.
They’d been classmates for three years before he transferred abroad during college.
More importantly...
He had been the one who’d introduced her to Ryan all those years ago.
No matter what had happened with Ryan, she’d always considered Rowan a genuine friend.
His question about the family dinner, however...
She quietly ignored it.
Instead she typed:
Rose: [How long are you staying this time?]
A few seconds later—
Rowan: [Probably for a while.]
[Something happened at home, didn’t it?]
He didn’t say it directly.
He didn’t need to.
Rose immediately understood.
Edward Knight’s sudden return almost certainly had something to do with Samantha’s pregnancy.
Ryan had always been Edward’s chosen successor.
A scandal of this magnitude would inevitably bring him back.
Before Rose could reply again—
Another message arrived.
Rowan: [Tonight’s my welcome-home dinner.]
[I’d really like you to come.]
[It’s at the Grand Regent Hotel.]
[Will you?]
Rose stared at the screen.
Her marriage to Ryan had ended.
Her friendship with Rowan hadn’t.
She still remembered how many times he’d helped her over the years.
After a moment’s hesitation, she answered.
Rose: [I’ll be there.]
She assumed Edward still hadn’t learned they had officially finalized the divorce.
Otherwise...
Rowan never would’ve asked why she missed the Knight family dinner.
*****
That evening, Rose drove to the Grand Regent Hotel.
She expected a small private gathering.
Instead...
Luxury cars filled the circular driveway.
Valets hurried back and forth.
Inside the ballroom, New York’s business elite mingled beneath crystal chandeliers.
Rose immediately recognized several CEOs, investors, and prominent figures from the medical industry.
She stopped walking.
This wasn’t simply Rowan’s welcome dinner.
It was Edward Knight’s return banquet.
Rose quietly sighed.
She’d been tricked.
Without hesitation, she turned toward the exit.
She’d barely taken two steps—
When she walked directly into two people entering the ballroom.
Ryan.
And beside him...
An elderly man with silver hair.
Despite his age, his posture remained perfectly straight.
His tailored suit fit him with military precision.
Sharp gray eyes surveyed the room with quiet authority.
Every guest instinctively made space as he passed.
Edward Knight.
His gaze settled briefly on Rose.
He didn’t stop walking.
"Come inside."
"We’ll talk later."
His voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t have to be.
It carried the effortless authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed.
Rose instinctively pressed her lips together.
There was no escaping now.
To this day...
Edward Knight remained one of the very few people who genuinely intimidated her.
Years ago, when she’d barely been twenty, she’d already witnessed firsthand how decisive—and merciless—he could be.
Some memories never completely faded.
Ryan slowed slightly as he passed beside her.
He lowered his voice.
"Did Rowan invite you?"
Rose looked at him.
"Why else would I be here?"
She answered without hesitation.
"I have nothing to do with you."
"And I certainly have nothing to do with the Knight family."
Ryan regarded her quietly.
Then nodded once.
"You and Rowan have always been close."
His tone remained completely matter-of-fact.
Rose couldn’t argue.
It was true.
She almost asked whether Edward knew they had officially divorced.
After all...
Signing divorce papers and filing them with the city were two different things.
Edward had only seen the agreement.
He had never been told the marriage had legally ended.
Before she could say anything—
A familiar voice interrupted.
"Ryan."
"I’m here."
Rose turned.
Samantha walked toward them in an elegant designer gown, every detail of her appearance carefully planned.
She glanced at Rose before smiling at Ryan.
"Could you move for a second?"
Rose frowned.
Why was Samantha here?
As though reading her thoughts, Samantha smiled.
"Surprised?"
She lifted her chin ever so slightly.
"Chairman Knight invited me personally."
The satisfaction in her voice was impossible to miss.
Ryan checked the time on his watch.
"I need to speak with a few board members."
"I’ll see you later."
Samantha smiled sweetly.
"Okay."
"I’ll come find you."
Ryan gave a brief nod.
As he turned to leave, his eyes lingered on Rose for only a fraction of a second before he disappeared into the crowd.
The moment he was gone...
Samantha’s smile widened.
She slowly walked a circle around Rose.
"You know what tonight means."
She spoke almost gently.
"If Chairman Knight invited me..."
"...it’s because he’s already willing to acknowledge the baby."
She rested one hand lightly against her abdomen.
"And that also means..."
She looked directly into Rose’s eyes.
Her smile became almost radiant.
"Tonight..."
"...is the night everyone will finally learn you’re no longer Mrs. Knight."