Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 114: Chapter 114 Ten Days to End This Marriage

Ryan glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"Did she send you here to give me advice?"

His tone carried no particular emotion. The question sounded matter-of-fact, half rhetorical and half skeptical.

Martha couldn’t quite read his attitude.

But since the words were already out, she pushed aside her hesitation.

"Sir, I’m a woman too. I understand Madam’s feelings."

In response, Ryan let out a slow, amused chuckle.

The faint smile added a touch of humanity to his otherwise distant and austere face.

"Go get some rest."

He neither confirmed nor denied Martha’s words.

Nor did he show much reaction to the topic of having children.

Martha didn’t press further.

Margaret had given strict orders: the couple must have a child.

Given Rose’s personality, Martha believed she would eventually give in.

With a husband like Mr. Knight, what couldn’t he provide besides love?

Wanting everything was simply unrealistic.

Rose finished organizing the documents for the drug approval meeting.

The review conference was only two days away, and every detail mattered. She was the type of person who pursued perfection in everything she did.

Click.

The bedroom door opened.

Rose looked up.

Ryan strode into the room.

His dark eyes immediately settled on her, sitting at the corner of the desk. Her black hair was casually pinned at the nape of her neck, and her delicate oval face remained stunning even without a trace of makeup.

His gaze lingered for two seconds.

As he passed the walk-in closet, he noticed the neatly stacked suitcases inside.

None of them had been fully unpacked.

Her clothes still weren’t hanging in the wardrobe, and her belongings remained exactly where she’d left them.

Like a temporary guest.

As though she were ready to leave at any moment.

Rose looked up and closed the laptop displaying the G.S. robotics proposal.

She noticed something unreadable in his expression.

It took only a second for her to realize what it was.

Ryan probably wasn’t pleased that she had moved back in.

She had interrupted his private life.

"No need to look at me like that. If it weren’t for your grandmother, I wouldn’t be here."

Rose got straight to the point. "And you have no reason to object. If you hadn’t been so busy chasing after your sweetheart, I wouldn’t have ended up moving back in because my divorce certificate got held up."

It was his failure to show up that had allowed the certificate to be intercepted.

Now there was a risk it could be revoked at any moment.

Otherwise, she never would have stepped foot in this house again.

"Divorce certificate?"

His deep voice rose slightly.

Rose stared at him. "Don’t tell me you were so ’busy’ that you forgot the appointment we made to pick it up."

Mr. Knight was hopelessly devoted.

Apparently, he could forget everything else.

Ryan walked over, his expression suggesting he’d only just remembered.

"I didn’t forget."

Rose couldn’t be bothered arguing over something with such an obvious answer.

"If you hadn’t stood me up, the divorce certificate we processed through special channels wouldn’t have been taken by your grandmother. Now Margaret has given me two choices: either I have a child with you, or she revokes the divorce."

Only then did Ryan lean casually against the desk and look at her.

"What’s your position?"

Rose looked at him in disbelief.

"Two flavors of shit, and I have to choose one?"

Silence filled the room.

Ryan knew Rose well enough.

She never lost a verbal battle.

While he remained silent, Rose stood up with her laptop in hand.

"On this issue, I think we’re on the same side. Since you’re the reason this happened, you’ll have to fix it. As for the divorce certificate, I absolutely need it back."

Back then, they hadn’t followed the normal procedures.

Now the consequences had come back to haunt them.

The possibility that the divorce could be invalidated at any moment was driving her crazy.

Ryan didn’t respond.

One hand rested in his pocket while the other tapped casually against the desk.

Rose paused before continuing.

"My staying here is only a temporary measure to keep Margaret satisfied. We don’t need to seriously consider having a child. It won’t affect your ability to stay devoted to the woman you love."

Ryan finally lifted his eyes.

His expression remained unreadable. "You’ve thought this through."

"Which is why I need a clear answer from you."

Her voice carried an unmistakable edge of urgency.

"Why are you in such a hurry to get the divorce certificate?"

Ryan studied her closely. "Is there a reason?"

He had noticed the subtle anxiety beneath her calm exterior.

Rose wasn’t expecting the question.

Meeting his sharp gaze, she forced herself to stay composed.

"So you can clear the way for your new relationship. So nobody can pressure me into having your child. And so the woman you love doesn’t have to become a stepmother overnight."

Ryan wasn’t easy to fool.

She knew that better than anyone.

Using Samantha as a shield was the safest way to redirect his suspicions.

An ex-wife as considerate as her was practically impossible to find.

Ryan fell silent.

A long moment passed.

Finally, he said, "I’ll handle it."

"I need a specific deadline."

Ryan looked at her. "One month."

"Ten days." She refused without hesitation.

Trevor would be arriving in New York soon.

Ariel’s situation couldn’t wait.

Ryan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Then he let out a soft chuckle. "Rosy, are you giving me orders now?"

Hearing her childhood nickname spoken so casually made Rose uncomfortable.

After everything that had happened, his relaxed attitude made it seem as though none of this mattered.

Rose refused to back down. "You can interpret it that way."

She walked past him. "I’m sleeping in the guest room."

She had taken only two steps when a hand closed around her arm.

With controlled force, Ryan pulled her back.

The sudden proximity made it impossible to avoid catching the faint trace of Samantha’s perfume lingering on him.

Rose’s expression remained unchanged.

But instinctively, she shoved him away.

Her rejection was immediate and unmistakable.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Yet Ryan showed no irritation.

Instead, he looked at her coolly. "There’s someone outside the door."

Rose’s brow twitched.

She immediately understood.

Margaret wasn’t above monitoring whether they were sharing a room.

Ryan glanced at her clenched fist.

Moments ago, when he’d grabbed her arm, she’d barely resisted the urge to punch him.

"I’m taking a shower." He released her.

Then he grabbed a change of clothes and headed into the bathroom.

Rose glanced toward the door.

There really were spies everywhere.

Fortunately, Ryan had no ulterior motives.

Otherwise, there would have been no way for her to stay in this room.

Abandoning the idea of moving to the guest room, she pulled back the covers and climbed into bed.

After seven years of marriage, they had already crossed every boundary a husband and wife could cross.

Making a scene over sleeping in the same room now would only create more trouble.

Ignoring Ryan entirely, she switched off the main light and lay down on the far edge of the bed.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the bathroom door finally opened.

Soft footsteps crossed the thick carpet.

Rose opened her eyes instinctively.

What she saw first was Ryan’s dark-gray silk pajama top, hanging open at the collar.

As he ran a hand through his damp hair, part of his chest became visible.

She had no interest in admiring his perfectly sculpted physique.

Instead, her gaze caught on a faded scar that ran from his shoulder toward his neck.

Memories surged back without warning.

Years ago, she had rescued Ryan from kidnappers.

At the time, his body had been covered in wounds.

She had personally treated most of them.

Back then, Ryan had a terrible temper and rarely spoke to her.

She had spent countless hours coaxing him into eating and taking his medicine.

Like a child playing house, she had found happiness in the smallest things.

Then he left.

Without a single word.

When they met again years later, he acted as though none of it had ever happened.

As though she were a complete stranger.

She had never intended to use her kindness as leverage.

But Ryan had never mentioned it.

Not once.

It was as if that Chapter of their lives had never existed.

Rose drifted into thought.

By the time she snapped back to reality, the mattress dipped beside her.

Ryan had gotten into bed.