Chapter 375 The Truth Behind the Jade Pendant
It wasn’t that Oliver was trying to meddle.
He simply couldn’t ignore what was happening.
Year ago, when he’d asked Kevin at the television station to recommend the Hill family and Samantha for the show, he’d done it partly out of spite. He’d wanted to get revenge.
But the later staffing decisions had been Ryan’s idea—including putting Diana in charge of the entire production.
Oliver hadn’t understood why at the time.
It wasn’t until the live broadcast footage was leaked that everything clicked.
If Diana hadn’t been running the show—if someone else had been in charge—there was no guarantee anyone would have been willing to risk their career by turning the broadcast into a public disaster.
Most people protected their careers.
Diana didn’t.
She was Rose’s best friend. When it came to Rose, she was willing to go all in, even if it meant making the situation worse and dragging everyone into the fallout.
And that had made Oliver wonder about something else.
Ryan was Rose’s ex-husband.
So what exactly did he feel for her?
Because Rose was about to marry Trevor.
And yet Ryan still seemed far too involved.
Oliver couldn’t sit back and watch without knowing where his friend stood.
Ryan handed the tablet to Owen, who was standing behind him.
“You really haven’t outgrown the habit of sticking your nose into other people’s business.”
Oliver’s face flushed.
He thought about how he’d once defended Samantha and compared it with how anxious he now was about Rose’s future.
He cleared his throat.
“Ryan, I know I was biased before. I admit it.”
He paused.
“But things are different now. Do you really not care if Rose marries Trevor? You’re not going to do anything?”
Ryan kept moving.
“She has the right to make her own choices.”
“Then what are you choosing?”
Ryan stopped.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then his voice came quietly, without a trace of emotion.
“To do what needs to be done.”
Oliver stared at him.
He had absolutely no idea what that was supposed to mean.
******
Rose and Grace eventually agreed on a time to meet.
They chose the nursing home where Rose’s grandfather lived.
When Rose arrived, she immediately noticed that Grace looked different.
The usually carefree woman had clearly made an effort.
She was dressed formally, her hair carefully styled, as though she were attending an important occasion.
Rose understood why.
Grace was trying to show respect.
James had come with her.
The moment they saw Rose, both of them became visibly emotional.
Grace instinctively wanted to reach out and take Rose’s hand.
But she stopped herself.
She was afraid Rose might reject her.
James seemed even more uncomfortable.
When Rose looked at him with her usual guarded expression, embarrassment flashed across his face.
After a moment, he awkwardly asked, “Rose... how’s Ariel doing?”
After Rose had thrown him out of the hospital room the other day, he’d had no choice but sneak a look at Ariel from outside.
Now he was using the child as an excuse to start a conversation.
Rose gave a quiet nod.
“She’s fine.”
She knew they couldn’t discuss Ariel openly in front of her grandfather. If Gabriel became upset or confused, it could worsen his condition.
So she turned to Grace.
“Grandpa’s inside. Come with me.”
“Oh. Yes. Of course.”
Grace rubbed her hands together nervously before following her inside.
*****
Gabriel usually spent this time of day painting.
When Rose walked in, he looked up from his canvas.
“RoRo?”
His eyes moved to the two people behind her.
“Who are they?”
Rose opened her mouth.
For a moment, she couldn’t find the words.
Then Grace stepped forward.
Her voice was gentle.
“Mr. Bennett, I’m here because I need to confirm something with you. It concerns Rose.”
She reached into her bag and pulled out the jade pendant.
“This...”
The moment Gabriel saw it, the haze that usually clouded his expression seemed to disappear.
His eyes sharpened.
He reached out and grabbed the pendant.
“You...”
Grace took a deep breath.
“This pendant was specially made for my granddaughter many years ago. I commissioned it myself.”
The room fell silent.
Gabriel stared at the jade pendant.
His expression changed several times.
Finally, his hand began to tremble.
“So they finally came.”
He slowly raised his head.
His normally gentle, refined face suddenly became cold.
“The Taylor family?”
Rose’s heart tightened.
She had already suspected the truth.
But hearing her grandfather say it aloud made everything feel real.
Grace’s chest tightened as well.
“You knew?”
Gabriel slammed his fist against the table.
“Your family caused that poor girl Sophia so much suffering!”
His voice shook with anger.
“It was your son, wasn’t it? He broke his promise.”
Grace lowered her eyes.
Gabriel continued, his voice filled with years of resentment.
“Sophia was my daughter Morgan’s closest friend. Before she died, she entrusted her child to our family.”
He gripped the pendant tightly.
“She didn’t want that child dragged back into that family and forced to suffer.”
Rose stood frozen.
She hadn’t expected this.
Her grandfather had known.
He had known who she really was all along.
Grace’s face turned pale.
She knew what her son had done.
And for the first time, she fully understood why Sophia had wanted nothing to do with him.
But then Gabriel’s anger faded.
His shoulders slowly sagged.
“I don’t have much time left.”
His voice was suddenly quiet.
The old man who had spent years protecting Rose seemed smaller in that moment.
“My health is getting worse. Sometimes I don’t even remember things clearly.”
He looked at Rose.
His eyes filled with sadness.
“I can’t protect my RoRo forever.”
Rose’s throat tightened.
“One day, I’ll be gone.”
His voice broke.
“And she’ll be alone.”
He looked away, unable to hide the pain in his expression.
“I just... can’t bear that.”
The room fell silent.
Rose’s eyes burned.
She had already accepted the truth about her identity.
And after everything Derick had done, she had no desire to acknowledge him as her father.
But seeing her grandfather like this still hurt.
She swallowed hard and forced herself to smile.
James suddenly looked at Grace.
“Are you saying Rose really is... my sister?”
Grace’s breathing caught.
She immediately grabbed his arm.
Then she looked at Gabriel.
“I understand why you feel this way.”
Her voice was steady.
“I know the Taylor family wronged Sophia. I won’t pretend otherwise.”
She took a breath.
“But I promise you something.”
Grace looked directly into Gabriel’s eyes.
“I won’t let Rose suffer because of what happened before. Not even for a moment.”
Her voice trembled with emotion.
“I’ll protect her with everything I have. Even if it costs me my life.”
She squeezed James’s arm.
“My love for her won’t be any less than yours.”
Gabriel studied her carefully.
He could tell Grace was sincere.
He also knew he didn’t have the full story of what had happened all those years ago.
Only Morgan might have known everything.
So he couldn’t judge the entire Taylor family based on fragments of the past.
Instead, he beckoned Rose closer.
“RoRo, come here.”
Rose walked over.
Gabriel reached for her hand.
“Grandpa supports whatever decision you make.”
His voice was gentle.
“I’m not trying to force you into another family.”
He looked at her with unwavering affection.
“I just want you to have a choice.”
He squeezed her hand.
“You’re old enough to decide what kind of life you want.”
That was what worried him most.
If he died, who would protect Rose?
Who would stand beside her when the world turned against her?
No matter what happened, he wanted to leave her with something more secure than a single old man’s protection.
Rose blinked rapidly, fighting back tears.
“I know.”
She smiled.
“Grandpa loves me more than anyone.”
And she meant it.
She had no desire to acknowledge Derick.
Not now.
Perhaps not ever.
But Grace was different.
Rose could see that her intentions were genuine.
Grace opened her mouth.
“I...”
“Dr. Grace.”
A voice came from the doorway.
Rose froze.
Everyone turned.
Ryan was standing there.
No one knew how long he’d been there.
Grace’s expression immediately tightened.
James pressed his lips together.
“What are you doing here?”
Gabriel, however, didn’t seem bothered.
He immediately noticed Ryan’s leg.
“Ryan, what happened to your leg?”
Ryan wheeled himself inside.
“Nothing serious. Just a minor injury.”
Gabriel frowned.
“How did you hurt it?”
“An accident.”
Ryan answered calmly.
Grace, however, showed little interest in making him feel welcome.
She still remembered everything that had happened year ago.
She remembered the women who had constantly surrounded Ryan and the way Rose had been treated.
Her expression hardened.
Then, suddenly, an idea seemed to occur to her.
She looked at Gabriel.
“There’s something else you should know.”
Gabriel turned toward her.
Grace’s expression became almost mischievous.
“Rose had a childhood engagement.”
Rose’s eyes widened.
“Grandma...”
Grace ignored her.
“It was with a wonderful young man.”
She smiled.
“Would you like to meet him?”