Chapter 388 The Woman Who Came to Investigate Ryan

Chapter 388: Chapter 388 The Woman Who Came to Investigate Ryan

Margaret’s sudden warmth sent a chill down Rose’s spine.

Things between her and the Knight family had already fallen apart.

Margaret knew about Ariel, too. She knew Rose had a daughter with the Robinson family.

So why was she suddenly being so kind?

Rose couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

With a dozen possibilities running through her mind, she followed Margaret into the sitting room.

Someone was already seated there with her back to Rose.

She was slender and elegant, sitting with the kind of effortless poise that was difficult to fake.

Rose had seen that sort of bearing before.

People who grew up in wealthy, powerful families were taught from childhood how to carry themselves, how to speak, how to smile—and, most importantly, how to make an impression.

Margaret was the perfect example.

As the head of the Knight family, she had spent decades mastering the art of appearances.

She smiled pleasantly and gestured toward the woman.

“Rose, come over here. I want you to meet someone.”

Rose’s expression barely changed.

“This is Charlotte Mercer.”

The woman turned around.

Rose’s gaze met hers.

Charlotte had thick, curly hair swept halfway up, leaving a few soft curls framing her face. Her cream-colored, fitted coat emphasized her slim waist and expensive taste without looking overly flashy.

There was a faint smile on her lips.

Her eyes, however, were calm and assessing.

Not unfriendly.

Just confident.

It was the kind of confidence that came from growing up knowing exactly who you were and never having to wonder whether you belonged in the room.

Rose immediately knew Charlotte wasn’t an ordinary socialite.

Charlotte gave her a quick once-over before offering a polite smile.

“Hello. I’m Charlotte Mercer. It’s nice to meet you.”

Rose returned the courtesy.

“Rose Bennett.”

The surname Mercer caught her attention.

It wasn’t one she heard often in New York.

Margaret answered the unspoken question.

“Charlotte is from the Mercer family in Boston. She’s their eldest daughter. Her family is very close with ours, and she’s in New York for a visit.”

Margaret’s smile deepened.

“She and Ryan are getting to know each other.”

Rose understood immediately.

So this was Ryan’s potential match.

Margaret had dragged her all the way back to the Knight estate so she could meet the woman being considered for Ryan.

Or perhaps there was more to it.

Charlotte seemed genuinely interested in Rose.

“My father has known the former head of the Knight family for years,” she explained. “Our families have discussed a marriage alliance, so yes, I’m here to meet Mr. Knight.”

She paused.

“But I heard he was previously married.”

Her gaze settled directly on Rose.

“So naturally, I was curious about you.”

Charlotte hadn’t come to New York simply to go on a blind date.

She’d come prepared.

Once she’d learned Ryan had an ex-wife, she’d asked Margaret to arrange a meeting.

After all, if you wanted to understand a man, spending a few hours having dinner with him wasn’t necessarily the best way to do it.

An ex-wife was different.

She had seen him at his best and his worst.

She knew the habits he didn’t show in public. The flaws he didn’t advertise. The parts of his personality that only emerged behind closed doors.

Charlotte had expected Margaret to refuse.

After all, why would a family trying to arrange a marriage voluntarily introduce their prospective daughter-in-law to the man’s ex-wife?

Rose could easily have destroyed the entire relationship.

She could have exaggerated Ryan’s faults, exposed embarrassing details, or simply told Charlotte that marrying him had been a mistake.

Instead, Margaret had agreed immediately.

That surprised Charlotte.

Rose’s lips curved faintly.

She couldn’t fault Charlotte for being straightforward.

At least the woman had enough confidence to investigate the man she was considering marrying instead of blindly trusting her family’s judgment.

But Margaret...

Rose glanced at the older woman.

Why had she agreed so easily?

Their relationship was already strained.

What exactly was Margaret hoping to accomplish?

“Before I came here, nobody mentioned that I’d be meeting Ryan’s potential match.”

Rose’s voice was calm and direct.

Charlotte glanced at Margaret.

Margaret simply smiled.

“What’s the harm in having lunch together? It’s the weekend. Surely you can spare a little time.”

Rose almost laughed.

Of course.

She’d been summoned here under the threat of Ariel’s secret being exposed, and Margaret was pretending this was nothing more than a casual family lunch.

Rose looked at Charlotte.

“If the Knight family still considers me part of the family, wouldn’t that be disrespectful to Miss Mercer?”

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Margaret, however, only smiled.

“Oh, Rose. You always speak your mind without thinking about how it sounds.”

She waved a hand dismissively.

“I’m sure Charlotte isn’t going to misunderstand.”

Then she turned toward Charlotte.

“You wanted to talk to Rose, didn’t you? Why don’t the two of you take a walk? The grounds are beautiful this time of year.”

Margaret didn’t seem concerned that the two women might argue.

Nor did she intend to follow them.

Charlotte rose from her seat.

“I’ve heard the Knight estate is beautiful.”

She looked at Rose.

“Would you mind showing me around?”

Rose didn’t particularly want to.

But refusing would only make things more awkward.

“Fine.”

The two women left the house together.

For most of the walk, Charlotte said very little.

She simply looked around the estate, taking in the gardens, the stone paths, and the sprawling grounds without showing much enthusiasm.

Rose quietly studied her.

Charlotte didn’t look like someone excited about a blind date.

If anything, she looked like someone who had been dragged into one and was trying to determine whether there was an acceptable way out.

Eventually, Charlotte broke the silence.

“I grew up in Boston and went overseas when I was a teenager, so I don’t know much about the major families here.”

She glanced toward the house.

“But I’ve heard plenty about the Knights. Their reputation is excellent, and my family thinks highly of them.”

She paused.

“Even though Ryan has been married before.”

Rose gave her a thoughtful look.

“What exactly are you trying to ask me, Miss Mercer?”

Charlotte didn’t bother pretending otherwise.

“What kind of man is Ryan?”

Rose fell silent.

For someone considering marrying Ryan, Charlotte was remarkably direct.

And Margaret...

Rose couldn’t help thinking about it again.

The older woman had actually allowed Charlotte to meet Ryan’s ex-wife without knowing what Rose might say.

She wasn’t worried that Rose would ruin the relationship.

Or perhaps she already knew Rose wouldn’t.

Rose considered the question carefully.

“Ryan is extremely capable.”

She spoke slowly.

“He’s decisive, intelligent, and very good at handling difficult situations. He’s analytical, careful, and rarely lets emotion interfere with his judgment.”

Charlotte listened without interrupting.

Rose continued.

“He’s probably one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.”

She paused.

“But he’s also very rational.”

Her expression remained calm.

“Sometimes too rational. He isn’t particularly good at understanding other people’s feelings, and I wouldn’t expect him to be the kind of man who sweeps you off your feet with grand romantic gestures.”

Charlotte studied her.

Rose wasn’t insulting him.

She wasn’t defending him, either.

She was simply telling the truth.

After all, she had no reason to speak badly about Ryan.

They were divorced.

She was preparing to marry someone else.

Whatever happened in Ryan’s future had nothing to do with her anymore.

Charlotte was quiet for several seconds.

Then she said, “You’re very objective.”

Rose looked at her.

“You don’t sound emotional at all.”

“Should I?”

Charlotte didn’t answer.

Rose continued calmly.

“Were you hoping I’d tell you something terrible about him?”

Charlotte pressed her lips together.

She didn’t deny it.

That had been the whole reason she’d asked to meet Rose.

If Ryan’s ex-wife had told her that he was cold, unfaithful, cruel, or impossible to live with, Charlotte would have had a perfectly reasonable excuse to reject the marriage arrangement.

But Rose hadn’t given her one.

Charlotte looked away.

“You’re divorced.”

Her voice was quieter.

“Don’t you resent him?”

Rose shrugged.

“I’m getting remarried. Isn’t it better to let go of the past?”

She glanced at Charlotte.

“Besides, if your families are seriously considering a marriage alliance, I’m sure your family has already investigated Ryan thoroughly.”

Charlotte’s expression shifted slightly.

“You probably didn’t find anything particularly concerning.”

Rose continued.

“Over all these years, Ryan hasn’t exactly had a colorful romantic history. No affairs. No string of girlfriends. No drunken scandals. Nothing that would give you an obvious reason to walk away.”

She gave Charlotte a faint smile.

“Didn’t your family find anything?”

Charlotte’s expression became complicated.

Rose wasn’t wrong.

Among wealthy families, especially families with money and influence, a man’s public image rarely told the whole story.

Men who appeared devoted to their wives could have a completely different life behind closed doors.

Affairs.

Secret relationships.

Casual hookups.

Women appearing beside them at parties one week and disappearing the next.

A thorough background investigation could uncover plenty.

But Ryan was different.

Aside from his relationship with Samantha, there wasn’t much Charlotte could use against him.

And even Samantha had become difficult to count as a real scandal.

After Edward returned to the country, he’d publicly exposed Samantha’s intentions and made it clear that she’d been trying to use Ryan and the Knight family to improve her own position.

From the outside, it almost looked as though Ryan had been manipulated by her rather than willingly carrying on an affair.

That had been Edward’s smartest move.

He’d taken the one potential weakness in Ryan’s reputation and turned it into evidence that Ryan had been the victim.

Charlotte’s family had investigated Ryan thoroughly.

And yet, they hadn’t found a single serious flaw.

Not even a casual affair.

Which was precisely why Charlotte had wanted to meet Rose.

If Ryan had a secret...

His ex-wife was the person most likely to know it.