Chapter 355 The Choice That Broke Her
Samantha’s words made Derick’s expression change.
He turned toward Rose.
At some point, she had opened her eyes.
There was no anger in them. No pain. No resentment.
Nothing.
Just a terrifying, almost unnatural calm.
It was the kind of calm that came after a person had already expected the worst and finally heard it confirmed.
For some reason, that look made Derick’s chest tighten.
His expression darkened.
He had never intended to abandon Rose completely. This was only a temporary decision.
There had already been bad blood and misunderstandings between Samantha and Victoria. Once Samantha escaped, there was no telling what she might do to Victoria out of spite.
And Rose was still Samantha’s most valuable shield.
As long as Rose remained in Samantha’s hands, Samantha wouldn’t dare make a move against her.
“That’s not what I meant.”
The words came out almost instinctively.
Something in Rose’s expression made Derick feel as though he had been burned.
Victoria quickly stepped in.
“Derick cares deeply about his daughter. He only said that because he was under pressure. He didn’t mean it that way, Miss Bennett. Please don’t misunderstand him.”
“Shut up!”
James was practically shaking with rage.
He couldn’t bear to watch Rose stand there and take it.
Who wouldn’t be hurt by being abandoned by their own father?
Especially when it happened in front of everyone.
Samantha, on the other hand, was delighted.
For once, Rose had been pushed aside.
As long as someone was willing to give up on Rose, Samantha didn’t care who it was.
She looked directly at Rose.
“Remember what I told you. Look at you now. Even if you really are the Taylor family’s daughter, nobody cares about you.”
Her smile turned cruel.
“Blood ties can’t compete with the bond people build by living together year after year. So tell me, Rose... what exactly are you to them?”
Rose had known the answer for a long time.
She simply hadn’t been strong enough to face it.
The substance in her system had not been fully metabolized yet, leaving her body weak and heavy.
But then she heard Derick choose Victoria.
She couldn’t even explain what she felt.
Was it disappointment?
Had she expected something different?
Or had she simply been afraid that this exact moment would come?
The irony was that she had spent the past few days slowly accepting the truth about her identity. She had prepared herself mentally for everything that might follow.
And yet, hearing Derick’s decision still sent a cold ache through her chest.
That was when she finally understood something.
Some feelings had nothing to do with reason.
They were instinctive.
And Samantha knew exactly where to strike.
She wasn’t satisfied with destroying Rose physically.
She wanted to break her emotionally, too.
Rose forced herself upright.
Her body protested with every movement, but she ignored it.
She didn’t look at Derick.
Instead, her cold gaze settled on Samantha.
“Is this the only way you can make yourself feel important?”
Samantha’s expression stiffened.
Rose’s eyes shifted to Ariel.
The little girl was still being held tightly against Samantha.
Ariel’s eyes were red.
She hadn’t cried.
She hadn’t screamed.
She had stayed remarkably quiet through everything.
But the moment she saw Rose awake, she tried to run to her.
“Mommy!”
Samantha caught her before she could get more than a step away.
Rose’s heart clenched.
“Samantha.”
Her voice was cold.
“Let Ariel go, and I’ll cooperate with whatever you want.”
Samantha raised an eyebrow.
Rose continued, “Ariel is a Robinson. You’re smart enough to understand what that means. You don’t want to turn the entire Robinson family into your enemy.”
She deliberately emphasized the words.
“A Robinson.”
Ryan’s eyes shifted toward Rose.
Samantha understood immediately.
Children were the future of a family. Ariel was the Robinson family’s only real leverage in this situation.
Samantha had kidnapped her for money.
She had never intended to destroy the Robinson family completely.
Her real enemies were Rose and Victoria.
Rose had stood in the way of her becoming part of the Taylor family.
Victoria had taken away everything Samantha believed should have been hers.
Trevor immediately seized the opportunity.
“Send the money you want. We’ll transfer it right now. Once you receive it, you release Ariel.”
His voice was controlled, but there was urgency beneath it.
Samantha hesitated.
Then she slowly relaxed.
Just one more step.
One final step.
Then she would be out of here.
Her eyes drifted toward Ryan.
Even now, he stood there with that same unreadable expression.
For a moment, something almost like reluctance crossed Samantha’s face.
Then she looked back at him.
“I know why you came here.”
Her voice softened.
“You came because you don’t want anything to happen to her.”
She tightened her grip on Ariel.
“So I’ll make one final demand.”
Her eyes locked onto Ryan.
“I want you to come with me.”
Ryan’s expression didn’t change.
“I want you on the plane with me. Once I’m somewhere safe, I’ll let you and Rose go.”
It was a lie.
Samantha had no intention of releasing Rose that easily.
Rose was still her insurance.
Until Samantha was completely safe, she wouldn’t let go of her only bargaining chip.
“Agreed.”
Ryan answered without hesitation.
Samantha froze for half a second.
Then relief flooded her face.
Ryan lifted his eyes toward the sky.
A helicopter was approaching in the distance.
The sound of its rotors grew louder with every passing second.
Samantha smiled.
She had finally made it.
Sometimes, all a person needed was one chance.
One desperate gamble.
If she stayed here, her life would be ruined.
She refused to accept that.
She refused to watch everything she had fought for rot away.
“I’ll go with you.”
Ryan stepped forward.
“But let Ariel go first.”
He moved slowly toward Samantha.
One step.
Then another.
At the same time, his eyes met Trevor’s.
Neither man said a word.
They didn’t need to.
They understood each other.
Ryan would draw Samantha’s attention.
Trevor would get Rose.
Trevor subtly shifted his position.
His target was Rose.
Samantha didn’t notice.
Her attention had already turned toward the approaching helicopter.
It was getting closer.
Closer.
The helipad on the roof was directly ahead.
The wind began to whip violently across the rooftop.
Samantha’s hair flew around her face as the helicopter descended.
Soon, she would be gone.
She could leave the country.
Start over somewhere else.
Live the wealthy life she had always wanted as though none of this had ever happened.
And Ryan would be going with her.
The thought made her smile.
The helicopter began its final descent.
The force of the rotors intensified.
The wind became powerful enough to make everyone struggle to keep their footing.
Then—
“Ah!”
Victoria suddenly screamed.
She shot to her feet.
The violent wind caught her off balance, sending her stumbling sideways toward the edge.
Derick reacted without thinking.
“Victoria!”
He lunged toward her.
The sudden movement threw the rooftop into chaos.
Samantha’s face changed.
Something was wrong.
She instinctively reached out and shoved Rose, who was standing closest to her.
But before she could do anything else, Trevor was already moving.
He rushed forward, grabbed Rose around the waist, and yanked her away from the edge.
Samantha’s eyes widened.
“No!”
She had lost one of her bargaining chips.
Panic took over.
She grabbed Ariel and pulled the little girl against her.
But the sudden movement, combined with the violent force of the helicopter’s rotor wash, threw Samantha off balance.
She stumbled.
Her foot slipped.
For one terrifying second, she was about to go over the edge.
Instinct took control.
Without thinking, Samantha shoved Ariel away from her.
She was only trying to save herself.
But the force of the push sent the little girl straight toward the edge.
“Ariel!”
Rose screamed.
Ariel’s tiny body struck the edge of the rooftop.
For one horrible second, she hung there.
Then—
She fell.
“No!”
Rose broke free of Trevor’s grasp and rushed forward.
But someone was already moving.
A figure sprinted toward the edge.
Long legs launched off the rooftop.
There was no hesitation.
No time to think.
The figure dove after Ariel and caught the little girl in midair.
For one brief instant, Rose saw them together.
One large body.
One tiny body.
Then both disappeared over the edge.
They plunged toward the ground.