Isabella was the first to notice Rose.
Her eyes lit up with exaggerated surprise.
"Well, look who’s here."
She smiled broadly.
"It’s been forever."
Beside her, Selena turned to look as well.
Her expression was much cooler.
She slowly looked Rose up and down, her gaze carrying open scrutiny.
Truthfully...
She hadn’t expected Rose’s career to take off the way it had.
Over the past several months, Rose had become one of NYU’s youngest and most sought-after associate professors. Her research was making headlines, invitations from major medical conferences kept pouring in, and her name came up constantly among New York’s social and business circles.
People couldn’t stop talking about her.
Many had even congratulated the Knight family.
"You’re so lucky to have a daughter-in-law like Dr. Bennett."
Every compliment only irritated Selena more.
Rose wasn’t surprised to see either of them.
Eleanor’s annual garden party always attracted New York’s old-money families, philanthropists, and business elites.
Of course the Knight family had received invitations.
Her phone vibrated.
Eleanor had texted again.
[I’m inside. Come find me whenever you get here.]
Rose replied with a quick thumbs-up and continued walking.
She didn’t even glance at Selena or Isabella.
That deliberate indifference immediately soured Selena’s mood.
Isabella was even more offended.
She hurried several steps forward and blocked Rose’s path.
"My, you’ve certainly changed."
Her smile disappeared.
"You walk right past your mother-in-law and your aunt-in-law without even saying hello?"
She folded her arms.
"I wonder if NYU knows how disrespectful one of its professors is."
Rose looked at her calmly.
"Your should worry more about your own family."
She smiled faintly.
"Last I checked, keeping your son out of federal prison would’ve been a better use of your time than policing my manners."
Isabella’s face instantly flushed red.
"You—"
"Rose."
Selena stepped forward.
Her voice turned icy.
"Is this how your parents raised you?"
"Do you have any respect for your elders?"
Rose slipped her phone into her purse.
Her smile never changed.
"If you’re looking for someone to wait on you..."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I’m sure your future daughter-in-law would be happy to."
"Maybe she’ll even draw you a warm bath every night."
"After all..."
She smiled sweetly.
"As Ryan’s aunt, you’ve certainly earned that privilege."
The words landed like a slap.
Everyone present understood exactly what she meant.
Selena had married into the Knight family after becoming involved with Ryan’s father.
The remark wasn’t subtle.
It was humiliating.
Selena’s face darkened instantly.
"Who taught you to speak like this?"
"You’ve completely lost your mind."
She glared at Rose.
"Do you really think you’ll still have a place in the Knight family after talking to me this way?"
Before Rose could answer, Isabella suddenly laughed.
"Oh, come now."
She looked at Selena with obvious amusement.
"She’s just being honest."
She shrugged dramatically.
"I mean..."
"You’re not Ryan’s biological mother."
"I can see why she doesn’t feel obligated to treat you like one."
Selena’s expression stiffened.
She immediately understood what Isabella was doing.
Within a family as powerful as the Knights, alliances shifted constantly.
Everyone smiled in public while quietly undermining one another.
No one missed an opportunity to gain leverage.
Selena’s expression became even colder.
Rose, meanwhile, had already lost interest.
She walked past them without another word.
"Rose!"
Eleanor hurried toward her from across the courtyard.
"Did those two bother you?"
Rose laughed.
"They tried."
"But I don’t think they enjoyed the conversation very much."
Eleanor couldn’t help smiling.
"You’ve always had a quick tongue."
She linked arms with Rose and led her toward the garden.
Crystal chandeliers glowed beneath a glass pavilion.
Live jazz drifted through the evening air.
Servers moved between tables carrying champagne, sparkling water, and elegant hors d’oeuvres.
Everywhere she looked were familiar faces from New York’s business and philanthropic circles.
Rose chose an empty table and sat down.
She had barely picked up a teacup before two chairs scraped against the floor.
Selena.
And Isabella.
Again.
Rose watched them sit with mild disbelief.
She almost regretted holding back earlier.



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