Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 124: Chapter 124 A Family Portrait

Rose was completely unaware of what had happened on James’s end.

Driving Dr. Nathan’s Mercedes, she made her way back to the residential complex without incident.

Along the way, Ariel was in high spirits, chatting nonstop with Trevor in the back seat about all sorts of childhood topics.

Trevor was patient. He listened quietly, occasionally responding with a comment or two.

He wasn’t naturally warm or talkative, but when Rose glanced at him through the rearview mirror, it was obvious he was making an effort to accommodate the little girl.

Halfway through the drive, Trevor noticed her gaze and met her eyes in the mirror.

Rose smiled sheepishly. “Isn’t Ariel a little bit of a handful?”

After all, he had just gotten off a long-haul flight of more than ten hours.

Trevor looked at her. “Not at all.”

Then he added, “You don’t need to be so polite with me.”

Rose nodded.

But deep down, she knew perfectly well that Trevor wasn’t Ariel’s biological father and had no real obligation to shoulder these responsibilities. She would never truly take his kindness for granted.

They returned to Dr. Nathan’s residence.

As soon as the three of them stepped inside, Rose noticed that the living room was piled high with elegantly wrapped gift bags.

There were so many that it was almost difficult to walk through.

Mrs. Olivia Hale smiled warmly. “Mr. Robinson’s secretary delivered these personally. You’ve gone to far too much trouble.”

Dr. Nathan also held a favorable impression of Trevor. At the very least, he was steady, dependable, and mature.

“There’s no need to be so formal. We’re practically family, after all.”

After all, Trevor was Ariel’s legal father.

He had helped Rose tremendously over the years. Without him, protecting Ariel would have been much more difficult.

Trevor nodded. “Most of it is health supplements. Mrs. Hale, there are a few newly released scarves and skincare products for you. Mr. Hale, I brought you a fountain pen. Nothing particularly valuable."

Dr. Nathan stroked his beard with satisfaction.

“That’s very thoughtful of you.”

Since the gifts were so perfectly chosen, refusing them would have felt impolite.

Ariel tilted her head upward. “Is there anything for Mommy and me?”

Rose silently admired her daughter’s quick thinking.

Trevor glanced at Rose, a faint warmth appearing in his eyes.

“Of course. How about we open them after dinner?”

Ariel immediately thanked him properly, making Trevor smile.

“Come on, let’s eat,” Mrs. Hale said. “"The honey-glazed ham turned out especially good today. You should all try some."

Spring was the perfect season for ham.

Rose loved them.

She eagerly waited for the dish to make its way around the table.

Trevor glanced at her, stood up, served her a bowl, and placed it beside her.

“It’s hot. Be careful.”

Rose was starving.

She thanked him and immediately began eating.

Across the table, Dr. Nathan shot Trevor a thoughtful look.

Raising his glass, he asked, “Mr. Robinson, now that you’re back, how long do you plan to stay?”

Trevor replied, “If everything goes smoothly, around six months. I still have some loose ends to tie up in abroad.”

Dr. Nathan nodded.

Then he asked meaningfully, “Mr. Robinson, you’re around thirty now, aren’t you? Have you given any thought to marriage?”

Rose immediately shot him a look.

Young people these days really hated being pressured about marriage.

Trevor, however, seemed completely unbothered.

He smiled faintly.

“It’s in the plans.”

Dr. Nathan glanced at Rose, who was still completely focused on her soup.

A mixture of frustration and disappointment crossed his face.

“Mr. Robinson is a man with a plan,” he said deliberately. “But when it comes to matters of the heart, helping someone temporarily doesn’t mean much. Only when a person is willing to commit completely can they be considered truly serious.”

After all, Trevor’s support for Rose could only be considered temporary.

Rose’s circumstances were complicated. If Trevor truly had intentions, it wouldn’t be enough unless he was prepared to stand against the Knight family.

Rose found the remark baffling.

Still, she tried to help Trevor escape the topic.

“Dr. Nathan, Mr. Robinson has his own plans. Why are you trying to tell him how to live his life?”

Dr. Nathan was speechless.

What a blockhead.

He could practically draw a heart in the air, and she still wouldn’t understand what he meant.

Trevor noticed the glare Dr. Nathan was directing at Rose.

A knowing look flashed across his eyes.

Raising his glass, he said, “I understand.”

Mrs. Hale nearly burst out laughing several times while watching the exchange.

The meal passed pleasantly.

Partway through dinner, Rose noticed a call coming through from the landline at Moon Lake Villa.

She checked the time.

It was almost nine o’clock.

Trevor was in the middle of a conversation with Dr. Nathan, so Rose quietly excused herself and stepped outside to answer.

“Madam, are you still working late, or did you go out to have some fun?” Martha asked.

Rose immediately knew she was checking up on her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

Martha replied, “It’s getting late. You should head home soon, Madam.”

Rose felt a headache coming on.

They were clearly divorced.

The paperwork was already complete.

Yet she was still being monitored as though she were trapped in a marriage she couldn’t escape.

Without the slightest freedom.

Her tone turned sarcastic.

“Do I need to report what time I go home, whether I go home at all, and who I spend time with?”

Martha was instantly rendered speechless.

Just then, Trevor walked out of the dining room and called from a distance.

“Rose?”

Rose turned around and ended the call.

******

Moon Lake Villa.

Martha nervously turned toward Ryan, who had just entered through the front door.

For the past few days, the couple had been coming home every evening.

And because the phone had been on speaker, Ryan had heard most of the conversation.

“Mr. Knight, it seems Madam is busy tonight. She must have gone out with friends,” Martha said carefully.

After all, a man’s voice had just come through the phone.

Ryan’s deep gaze swept over the landline.

As he loosened a cuff button, he said calmly, “I heard.”

Someone had called Rose’s name.

The voice had been muffled and distant, but unmistakably male.

Martha tried to read his expression.

As always, Ryan revealed nothing.

Did he care?

Or didn’t he?

Unable to tell, she cautiously asked, “Madam’s suitcases still haven’t been unpacked. Would you like me to hang up her clothes tonight?”

Ryan stopped walking.

Then he turned his head slightly.

“She has her own plans for her belongings. She doesn’t like people making decisions for her.”

With that, he headed upstairs.

Martha watched his retreating figure.

In some ways, Mr. Knight understood Madam very well.

But if he understood her so well, how had things ended up like this?

They had argued before.

Many times.

Usually, it was Rose doing all the yelling.

Ryan would simply set aside his work and sit there listening quietly.

He would wait until she finished venting before asking, “Are you hungry? Would you like some strawberry pastries?”

Rose would roll her eyes.

And somehow her anger would disappear.

Back then, Martha had genuinely thought Mr. Knight treated his wife quite well.

At the very least, he had never spoken harshly to her.

In fact, he often indulged her.

The only time Martha had ever seen Ryan lose his temper was before the wedding.

Someone had leaked compromising photos of Rose to the media.

At the same time, the Knight family matriarch had finalized the marriage registration without consulting either party.

There wasn’t even a wedding ceremony.

Within a week, at least five media companies had gone bankrupt.

Everyone knew who was responsible.

Ryan Knight.

Martha sighed.

If he didn’t love her, why destroy so many media outlets for her sake?

But if he did love her, why had he been unwilling to marry her willingly when the matriarch had already arranged everything?

*****

Ariel had recently learned how to use WhatsApp.

Just as Rose and Trevor were preparing to leave, she insisted on taking a group photo.

Trevor had no objections.

Rose went along with it.

Later, while sitting in Trevor’s car, she saw Ariel’s new WhatsApp Story.

The little girl hadn’t written a caption.

She had simply uploaded the photo with a smiling emoji.

It really did look like a family portrait.

Though the feeling was admittedly a little strange.

Rose still humored her daughter and tapped the Like button.

Trevor glanced over. “Did you get the divorce license?”