Chapter 312 A Thorn Between Them
Samantha hadn’t expected Ryan to support her so decisively.
Ever since he had rejected her earlier that day, uneasiness had lingered in the back of her mind.
She had wondered if something had changed.
She had wondered whether Ryan was beginning to distance himself from her.
But now...
Every one of those doubts seemed to disappear.
Ryan was standing beside her.
He hadn’t dismissed her accusations.
Nor had he asked her to let the matter go.
Instead, he had agreed to a full investigation.
That alone was enough to reassure her.
Her eyes reddened almost instantly.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at him, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Ryan..."
"If you weren’t here..."
"I don’t know how I would’ve faced all of this."
She lowered her head, clutching her bleeding arm.
"I almost died tonight."
"If Lucas hadn’t managed to stop that car..."
She shuddered at the memory.
"I would’ve been killed."
Ryan said nothing.
He simply stood beside her, his expression unreadable.
To Samantha, his silence felt like support.
But Rose Bennett understood something very different.
She looked at Ryan for several long moments.
The corners of her lips curled upward into a faint, bitter smile.
"So..."
"You really believe I would do something like this?"
Her voice wasn’t loud.
Yet everyone nearby heard it clearly.
Ryan met her gaze calmly.
His expression remained composed.
"I didn’t say that."
Rose let out a quiet laugh.
"No?"
She took one slow step toward him.
"Then why agree to let her accuse me of attempted murder without a single piece of evidence?"
Around them, the crowd had grown noticeably larger.
Several bystanders were openly filming.
Others whispered among themselves as they tried to understand what had happened.
Ryan’s eyes remained steady.
"If someone believes a crime has been committed..."
"They have the right to report it."
"The police can determine the facts."
His tone was measured.
Almost detached.
"There is nothing wrong with following the legal process."
Rose stared at him.
Technically...
He wasn’t wrong.
Anyone had the right to report a suspected crime.
But that wasn’t what hurt.
What hurt was that Ryan hadn’t questioned Samantha even once.
He hadn’t asked for evidence.
He hadn’t reminded her to stay rational.
Instead...
He had simply stood beside her.
As he always did.
Rose lowered her eyes briefly before looking back at him.
"I understand."
Her voice had become noticeably colder.
"If that’s your decision..."
"I have no objection."
She paused.
"But I won’t accept being treated like a criminal before the investigation has even begun."
Ryan gave a slight nod.
"Nor should you."
Those simple words somehow made Rose feel even more exhausted.
She laughed softly.
"You’re remarkably fair."
There wasn’t the slightest trace of warmth in her smile.
Silence settled between them.
Even Samantha sensed the subtle tension.
She instinctively moved closer to Ryan.
Her injured arm trembled violently from blood loss.
"Ryan..."
She whispered weakly.
"It hurts."
Only then did Ryan glance at her wound again.
Blood continued soaking through the handkerchief she had wrapped around it.
He frowned almost imperceptibly.
"You need medical treatment."
Before Samantha could respond—
Rose spoke first.
"Go."
She looked directly at Ryan.
"Take care of your girlfriend."
"I’ll handle everything related to G.S."
She turned to leave.
After only two steps—
Ryan’s calm voice sounded behind her once again.
"One more thing."
Rose stopped walking.
Without turning around, she waited.
Ryan looked toward the damaged sedan parked against the curb.
"The vehicle should remain here."
Rose slowly turned back.
Ryan continued,
"I’ll arrange for an independent towing company to take it directly to a certified inspection facility."
He paused briefly before adding,
"That way, no one can question the integrity of the evidence."
For several seconds...
Rose simply looked at him.
Then she finally understood what he meant.
If G.S. recovered the vehicle first...
People might accuse the company of altering or destroying evidence.
If Ryan arranged the inspection instead...
The investigation would appear completely impartial.
Logically...
It made sense.
Emotionally...
It felt like another knife.
He was protecting Samantha from future doubts.
At the same time...
He was protecting the investigation from any suspicion involving Rose.
It was the correct decision.
Yet somehow...
It still hurt.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"So..."
"You don’t even trust my company to preserve its own evidence."
Ryan answered without hesitation.
"This isn’t about trust."
"It’s about avoiding unnecessary speculation."
Rose nodded once.
"I see."
She didn’t argue further.
There was no point.
She looked toward Lucas instead.
"Let’s go."
Lucas hesitated.
"Miss Bennett..."
"What about the car?"
Rose smiled faintly.
"Mr. Knight has already made the arrangements."
"We’ll cooperate fully."
Lucas glanced uncertainly between the two of them before finally nodding.
"Understood."
Rose turned away.
This time...
She didn’t look back.
Lucas hurried after her.
Watching her retreating figure, Ryan remained silent.
The flashing lights of approaching police vehicles reflected across the damaged sedan.
A few moments later, another black SUV pulled up beside the curb.
Ryan had called it earlier.
The driver immediately stepped out and opened the rear passenger door.
Samantha’s face had become almost paper white.
Cold sweat beaded across her forehead.
She swayed slightly as she stood.
"Ryan..."
She looked at him with pleading eyes.
"My arm..."
"It hurts so much."
Ryan finally withdrew his gaze from Rose’s disappearing figure.
Without another word, he stepped forward and opened the rear door wider.
"Get in."
Samantha climbed into the vehicle with difficulty.
Ryan followed and sat beside her.
As the SUV pulled away from the curb, Samantha leaned back against the seat, finally allowing herself to relax.
She stole a careful glance at Ryan.
His profile remained calm and unreadable as he looked out the window.
She quietly convinced herself of one thing.
Tonight...
When it mattered most...
Ryan had still chosen to stand beside her.
Outside the window, the city lights streaked past in blurred lines.
Behind them, Rose stood with Lucas, watching the police begin examining the damaged company vehicle.
The distance between the two cars grew wider and wider.
Just like the distance between the people inside them.