Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid

Chapter 390: Chapter 390 A New Beginning

Rose came back to herself.

Charlotte was already leaning toward her from the back seat.

Her beautiful, slightly intimidating features had softened into a playful smile. She was clearly in an excellent mood.

“I just added Ryan,” Charlotte said. “Would you mind exchanging numbers with me too, Rose?”

Rose had no reason to refuse.

Charlotte had made the first move, after all.

“Sure.”

They exchanged contact information.

Charlotte smiled when the connection went through.

“I don’t have many friends in New York, but I like you. If you’re ever free, we should get together.”

Rose looked at her for a moment.

Charlotte really did carry herself like someone who had grown up with money and confidence.

She was direct.

She didn’t worry about whether people approved of her.

And she certainly didn’t waste time pretending to be modest.

Rose wasn’t sure whether she liked that kind of personality, but she respected it.

“Sure,” she said politely.

Charlotte settled back into her seat.

After a moment, she remembered something.

“I heard you’re getting married soon.”

The atmosphere inside the SUV changed almost instantly.

Even Owen, sitting behind the wheel, couldn’t help glancing at the rearview mirror.

Ryan sat beside Charlotte, looking down at his phone.

He didn’t move.

He didn’t even look up.

“Yes,” Rose answered. “The wedding will be soon.”

Charlotte smiled.

“Then you have to invite me. I’d love to come.”

Rose pressed her lips together.

Charlotte really did say whatever she wanted.

“If you’d like.”

Rose looked out the window.

They were getting close to the main road.

“Actually, could you pull over here? I have somewhere else I need to be.”

Owen instinctively started turning toward the curb.

Then he hesitated and checked the rearview mirror.

Ryan still hadn’t looked up.

“Pull over,” he said coldly.

Owen wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Was Mr. Knight simply eager to get Rose out of the car?

Or was there something else going on?

Rose didn’t care.

The moment the SUV stopped, she opened the door and stepped out.

She knew Charlotte meant her no harm, so she leaned down slightly.

“Goodbye.”

Charlotte lowered the window and waved.

“Keep in touch on Instagram.”

“I will.”

Rose closed the door and walked away.

She’d already ordered a ride.

There was no reason for her to stay and sit through Ryan’s blind date.

Charlotte watched her disappear down the sidewalk.

Then she turned toward Ryan.

“I really like your ex-wife.”

Ryan finally put his phone away.

“Miss Mercer, are you usually this quick to make friends?”

Charlotte understood the implication immediately.

She folded her arms and leaned back.

“Why not?”

Her tone was perfectly relaxed.

“You two are divorced. You’ve settled whatever happened between you. Neither of you seems interested in getting back together, and she’s already moving on.”

She shrugged.

“So why can’t we be friends?”

She’d noticed everything.

There was no lingering affection between Rose and Ryan.

No jealousy.

No awkward attempts to stay close.

They’d behaved more like strangers than former spouses.

Charlotte didn’t see how Rose could possibly interfere with her relationship with Ryan.

A faint flicker passed through Ryan’s eyes.

His expression remained cold.

Charlotte didn’t care.

She liked men with strong personalities.

Ryan’s indifference didn’t hurt her pride.

She’d never been the type to need constant reassurance.

“I think I understand why you two got divorced now.”

She tilted her head.

“You’re simply incompatible.”

Ryan said nothing.

Charlotte continued.

“From the moment I got into this car, the two of you have barely spoken. You act like strangers.”

She gave him an amused look.

“There’s no warmth between you. No chemistry. Nothing.”

She’d figured out their biggest problem in less than an hour.

Ryan rolled down the window slightly.

“As for the relationship between our families, I’ll make this clear.”

His voice was calm.

“I have no interest.”

Charlotte stared at him.

Then she asked the question that had been sitting in the back of her mind.

“Do you still have feelings for Rose?”

Ryan looked out the window.

“Believe whatever you want.”

That was it.

No explanation.

No denial.

Nothing.

Charlotte had never been rejected before.

She should have been furious.

Instead, something unfamiliar fluttered in her chest.

Her interest only grew.

She leaned back with a small smile.

“I don’t care if Rose is still in your heart.”

Her voice was confident.

“If she is, I’ll just have to make you forget her.”

Ryan didn’t react.

He lowered his eyes to the lighter resting in his hand.

His thumb moved idly across its metal surface.

No one knew what he was thinking.

*****

Rose didn’t actually have anywhere urgent to be.

So instead of going straight home, she stopped at a shopping center.

She wandered around for a while before buying a box of chocolate cupcakes.

It put her in a surprisingly good mood.

As for Ryan and Charlotte, Rose thought they would probably work out.

Their backgrounds were similar.

Their families were on the same level.

And Charlotte was undeniably beautiful—confident, independent, and clearly accustomed to getting what she wanted.

Ryan should be satisfied with her.

Rose wasn’t thrilled that Margaret had deliberately brought her into the situation, but at least she’d managed to leave before lunch.

She’d originally planned to visit Ariel.

Halfway there, however, her phone rang.

Grace.

Rose slowed down.

Her relationship with the Taylor family had changed so suddenly that she wasn’t entirely sure how she was supposed to address them anymore.

Still, after a moment’s hesitation, she answered.

“Dr. Grace?”

She hadn’t changed the way she addressed her.

The old habit was difficult to break.

Grace didn’t seem to mind.

In fact, she laughed softly.

“Actually, I’m beginning to think I’m just like your grandfather. Can I call you RoRo instead of being so formal?”

“Of course.”

Grace sounded delighted.

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”

Rose listened.

“You remember that property I mentioned before? The Taylor family’s estate in New York?”

“Yes.”

“We’ve owned it for more than twenty years. Whenever members of the family come to New York, that’s where they stay.”

Grace paused.

“Now that you’re back, I’d like you to have it.”

Rose stopped walking.

“You mean...”

“I want to transfer the property into your name.”

Rose stared ahead.

She hadn’t expected that.

The estate was enormous.

The Taylor family rarely stayed in New York, so most of the property remained unused. Rose’s private wing hadn’t been occupied in years. Staff came once a week to clean it, maintain the grounds, and make sure everything remained in order.

The property alone was worth a fortune.

In New York’s real estate market, even a conservative estimate would put its value at more than six hundred million dollars.

Rose swallowed.

“No, I—”

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for years.”

Grace’s voice softened.

“I’ll only feel comfortable once it’s yours. Please don’t refuse me.”

There was something almost pleading in her voice now.

Rose felt a lump form in her throat.

She understood exactly how much Grace was giving her.

But there was another problem.

“I still haven’t decided whether I want to acknowledge Mr. Taylor.”

After everything that had happened with Victoria, Rose couldn’t simply pretend the past didn’t exist.

“I know.”

Grace didn’t hesitate.

“Giving you the property has nothing to do with that.”

Rose remained silent.

“You’re young. You need something that belongs to you. Something no one can take away from you.”

Grace’s voice was gentle.

“Grandma doesn’t want you to ever have to depend on someone else or be at anyone’s mercy.”

She paused.

“This isn’t about forcing you to forgive anyone. It’s because you’re family, and I want to give something to my own child.”

Rose’s eyes stung.

“Even if you never acknowledge him, I’ll still want you to have it.”

Grace had already said more than enough.

Rose couldn’t bring herself to reject her again.

After a long pause, she finally sighed.

“Okay. I’ll come take a look.”

Grace immediately brightened.

“Good! Come whenever you can. I’ll have everything ready.”

After hanging up, Rose looked down at the box of cupcakes in her hand.

She smiled faintly.

Then she turned around and got back into the car.

She’d been to the Taylor estate before, so she knew the way.

Normally, visitors couldn’t simply drive onto the property.

But the driver barely slowed down at the security gate.

Someone must have notified the staff.

The gates opened, and the car continued all the way to the main entrance.

Rose had barely stepped out when a familiar voice called from the front steps.

“Professor Bennett! Rose!”

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