Chapter 409 The Storm Before the Wedding

Chapter 409: Chapter 409 The Storm Before the Wedding

It was a calculated ambush from every direction.

And it was vicious enough to feel like someone was deliberately trying to destroy Rose.

She had completely forgotten about the wedding.

Her thoughts were consumed by one thing: Ariel.

People were already digging into Ariel’s background, trying to uncover anything they could use. Rose couldn’t shake the fear that whoever was behind this was planning to drag her daughter into the middle of the scandal and put her under a microscope.

Ariel was still so young.

How could a child possibly grow up normally after being thrust into the middle of a public scandal that had been deliberately manufactured around her?

And now they were even talking about exposing her identity so the public could tear her apart.

Rose’s expression hardened.

"I don’t want Ariel dragged into this. Under no circumstances is any information about her to be made public."

But, as the vice principal had already warned her, this was no longer something the school could quietly handle.

The story had spread far beyond campus. Posts were appearing across the country’s biggest social media platforms, and videos were circulating by the thousands.

At this point, even if the school wanted to contain the situation, there was no guarantee they could.

Which meant Ariel could end up in the public eye whether Rose wanted it or not.

That was what Leo feared most.

The normally polished, soft-spoken man finally lost his temper.

"What kind of bastard does something like this? What do they even get out of hurting people?"

Rose’s eyes remained distant and thoughtful.

"This was aimed at me from the beginning. There has to be another reason behind it."

She couldn’t stop thinking about it.

If someone wanted to destroy her reputation, ruin her career, and make her lose everything she’d worked for, what exactly did they stand to gain?

Before she could come up with an answer, her phone rang.

She looked down.

Trevor.

Rose stood and stepped outside before answering.

"Hey."

Trevor’s voice immediately came through, tense with concern.

"Did something happen? I heard there was trouble at your school."

Rose wasn’t surprised he’d heard.

The story was already spreading, and the Robinson family had been dragged into the center of the controversy along with her.

"Did this cause problems for your family?" she asked quietly.

It was the question she’d been avoiding.

She wanted to know whether the Robinson family was beginning to regret their decision.

"Don’t worry about that right now," Trevor said firmly. "We’ll figure out what’s happening first. I’ll do everything I can to keep Ariel’s information private. And this isn’t going to change anything about the wedding."

Rose didn’t answer.

She wanted to believe him.

But the situation had already grown too big.

She couldn’t imagine the Robinson family simply ignoring the backlash and moving forward as though nothing had happened.

After the call ended, Trevor stood in his study with an expression that was just as grim.

One by one, members of the family had gathered there.

His mother, Julia, looked particularly troubled.

She had never expected a scandal this explosive to erupt with only two days left before the wedding.

Rose had always been an exceptional woman. Wherever she went, people noticed her. She was admired, respected, and considered one of the country’s brightest talents.

And now her reputation was being dragged through the mud.

Julia looked at her son.

"Trevor, what are you thinking?"

Trevor turned from the window.

"Once we find whoever started this, we’ll deal with them. They won’t get away with it."

Julia frowned.

"I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the wedding."

She paused.

"There are only two days left. Do you really think we should go through with it while all of this is happening?"

"Yes."

Trevor didn’t hesitate.

"We’re going ahead."

Julia stared at him.

"Are you serious?"

Her frustration finally boiled over.

"Rose can barely protect herself right now. And now people are accusing you of getting involved in the Knight family’s marriage. The Robinson family is already being talked about everywhere. If we go ahead with a huge wedding right now, people won’t see it as a coincidence. They’ll take it as proof that everything they’ve been saying is true."

She took a breath.

"They’ll call you a homewrecker. They’ll say our family has no standards. And the entire Robinson family will become a laughingstock."

But that wasn’t even the worst of it.

Rose was being labeled a socialite who had supposedly been involved with countless men.

And if Trevor married her now, people would inevitably turn their judgment toward the Robinson family.

Why would a respectable family willingly welcome someone with that kind of reputation?

Those were consequences they couldn’t simply ignore.

Julia folded her arms.

"Being brave doesn’t mean being reckless. You have to think about what happens afterward."

Trevor gave her a cold look.

"Mom, weren’t you the one pushing Rose to have this wedding in the first place?"

Julia’s expression shifted.

He continued.

"Rose never wanted a big wedding. You were the one who kept telling her how important it was, how the family should celebrate properly, how everything needed to be done right."

"That was before."

"Before what?"

"Before all of this happened."

Julia’s voice hardened.

"Things have changed. We have to respond to the situation we’re actually facing, not the one we expected."

She looked at him seriously.

"You know how serious this is. We have the family’s reputation to consider, and we also have to think about what this means for the Knight family. If we keep everything private, both families can maintain some dignity. Everyone can pretend things are still civil."

Her eyes narrowed.

"But if this becomes public—truly public—neither family is going to come out of it looking good."

She made her decision.

"For now, we wait. I’m not saying we cancel the wedding. We postpone it. That’s all. Tell Rose we’ve decided to push it back. She’ll understand."

And if the situation couldn’t be fixed, they could always cancel it later.

Trevor’s face became colder.

He was done trying to appease his mother.

"Mom, I’ve told you already. I’m marrying Rose."

Julia stared at him.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"People are already saying Ariel might be your daughter—that Rose had a child with you while she was still married to the Knight family."

Her voice rose.

"Do you understand what that kind of accusation could follow you for the rest of your life?"

Julia had never met Ariel’s biological mother. Trevor had deliberately kept that part of his life private from her.

Even if he somehow managed to find Ariel’s birth mother now and brought her forward to explain the truth, it wouldn’t necessarily silence the rumors.

And the truth was, he didn’t even know where she was.

Trevor’s answer was simple.

"So what?"

Julia’s face went pale with anger.

"Trevor!"

She stepped toward him.

"I won’t let you throw your entire future away because you’re too stubborn to think clearly. Calm down and reconsider. And if you still refuse, I’ll talk to Rose myself."

Trevor’s expression tightened.

"There’s nothing to reconsider."

"Trevor—"

"This can be resolved."

His voice was low but firm.

"Rose hasn’t done anything wrong. If we back away now and postpone the wedding because of these rumors, she won’t give us another chance."

Julia stared at him.

"Since when do you care about her this much?"

She couldn’t believe her son was willing to risk everything for Rose.

She knew Trevor.

Or at least, she thought she did.

Trevor took a slow breath.

Then he looked directly at his mother.

"You owe her."

Julia froze.

His voice softened, but the words carried more weight than anything he’d said before.

"And so do I."

*****

The situation was even worse than Rose had expected.

Her promotion had been suspended.

The university had launched an investigation and was collecting evidence.

Her application to join the National Center for Biomedical Innovation had also been put on hold.

Everything she’d worked toward had suddenly come to a standstill.

But none of that was what kept her awake at night.

There was only one thing she couldn’t accept.

The rumors about Ariel.

People had started calling her an illegitimate child.

Ariel was Rose’s daughter.

She had carried her, given birth to her, and nearly broken herself bringing her into the world. She was the center of Rose’s life and the light of so many people’s lives around her.

And she was still just a child.

If people started pointing at Ariel and calling her illegitimate, Rose didn’t know how she was supposed to protect her from that.

She could withstand people attacking her.

She could survive losing her promotion.

She could even accept having her career temporarily derailed.

But she couldn’t stand by and watch her daughter become collateral damage.

When Rose stepped out of the interrogation room, she unexpectedly ran into Alicia.

"Rose!"

Alicia hurried toward her.

"I’ve been out sick for the last couple of days. I had a pretty bad allergic reaction, and I only found out today what happened."

She looked Rose over anxiously.

"Are you okay? What are you going to do? Should we tell Grandma and James?"

The school had already managed to remove many of the posts circulating internally.

But the information outside the university was much harder to control.

Every time one post disappeared, another seemed to take its place.

Like weeds that refused to die.

Alicia studied Rose’s face.

She looked exhausted.

There were shadows beneath her eyes, and the usual composure in her expression had been replaced by quiet strain.

Whatever disagreements they had in the past, Alicia couldn’t simply stand there and watch her suffer.

She slipped her arm through Rose’s.

"Rose, if you didn’t do anything wrong, then you have nothing to be afraid of. The school will figure out what happened. I’m sure of it. And this won’t ruin your promotion or your wedding."

It was meant to comfort her.

But Rose suddenly turned her head.

She looked directly at Alicia.

"What a coincidence."

Alicia blinked.

"What?"

Rose’s expression didn’t change.

Her eyes were cold.

"Every time something happens to me, you’re never around."

She paused.

"It’s always a coincidence."

Alicia’s smile disappeared.

Her arm slowly fell away from Rose.

"Rose... I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"I’m sure you don’t."

"I really am just worried about you."

Alicia’s voice became gentler.

"If you can’t clear these rumors up and give everyone a convincing explanation, what are you going to do? What happens to your career? And your relationship with Trevor..."

"You don’t need to worry about any of that."

The voice came from behind them.

Deep.

Cold.

And unmistakably familiar.

Alicia went still.

Rose’s eyes shifted slightly.

Someone was standing behind her.

And the moment she heard that voice, she knew exactly who it was.