Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 135: Chapter 135 Terms of Divorce Agreement

Rose was still absentmindedly turning the ring the restaurant had given her over in her pocket.

When she looked up, she saw Ryan standing inside the elevator.

One hand rested casually in his pocket as he leaned against the wall. Tall and composed, he looked down at her with calm, unreadable eyes.

Rose’s footsteps halted for a brief moment.

Then she thought to herself—why make things awkward?

They were already divorced.

She stepped inside.

The elevator doors slid shut.

The rooftop restaurant occupied the sixtieth floor, so the ride down would take some time.

"Did you meet him through Diana?" Ryan spoke first.

Through the reflection in the mirrored elevator wall, Rose met his gaze.

"Yes."

Her answer was matter-of-fact.

She had no intention of elaborating.

Nor did she intend to discuss with her ex-husband whether she planned to marry someone else.

Ryan’s gaze remained steady.

A faint, almost mocking smile touched his lips. "Do you enjoy being a stepmother?"

The question sounded casual.

Not accusatory.

Not even particularly emotional.

Yet Rose found it deeply unpleasant.

She knew Ryan genuinely believed Ariel was Trevor’s biological daughter now.

In a way, that was a good thing.

So when he brought up the topic of becoming a stepmother, she smiled instead.

"What’s wrong with that?"

Her voice was light. "She’s a wonderful little girl. I love children, so of course I’d be happy to accept her. Sounds like a pretty healthy family to me."

Unlike them.

For seven years, Ryan had never once been willing to have a child with her.

They had simply dragged each other through a lifeless marriage, year after year.

Ryan could hear the undisguised sarcasm in her words.

He turned his head slightly. "Did Trevor ever tell you that he’s engaged to someone from the Taylor family?"

Rose had actually heard Diana mention it before.

Back then, Trevor had agreed to put Ariel under his name specifically so he could later reject the Taylor family’s arranged marriage proposal.

So she wasn’t particularly surprised.

Besides, she had never intended to marry Trevor.

What did any of it have to do with her?

"Oh, thanks for reminding me." Her tone remained indifferent. "Trevor mentioned it before."

To an outsider, it would sound as though she had completely missed the point.

Ryan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Hmm."

After a brief pause, he added, "Then you should also realize that getting involved with Trevor means offending the Taylor family."

Rose looked at him in surprise.

Was Ryan actually warning her?

Trying to help her weigh the consequences?

Was he really being that considerate?

A polite smile appeared on her face. "Thank you, Mr. Knight. It’s very kind of my ex-husband to worry about me."

The smile never reached her eyes. "But right now, I think you should be more concerned about how you’re going to bring Samantha into the Knight family."

After all, Samantha had already made her intentions clear.

The two of them still had a private conversation waiting for them after tonight.

As for Samantha’s sudden proposal, Rose couldn’t help wondering whether it stemmed from what had happened after Ryan left the Brown family home under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Perhaps something had changed between them.

Perhaps Samantha wanted to take their relationship to the next level.

Either way, Rose didn’t care.

She wasn’t interested in Ethan’s situation.

She wasn’t interested in Samantha’s plans.

And she certainly wasn’t interested in Ryan’s concern.

Because she didn’t believe it was concern at all.

Ryan didn’t care who she dated.

He simply didn’t want unnecessary complications.

After all, he and Trevor were still connected through mutual friends.

The relationships involved were messy enough already.

Ryan understood exactly what Rose was implying.

She had no interest in discussing whether she and Trevor should continue seeing each other.

Nor did she seem bothered by the prospect of becoming a stepmother.

Did Trevor genuinely like Rose?

Ryan didn’t think so.

Trevor had fathered a child out of wedlock.

Rose didn’t come from a powerful or influential family.

In Ryan’s eyes, she looked more like a convenient choice.

A suitable candidate.

A woman who fit certain requirements.

Otherwise, how could a family like the Robinsons possibly accept a daughter-in-law with no significant background?

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed as though Rose was being used.

His eyes darkened. "You can do whatever you want."

His voice remained calm. "But let me remind you of one thing."

Rose looked at him.

"I hope you haven’t forgotten the terms of the divorce agreement."

His gaze sharpened slightly. "And I hope Trevor is willing to wait a year for you."

Rose’s eyes flickered.

One of the clauses in their divorce agreement prohibited either party from remarrying within a year.

The divorce itself had to remain confidential.

Although Margaret already knew the truth, the agreement had been signed in good faith.

More importantly, Ryan still controlled the Bennett family’s antique shop.

He had not transferred ownership to her yet.

That transfer would only happen after the one-year period ended.

Before Rose could respond, the elevator doors opened.

A figure waiting outside turned around.

It was Trevor.

The moment he saw Ryan standing beside Rose, his expression remained unchanged.

"Mr. Knight."

Trevor offered a slight nod. "We didn’t get a chance to greet each other earlier."

Rose immediately walked toward Trevor.

Ryan stepped out behind her.

His gaze briefly swept over Rose before shifting back to Trevor.

"Mr. Robinson."

His tone was casual. "Business trip?"

The two men spoke as though exchanging ordinary pleasantries.

As though Rose weren’t standing between them.

As though she weren’t the connection linking them together.

One didn’t seem like her former husband.

The other seemed completely unaware of the relationship she had once shared with Ryan.

"I suppose you could call it that."

Trevor’s expression remained calm. "Although I did manage to take care of something important while I was here."

All three of them knew exactly what he meant.

Ignoring whatever reaction Ryan might have, Trevor met his gaze directly.

A trace of regret appeared in his voice. "I hope you don’t mind, Mr. Knight."

Rose’s heart skipped a beat.

She glanced at Trevor in surprise.

His handsome face remained perfectly composed.

Ryan lifted his gaze.

His eyes were deep and unreadable. "Mind what?"