Chapter 413 A Way Out

Chapter 413: Chapter 413 A Way Out

Ryan’s words left almost no room for interpretation.

Especially the look in his eyes—sharp and cold enough to cut.

There wasn’t a trace of warmth in them. Only scrutiny, disdain, and indifference.

It was as though the brief intimacy they had once shared meant nothing to him. As though the rumors surrounding Rose meant nothing to him.

And certainly not enough for him to take an interest in her—or feel responsible for her.

His dislike for Alicia was almost painfully obvious.

For the first time, a thought she had been desperately trying to avoid forced its way into her mind.

No matter how hard she tried, she would never make Ryan like her.

Not even a little.

The realization hit her hard.

Alicia’s innocent, almost childlike face went pale.

“No...” she murmured. “I just thought it was impossible.”

Ariel was clearly a child of the Robinson family.

How could Ryan possibly help Rose raise her?

And why would he ever agree to something like that?

The whole situation was too complicated.

Too unbelievable.

The only explanation Alicia could come up with was that Ryan was claiming Ariel as his daughter because it was the only way to protect Rose from the scandal.

“If you have questions, we can talk about them privately.”

Ryan clearly had no intention of wasting another second on Alicia.

He turned toward Rose instead.

He knew better than anyone how shaken she must be after everything that had happened.

There were things they needed to discuss—things that belonged between the two of them.

Rose’s lips were pressed so tightly together that they had gone white.

Her eyes moved across the crowd.

Ryan had made an enormous spectacle of this today. News of it would spread quickly, especially once word got out about his hundred-million-dollar donation.

And once that happened, the Knight family would inevitably learn about Ariel.

Rose could almost see the storm gathering on the horizon.

The Knight family was coming for her.

She had feared this day for a long time.

Yet strangely, standing there now, she felt as though something heavy had finally been lifted from her shoulders.

What was going to happen would happen.

And for the first time, she wasn’t afraid of facing the Knight family head-on.

Rose took a slow breath.

Then she looked directly at Ryan.

“It’s time we had an honest conversation.”

Before Ryan could respond, a familiar voice came from behind them.

“Rose.”

Trevor.

Ryan immediately turned.

His eyes met Trevor’s, cool and unreadable.

Alicia looked over as well.

Rose’s brows drew together.

She had completely forgotten that Trevor had said he would come find her.

Now the three of them had ended up in the same place.

Trevor’s expression was grim.

He glanced at Rose before turning his cold gaze on Ryan.

“Mr. Knight,” he said, “what exactly was the point of everything you did today?”

Ryan’s expression didn’t change.

“Resolving the problem.”

“The situation involving Rose has nothing to do with you anymore,” Trevor said coldly. “You’re her ex-husband.”

Ryan looked at him calmly.

“If you could handle this properly and protect her and the child from the attacks, would I have needed to step in?”

Trevor’s expression hardened.

“There are plenty of ways to deal with this. What exactly are you trying to accomplish, Mr. Knight?”

His eyes narrowed.

“And do I need to remind you that Ariel’s last name is Robinson?”

The moment Trevor heard Ryan publicly announce that Ariel was his daughter, he had understood what Ryan was doing.

Ryan was moving first.

He was publicly tying Ariel to himself and Rose while pushing the Robinson family completely out of the picture.

Whether Ryan was trying to destroy Trevor’s relationship with Rose or had already discovered the truth about Ariel’s background and was deliberately laying the groundwork to protect Rose and Ariel in the future, neither possibility was good for the Robinson family.

If Ariel was publicly recognized as Ryan’s daughter, the Robinson family would have a much harder time using her against Rose.

Ryan slowly turned his gaze toward Trevor.

His voice was calm, but there was ice beneath it.

“This thing you keep calling the Robinson family’s—if it’s yours, no one can take it from you.”

His eyes hardened.

“But if it isn’t yours, why are you so determined to fight for it?”

Trevor’s jaw tightened.

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he stepped forward and caught Rose by the wrist.

“Rose. We need to talk.”

He had no intention of getting dragged into a pointless argument with Ryan.

He only wanted to get Rose away from him.

But before he could pull her away, Ryan reached out and caught her other wrist.

Rose froze.

For a moment, she was literally caught between them.

Trevor pulling from one side.

Ryan holding the other.

Her expression darkened instantly.

She was already dealing with more than enough.

The scandal.

The investigation at NYU.

The National Center for Biomedical Innovation.

The Robinson family.

And now the Knight family was preparing to come after her.

She had no patience left for this.

“Let go.”

Neither man moved.

Ryan looked at Trevor briefly before lowering his gaze to Rose.

“Don’t you think you owe me an explanation about the child?”

Trevor’s expression turned cold.

“Mr. Knight, show some restraint.”

He glanced down at Ryan’s hand around Rose’s wrist, his eyes darkening.

Alicia remained silent.

She stood off to the side, watching everything unfold.

Her hands slowly curled into fists.

Rose closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath.

The situation with the Robinson family was weighing heavily on her, too.

But at this point, Ariel was more important than anything else.

She looked at Trevor.

“I have things I need to deal with right now. Whether our wedding is postponed or canceled...” She paused. “I don’t think that’s something you and I can decide anymore.”

Trevor’s eyes darkened.

He had a feeling his mother had contacted Rose.

And whatever Julia had said, Rose had clearly taken it as another sign that the Robinson family was ready to abandon her.

After everything that had already happened with the bidding project, this was another blow.

Why did Rose always have to be the one paying the price for the Robinson family’s problems?

His chest tightened.

His expression grew darker.

His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed.

Without realizing it, his grip on Rose’s wrist loosened.

It lasted only a second.

But it was enough.

Rose slipped free.

Ryan immediately pulled her toward him and walked away.

Trevor instinctively reached out.

He took a long stride forward, ready to follow.

Then someone grabbed his arm from behind.

He stopped and turned.

Alicia was standing there.

She looked up at him.

“Mr. Robinson,” she said softly, “is the Robinson family planning to call off your wedding with Rose because of what happened?”

A chill passed through Trevor’s expression.

“The wedding will happen.”

Alicia hesitated.

Then she bit her lip.

“But Rose isn’t the one who did anything wrong. And the Taylor family won’t let this go easily, either.”

Trevor’s eyes narrowed.

Alicia continued carefully.

“Since the scandal broke, the Robinson family hasn’t released a statement. I can’t help wondering if the family intends to stay quiet and wait for the public attention to die down.”

She lowered her voice.

“But from Rose’s perspective, that would feel like abandonment.”

Trevor said nothing.

“And the Robinson family’s reputation has already been affected,” Alicia continued. “If you insist on going through with the wedding, there could be serious conflict within the family. It may not be as simple as you think.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Trevor’s voice was flat.

Alicia looked at him.

“I just think that after what happened today—especially after President Knight publicly claimed Ariel as his daughter—the Knight and Robinson families are bound to come into conflict.”

Trevor’s expression remained unreadable.

“I know Rose must be hurt by what the Robinson family has done,” Alicia said. “She may no longer want to marry you.”

Trevor’s jaw tightened.

“If the Robinson family insists on the marriage now, it could look like a direct declaration of war against the Knight family.”

She paused, watching his reaction.

“I’m only suggesting that you take a step back.”

Trevor stared at her.

“The public only knows that you’re planning a wedding. They don’t know who the bride is.”

Alicia’s voice became softer.

“If you want to give both families a way to save face, there is another option.”

Trevor’s eyes narrowed.

Alicia looked directly at him.

“Find another bride.”

Trevor went still.

“That would prove there was never anything inappropriate between Rose and the Robinson family. It would also help restore the Robinson family’s reputation.”

She spoke as though she were simply offering a practical solution.

“The biggest problem the Robinson family is facing right now is the accusation that it interfered in the Knight family’s marriage.”

Her eyes flickered.

“That scandal has already damaged the family’s public image.”

Alicia took a slow breath.

“If you replace the bride, the situation can be defused without forcing the two families into an open confrontation.”

Her voice was almost gentle.

“Then both families can walk away with their dignity intact.”