Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 207: Chapter 207 A Bid Between Husband and Wife

The cool, smooth sensation in his palm made Ryan lower his gaze instinctively.

The jade pendant was enormous, and combined with its exceptional quality, its market value was practically immeasurable.

Rose followed his gaze.

There were many treasures in the Bennett family antique shop. Otherwise, Logan would never have taken advantage of her mother’s unconscious state after the car accident to force her to sign the transfer documents while she lay in a hospital bed.

It was the Bennett family’s antiques that had carried him through his most difficult years.

Rose treasured every item in the shop.

She immediately reached out, took the green jade pendant from Ryan’s hand, and carefully placed it back inside the display case.

The display case itself was old and showed signs of wear.

She fastened the small lock again.

Inside this single display case were ten jade pieces.

Every one of them was exquisite.

Ryan watched her handle the pendant with extraordinary care, as though it were something priceless.

His gaze slowly shifted from Rose’s face to the jade she had just returned to the case.

His dark eyes revealed nothing.

His gaze lingered for two seconds before he casually looked away.

He did not mention their previous conversation again.

As Rose straightened up, he turned and walked out.

From behind the screen, Rose watched him walk directly to Samantha.

She didn’t know what he said, but Samantha’s eyes curved into a smile as the two of them left together.

Rose, however, could not smile.

Ryan was completely uncompromising.

He even seemed intent on settling scores, implying that she had refused to help Samantha first and that he would therefore refuse to obtain the documents from New Hope for her.

Rose lowered her head and took a deep breath.

Just then, Logan arrived.

The moment he saw Rose, he immediately walked over.

“Don’t blame your father or Ryan,” he said. “I heard you refused to help. Isn’t that just kicking your sister while she’s down? If you had been a little more considerate, none of this would have happened.”

He knew how much Rose cared about the antique shop.

But in his eyes, this was entirely Rose’s own choice.

Rose looked up and let out a cold laugh.

Just because she refused to clean up Samantha’s mess, she was suddenly the one kicking someone while they were down?

As though she owed Samantha anything.

She didn’t want to waste another word on Logan and turned to leave.

But Logan followed her.

“Fortunately, Ryan is resourceful,” he continued with a sigh. “He came up with the idea of using the antique shop to establish a charitable foundation. It restores Sam’s reputation while also promoting the shop. Once the shop gains recognition, it will become even more valuable. It’s a win-win situation, and it helps improve Sam’s image as well. Ryan really put a lot of thought into this.”

Rose felt her chest tighten.

She stopped walking. “So you’re quite proud of your stepdaughter,” she said sarcastically, “the one who built her success by becoming a homewrecker.”

Logan’s expression immediately changed.

“How can you say something like that? You’re taking this too far.”

“If you had agreed to release the records from New Hope, I wouldn’t have had to rush through all the paperwork just to organize this exhibition. So many people have gone to so much trouble because of you. You’re being completely inconsiderate.”

The antique shop had originally been sold to Ryan.

However, the ownership transfer had never been finalized. Logan had deliberately delayed the process and never officially transferred it.

Now, because of Samantha’s situation, he had decided to use the antique shop to solve her problems.

Over the past several days, he had been working desperately to complete the paperwork, pulling strings everywhere.

After all, the way he had taken the shop from Rose’s mother years ago had not been entirely legal.

There had been numerous irregularities.

This time, he had no choice but to resolve everything properly.

Rose could not understand why Logan was acting as though he had suffered some great injustice simply by handling a routine legal procedure.

She had no interest in getting involved.

But Logan continued. “If you stay married to Ryan, he won’t appreciate you, and you won’t gain anything from it. But if you let your sister take your place, your relationship with her will become completely different.”

He paused. “Who knows? Ryan might treat you much better as his sister-in-law than he ever did as your husband.”

A sharp pain throbbed at Rose’s temples.

His words sounded almost absurd.

If she gave up her place for Samantha, would Ryan even spare her a friendly glance?

Would he suddenly become a good brother-in-law?

Without looking back, Rose continued walking.

But she left him with one final remark.

“Don’t project your own kept-man mentality onto me. You enjoy living off women. Don’t assume everyone else does too.”

Logan’s face changed instantly.

****

She went downstairs.

Diana quickly approached her. “It’s already started. Is Ryan really determined to go through with this?”

Rose rubbed her aching temples and exhaled.

“He won’t talk to me. Samantha’s situation is his top priority.”

Even if that meant stepping on her.

Trampling the Bennett family.

Using the Bennett family’s possessions to save Samantha.

“Doesn’t this shop contain items your grandfather specifically said could never be sold?” Diana asked. “Are any of those fifteen pieces included?”

Rose shook her head. “He told me about some of them when I was little, but it was so long ago that I can’t remember.”

“Then what do we do?” Diana gritted her teeth. “Let’s drive up the prices and ruin the auction. I want to see who’s willing to pay outrageous prices to keep bidding.”

This really was the only option.

Everyone present today was a businessperson.

Who would willingly purchase antiques at prices far above market value?

Most of them had come simply to build connections with Ryan and Kingswell.

That did not mean they were fools.

Rose knew Diana was right.

She nodded.

Since the antique shop was currently under Ryan’s control, even if she deliberately drove up the prices, he could not stop her.

After all, she had been officially invited.

Although she did not have much cash available, she could still disrupt the auction.

The first item brought out was an exquisite stained-glass table lamp.

It was an authentic early twentieth-century Tiffany piece

Many people were interested.

The bidding had already risen from two million to 2.7 million.

Rose stared at the vase, trying to remember whether it belonged to the category of items that her grandfather had forbidden from being sold.

Her memory was vague.

She decided to bid.

The moment Diana saw the look in her eyes, she immediately raised her paddle.

“Three million.”

Instantly, countless eyes turned toward them.

Surprise.

Confusion.

Mockery.

Even disbelief.

In the eyes of antique collectors, the lamp simply was not worth three million.

To everyone else, Rose appeared to be throwing money away.

At the same time, several people who genuinely wanted the lamp became frustrated and reluctantly withdrew from the bidding.

That was exactly what Rose wanted.

She intended to disrupt the entire auction.

Samantha frowned as she looked over.

She had not expected Rose to interfere.

The biggest problem was that today’s event differed from a traditional auction.

There had been no financial verification before entry.

If Rose continued bidding like this, very few items would actually sell.

And if she refused to pay afterward, they could do nothing about it.

Today’s event was officially a charity auction.

Participation was voluntary.

Everyone present was a respected figure in society.

Normally, once someone placed a bid, the purchase was guaranteed.

But if Rose deliberately inflated the prices, who would continue bidding?

And if Rose later withdrew, the entire auction would collapse.

Samantha’s expression darkened.

Rose was ruining her plans.

“Ryan, she’s driving up the prices.”

Samantha bit her lip and gently tugged on Ryan’s sleeve.

Ryan’s eyes remained deep and unreadable as he glanced toward Rose.

Then he calmly raised his paddle.

“Four million.”

The room instantly fell silent.

He turned toward Rose.

His naturally cool voice carried no emotion.

“Whatever you bid, I’ll match.”

He paused. “Consider it my first contribution to today’s charity fund.”

His gaze settled on her. “Rose, would you like to continue?”