Chapter 389 Love at First Sight

Chapter 389: Chapter 389 Love at First Sight

Charlotte frowned slightly.

When her family had first told her they wanted her to meet Ryan, she had been anything but enthusiastic.

She’d even done her own research.

That hadn’t gotten her very far.

Ryan’s personal information was heavily protected, and he rarely appeared at public events. Even after tracing the people he associated with, Charlotte had found almost nothing useful.

There were no juicy scandals.

No string of ex-girlfriends.

No secret relationships.

There was only one woman who kept appearing in the rumors surrounding him, and even she had a reputation for being obsessed with him and desperate to marry into a wealthy family.

And now, after meeting his ex-wife, Charlotte had discovered something even more surprising.

Rose genuinely didn’t seem to care about Ryan anymore.

Charlotte studied her curiously.

“From everything you’ve said, Ryan sounds like a pretty decent man. So why did you two get divorced?”

Rose was quiet for a moment.

“Being a good man and having a good marriage aren’t the same thing.”

Charlotte listened.

“Two people can admire each other and still be completely wrong for each other. Being attracted to someone, falling in love with them, and actually building a life together are three very different things.”

Rose had never denied that Ryan was exceptional.

Anyone with eyes could see that.

But the problems between them had never been something she could explain with one sentence.

It hadn’t been just Samantha.

The cracks had been there from the beginning.

They’d formed slowly, through countless little disagreements, misunderstandings, and moments when they simply failed to understand each other.

Charlotte hadn’t expected that answer.

She looked Rose over again, her curiosity turning into genuine admiration.

“Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from you.”

Rose raised an eyebrow.

Charlotte smiled faintly.

“I don’t know Ryan well enough to judge him yet, but I do admire you.”

Rose didn’t know how to respond to that.

Before she could say anything, Charlotte continued, “Margaret mentioned that I could take a look around Ryan’s private garden. Would you show me?”

“Sure.”

Rose led the way.

They had barely reached the gate when a black SUV pulled up behind them.

Both women turned.

The driver’s door opened.

Ryan stepped out.

His injured leg still hadn’t fully recovered, so he was using a custom wheelchair.

Even sitting down, he somehow managed to look commanding.

His posture was perfectly straight, his dark gray coat immaculate against the cold morning air.

His face looked paler than usual.

His expression, however, remained unreadable.

His eyes were colder than the overcast sky above them.

They landed on Rose first.

Only moments earlier, he’d watched her walk around the estate with Charlotte.

They seemed to be getting along.

His gaze shifted to Charlotte.

For a brief second, Charlotte forgot to breathe.

She’d spent weeks trying to find a decent photograph of Ryan.

There were hardly any.

Most of what she’d found were blurry event pictures, distant shots, or photographs where he was only visible from the side.

None of them had prepared her for seeing him in person.

He was far more striking than she’d expected.

Even confined to a wheelchair, he possessed an overwhelming presence.

Something inside Charlotte settled.

The resistance she’d felt toward this blind date disappeared almost instantly.

“Ryan?”

She corrected herself almost immediately.

“Mr. Knight.”

Ryan knew exactly who she was.

Edward had personally arranged this meeting, after all.

The Mercer family was one of the few families whose wealth and influence could stand alongside the Knights’.

He gave a small nod.

“Miss Mercer.”

Charlotte’s eyes brightened.

She’d always trusted her instincts.

And right now, her instincts were telling her something very clearly.

She liked him.

No.

She was attracted to him.

At first sight.

She’d never experienced anything quite like it.

Charlotte stepped forward and held out her hand.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Ryan.”

Ryan shook her hand.

“Likewise.”

Rose stood a few feet away, quietly watching.

She caught the unmistakable look in Charlotte’s eyes.

The woman who had been reluctant to come here was suddenly very interested.

Very interested.

Rose almost smiled.

Apparently, the blind date was going well.

She felt like an unnecessary third wheel.

So, without saying anything, she turned around and started walking away.

“Where are you going?”

Ryan’s voice stopped her.

Charlotte looked back too.

Rose glanced over her shoulder.

“Home.”

Charlotte laughed softly.

“Thank you for showing me around. I’m not really a fan of overly formal first meetings either.”

She looked toward Ryan.

“Why don’t we grab lunch somewhere? The three of us can go together.”

Rose immediately shook her head.

“No, thanks. I don’t want to interrupt your date.”

She turned back toward her phone.

Ryan’s voice came from behind her, cool and even.

“Since you came all the way here to evaluate her for me, you might as well stay until the end.”

Rose stared at the screen in her hand.

She almost laughed.

If Margaret hadn’t threatened her with Ariel, would she have come here in the first place?

And nobody had even told her that this was a blind date.

Yet Ryan’s words made it sound as though she’d deliberately inserted herself into his love life.

She felt unfairly accused.

Charlotte, meanwhile, seemed genuinely eager to spend more time with Ryan.

She could also tell Rose wasn’t trying to hold on to any connection with him.

So, she smiled at Rose.

“Come with us. There are a few things I’d actually like to ask you about. We can talk while we’re out.”

Before Rose could find another excuse, she realized she’d somehow been pulled into the plan.

She glanced at the time.

It was almost lunchtime.

She could either stay and endure whatever Margaret had planned for her...

Or she could leave as soon as they got off the Knight property.

Rose chose the second option.

“Fine. If none of you mind, I don’t see why I should.”

Ryan turned away without comment and got back into the SUV.

Rose immediately claimed the front passenger seat.

Charlotte took the back.

Rose checked the time on her phone, then opened the map.

Once they were off the private estate, she could always claim she had somewhere else to be.

That would be the easiest way out.

She was still planning her escape when Charlotte suddenly leaned forward.

Her eyes landed on a small pale-blue pouch hanging from the rearview mirror.

“Oh, what’s that?”

She pointed at it.

“It’s beautiful.”

Rose looked up.

She’d seen that little pouch many times before.

It had been there even when Samantha was still around.

Ryan wasn’t the sort of man who would buy something like that for himself.

He wasn’t religious.

He didn’t believe in superstition or lucky charms.

He was a man who trusted facts, logic, and things he could prove.

So, Rose couldn’t imagine him going out of his way to get a good-luck charm.

There was only one explanation.

Samantha had given it to him.

And he’d kept it all these years.

Rose’s eyes lingered on the pouch.

Was it some kind of keepsake?

Ryan glanced at it when Charlotte asked.

“Someone had it blessed for me.”

His tone was casual.

“For health, safety, and peace of mind.”

Rose’s heart gave a small, unexpected twist.

Just as she’d thought.

She didn’t need to ask who had done it.

Of course it had been Samantha.

What surprised her was that Ryan had never gotten rid of it.

Charlotte looked fascinated.

“Does it actually work?”

Ryan gave a faint shrug.

“Maybe.”

Charlotte smiled.

She wasn’t remotely shy about showing her interest.

“Which church or temple did they bless it at?”

She leaned forward slightly.

“Take me there sometime. I’d like one too.”

Rose blinked.

That wasn’t subtle.

Charlotte wasn’t just asking about the charm.

She was asking Ryan out again.

Ryan remained completely composed.

“If you want one.”

Charlotte’s smile widened.

“Then it’s a date.”

She held out her phone.

“Give me your number.”

Ryan didn’t refuse.

Rose remained perfectly still in the passenger seat.

She didn’t turn around.

She didn’t say a word.

She simply looked out the window, watching the streets pass by and checking the map on her phone.

She was already calculating where she could get out.

From where she was sitting, it was obvious.

Ryan and Charlotte were a perfect match.

At least on paper.

Charlotte clearly liked him.

And she wasn’t the type to sit around waiting for someone else to make the first move.

A wealthy, confident woman like her had already made her interest clear.

How could a match like this possibly fail?

Rose was still thinking about it when she suddenly felt a light tap on her shoulder.

“Rose?”