Rose was nearly overwhelmed by her emotions.
Embarrassment. Disgust. Anger. Fear.
The storm of emotions left her utterly drained.
But she knew one thing for certain.
Only an extreme reaction could stop them from demanding to search her phone.
She was a woman with secrets.
She couldn’t afford to take any risks.
James and Ryan were both stunned.
Was Rose really willing to go this far over a phone?
Even Mike, who had been crying at the top of his lungs moments ago, forgot to continue his act. He peeked out from Samantha’s arms and stared at Rose in surprise.
Ryan’s expression barely changed.
Yet the darkness gathering in his eyes was as cold as a winter night, devoid of even the slightest warmth.
His gaze slowly shifted from Rose’s face to the shattered phone on the floor.
“So,” he said quietly, “I suppose I can’t look?”
Rose had never been someone who easily lost control of her emotions.
Yet her behavior today suggested there was something hidden inside that phone—something she absolutely could not allow anyone to see.
The atmosphere grew unbearably tense.
Ignoring everyone’s reactions and refusing to answer Ryan’s question, Rose bent down and picked up the broken phone.
Then she turned to Samantha.
“No one likes looking at something unpleasant, and no one likes keeping trash on their phone. You started this, and now my phone is broken. You’ll be paying for it.”
Samantha immediately frowned.
“I didn’t break it. Are you even being reasonable?”
Rose brushed the dust off the cracked screen.
“It wasn’t yours to begin with, yet you were the one fighting to take it. Funny how thieves always find a way to act righteous afterward.”
Samantha’s expression darkened instantly.
The sarcasm in Rose’s voice was impossible to miss.
Ryan knew her words were harsh.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Do I need to teach you how to speak properly?”
Recently, Rose seemed to have developed a rebellious side.
Or perhaps this was who she had always been.
Her instinct to protect what mattered to her was obvious.
Rose clenched her fists.
“Oh, right. I forgot Miss Hill is practically a public figure. A scandal involving a romantic relationship with her cousin would certainly be inconvenient. I’ll be more careful next time.”
Samantha’s face changed.
Rose was deliberately being cruel.
She couldn’t help glancing at Ryan.
Fortunately, Ryan appeared completely unmoved.
His expression remained cold and indifferent.
There was even a trace of displeasure in his eyes.
Samantha finally relaxed.
Just then, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
A server hurried over.
Although she clearly sensed the strange tension in the room, she still approached Rose as instructed.
“Miss Bennett?”
Rose turned toward her.
“Your dinner guest is waiting for you in the private dining room on the fourth floor. Whenever you’re ready, you may head down.”
The moment those words were spoken, every pair of eyes turned toward Rose.
No one had expected this.
James was the first to laugh.
Crossing his arms, he tilted his head and grinned.
“Miss Bennett, I’m impressed.”
After causing such a scene...
Now she actually had someone show up to back up her story?
A date?
Impossible.
In his mind, this was obviously another one of Rose’s schemes.
After all, she was Ryan’s wife.
What right did she have to meet another man?
Marriage was protected by law.
It wasn’t something to be treated like a game.
James glanced at Ryan’s expression and smirked.
“Looks like Ryan isn’t falling for your tricks. Maybe you should spend less time chasing after Ryan and more time building something of your own. Miss Hill could probably teach you a thing or two about how to establish yourself in society.”
The implication behind his words was obvious.
Samantha’s smile deepened slightly.
She believed Rose could never compare to her.
The marriage certificate meant nothing.
Sooner or later, Ryan would hand Rose a divorce certificate.
Ryan clearly had no interest in whatever drama Rose was trying to create.
Naturally, he gave no thought to this supposed date.
“Let her do whatever she wants,” he said indifferently.
Samantha was extremely satisfied with his response.
At least it meant Rose had failed.
Then she suddenly smiled.
“When I was video chatting with Ryan, I saw Aunt Isabella hit you. Are you feeling better now?”
The unexpected mention of that humiliation made Rose pause.
What caught her attention most, however, was the phrase “Aunt Isabella.”
Not long ago, Samantha had nearly become Isabella’s daughter-in-law.
Yet now that she was with Ryan, she had immediately changed her attitude.
Still, Rose understood exactly what Samantha was doing.
This wasn’t concern.
It was humiliation disguised as sympathy.
“I’m sorry,” Samantha said gently. “You ended up taking that slap because of me.”
James looked surprised.


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