Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 175: Chapter 175 The Power Shift

Rose hadn’t expected it. She hadn’t even brought up the matter with Samantha yet, but Samantha was already coming at her with an air of arrogance.

That haughty attitude made it seem as though nothing had ever happened.

Rose knew exactly what Samantha was thinking.

She was convinced that the details of the Knight family’s anniversary celebration weren’t known to ordinary employees. Only the senior executives who had attended knew Samantha was the mistress. That was why she was still taking advantage of the information gap and acting so high and mighty.

"Just call downstairs directly."

Samantha seemed impatient. She glanced at her watch, clearly displeased that Rose had shown up.

After that day, Aster hadn’t come after her, and Leo hadn’t pressed the issue, either.

No serious consequences had followed.

That made Samantha realize that after Oliver had driven her home that day, Ryan must have stepped in and resolved the problem for her.

Even if Rose remained determined to drag her down from her pedestal, it would be pointless.

Although the Patent Office had notified her that the matter was still under investigation, if it was confirmed that she had maliciously registered the patent and plagiarized someone else’s work, all her patent rights would be revoked.

But she wasn’t worried.

She had already looked into it.

Aster had never registered the patent.

There was no evidence that Aster had filed first, which meant the patent rights would ultimately remain hers. When the time came, she could simply claim it had all been a misunderstanding or a clerical mix-up. Add a few conspiracy theories, and the public would believe her.

"But..." someone beside her said hesitantly, sounding doubtful. "Don’t we need keycard access to reach our floor? Aren’t they guests of Mr. William and his team?"

Ever since the R&D department had moved in, the floor housed a great deal of confidential information.

Unauthorized visitors weren’t allowed.

It wasn’t a place just anyone could enter.

Rose stood with her arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. A faint smile played on her lips.

She was curious to see just how far Samantha would take this.

Samantha frowned slightly.

Of course she knew.

Mr. William had been present that day and had seen Ryan acknowledge Rose as Mrs. Knight.

The reason Samantha wanted Rose gone was precisely to prevent Mr. William from learning she had come. If he began treating Rose differently afterward, it might expose her identity. Then Rose could use that status to flaunt her position throughout the company.

How would Samantha maintain her standing then?

She wouldn’t allow Rose to outshine her.

"Mr. William is in a meeting. Ryan said there are certain matters I can decide myself."

Samantha invoked Ryan’s name, her eyes brimming with unconcealed sweetness.

Looking at Rose, she said casually, "Sorry, but my R&D team is located here. These are core trade secrets. Outsiders are strictly prohibited from entering. Are you leaving now, or would you like to wait for security to escort you out?"

Samantha graciously offered Rose a choice.

Rose remained calm.

"Do I need your permission to be here?" she asked.

Samantha frowned.

Her instincts told her Rose was up to something.

Maintaining a businesslike tone, she said, "Can you not understand plain English? This is a high-security area containing trade secrets. What exactly are you trying to do?"

"If you’re so incompetent that you have to steal other people’s data, what trade secrets could you possibly have worth bragging about?"

Rose’s words were as sharp as ever, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

Samantha’s expression darkened.

Ignoring her reaction, Rose turned to the secretary from the General Manager’s Office who had accompanied them.

"Why is the R&D department on this floor?"

Knowing that Rose had been invited by Mr. William, the secretary didn’t dare show any disrespect.

"It’s because... President Knight used to stop by occasionally, and his office is on this floor. Miss Hill wanted to spend more time with him, so President Knight granted special permission for the R&D department to move up here."

The secretary’s explanation made Samantha’s lips curl into a smile.

She shot Rose an amused look.

"Ryan always grants my requests. As an outsider, you really shouldn’t be interfering in New Hope’s internal decisions."

She was pleased that Rose had heard it.

In the end, wasn’t Rose left with no choice but to pretend she knew nothing?

Rose let out a short laugh, finding the situation absurd.

Company regulations had been altered on a whim just so Samantha and her team could bypass protocol and relocate to this floor.

No wonder Samantha behaved so arrogantly at New Hope.

With Ryan indulging her so openly, who in the company wouldn’t cater to her?

Rose paid no attention.

She turned and headed toward the office.

Seeing Rose act as though New Hope belonged to her, Samantha felt a surge of anger.

She stepped forward and grabbed Rose’s wrist.

"That’s Ryan’s office, Rose. You haven’t been given permission. You have no right to go in."

A sharp pain shot through Rose’s wrist.

Samantha’s manicured nails dug into her skin.

Rose finally lost her patience.

"It seems you still don’t understand your place. I don’t mind reminding you. If I wanted to, I could have you removed from New Hope right now."

Her eyes were ice-cold.

Still, Samantha was right about one thing.

Rose had never been allowed into that office before.

She didn’t need Samantha reminding her of the gap that once existed between them.

Samantha sneered.

"Rose, haven’t you woken up yet?"

This was Ryan’s company.

Rose’s arrogance was unbelievable.

Just then, Mr. William hurried over.

Seeing the tense confrontation, cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.

One was the legal wife.

The other was the woman Ryan truly loved.

As a mere employee, he wanted no part of this mess.

But New Hope had a new owner now.

From this day forward, he would be working for Rose.

So he quickly turned to Samantha.

"Miss Hill, why don’t you step inside?"

"No need."

Samantha’s refusal was immediate.

"The R&D department is here. Allowing outsiders—especially someone from another company—to wander around poses a security risk. Mr. William, please have the guest escorted out."

She was certain Mr. William would do her this favor.

After all, everyone knew she was the person Ryan truly cared about.

In Ryan’s company, on Ryan’s turf, surely Mr. William knew which side to take.

Mr. William frowned and cast Samantha a complicated look before speaking slowly.

"Miss Hill, this is Ms. Bennett, the future president of New Hope—your direct superior."

The moment those words left his mouth, everyone around them froze in shock.

Samantha thought she had misheard.

"What?"

Mr. William cleared his throat and addressed the crowd.

"The announcement hasn’t been fully circulated yet. Starting today, New Hope will be managed by President Bennett. President Knight has transferred full authority to President Bennett and will no longer be involved in the company’s management."

The revelation hit like a thunderbolt.

This wasn’t merely a personnel change.

It was a complete transfer of power.

Once Samantha processed what she had heard, the color drained from her face.

"Her?"

Mr. William looked at her apologetically.

"Miss Hill, you’ll need to start addressing her as President Bennett."

That single sentence left Samantha reeling.

Her eyes darted around, and her breathing grew uneven.

Ignoring the shock around her, Rose looked toward the R&D department.

"The R&D department shouldn’t be on this floor. Mr. William, follow standard procedures and have them relocate within the next few days. If anyone refuses, provide three months’ severance pay and terminate their employment."

Company regulations were company regulations.

Regardless of whatever special privileges Ryan had granted, she would not tolerate anyone bypassing established procedures.

Samantha finally snapped out of her daze.

She stared at Rose in disbelief.

"You dare!"

Rose was actually threatening to fire her.

Rose shifted slightly and looked at her calmly.

"Want to make a bet?"

A faint smile curved her lips.

"Let’s see whether I dare or not."