Chapter 420 The Wedding

Chapter 420: Chapter 420 The Wedding

The moment Charlotte saw Ryan, her eyes stayed on him for several seconds.

Then she walked straight past Liam.

Ryan’s car had barely come to a stop before people began turning to look.

The rumors surrounding Ryan, Rose, and the Robinson family had been circulating for days. With so many people from the entertainment and business worlds gathered for the wedding, Ryan’s arrival was bound to attract attention.

Charlotte headed straight toward him.

She hadn’t seen Ryan since their engagement had fallen apart.

Not because she hadn’t wanted to.

She simply knew he had rejected her completely.

Still, the resentment had never entirely disappeared.

Ryan had never cared about sparing her feelings or protecting her pride.

Charlotte had always been confident. She wasn’t used to being rejected, and she certainly wasn’t used to losing.

Now, the only thing left from her old feelings for him was a lingering bitterness.

And, if she was being honest, a small amount of satisfaction at seeing him in this situation.

She stopped beside him.

“Well, Mr. Knight. I didn’t realize you were this generous.”

Ryan glanced at her but said nothing.

Charlotte smiled thinly.

“Coming to your ex-wife’s wedding in person to offer your congratulations? That’s almost noble.”

Ryan remained silent.

Charlotte crossed her arms.

“I’m curious, though. Are you really here to wish her well?”

She tilted her head.

“Or are you here because you finally realized you’re losing her?”

Still nothing.

Her smile disappeared.

“Come on, Ryan. Give me something.”

Ryan finally looked at her.

“Do you actually need an answer?”

His voice was flat.

“If you do, I can give you one.”

The complete lack of emotion in his expression irritated Charlotte more than anger would have.

It was like she’d thrown a punch and hit a pillow.

She gritted her teeth.

“You’re unbelievable.”

Ryan glanced at his watch.

Charlotte’s temper flared.

“With that attitude, you should be careful. One day you’ll bite your own tongue.”

“Then stay away from me.”

He said it so casually that Charlotte almost laughed.

Even now.

Even at Rose’s wedding.

He still managed to tell her to stay away from him.

She was about to fire back when another thought occurred to her.

She folded her arms and gave him a pointed look.

“You’d better keep that expression on your face all day.”

Ryan looked at her.

“Rose is marrying Trevor today.”

Charlotte smiled.

“So don’t stand there looking miserable later.”

She turned before he could respond.

After asking one of the staff members where Rose was, Charlotte headed upstairs.

*****

A few minutes later, Oliver arrived.

The moment he spotted Ryan, he hurried over.

“Ryan, what are you doing here?”

Ryan didn’t answer.

Oliver lowered his voice.

“Have you looked around?”

There were already dozens of guests in the venue, many of them well-known figures from the entertainment industry. Considering the rumors that had been circulating, Ryan’s presence had immediately become the center of attention.

People were whispering.

Some were openly watching him.

Others were pretending not to.

“Does it matter?”

Ryan’s gaze swept over the elaborate wedding decorations.

Oliver stared at him.

“Of course it matters.”

He lowered his voice even further.

“You clearly still have feelings for Rose.”

Ryan said nothing.

Oliver rubbed a hand over his face.

“Have you made any plans at all? Because once this ceremony starts, you’re going to lose your chance.”

Ryan remained silent.

Then he turned his head.

His attention settled on the people arriving through the entrance.

The Taylor family had begun to arrive.

But James was nowhere among them.

Oliver followed Ryan’s gaze.

Before he could say anything, Julia passed by.

She stopped when she saw Ryan.

“Mr. Knight.”

Her smile was polite.

“I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to come.”

Ryan looked at her.

Julia’s smile widened slightly.

“Perhaps I worried for nothing. Your presence here certainly makes it seem as though you’ve accepted Rose’s marriage.”

Ryan said nothing.

Julia continued as if they’d just exchanged pleasantries.

“Either way, you can rest assured. The Robinson family will honor everything we’ve agreed to. I expect the Knight family to do the same.”

She was particularly interested in making sure the business side of the agreement went through without complications.

It was an unusual partnership.

The Knight and Robinson families had spent years competing with each other.

Yet today, they were standing on the same side.

Ryan’s mouth curved into a faint, humorless smile.

“President Ellis, I have to admit, I’m impressed.”

Julia raised an eyebrow.

“You used to think highly of Rose.”

His gaze sharpened.

“And now you’ve traded her for a business deal.”

Julia didn’t look offended.

Instead, she smiled.

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Ryan’s expression didn’t change.

“As for Rose, she’s young. She’ll adjust.”

Julia’s tone was matter-of-fact.

“Once she starts her life with Trevor, she’ll eventually move on. And if they want children, they can have them.”

She spoke as though the matter had already been settled.

Then she gave Ryan a courteous nod and walked away to greet another group of guests.

Ryan watched her leave.

There was no visible anger on his face.

Only a quiet, unreadable expression.

Oliver looked between them.

“What exactly was that supposed to mean?”

Ryan didn’t answer.

He simply lifted his chin slightly and looked toward the upper floor.

*****

When Charlotte found Rose, she was sitting in front of the vanity while the makeup artist worked around her.

Several stylists were moving in and out of the room.

Rose barely noticed any of them.

Her attention was fixed on her phone.

Charlotte walked over.

“It’s your wedding day.”

She dropped into the chair beside Rose and crossed her legs.

“Why do you look like you’re waiting for someone to tell you you’re being sentenced?”

Rose looked up.

She seemed surprised to see Charlotte.

“Miss Mercer, can I borrow your phone?”

Charlotte blinked.

“My phone?”

“I need to make a call.”

Something about Rose’s expression made Charlotte stop asking questions.

She pulled out her phone and handed it over.

“You look awful, by the way.”

Rose didn’t react.

Charlotte studied her.

“You’re not actually willing to do this, are you?”

Rose didn’t answer.

Charlotte frowned.

“If you don’t want to marry him, don’t.”

She shrugged.

“Seriously. Don’t marry someone just because everyone else expects you to. A bad marriage can ruin your life.”

Rose finally looked at her.

There was something unexpectedly sincere in Charlotte’s expression.

Rose had always assumed she was nothing more than a spoiled, arrogant heiress.

Apparently, she’d been wrong.

Rose quickly entered Diana’s number.

Charlotte’s phone didn’t even have a passcode.

The call connected.

Then immediately went to voicemail.

Rose’s expression changed.

She tried again.

The same thing happened.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

Diana’s phone was off.

Again.

Rose’s heart sank.

Something had happened.

Diana would never disappear like this.

Not today.

Not after promising to help.

The evidence she had been counting on hadn’t arrived.

And now she couldn’t even reach the one person who was supposed to have it.

Rose stared at the screen.

What had happened to Diana?

Charlotte noticed the sudden change in her expression.

“You’re really pale.”

She leaned closer.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

Rose didn’t answer.

The door opened.

Trevor walked in.

His gaze landed briefly on Charlotte before settling on Rose.

“Rose.”

His voice was gentler than usual.

“It’s almost time. You need to come downstairs.”

Rose looked at him.

She said nothing.

Everyone was pushing her toward this marriage.

The Robinson family.

Trevor.

The circumstances surrounding Ariel.

Everyone expected her to walk down that aisle and accept what had been decided for her.

But Rose had no intention of giving them the ending they wanted.

If they insisted on putting her wedding under the spotlight, then she would use that spotlight against them.

Today wasn’t going to be their victory.

It was going to be her last gamble.

“All right.”

Her voice was calm.

Charlotte watched her carefully.

Something about Rose’s expression bothered her.

This wasn’t the face of a bride.

It was the face of someone preparing for battle.

Trevor looked at Charlotte.

“Miss Mercer, please head downstairs.”

Charlotte stood.

“Sure.”

Before leaving, she gave Rose one last look.

Then she walked out.

*****

Downstairs, Charlotte immediately spotted Ryan.

She made her way through the crowd and stopped in front of him.

“Hey.”

Ryan looked at her.

Charlotte lowered her voice.

“I think you should know something.”

Ryan’s expression remained unreadable.

Charlotte glanced toward the staircase.

“Rose looks like she’s being forced into this wedding.”

She looked back at him.

“Did you know that?”