Chapter 298: Chapter 298 Rose is Missing
The sudden ringtone immediately drew everyone’s attention in the hall.
Grace made a courteous gesture.
"Please."
Ryan nodded slightly before lowering his eyes to the unfamiliar number on the screen.
"Ryan, who is it?" Samantha asked with a smile, still pressing a cotton ball against the inside of her arm.
Only Daisy, seated beside her, showed the faintest twitch at the corner of her lips.
A moment later, her own phone vibrated.
She discreetly glanced at the message.
A satisfied smile flickered across her face.
Ryan gave a brief nod and walked toward the entrance as he answered the call.
"Who’s this?"
"It’s me."
Trevor’s voice came through the receiver.
Ryan’s footsteps paused almost imperceptibly before continuing.
"Mr. Robinson."
"What happened?"
Trevor skipped the usual pleasantries.
His voice was calm, but the urgency beneath it was unmistakable.
"Rose is missing."
Three simple words.
Ryan’s eyes sharpened instantly.
His expression hardened.
"Tell me everything."
Trevor spoke without delay. "Rose and I planned to go pick out our wedding rings today."
He paused briefly.
"About an hour ago, I lost contact with her."
"Her phone is powered off."
"I’ve already received a ransom message."
Ryan’s grip on the phone tightened.
Trevor continued, "The kidnappers know she’s about to become Mrs. Robinson."
"They’re demanding eight million dollars within two hours."
"If we don’t pay..."
"They’ll kill her within twenty-four hours."
"And if we contact the police, they’ll kill her immediately."
Every possible option had been anticipated.
The kidnappers had carefully sealed every escape route.
Ryan asked in a low voice, "Have you traced the number?"
"It’s a burner phone."
"No registration."
Trevor had already checked.
Everything had happened too suddenly.
Kidnappings for ransom weren’t unheard of among wealthy families.
Children...
Spouses...
Anyone connected to money could become a target.
But Rose...
Trevor’s expression grew darker.
"Washington is too large."
"I’m not risking Rose’s life by competing with you."
"Right now, the more people searching, the better."
"If we work together, we’ll have the best chance of finding her."
He knew exactly what this moment represented.
If he kept silent and rescued Rose alone...
She would owe him.
It could change everything between them.
But he refused to gamble with her life.
Her safety mattered more than anything else.
Rose had taken Ariel to several places that morning.
Trevor had no idea which route she’d taken.
He didn’t even know what vehicle she was driving.
Searching such a large area would require enormous manpower.
After a brief silence, Trevor added, "I know one thing."
"When it comes to Rose..."
"You’ll do everything you can."
Ryan didn’t deny it.
He looked toward the blazing afternoon sun.
"Keep me updated."
Trevor understood immediately.
Every second counted.
The call ended.
James hurried out of the hall after Ryan.
"What’s wrong?"
The moment he saw Ryan’s expression, his heart sank.
Ryan rarely showed emotion.
He was almost always composed.
Detached.
Cold.
But now...
The chill radiating from him seemed capable of freezing the entire courtyard.
"Rose has been kidnapped."
Ryan turned back toward the hall.
His calm voice echoed clearly through the room.
The entire hall fell silent.
James’s face changed instantly.
Grace stopped in her tracks.
Several members of the Taylor family stared in disbelief.
Even Grace, who had just walked over, heard every word.
"What?"
"What happened to Rose?"
Samantha heard it as well.
Without drawing attention, she glanced toward the direction where Daisy had quietly disappeared.
Her fingers tightened around the cotton ball.
James clenched his jaw.
"This is unbelievable."
"I’ll help search."
"We’ll split up."
The Taylor family’s influence throughout Washington was extensive.
Using every available connection would greatly increase their chances.
Ryan gave a slight nod.
"All right."
He slowly swept his gaze across the hall.
James would undoubtedly mobilize the Taylor family’s network.
Trevor had already begun searching.
Then...
From the corner of his eye...
Ryan noticed Daisy quietly slipping out through a side entrance amid the confusion.
Just then—
His phone rang again.
This time it was a Washington landline.
Before answering, he said quietly to James, "Go coordinate with Trevor."
"I’m taking this."
He answered while walking toward the gate.
The instant he heard the caller’s voice—
He stopped walking.
"Mr. Knight?"
"Are you Ariel’s father?"
*****
Inside the hall...
Samantha watched Daisy disappear before casually throwing the used cotton ball into a nearby trash bin.
Confidence filled her eyes.
Everything had already fallen into place.
The Taylor family no longer had a choice.
As for Rose...
She wouldn’t be interfering anymore.
*****
Outside the main courtyard...
Daisy slowly returned from another section of the estate.
Her hand slipped quietly into her pocket.
Taking advantage of the chaos inside the residence, she walked toward the forensic team’s vehicle.
The technicians had just finished collecting DNA samples.
They were now checking and sealing the specimen container beside the van.
The supervising technician had stepped away to answer a work call.
Only one staff member remained by the vehicle.
Daisy walked over naturally.
"I think someone left one of your tools inside the hall."
The technician instinctively looked into the vehicle.
"Really?"
"Thanks."
"I’ll go check."
As soon as the technician walked away—
Daisy glanced around.
No one was watching.
She opened the sample container.
From her pocket, she pulled out an identical blood collection tube.
In one swift motion...
She exchanged it with one of the tubes inside.
The entire process took only a few seconds.
Just then, the supervisor returned after finishing his phone call.
Seeing Daisy standing beside the vehicle, he frowned.
"Can I help you?"
Daisy smiled politely.
"One of your staff left something inside."
"He went back to get it."
The supervisor nodded.
"Thank you."
Even so, he stepped over and reopened the specimen case.
He carefully checked every tube.
The identification numbers all matched.
Nothing appeared unusual.
Satisfied, he closed the case again.
Daisy smiled.
"Then I’ll let you get back to work."
The supervisor nodded politely.
As Daisy walked away, a confident smile spread across her face.
Everything had gone perfectly.
*****
Not far away...
At the corner of a covered walkway...
Alicia stood frozen in place.
She still held her phone against her ear, listening absentmindedly to someone from her university.
Her eyes remained fixed on the forensic vehicle.
She hadn’t moved for several long seconds.
"Alicia?"
"Are you still there?"
The voice on the phone finally snapped her back to reality.
"Yes."
"I’m listening."
"I heard everything."
"Don’t worry."
She ended the call.
Then she slowly lowered her phone.
Her gaze shifted once more toward the forensic van...
...before following the direction Daisy had just walked away.
She had seen it.
Every single movement.
Had Daisy...
Just switched the blood samples?
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