Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 191: Chapter 191 A Slap in the Face

In formal settings, seating arrangements can carry great significance. They symbolize a person’s status and standing.

Oliver felt that Rose simply had no right to sit in such a prominent position.

After all, they knew Rose well. How could someone who was practically unknown deserve a seat like that?

How could Rose fail to sense Oliver’s undisguised skepticism and condescension?

In their eyes, she wasn’t worthy of that seat.

"As for Sam," Oliver said, glancing at Rose before turning to Caleb, "she was once a student at NYU School of Medicine and is now considered an honorary alumna. Besides, she’s here today as Ryan’s date, so naturally they should be seated together. I believe Rose’s place card must have been put in the wrong spot."

Other than a mistake, he couldn’t think of any other explanation.

Oliver’s words eased the slight awkwardness on Samantha’s face.

Earlier, Caleb had insisted on making an issue out of the seating arrangement, but now even Samantha felt that perhaps it really was just a mix-up.

James, however, remained silent.

He wasn’t interested in the seating dispute. He was only curious about one thing.

If Rose cared so much about where she sat, then she must care about Ryan.

But if that were true, how much genuine affection could she possibly have for Trevor?

"Mr. Byrne, the event is about to begin. Let’s not dwell on this," Samantha said with a smile. "Since Ryan doesn’t mind me sitting here, why should you?"

At this point, she was almost certain there had been a mistake in the seating assignment.

After all, she had arrived as Ryan’s companion. It would only make sense for the university to seat them together.

Or perhaps...

Rose had somehow pulled strings behind the scenes before she arrived.

Rose no longer felt angry.

When she spoke, people covered their ears.

When she acted, they shut their eyes.

All that remained was their overwhelming prejudice against her.

Meanwhile, Samantha had been a public figure for years.

Several students who had gathered around Samantha cast curious glances at Rose.

One of them even muttered quietly, "Who is she? Why is she fighting with Ms. Hill over a seat?"

"I’ve never heard of her. But that fall earlier looked pretty deliberate. I heard Mr. Knight is Ms. Hill’s boyfriend..."

"Oh, now I get it."

The voices were low.

Lost amid the noise of the crowd.

Yet Rose heard every word clearly.

Because every barb was aimed directly at her.

Caleb was so exasperated by their self-righteous attitudes that he almost laughed.

How narrow-minded they all were.

Like frogs at the bottom of a well, yet completely convinced Rose wasn’t worthy of sitting among them.

Curling his lips, he said, "What a shame. There are still so many things you don’t know..."

Before he could finish, a staff member from NYU hurried over.

Samantha smiled politely. "Hello. I think there may have been a mistake with the seating arrangement, right?"

She wanted confirmation that Rose’s seat had been assigned incorrectly.

The staff member had already noticed Rose’s name card sitting in the back row.

He quickly picked it up, returned it to the seat beside Ryan, and moved Samantha’s name card to the back.

Completely unaware of the sudden chill that crossed Samantha’s face, he turned toward Rose and apologized profusely.

"Mrs. Knight, I’m terribly sorry. Someone must have accidentally mixed up the name cards. Your assigned seat is in the front row, next to Professor Leo. The university specifically instructed us to make sure your seat wasn’t misplaced."

The staff member’s respectful attitude caught everyone off guard.

Instantly, expressions changed all around them.

Ryan, who had remained seated throughout the dispute, slowly raised his eyes.

With one leg crossed over the other, he fixed his deep, unreadable gaze on Rose.

After a brief pause, he said calmly, "Then please take your seat."

Samantha clenched her fingers.

The look she gave Rose was almost sarcastic.

Mrs. Knight?

Rose really was calculating.

Always acting superior.

And now she had actually revealed her identity to the university administration, using her status as Mrs. Knight to draw attention to herself and steal the spotlight.

Oliver frowned as well.

He hadn’t expected things to unfold this way.

James was the first to recover.

Taking his seat, he said, "Let’s just follow NYU’s arrangements."

It was obvious the university had made its decision.

If they continued arguing, it was clear who would end up looking foolish.

Besides, Samantha’s position wasn’t exactly something to be proud of in the first place.

Caleb pulled out a chair for Rose. "Sit down first. You’re sitting next to my father, not just anyone."

He deliberately emphasized the point.

Rose wasn’t seated there because of Ryan.

The important detail was what the staff member had just revealed.

The university had specifically arranged for her to sit beside Leo because they would be working together in the future.

Once Rose sat down, she didn’t look at the man beside her.

Ryan calmly withdrew his gaze as well.

The two sat facing forward without any visible signs of intimacy.

Samantha pressed her lips together, glanced at Rose, and finally took a seat in the back row.

Oliver said quietly, "You heard what he said. Rose only received this treatment because she’s Mrs. Knight. Without that title, she wouldn’t be able to take something that doesn’t belong to her."

Samantha hummed in agreement, her expression gradually relaxing.

"It’s only a seat. I don’t care."

In her eyes, only a woman as incapable as Rose would rely on the title of Mrs. Knight to gain respect and attention.

That honor didn’t belong to Rose.

It belonged to the title itself.

Without it, Rose would have nothing.

Once seated, Rose finally felt some relief.

High heels were beautiful instruments of torture.

Every time she wore them, they left her feet blistered and bleeding.

Yet she still wore them whenever formal occasions required it.

She bent down and touched the sore spot on her heel.

As she straightened up, she found a Band-Aid near her hand.

She had been looking beneath the table and hadn’t noticed who placed it there.

Rose glanced around before finally looking toward Ryan.

A staff member was speaking to him.

He nodded in response.

Noticing her gaze, he looked sideways at her.

"What is it?" he asked.

Rose immediately looked away. "Nothing."

She tore open the Band-Aid and applied it.

Instantly, her foot felt much better.

More students arrived as the event drew closer to starting.

Groups gathered together, chatting excitedly.

"I heard from my dad that the medical school is appointing an exceptional professor next semester," one student said. "Apparently, they’re incredibly accomplished and surprisingly young."

Samantha overheard the conversation.

She couldn’t help being intrigued.

How young could a professor really be?

Perhaps around forty?

For an NYU professor, that would already be considered quite young.

But if the appointment was being made by special exception, the individual must have extraordinary achievements.

Someone on Leo’s level.

There was no reason for her to worry about it.

James glanced back and commented, "An exceptional appointment means this person must be among the top figures in the medical field. NYU School of Medicine rarely makes exceptions."

"Why hasn’t any information leaked yet?" Oliver asked in surprise.

"With an honor like that, you’d think everyone would already be talking about it."

Then he turned toward Samantha and smiled.

"If things don’t work out with Dean Byrne, you could always focus on building a relationship with this exceptional professor instead. That would be another valuable connection."

Samantha smiled faintly. "There won’t be any problems."

Even so, she understood that this exceptional professor was no ordinary figure.

If, for some unfortunate reason, she failed to gain Leo’s support, building a relationship with this professor would still be an excellent alternative.