Chapter 405 Will You Invite Him?

Chapter 405: Chapter 405 Will You Invite Him?

Charlotte really did have that much influence.

Alicia had worked incredibly hard to secure her place on the project. She’d pulled every string she could and done everything in her power to get in.

And now, with nothing more than a few words from Charlotte, she was being transferred out.

Alicia felt numb.

Her ears rang, and for several seconds, she could barely hear what anyone around her was saying.

The meeting continued as though nothing had happened.

By the time it finally ended, Charlotte walked past Alicia and stopped for a moment.

“You said I was bullying you, didn’t you?”

Alicia looked up.

Charlotte gave her a faint smile.

“So, if I don’t actually do something about it, I’d feel like I let you down.”

She hadn’t forgotten how Alicia had accused her of deliberately picking on her despite being the one who had caused the trouble.

Fine.

If Alicia wanted to call it bullying, Charlotte didn’t mind giving her a reason to use the word.

Alicia’s face turned even paler.

Charlotte didn’t say another word. She simply followed the supervisor out to tour the laboratory.

Rose finished packing her notebook and walked out a few minutes later.

Alicia was still standing near the doorway.

The moment she saw Rose, she hurried over.

“Rose...”

Her eyes were already glistening with tears.

Rose’s brow twitched.

She really disliked being called that.

They weren’t sisters.

And Rose had no intention of treating the daughter of the woman who had destroyed her biological mother’s marriage as though they were family.

“Is something wrong?”

“Can you help me?”

Alicia’s voice trembled.

“You’re the only person I can turn to. You’re my sister, and you’re also a professor. I worked so hard to get into this program. I can’t let Miss Mercer take it away from me.”

She looked at Rose hopefully.

“If you take me on as your student, the university won’t have any reason to object. Please, Rose.”

Alicia had clearly thought this through.

She seemed convinced that their supposed sisterhood—and the friendship Rose had once shown her—would be enough to make Rose say yes.

Rose looked at her without expression.

Then she asked quietly,

“Why should I help you?”

Alicia froze.

“...What?”

“What reason do you think I have to help you?”

Rose’s voice remained calm.

“I’ve never blamed you for what happened with the Taylor family. Even if you genuinely knew nothing about it, there’s still something you need to understand.”

She looked directly into Alicia’s eyes.

“Your mother was your father’s mistress. You know that, don’t you?”

Alicia’s lips parted.

“She destroyed another woman’s family and contributed to a situation that ultimately drove that woman into depression and suicide. So why do you think I’d naturally want to help you simply because we’re connected by blood?”

“No. That’s not—”

Alicia hurriedly shook her head.

“I didn’t...”

Rose gave a quiet, humorless laugh.

“And as for the university, why should I antagonize Charlotte on your behalf?”

Alicia fell silent.

“If you have the ability to earn your place back, you won’t be overlooked.”

Rose’s tone remained even.

“But if you don’t have the qualifications, then my forcing the university to reinstate you would mean breaking the rules, disrupting the research schedule, and potentially affecting the entire project.”

She paused.

“Have you ever wondered why the university agreed to transfer you so easily?”

Alicia stared at her.

“Because the university has spent years evaluating its students. They won’t let genuinely talented people slip through the cracks.”

Rose’s gaze was steady.

“But they also won’t bend over backwards to keep someone who doesn’t meet the standard.”

She finished speaking and turned to leave.

At that moment, Charlotte emerged from the other side of the lab.

She spotted Rose and waved.

“Miss Bennett! Let’s have lunch.”

Rose hesitated for a moment.

Then she nodded and walked over.

She didn’t look back.

She didn’t care whether her words had hurt Alicia.

Alicia remained rooted to the spot, staring after her.

She hadn’t expected Rose to speak to her like that.

Rose hadn’t insulted her.

She hadn’t even raised her voice.

Yet somehow, every word had cut deeper than an outright insult.

She doesn’t have the ability.

She won’t be missed.

Wasn’t that what Rose had meant?

Alicia bit her lip as tears gathered in her eyes.

She watched Rose leave with Charlotte and slowly clenched her fists.

Rose had really abandoned her.

They were both members of the Taylor family.

Alicia had gone out of her way to build a relationship with her.

Yet when she was in trouble, Rose had simply turned away.

How could she be so cold?

Her gaze shifted between Rose and Charlotte.

Why was Charlotte so friendly with Rose when Rose was Ryan’s ex-wife?

Why hadn’t she used her influence against her?

Rose was about to marry Trevor and still seemed to have everything going for her.

And Alicia...

She was the one being pushed further and further into a corner.

******

“What did she say to you?”

Charlotte glanced at Rose as they walked.

“Nothing.”

Rose had no intention of elaborating.

Charlotte studied her for a moment before laughing.

“You really are something. You never say more than you have to.”

She shrugged.

“Fine. I can guess what happened. That girl isn’t someone you should get too close to.”

She pointed toward the cafeteria ahead.

“People at NYU keep telling me the food here is actually pretty good. Let’s eat here.”

Rose gave her a look.

She had to admit, seeing a woman like Charlotte willingly eat in a university cafeteria was slightly surprising.

The cafeteria was packed at lunchtime.

They picked up their meals and found a table.

Charlotte suddenly stopped.

“He really is here.”

Rose followed her gaze.

Several female students nearby were already sneaking glances toward the same direction. Some whispered to each other, while others smiled behind their hands.

Rose immediately spotted Ryan.

He was sitting by the windows, having lunch with NYU’s vice president.

The vice president noticed them as well and immediately waved.

“Miss Bennett, Miss Mercer! Come sit with us. It’s getting crowded, and we’ve got room here.”

Ryan finally looked up.

His gaze passed over Rose’s face.

Charlotte gave a quiet snort.

“I knew he was coming to NYU today for business. Looks like we were bound to run into him.”

Before Rose could say anything, Charlotte grabbed her arm and walked over.

She sat down directly beside Ryan.

Rose had no choice but to follow and take the seat across from them.

The vice president’s assistant immediately picked up on the tension.

“I’ll get everyone some drinks.”

He returned a moment later with several bottles of mango juice.

He placed one in front of Rose.

Ryan glanced at it and set down his chopsticks.

“Do you have anything else?”

The assistant nodded quickly.

“Green grape juice and coconut water.”

“Could I get a bottle of coconut water?”

“Of course.”

The assistant immediately exchanged the drinks.

Ryan took the bottle of coconut water.

Rose and Charlotte were already talking with the vice president, so he casually placed the bottle beside Rose’s hand.

Then he picked up the mango juice that had been sitting in front of her.

The gesture was subtle.

Almost effortless.

But Charlotte noticed.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

She had been watching Ryan ever since she’d sat down.

He hadn’t spoken to her once.

He hadn’t contacted her since the night of the banquet, either.

Not even a token explanation.

She’d never experienced anything like it.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore.

She turned toward him.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Ryan looked at her calmly.

“What should I say?”

“An explanation.”

Charlotte didn’t bother hiding her irritation.

“You haven’t explained anything since that night. Don’t you think that’s a little inappropriate?”

Ryan’s expression didn’t change.

“We never even got engaged. What exactly am I supposed to explain?”

The table went silent.

Even the vice president looked uncomfortable.

Charlotte’s face tightened.

It was the first time in her life she’d been humiliated so publicly.

And what made it worse was that Ryan wasn’t even pretending to care.

He hadn’t tried to placate her.

Hadn’t apologized.

Hadn’t offered an excuse.

Nothing.

It was infuriating.

And yet, strangely enough, this was exactly the kind of man she’d always found herself drawn to.

Charlotte crossed her arms and leaned back.

Then she suddenly turned toward Rose.

Rose had been quietly eating, barely paying attention to their exchange.

“How long until your wedding?”

Everyone at the table looked over.

Rose paused and lifted her head.

She hadn’t expected to become part of the conversation.

“About two weeks, I think.”

Charlotte nodded.

“Make sure I get an invitation. I’ll be there.”

Rose, her thoughts already drifting toward her upcoming wedding with Trevor, nodded absentmindedly.

“Sure.”

Across the table, Ryan lowered his gaze.

He said nothing.

His expression remained unreadable.

Charlotte watched him for a moment.

Then the corners of her lips slowly lifted.

She rested her chin against her palm and looked at Rose.

“Will you invite your ex-husband?”