Trick Him Into Divorce, Then Flee With His Unknow Kid novel Chapter 364

Chapter 364: Chapter 364 A Return to the Knight Estate

Rose hadn’t expected Ryan to be standing—or rather, sitting—in the doorway.

And only a few seconds earlier, she’d actually told Ariel to call him Dad.

The realization made her spine stiffen ever so slightly.

But she kept her expression perfectly calm and continued slicing the apple.

"Why are you here? I thought it was Trevor."

Ryan was still unable to stand or walk.

His wheelchair was electric, which explained why he’d entered the room so quietly.

At Rose’s words, his gaze turned noticeably colder.

He didn’t respond to her comment.

Instead, he maneuvered the wheelchair directly to Ariel’s bedside.

"Are you still hurting anywhere?"

He looked at Ariel.

Ariel’s bright eyes flicked toward her mother before returning to Ryan.

Something about the atmosphere between the adults felt strange.

She couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

She shook her head.

"I’m feeling much better."

After a moment, Ariel studied Ryan’s face.

Her own little world was still trying to make sense of what had happened.

"Aren’t you scared?"

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

"Scared of what?"

Ariel lifted her hand as high as she could.

"It was really high."

She looked at him seriously.

"Why did you come save me?"

That was what she couldn’t understand.

Why would this man risk his life for her?

Were grown-ups really this kind to each other?

Rose frowned slightly.

She hadn’t expected Ryan and Ariel to start having such a serious conversation.

Ryan thought about the question.

"Looking back, it was pretty high."

He paused.

"But at the time, I didn’t have time to think about whether I was scared."

Ariel blinked.

Then she asked bluntly,

"Uncle, do you like me?"

Ryan looked at her.

Ariel continued before he could answer.

"Or did you save me because of Mom?"

Her eyes darted between them.

Then, with the straightforwardness only a child could possess, she asked,

"Or do you like my mom?"

The room went completely silent.

Rose froze.

She hadn’t expected Ariel to make that leap.

And she certainly hadn’t expected her to ask it so directly.

Rose instinctively looked at Ryan, almost ready to say that children sometimes said whatever came into their heads.

But Ryan’s expression hadn’t changed at all.

Instead, he looked at Ariel with mild curiosity.

"Do you know what it means to like someone?"

Ariel nodded immediately.

"Of course."

She thought about it.

"It’s like how I like Mom."

She began counting on her fingers.

"I care about how she feels. If I have something yummy to eat, I want to share it with her. If I see something fun, I want her to enjoy it with me."

Then she smiled.

"It’s like Daddy, too. Daddy likes Mom, so he takes care of her. Sometimes Mom gets so tired she can barely stay awake, and Daddy helps her put on her coat."

Ariel tilted her head.

"What about you, Uncle?"

Her voice became serious.

"Did you save me because you were scared Mom would be sad?"

Rose nearly cut the apple too deeply.

The knife slipped slightly.

She quickly steadied it.

Ryan seemed genuinely thoughtful for a moment.

Then he asked,

"What do you think?"

Ariel reached for the small cup of yoghurt sitting on the bedside table.

She placed it in Ryan’s hand.

"My mom is wonderful. Of course people would like her."

She looked very serious.

"But I’m not going to help you steal her away."

Rose stared at her daughter.

Ariel continued firmly.

"My daddy is going to marry Mom."

She folded her little arms.

"You saved me, so I’ll repay you."

She nodded decisively.

"But I’ll repay you in a different way."

Ryan looked at her.

There was an unmistakable determination in the little girl’s expression.

Rose had always known Ariel had a mind of her own.

But this...

This was something else.

Children saw the world in simple terms.

For Ariel, if someone saved her, they were good.

If someone loved her mother, they belonged in one category or another.

But the adult world wasn’t nearly that simple.

A person could risk everything for someone without being in love with them.

Guilt could motivate people.

Responsibility could.

Duty.

Regret.

Even reasons that had nothing to do with affection.

Ryan seemed somewhat surprised by Ariel’s response.

The little girl was young, but she already had a remarkably clear sense of right and wrong.

He didn’t argue with her.

"All right."

He lifted the yoghurt slightly.

"Thank you for this. I’ll consider it repayment."

Ariel stared at him.

"That’s it?"

"That’s enough."

Ariel looked at him suspiciously.

Then she turned to Rose.

"Mom, Uncle seems really nice."

Rose:

"..."

She didn’t know what to say.

Ryan was far too good at controlling a conversation.

How was a child supposed to see through him?

And somehow, he’d still managed to leave Ariel with an excellent impression.

Rose walked over and placed the sliced apple on the table.

Then she looked down at Ryan.

"Let’s talk outside."

Once she’d separated herself emotionally from the Knights, the place had lost much of its power over her.

Ryan was helped from the car and settled back into his wheelchair.

He tilted his head toward Rose.

"Push me."

Rose stared at him.

"Did you remove the battery?"

"Yes."

She paused.

He was injured.

He was, at least publicly, the person who had saved Ariel’s life.

And this was the Knight family’s territory.

Rose sighed.

She walked behind him, took hold of the wheelchair and pushed him toward the house.

The moment they entered the estate, Rose noticed something different.

There were far more senior members of the Knight family around than usual.

Several board members were present as well.

One by one, their eyes landed on Rose and Ryan.

More specifically, they stared at Ryan’s wheelchair.

Some looked surprised.

Others looked suspicious.

Ryan ignored every single one of them.

He offered no explanation.

He simply sat there with his usual detached expression.

As they entered the spacious reception hall, Rose suddenly spotted Ethan coming down the staircase.

He looked unusually pleased with himself.

Almost cheerful.

Then he saw Ryan.

His smile disappeared.

For a second, Ethan simply stared.

"Ryan?"

His eyes moved to the wheelchair.

"What happened to you?"

Ryan raised his head.

Their eyes met.

Ethan hesitated.

Then he remembered why everyone had gathered at the estate today.

The board meeting.

The disciplinary action.

Ryan’s leaked company strategy.

The end of Ryan’s dominance at headquarters.

His confidence returned.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"We’re having a family meeting today to announce the punishment for leaking confidential company information, aren’t we?"

His gaze swept over Ryan’s injured body.

"Now you’ve suddenly shown up in a wheelchair."

He smiled.

"Don’t tell me this is some kind of stunt to make everyone feel sorry for you."

Rose’s expression immediately cooled.

She’d never liked Ethan.

And after everything he’d done, she had even less patience for him now.

She looked him up and down.

"If playing the victim were enough to win a board vote, why don’t you spend every day in the boardroom banging your head against the wall?"

Ethan’s smile vanished.

His jaw tightened.

Rose didn’t even blink.

"Maybe then everyone would feel sorry for you, too."

Ethan’s face darkened.

For the first time that day, his good mood was completely gone.