Chapter 321 The Beginning of Their Fall
Rose’s refusal was immediate, almost instinctive, as if staying any longer might leave her with someone else’s bad luck.
Ryan didn’t argue. He simply gave Derick a nod.
"Then we’ll get out of your way."
He didn’t push the issue of the gift, and Rose didn’t either. The Taylors had more than enough to deal with tonight.
After saying goodbye, she headed toward Nathan Hale’s house. There was no point worrying about appearances anymore. Everything was out in the open now.
Nathan’s place sat just down the street, only a few minutes away.
As she walked, one question kept circling her mind.
What happened next to Samantha?
The fake heirloom had destroyed any chance of claiming it was an innocent mistake. Whatever excuses Samantha had left were gone.
Grace wasn’t the type to retaliate through gossip or petty revenge.
She didn’t have to.
One phone call. One recommendation quietly withdrawn. One conversation with the right people.
A medical student’s reputation was everything. Once integrity was gone, doors closed—and they stayed closed.
Years of studying. Years of planning.
Her dream of becoming a doctor could be over before it ever began.
And the Hills?
That was another matter entirely.
The Taylors weren’t known for forgiving betrayal. Financially, socially, professionally... the Hills would probably feel the consequences everywhere.
Rose slowed.
Something still didn’t add up.
If someone could create a counterfeit convincing enough to fool almost everyone, they had to know exactly what the real piece looked like.
Which meant...
How did they know that much without knowing where the original was?
Growing up around antiques, she’d seen countless jade pendants. To most people they looked identical. Even she had never paid enough attention to understand what made the Taylor heirloom unique.
Lost in thought, she almost missed the footsteps behind her.
Steady.
Unhurried.
She turned.
Ryan stood only a few feet away, one hand tucked into his coat pocket, watching her with the same unreadable expression he always wore.
Judging by how quietly he’d approached, he’d probably been standing there for a while.
She glanced toward Nathan’s porch, less than twenty yards away, then back at Ryan.
"So," she said flatly, "I already told you I don’t need a ride."
A faint crease appeared between his brows.
"I never offered one."
His voice was calm.
"My car’s parked near the front gate. Visitor parking out here is a nightmare."
In other words...
He was simply walking the same direction.
Rose stared at him.
Technically, he wasn’t wrong.
Which somehow made it even more irritating.
She turned and continued toward the house.
"Really?" she said. "I figured you’d be halfway across town comforting your girlfriend instead of taking a midnight walk."
There was no attempt to hide the sarcasm.
After tonight’s disaster, Samantha had been publicly humiliated.
Ryan had lost face.
The Taylors had turned against them.
Even Rose could imagine how terrified Samantha must be right now.
So seeing Ryan here instead of rushing to her side felt... ironic.
Ryan matched her pace.
"Do I need my ex-wife’s permission before I decide who I spend time with?"
His tone remained even.
Which somehow made the jab land harder.
Rose smiled without warmth.
"Of course not. Your personal life couldn’t matter less to me."
She shrugged.
"I just thought it was interesting."
She looked over at him.
"You showed up tonight carrying test results to prove Victoria might’ve been responsible. You were ready to clear every obstacle keeping Samantha from getting back into the Taylor family."
She let that sink in.
"And then it turned out she’d been lying to you, too."
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"Guess even you can be fooled, Ryan."
Rose had always known exactly where to stick the knife.
The remarkable part was how politely she did it.
Ryan’s footsteps slowed against the gravel path.
For several seconds he said nothing.
His eyes stayed on her.
Almost as if he were weighing every word she’d just thrown at him.
Finally, he let out a quiet laugh.
"So..."
His voice was low.
"Enjoying the show?"
He still hadn’t lost his temper.
That, more than anything, surprised her.
Rose didn’t bother pretending otherwise.
"Not even close."
She shook her head.
"This is only the beginning."
Her smile disappeared.
"They haven’t paid nearly enough."
Everything Samantha, Daisy, and Logan had done had led to this moment.
Maybe they hadn’t beaten her.
Maybe they hadn’t pulled the trigger.
But they’d spent years making sure every terrible thing that happened to her was possible.
She felt no sympathy.
None.
Ryan watched her for a long moment before speaking.
"You’re ruthless."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"To everyone."
Whether it was criticism or admiration, she couldn’t tell.
She didn’t care.
She gave him an almost playful smile.
"I forgot."
"Hearing me talk about Samantha like that must be hard for you."
"Sorry."
She sounded anything but sorry.
She’d completely stepped outside the drama.
Ryan’s feelings for Samantha no longer had anything to do with her.
That freedom showed.
Nathan’s front porch came into view.
Rose reached the steps still wondering one thing.
How was Ryan planning to get Samantha out of this?
The Taylors weren’t people you could bully into forgiveness.
Samantha and Daisy had manipulated everyone around them.
This time, somebody was finally going to make them pay.
She almost wanted front-row seats.
Ryan said nothing.
They stopped outside Nathan’s front door.
Since Ryan had insisted he wasn’t walking her home, Rose took him at his word.
She didn’t thank him.
Didn’t say goodbye.
She simply reached for the doorknob.
Before she could turn it, the front door swung open.
Nathan stepped onto the porch with Ariel beside him, still awake despite the late hour.
Both of them froze.
Nathan looked from Rose...
...to Ryan.
Ariel did the same.
Ryan’s gaze settled on the little girl.
She looked back at him, curious but unafraid.
Nathan’s expression tightened.
"How’d the two of you end up together?"
"We ran into each other," Rose answered immediately.
She reached for Ariel’s hand.
"It’s late, sweetheart. You should’ve been in bed an hour ago."
Ariel nodded.
Then, remembering her manners, she looked back at Ryan.
"Good night, Uncle Knight."
Rose nearly winced.
She quickly ushered Ariel inside before anyone could say another word.
Ryan didn’t answer.
He hadn’t intended to.
Nathan stayed on the porch, hands in his jacket pockets, watching him.
There was no smile on his face.
"I don’t buy the ’we just happened to run into each other’ story."
He let the silence stretch.
Then he said quietly,
"But if you’ve finally learned how to treat Rose with basic decency..."
"...I hope you’ll be just as gracious when she marries Trevor."
"You’ll congratulate them."
"Like you mean it."