Chapter 296: Chapter 296 The Man in the Back Seat
Grace finally felt a little relieved.
After all the commotion, she had thought her late husband’s treasured painting had been destroyed forever.
Now, however, there was hope again.
She even found herself looking forward to visiting the Bennett family’s antique gallery.
As for the DNA test...
It was best to keep everything quiet until the results were confirmed.
Having a professional laboratory come directly to the Taylor estate to collect samples would be the safest option.
"All right, everyone," Grace said. "Let’s head to the reception hall."
She handed the water-damaged painting to a nearby attendant before turning and walking away with steady steps.
She didn’t blame anyone publicly.
But everyone understood that the matter wasn’t over.
Victoria looked at Derick with a helpless smile.
"It seems I’ve disappointed your mother," she said quietly.
"I never imagined the painting we’d tracked down through a collector would turn out to be a forgery."
Derick knew exactly how much Grace treasured anything connected to his late father.
First Samantha had nearly given the old lady a heart attack by damaging what everyone believed was an original.
Then Victoria’s gift had been exposed as a fake.
"It’s all right," Derick said, gently patting her shoulder.
"Just explain everything to Mom later. It’ll pass."
Daisy watched the exchange with complicated emotions.
Then her gaze shifted coldly toward Victoria.
She hadn’t changed at all over the years.
Always quiet.
Always patient.
Always willing to swallow every grievance without complaint.
And that very helplessness only made men feel more protective of her.
If Ryan hadn’t exposed the painting as a forgery...
Today’s disaster would have fallen entirely on Samantha.
Grace might have rejected her before she had even become part of the Taylor family.
Rose had watched the entire incident unfold.
She rarely involved herself in Taylor family affairs.
But before leaving, she couldn’t help glancing toward Ryan again.
He had remained on the sidelines throughout everything.
Yet with only a few sentences...
He had pulled Samantha out of the center of the storm.
At the same time, by exposing Victoria’s painting as counterfeit, he had also damaged Victoria’s standing with Grace.
From today onward, Grace would inevitably suspect Victoria of trying to win favor through deception.
Neither Samantha nor Victoria had truly come out ahead.
Still...
Was Ryan trying to protect Samantha?
And...
How did he know there was another copy in her grandfather’s antique gallery?
Even Rose herself had never known.
Perhaps she had stared at him a little too long.
Ryan shifted slightly.
His dark eyes met hers with calm, piercing intensity.
Rose looked away.
If Grace truly wanted to visit the antique gallery one day, Rose would gladly accompany her.
It would also give Rose a legitimate reason to return there herself.
Without another glance at Ryan, she turned and continued searching for Trevor.
*****
She finally found him in another courtyard.
Trevor was standing beside the fish pond with Ariel, helping her scatter fish food into the water.
Ariel laughed happily.
Although several guests approached Trevor to greet him, he politely excused himself each time.
His entire attention remained on Ariel.
The moment he saw Rose, he smiled.
"Where did you disappear to?"
Rose simply shook her head.
"I was just wandering around."
"Since we’re already here, I thought I’d stay a few extra days and take Ariel sightseeing."
She wasn’t in any hurry to return to New York.
Trevor nodded.
"Then I’ll stay with you."
Rose looked at him in surprise.
"What about work?"
Trevor met her eyes. "I still have enough time to balance work and family."
For a moment, Rose didn’t know what to say.
She could hear the sincerity in his voice.
Trevor truly wanted to build a stable family with her and Ariel.
Especially when he looked at her like that—
Steady.
Patient.
Certain.
It made her heart beat just a little faster.
"...All right."
She quickly looked away.
"It depends on your schedule."
Then she walked toward Ariel.
Trevor noticed the faint embarrassment she was trying to hide.
His smile deepened.
"There’s a custom jewelry studio here in Washington."
"Would you like to go look at engagement rings tomorrow?"
Rose had actually been considering that herself.
Perhaps...
This really was the right decision.
Not every marriage began with passionate love.
Some began with responsibility.
Some with companionship.
Some because two people chose to build a life together.
And between her and Trevor...
There was Ariel.
Rose gently straightened Ariel’s little braid before nodding.
"Okay."
Trevor paused.
Looking at her side profile, he couldn’t stop the smile that slowly spread across his face.
*****
Grace’s birthday celebration ended successfully.
There were still countless guests surrounding her.
Seeing how busy she was, Rose decided not to interrupt.
Trevor said, "It’s fine."
"You can visit her tomorrow when things quiet down."
Rose nodded.
"Then let’s head back."
Ariel immediately stretched out both hands.
"Daddy, Mommy—hold my hands!"
Trevor laughed.
He took one hand while Rose took the other.
Together, they lifted Ariel into the air between them as they walked.
The little girl squealed with laughter as they swung her gently back and forth.
It looked exactly like an ordinary family enjoying a perfect afternoon.
At that moment—
Ryan stepped out of the crowd.
His footsteps stopped.
From beneath the shade of the old cedar trees, he quietly watched the three of them.
Rose and Trevor both looked down at Ariel with warm smiles.
Occasionally their eyes met.
They smiled at one another naturally.
It looked effortless.
Comfortable.
Like a real family.
Even from a distance...
Their happiness was impossible to ignore.
Ryan stood there silently.
His handsome face revealed nothing.
Only after the three figures disappeared through the estate’s front gate did he finally look away.
Just then—
Samantha walked over.
"Ryan."
"I booked a restaurant for tonight."
"My mom would like to have dinner with you."
"Is that okay?"
Ryan turned around.
His expression remained calm and unreadable.
"Sure."
Samantha followed his gaze toward the entrance where Rose had disappeared.
Something unreadable flickered across her eyes.
*****
Rose knew Washington well.
Ariel had grown up there.
After Dr. Nathan had semi-retired, he and his wife had bought a home in Washington and devoted themselves to raising Ariel.
Back then...
Whenever Rose came to visit, she had to be extremely careful.
She always planned routes that wouldn’t attract attention.
She would secretly spend a single night with Ariel before quietly leaving again.
Sometimes, when Ariel had been very young, she would cling tightly to Rose and cry.
"Mommy..."
"Can you stay?"
"Can you take Ariel with you?"
Every single time...
Rose felt as though her heart were being torn apart.
She would hold her daughter and cry with her.
Yet she still had to leave.
Now...
She could finally be with Ariel openly.
No more hiding.
No more sneaking around.
To Rose...
These were the happiest days of her life.
That evening, she took Ariel for a walk along the waterfront.
They bought new clothes.
Shared ice cream.
And spent the entire afternoon laughing together.
Ariel’s happiness never faded for a single moment.
*****
The following day.
Trevor had an important meeting that morning.
He promised to pick them up in the afternoon before they went to look at rings together.
Since they had free time, Rose rented a car and decided to take Ariel shopping first.
Ariel knew the shopping district by heart.
The only problem...
Was parking.
After driving into the underground garage, Rose quickly realized she had no sense of direction.
She circled around several times, failing to back into a parking space.
Eventually, even Ariel became dizzy.
"Mom..."
She held her stomach dramatically.
"I think the car’s making me seasick."
"Can I get out and wait while you park?"
Rose couldn’t help laughing.
After making sure there were no moving vehicles nearby and that the area was safe, she nodded.
"Stay right here."
"Don’t wander off."
"I’ll only be a minute."
Ariel hugged her teddy bear backpack and happily climbed out to wait.
Rose spent another few minutes maneuvering into the space.
Finally...
She parked successfully.
She unbuckled her seat belt.
Just as she reached for the driver’s door—
The rear passenger door suddenly opened.
Someone quietly climbed into the back seat.
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