Chapter 419 One Last Chance

Chapter 419: Chapter 419 One Last Chance

Rose couldn’t sit around and wait for everything to be taken from her.

And she certainly wasn’t going to let Trevor blackmail her into marrying him just because he had put himself in a position to help.

Maybe years ago, she would have felt indebted to him.

Maybe she would have convinced herself that she owed him enough to compromise.

But not anymore.

The Robinson family had made their choice.

So had Ryan.

And now Rose had to make hers.

The Knight family was already against her.

Now the Robinson family was, too.

She reached for her phone, intending to call Diana.

Before she could, Diana’s name appeared on the screen.

Rose answered immediately.

“Rose.”

Diana sounded furious—and guilty.

“I just found out about Ariel. There was a huge fight at the Robinson family meeting today. They’re planning to hand Ariel over to the Knight family as part of the deal.”

Rose closed her eyes.

“I know.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Diana, it’s not your fault.”

Diana was from a branch of the Robinson family. She had connections, but she didn’t have the authority to overturn a decision made by the family’s senior members.

And unlike the people sitting in that meeting, Diana loved Ariel.

She had watched the little girl grow up and treated her like family.

She knew exactly what losing Ariel would do to Rose.

“But now Ryan is fighting you for custody,” Diana said anxiously. “And the Knight family has offered the Robinsons something huge in exchange. What are we supposed to do?”

Rose looked out into the dark street.

“Are they still meeting?”

“Yes. They’re still discussing everything. The business side of the deal is complicated, so they’re taking their time.”

Rose drew a slow breath.

Then she said, “Diana, I need your help.”

“Tell me what you need.”

“I don’t have many options left.”

Diana didn’t hesitate.

“The Robinson family is the one breaking its word. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it. I’m not going to sit back and watch them take Ariel from you.”

For the first time that night, Rose felt a little warmth break through the anger and fear consuming her.

She tightened her grip on the phone.

“Then listen carefully.”

She lowered her voice.

“What they’re doing is wrong. The Robinson family is negotiating over my daughter’s custody without even speaking to me, and the Knight family is using their money and influence to make it happen.”

Rose paused.

“If this becomes public, neither family will want to deal with the fallout. That’s why they’re trying to handle it quietly.”

Diana immediately understood.

“What are you thinking?”

“I want you to record whatever you can from that meeting.”

Diana went silent.

Rose continued.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to make sure this doesn’t stay private.”

“You want to expose them?”

“Yes.”

Rose’s eyes hardened.

“If I can prove that the two families are making a private deal involving Ariel’s custody, I’ll have something to take to court. Once the public knows what’s happening, they’ll have to think twice before they move against me.”

It wasn’t a perfect plan.

Rose knew that.

If Diana couldn’t get solid evidence, or if the story failed to gain public attention, the situation could become even harder to control.

But doing nothing wasn’t an option.

She had to create leverage of her own.

“Rose...”

Diana hesitated.

“If I help you, the Robinson family might come after me.”

Rose’s heart tightened.

“Your position in the family—”

“So what?”

Diana cut her off.

“They’re not going to kill me.”

Her voice softened.

“Besides, they’re the ones in the wrong. You’re my best friend. If I stand by and watch them destroy your life, how am I any better than they are?”

Rose closed her eyes.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I’m heading back there now.”

Diana sounded determined.

“I’ll get you something useful. Just wait for me.”

The call ended.

Rose remained crouched on the pavement.

Her legs had gone numb from sitting there so long.

But she barely noticed.

She had one last chance.

One last move.

And she couldn’t afford to get it wrong.

*****

Time passed.

Rose sat staring at Grace’s name on her phone.

Her thumb hovered over the screen for a long time before she finally called.

The phone rang several times.

When someone finally answered, it wasn’t Grace.

“Miss Bennett?”

It was Grace’s assistant.

“Are you looking for Dr. Grace? She’s currently in D.C attending a seminar. I’ll get her for you.”

Rose hesitated.

“Is she asleep?”

“No. She’s in a meeting with several visiting scholars right now.”

The assistant laughed softly.

“But she’s been talking about your wedding nonstop. She actually told me this morning to book her on the earliest flight tomorrow. She wants to finish everything here and get back in time. She absolutely refuses to miss your wedding.”

Rose said nothing for a moment.

Then she quietly replied, “It’s fine. I’ll see her tomorrow.”

She ended the call.

For now, Rose had a way to delay the custody transfer.

But Trevor had been right about one thing.

The Robinson and Knight families were now working together.

If they decided to push this through, the Taylor family would be walking into a fight where they were already at a disadvantage.

And Rose still wasn’t ready to turn to the man who was supposed to be her father.

She didn’t want anything from him.

Not now.

*****

Rose didn’t sleep that night.

Diana never answered her messages.

By early morning, Rose was still awake.

The winter sky outside was barely beginning to lighten when a car pulled up outside.

A few minutes later, someone knocked on her door.

Rose opened it.

Several people stood outside.

“Miss Bennett,” one of them said politely, “we’re here to take you to the venue. The guests will begin arriving around ten, so we need to get you ready as soon as possible.”

Rose looked at them.

She understood immediately.

Trevor wasn’t giving her an opportunity to disappear.

He had already made arrangements.

The wedding was happening whether she wanted it or not.

Her expression remained cold.

But unlike the night before, she wasn’t angry.

She gave them a faint, humorless smile.

“I understand.”

Rose turned around and walked back into her bedroom.

She opened the deepest drawer of her dresser.

Inside was the custody waiver Ryan had signed the previous year.

She stared at the document for several seconds.

Then she picked it up, folded it carefully, and slipped it into her purse.

After that, she got into the waiting car.

*****

The wedding venue looked like something out of a magazine.

Every detail had been designed to be elegant, expensive, and romantic.

Flowers.

Crystal.

Soft lighting.

Perfectly arranged tables.

Everything was ready for the wedding of the year.

Rose stood in the middle of it all and felt absolutely nothing.

She might as well have been a stranger who had wandered into someone else’s celebration.

Staff rushed around her.

The makeup artist and stylist were already preparing everything she would need. Assistants checked decorations, photographers tested equipment, and coordinators moved from one room to another making sure nothing was out of place.

Rose was escorted into the bridal suite.

Her wedding dress hung in the center of the room.

She looked at it.

There was no excitement.

No anticipation.

Not even sadness.

Just emptiness.

She set down her purse, took out her phone, and called Diana.

Nothing.

She tried again.

This time, there wasn’t even a ringing tone.

The call went straight to a disconnected line.

Rose frowned.

She checked the screen.

Her phone was working.

She called again.

Nothing.

A strange feeling settled in her stomach.

Something was wrong.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

Where was Diana?

Why wasn’t she answering?

*****

The sound of dress shoes approaching echoed through the room.

Rose looked up.

She saw Trevor’s reflection in the mirror.

He looked immaculate in a tailored suit, every detail carefully arranged. The usual severity in his features had softened slightly today.

Their eyes met in the mirror.

“I’m glad you came.”

Rose lowered her gaze.

“As if I had much choice.”

Trevor’s expression changed slightly.

Rose didn’t elaborate.

If she could have taken Ariel and disappeared, she would have done it without hesitation.

But running wasn’t going to solve this.

Not anymore.

Trevor seemed to notice the distance between them.

He studied her for a moment before saying quietly, “Rose, trust me this time.”

She remained silent.

“I’ll protect you and Ariel.”

Rose didn’t answer.

Trevor didn’t push.

“Go get changed. I’ll go downstairs and greet the guests.”

He turned to leave.

Rose looked at the clock.

One hour.

She had one hour left.

Diana had to come through.

If she could get the evidence, everything would change.

There would be witnesses everywhere today. The families couldn’t simply drag her away or quietly take Ariel without risking a public scandal.

That was the opportunity Rose needed.

She only had to hold on a little longer.

*****

Downstairs, a car pulled up outside the venue.

Charlotte stepped out.

The Mercer family had also been invited.

She adjusted her coat and instinctively looked around.

She was searching for Ryan.

Behind her, Liam frowned at his phone.

He had been staring at the same message thread for several minutes.

Diana still hadn’t replied.

That wasn’t normal.

She was practically glued to her phone. Going this long without answering was unusual enough to make him worry.

Charlotte glanced back at him.

“What are you staring at?”

Liam didn’t bother hiding his concern.

“Didi hasn’t answered me.”

’Didi’ was Diana’s nickname, and Charlotte knew exactly who he meant.

“I’m worried about her.”

Charlotte looked at him for a moment.

She honestly couldn’t understand how two people could have been together for so many years and still look at each other like they were the only people in the room.

So devoted.

So inseparable.

She found herself thinking about Ryan.

Would he be like that if he truly loved someone?

Would he worry about her the same way?

Before she could think any further, a voice behind them suddenly said, “President Knight is here.”