Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 109: Chapter 109 Margaret’s Three-Month Ultimatum

For a split second, Rose thought she had misheard.

Revoke it?

She had never imagined that the special divorce channel Ryan had arranged could actually be reversed.

Under no circumstances could she accept that.

This wasn’t just about her.

It was gambling with Ariel’s future.

It struck directly at her most vulnerable weakness.

The kindness Margaret had once shown her now felt like nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

Meeting Margaret’s gaze, Rose felt a chill run down her spine.

"On what grounds?" she asked. "Isn’t marriage supposed to be a matter of personal choice?"

Margaret frowned, clearly displeased by Rose’s newfound resistance.

"With me supporting you, what exactly do you have to complain about?"

The words lodged in Rose’s throat.

For a moment, it almost sounded as though she were the ungrateful one.

"If you had gone through the normal process, the divorce certificate couldn’t have been revoked," Margaret continued. "Isn’t this your opportunity now?"

Her expression softened slightly. "The last time we discussed this, my only condition was that you have a child before divorcing. Out of trust and consideration, I didn’t force you into anything."

Her eyes sharpened. "And this is how you repay me?"

Rose remained silent.

Only now did she fully understand.

All of Margaret’s kindness had been conditional.

As long as Rose followed her wishes, Margaret could play the role of the loving grandmother.

But the moment Rose stepped outside those boundaries...

The mask came off.

"You never cared about me that much," Rose said quietly.

Her expression was calm, but her eyes were clear. "If Samantha being Ryan’s former sister-in-law isn’t the real reason you’re refusing this divorce, then what is?"

She had finally stopped pretending not to see it.

There had to be another reason.

Otherwise, why would Margaret be so determined?

There were countless women who could give Ryan children.

Why insist on her?

The more Rose thought about it, the more convinced she became that Margaret was hiding something.

Margaret’s frown deepened. "The Knight family has too few heirs."

Her tone was matter-of-fact. "Having a child for the family would simply be your way of repaying everything the Knights have done for you. What is there to feel wronged about?"

For a moment, Rose was so angry she nearly laughed.

Her eyes filled with bitterness.

This was the true coldness of a powerful family.

No one ever walked away without paying a price.

But sharing a bed with Ryan again?

Living together while their hearts remained miles apart?

Forcing herself to conceive a child with a man who loved another woman?

She could never do it.

Her dignity wouldn’t allow it.

Taking a deep breath, Rose spoke slowly, emphasizing every word.

"Even if you force me, is this a decision I can make alone?"

Her fingers tightened at her sides.

"You know better than anyone where Ryan’s heart belongs."

Forcing herself to swallow her discomfort, she pushed the responsibility onto Ryan.

Margaret smiled faintly. "That’s not something you need to worry about."

As she spoke, she gently smoothed Rose’s hair.

"Rose, Grandma isn’t unreasonable."

Her voice softened. "I’ll give you time to think about it."

Then her tone hardened. "But don’t keep me waiting too long."

She paused. "Within three months, there must be a good news."

The meaning couldn’t have been clearer.

"If I don’t see results within three months, the divorce will be revoked."

Margaret’s smile remained gentle. "Besides, if necessary, I wouldn’t mind having a conversation with your grandfather."

Her gaze lingered on Rose. "Old people understand each other."

Rose’s hands clenched into fists.

Margaret leaned back against the pillows. "I’ll hold onto the divorce certificate for now."

Her tone was casual, as though discussing something insignificant.

"You know the special channel you used. In principle, duplicate certificates cannot be issued."

She smiled faintly. "So don’t waste your energy trying."

"When you’ve completed your task, I’ll return it to you."

Then she added: "Don’t worry. I won’t revoke the divorce behind your backs during these three months."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You should move back into Moon lake Villa as soon as possible."

Rose’s heartbeat immediately quickened.

Margaret continued calmly. "Don’t think I don’t know you’ve already moved out."

Her voice remained gentle, but the warning beneath it was unmistakable.

"If the wrong people find out, they’ll start making all kinds of assumptions."

She folded her hands neatly. "Living together is the best way to repair a marriage."

Then she smiled. "Don’t upset Grandma."

Cold sweat instantly broke out across Rose’s back.

At the same time, relief flooded through her.

Thankfully, she had never moved Ariel into her new apartment.

If she had...

Margaret would have discovered everything.

How could Rose not understand now?

Threats.

Promises.

Pressure.

Rewards.

Margaret was using every tool at her disposal.

There was no room for refusal.

In families like the Knights, every elder had reached the top through absolute control.

Benevolent on the surface.

Ruthless underneath.

Defiance rarely ended well.

Eventually, Rose was escorted out.

The sunlight outside felt blinding.

She climbed into her car.

Her chest rose and fell unevenly.

None of this had been part of her plan.

Everything she had worked toward had been thrown into chaos.

The divorce certificate was the only proof of her divorce.

Without it, Ariel’s legal status couldn’t be transferred.

On paper, she and Ryan were divorced.

But without that certificate in her possession, the divorce remained vulnerable.

At any moment, it could be challenged.

She had no control whatsoever.

And if the divorce were revoked, then every sacrifice she had made—including the custody agreement Ryan had signed—could become meaningless.

Ariel’s future suddenly seemed even more precarious.

For the first time in a long while, Rose felt genuine anger toward Ryan.

If he had taken today’s divorce proceedings seriously, Margaret never would have had the opportunity to interfere.

Forcing herself to calm down, she began searching for solutions.

No matter what happened, she had to make sure the divorce became final.

During the drive, Diana called.

Rose immediately turned around and headed to Diana’s apartment.

*****

"So are you divorced or not?" Diana asked incredulously.

Rose’s expression was grim. "A divorce certificate probably can’t be revoked indefinitely."

She paused. "I think there’s likely a legal time limit involved."

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became.

"If we can make it past that deadline, the divorce should become permanent."

She looked up. "And once it becomes permanent, Margaret can hold onto the certificate all she wants. It won’t matter anymore."

Her reasoning was based on common legal principles.

No system would allow endless abuse of procedural loopholes.

Diana nodded. "That actually makes sense."

Then she sighed. "You’re really sharp."

She leaned back. "That old lady is probably trying to scare you."

Even so, the period before the deadline would be dangerous.

Rose would be walking on eggshells.

"I told you," Diana muttered. "Families like that don’t produce normal people."

Her voice was filled with frustration.

"They’re ruthless. Powerful. Connected."

She shook her head. "You’re in for a rough ride."

Growing up in the Robinson family, Diana understood those worlds better than most.

Destroying an ordinary person was easy.

Destroying a public company was even easier.

Blind resistance wouldn’t solve anything.

Then Diana asked, "What about Ryan? Where does he stand?"

Rose lowered her gaze and picked at a fingernail.

"I can’t reach him."

"If it weren’t for Ariel’s custody, who would put up with the Knight family’s threats?" Diana snapped.

At worst, they could walk away and burn every bridge.

But Ariel remained the weakness that made every move difficult.

Rose said nothing.

She simply kept trying to call Owen.

The calls still went unanswered.

Nearby, Diana scrolled through her phone.

Suddenly her face darkened.

"So he’s off vacationing with his mistress."

Rose’s heart skipped a beat.

She looked over.

Diana had opened Samantha’s social media feed.

A newly posted nine-photo collage filled the screen.

There was even a location tag.

The photos showcased luxury meals, designer shopping, five-star accommodations, and sightseeing.

Floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the silhouette of a man sitting on a sofa with one leg crossed over the other.

A book rested casually on his lap.

The image was intentionally blurry.

His face couldn’t be seen.

Yet after seven years of marriage...

Rose recognized him instantly.

The caption read: "Someone who truly loves you will always indulge your sudden whims. I said I wanted to visit this city to clear my head, and he never once refused me."

For a moment, Rose couldn’t even describe what she felt.

Was it absurd?

Ridiculous?

Laughable?

She felt like a ghost.

Even something as important as collecting their divorce certificate had been pushed aside.

Apparently, nothing mattered more than fulfilling Samantha’s every whim.