Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 166: Chapter 166 The Patent Thief

Worried that Rose might not understand, Oliver added, “Don’t try to claim the title of Mrs. Knight today. Let’s all save everyone some embarrassment.”

Rose’s lips tightened.

He was warning her not to reveal the truth and embarrass Samantha.

Today, Samantha was supposed to be the center of attention.

Understanding that Oliver was protecting her, Samantha covered her mouth and laughed softly.

“Oliver, I’m going to find Ryan now. It’s his birthday today, and I bought him a pair of custom-made cufflinks. I want him to wear them right away.”

Oliver immediately teased, “Then everyone will know exactly what kind of relationship you two have.”

Rose had no interest in listening to them. She glanced at the gift box in Samantha’s hand before turning and walking away.

Matching accessories at the Knight family celebration.

It seemed the two of them were truly heading toward marriage.

*****

When Samantha found Ryan, he was adjusting his tie.

She walked over with a bright smile.

“Ryan, I had a special gift made just for you—square-cut diamond cufflinks. Let me help you put them on.”

Ryan lowered his gaze.

His eyes settled on the necklace around Samantha’s neck.

It matched the cufflinks in her hand perfectly.

Her eyes were filled with anticipation, her smile sweet and affectionate.

He gestured toward his collar. “I’m already wearing a brooch.”

Samantha looked over.

Her brow furrowed involuntarily.

It was the same half-wing sapphire brooch he had worn when she ran into Rose before.

Which meant Rose was wearing the matching one again today.

A flicker of displeasure crossed her eyes.

Rose’s little schemes were becoming far too obvious.

“It’s fine. Just take it off. The cufflinks will look more stylish,” Samantha said casually as she reached out to help.

Before her hand could touch the brooch, a voice carrying a hint of amusement sounded from behind her.

“Ryan, your grandmother wants you to come speak with her.”

Samantha had no choice but to stop.

Ryan looked up and saw his father, Nicholas.

Despite Nicholas’s gentle appearance, Samantha had always been somewhat afraid of him. After all, he was Ryan’s father, and far less easygoing than he appeared.

Nicholas glanced at Samantha before speaking calmly.

“These cufflinks aren’t appropriate. Ryan doesn’t care for flashy accessories. You’ll need better judgment when choosing gifts next time.”

An awkward smile appeared on Samantha’s face.

She understood immediately.

Nicholas was making it clear that he did not approve of Ryan wearing matching cufflinks with her.

And yet the brooch on Ryan’s lapel was far more eye-catching.

“Mm. I understand,” Ryan replied casually.

The atmosphere between father and son wasn’t particularly warm.

Nicholas gave Ryan a meaningful look, a complicated emotion flashing briefly through his eyes.

Ryan simply nodded. “We’ll head over now.”

Samantha also sensed the tension. Although Nicholas appeared approachable, she still felt pressure in his presence.

Since she wasn’t allowed to give Ryan the cufflinks, she could only put them away for now.

It wasn’t that Ryan had refused.

The objection had come from the elders.

The two of them left the side hall together.

Just then, Rose arrived and happened to cross paths with them.

Her gaze immediately landed on Ryan’s brooch.

What a coincidence.

This was already the second time they had encountered each other in public while wearing matching jewelry.

Samantha noticed where Rose was looking and frowned slightly.

Instinctively, she slipped her arm through Ryan’s.

Ryan did not pull away.

Rose’s thoughts became crystal clear.

Ryan had always treated Samantha well, but on an occasion like this, his refusal to distance himself from his sister-in-law was an obvious attempt to publicly establish their relationship.

At an event of this scale, the Knight family had no choice but to preserve Samantha’s dignity.

After all, one woman was Ryan’s wife of seven years, while the other was his mistress.

The Knight family could publicly acknowledge only one of them.

And Ryan had forced them to choose Samantha.

The realization made Rose let out a silent, mocking laugh.

Ryan certainly knew how to scheme when it came to Samantha.

Someone approached from a distance to greet them.

Since Rose was standing in a narrow passageway, the person politely asked, “Excuse me, miss?”

Rose stepped aside immediately.

The gesture made Oliver, who had just walked up behind her, burst into laughter for no apparent reason.

Samantha glanced at him knowingly and feigned confusion.

“What are you laughing at?”

Oliver clicked his tongue. “I just think it’s pretty embarrassing. Slipping away like that.”

Samantha said nothing.

But she knew exactly what he meant.

No one knew Rose’s identity. To everyone here, she was an insignificant bystander.

Meanwhile, Samantha was the object of envy and admiration.

Ryan merely cast a slow glance at Rose’s retreating figure before turning to greet other guests.

Oliver stepped forward. “If she came here today, she should’ve expected this. She probably thought she could use this opportunity to make her relationship with Ryan public.”

A trace of contempt flashed across Samantha’s eyes.

Rose’s plan was doomed from the start.

Ryan didn’t respond. Instead, he tilted his head slightly.

“Has the patent for the formula database been registered yet?”

At the mention of the project, Samantha’s smile widened.

“It’s all finished. Everything went smoothly.”

Oliver looked at her. “Ryan brought you here today to formally introduce you to everyone. He wants you to use the New Hope project to make a name for yourself. If you can deliver strong results and generate substantial profits for New Hope, the matriarch and the rest of the Knight family will naturally be satisfied and stop creating obstacles for you.”

Obstacles to marrying into the Knight family.

Samantha’s cheeks flushed.

She looked at Ryan’s sharp profile, her eyes glistening with gratitude.

Ryan had brought her here specifically so she could present the project report and force both the Knight family and the public to recognize her achievements.

She understood exactly how much thought he had put into this.

That was why she felt so deeply moved.

As for the patent behind this major breakthrough...

A smug smile appeared on her lips.

*****

Rose never found an opportunity to speak with Ryan privately.

She knew very well that Ryan disliked interacting with her in public.

The atmosphere here made her feel completely out of place.

Rather than waiting for a response, she simply sent him a text.

[Want to talk?]

Ryan didn’t reply.

Rose considered calling him.

Before she could, a shadow fell across her.

A familiar scent of mint and roses drifted through the air.

“Hm? What do you want to talk about?”

Rose looked up in surprise.

Ryan had walked over to get a drink.

His expression was casual and unreadable.

For a moment, her mind went blank.

Instinctively, she glanced around and lowered her voice.

“Why did you come over here?”

She genuinely hadn’t expected him to walk over and speak to her face-to-face.

Normally, he avoided anything that could invite speculation.

She wasn’t the only one surprised.

Several nearby guests had witnessed the interaction.

When someone noticed the matching brooches they were wearing, an audible gasp followed.

No one dared ask questions.

Instead, they all turned to look toward Samantha.

From a distance, Samantha saw everything, and her expression darkened immediately.

Rose frowned, unwilling to stay any longer than necessary.

“I need to leave early. Come up with an excuse for your grandmother. You don’t want me staying here today and affecting your relationship with Samantha, do you?”

She kept her voice low.

Ryan reached for a glass of champagne. “No. You’ll have to stay a little longer.”

Rose became even more confused. “Why?”

Ryan glanced at her.

Her impatience to leave was practically written across her face.

It was almost as though she had completely forgotten that today was his birthday.

Guests continued approaching to wish him well, while Rose kept glancing at her watch, clearly distracted.

Her patience finally ran out.

“When you signed the agreement, it clearly stated that you must cooperate whenever the Knight family requires your presence,” Ryan said.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Rose reaching for a pale yellow cocktail.

He pushed it aside and replaced it with a glass of grape juice.

Rose paused, looking down at the drink.

She found herself at a loss for words.

Just as she was about to argue, Samantha walked over.

Under the gaze of countless onlookers, she slipped her arm through Ryan’s.

“Ryan, the ceremony is about to begin. I’ll be giving my presentation soon. Please come with me.”

Only then did Ryan glance casually at Rose.

“Alright.”

The moment they walked away, whispers began spreading through the crowd.

Apparently, everyone had been overthinking things.

Matching jewelry meant nothing.

The woman who could openly hold his arm was the one who truly mattered.

Rose frowned.

The auspicious hour had arrived.

The celebration was officially beginning.

As the general manager of the New Hope project, Samantha was about to present the project’s latest achievements.

Rose watched from a distance.

At that moment, Caleb hurried over.

His expression was grim as he leaned close and whispered into her ear.

“We can’t let her get away with this today.”

Rose turned sharply. “What happened?”

Caleb’s face darkened with anger and disbelief.

“Samantha stole your formula database and registered it as her own patent.”

“She plagiarized you.”

A flash of cold light crossed Rose’s eyes.

She immediately turned toward the stage, where Samantha had already begun her presentation.

In an instant, Rose’s expression turned icy.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward.