Chapter 401 An Unwanted Scandal

Chapter 401: Chapter 401 An Unwanted Scandal

Charlotte’s father was furious.

His expression was grim as he ordered the staff to keep all outsiders away from the room.

Edward was in an equally foul mood.

He had carefully chosen what he believed to be an ideal match for Ryan. Everything had been proceeding smoothly, and the alliance between the two families had opened up countless possibilities for the future. The benefits were immeasurable.

Yet, at the final hurdle, everything had been ruined.

“Miss Taylor, your family has certainly raised a young woman of impeccable virtue.”

Edward’s words were directed at James, his tone unmistakably severe.

James, who had remained silent until then, looked at him coldly.

“Mr. Knight, you’ve misunderstood. She isn’t a blood relative of the Taylor family. She’s only an adopted daughter. A daughter of the Taylor family would never do something like this.”

But at that point, no one seemed inclined to listen.

Rose had just returned from the restroom after washing her hands.

As she rounded the corner, she found a crowd gathered outside the dressing room. Since it was the only way out, she had no choice but to walk past them.

Then she caught sight of what was happening inside.

Alicia was clutching her chest, tears streaming down her face, while Ryan stood beside her with his usual cold, detached expression, as though none of it had anything to do with him.

Rose stopped dead.

One glance at Charlotte’s furious expression was enough for her to understand what had happened.

She looked up.

Ryan had already spotted her through the crowd.

His gaze settled on her, his expression remaining impassive.

“There’s no need to explain anything. I’m not interested in her, so there would be no reason for me to do something like this at a time like this.”

Rose pressed her lips together.

She certainly hadn’t expected such an embarrassing scene to unfold tonight.

Yet, judging from Ryan’s expression, she had an inexplicable feeling that he might actually be telling the truth.

Ryan was the last person she would expect to lie.

After seven years of marriage, she knew him well enough to understand that.

But as for what had happened with Alicia...

Charlotte clearly wasn’t convinced.

All she could see was Alicia standing there, clutching Ryan’s jacket around herself with her head bowed as she cried.

That sight sent an inexplicable wave of anger through her.

When had she ever suffered such humiliation at another woman’s hands?

Especially after she had already told Alicia that she was going to marry Ryan.

And now, this woman had somehow ended up half-dressed in Ryan’s dressing room.

Charlotte’s expression turned icy.

She strode forward in her heels and slapped Alicia hard across the face.

Alicia’s head snapped to the side.

Her cheek reddened almost instantly.

She bit her lip, instinctively glancing at Ryan before lowering her gaze again.

Then, as though determined to shoulder all the blame herself, she said softly, “This was my fault. It has nothing to do with Mr. Knight. Miss Mercer, you were right to be angry with me. I only hope this won’t affect your engagement to Mr. Knight.”

Charlotte gave a cold laugh.

“You certainly know how to make a man feel guilty.”

“Whether men fall for your tricks is none of my concern. I’m not going to lower myself by arguing with someone like you, but you should at least understand what basic decency means.”

Her gaze was sharp.

“That slap was deserved.”

She didn’t bother tugging at the jacket Alicia was using to cover herself.

She simply turned away.

As far as Charlotte was concerned, a grudge was meant to be settled immediately.

Dealing with it later wasn’t settling it at all.

“Go home.”

Mr. Mercer’s voice was cold.

There was no longer any need to announce their supposed good news tonight.

Charlotte turned to leave, but before doing so, she cast Ryan one last piercing look.

Her emotions were a tangled mess of anger, resentment and wounded pride.

What upset her most was that Ryan had shown absolutely no intention of giving her a proper explanation.

He hadn’t made a single gesture to placate her.

Not even a word of apology.

That was somehow harder for her to accept than Alicia’s behavior itself.

Even if she wanted an explanation, she couldn’t bring herself to demand one.

Doing so would only make her look as though she were begging for his attention.

Charlotte would never allow herself to lose that much dignity.

She walked away.

The situation came to an abrupt and deeply embarrassing end.

Even Edward, who had weathered countless storms in his lifetime, had lost his temper.

He despised Alicia, but he also fixed a sharp gaze on Ryan.

He knew his grandson too well.

Ryan was calculating, cautious and exceptionally perceptive. He wasn’t the sort of man who could be easily manipulated.

Edward’s expression hardened.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode away.

Most of the guests had already dispersed.

Only then did James notice Rose.

“Rose, you...”

He instinctively wanted to say something, but he was afraid she might feel uncomfortable after witnessing the scene.

“Perhaps it wasn’t what it looked like.”

Grace had also noticed that something was wrong and hurried over.

Her expression changed immediately.

“What happened?”

Afraid that Grace might become upset, Rose quickly stepped forward and supported her.

“It’s all right. It was just a misunderstanding.”

James, however, felt that this might actually be a good opportunity.

“Grandmother, Alicia ran into Ryan’s dressing room. Who do you think was the one who took the initiative?”

The moment he finished speaking, Grace shot Alicia a cold look.

“Enough. Don’t make a scene here. We’ll discuss this when we get home.”

She had never expected the girl who had always behaved so well to become involved in something like this.

Not only had Alicia offended the Mercer family, but she had also damaged her own reputation.

Grace certainly wouldn’t simply let the matter go.

Alicia hadn’t expected Grace to appear.

But now that things had reached this point, she said nothing more.

She merely looked at Ryan with reddened eyes.

Grace had attended enough high-profile gatherings to know how to keep her emotions under control.

When another guest approached her to exchange pleasantries, she immediately composed herself and responded as though nothing had happened.

As for what had taken place here, she trusted that the Mercer and Knight families would do everything possible to keep it under wraps.

How the matter would be handled afterwards was something to be decided later.

James turned towards Rose.

Rose frowned slightly but showed no intention of asking questions.

She deliberately looked away from Ryan, maintaining an unmistakable none of my business attitude.

Her phone began ringing.

She glanced at the screen and walked outside.

To be honest, the scene had been shocking.

Throughout their seven years of marriage, no matter how strained their relationship had become, Ryan had never once behaved like this.

There had never been a shortage of women interested in him.

Countless women had tried to approach him through every possible means, yet nothing remotely similar had ever happened.

And now...

Was this really just an accident?

And on the night of his engagement announcement, of all occasions?

Rose’s thoughts drifted for a moment.

By the time she stepped outside, the call had already ended.

She glanced at the screen.

It had been Diana.

Rose shook those thoughts away and decided to return the call.

But before she could dial the number, she heard footsteps behind her.

For some reason, her heart tightened.

She turned around.

As expected, Ryan was standing directly behind her.

He stood against the light, his tall figure casting a shadow over her. His features were difficult to make out clearly.

Rose pressed her lips together.

Without saying a word, she turned sideways and tried to walk past him.

A large hand suddenly caught her arm.

Ryan looked down at her.

“When you avoid me like this, it makes me think you’re angry with me.”

Rose gave a derisive snort.

“You’re a plague. Can’t you even let me avoid you?”

Ryan didn’t get angry.

He simply continued holding her arm, tilting his head slightly as he looked down at her.

“Do you think I would accept just anyone?”