Chapter 340 Loose Threads
Ryan’s expression remained unreadable beneath the dim glow of the driveway lights.
"Do you want to know why the Taylor family’s DNA results were wrong?"
Samantha froze.
Ryan leaned back slightly, his fingers resting against the steering wheel.
"Because the samples submitted to the lab weren’t yours."
Her breathing stopped.
"Someone switched them."
For a moment, Samantha couldn’t process what she had heard.
Someone had switched her samples?
The thought sent a wave of anger through her.
All this time, she had believed the Taylor family had made a mistake. She had convinced herself that maybe Rose wasn’t connected to them at all, that there had simply been some misunderstanding.
But now...
Someone had deliberately destroyed her chance of becoming the Taylor family’s daughter.
Someone had planned all of this.
And they had done it so perfectly that she was now standing alone, with nothing left.
Her hands tightened around the edge of the car window.
Ryan glanced at her.
His eyes were cold.
"The Hill family’s businesses are already under investigation."
"Once they start digging into the financial records behind those antique dealings, anything illegal will eventually come out."
His voice remained calm.
"You should tell your parents to prepare."
Samantha stared at him.
"Ryan..."
But he had already looked away.
He started the engine.
The car moved forward.
Samantha instinctively held onto the window, but the sudden movement pulled her off balance.
She stumbled backward and fell onto the driveway.
The gates of the mansion slowly closed behind him.
"Ryan!"
She pushed herself up, tears filling her eyes.
"You can’t leave me!"
"You can’t just abandon me!"
Her voice echoed through the empty driveway.
But the heavy iron gates blocked out every word.
Samantha stared at the place where his car had disappeared.
She couldn’t understand.
How could someone who once loved her become this cruel?
Had Ryan never cared about her?
Or had he simply watched her destroy herself from the beginning?
Her entire body trembled.
Not only from fear.
From anger.
From confusion.
From hatred.
A few minutes later, another car pulled into the driveway.
"Samantha!"
Daisy hurried over the moment she saw her daughter sitting on the ground.
"What happened?"
"What did Ryan say?"
Samantha slowly looked up.
Her expression was almost frighteningly calm.
"He doesn’t care."
"He never cared."
Daisy’s face changed.
"That’s impossible."
"Didn’t you explain everything to him?"
Samantha laughed.
A broken, bitter sound.
"He knew."
"He knew everything."
Daisy froze.
"What do you mean?"
"He knew about the drink."
"He knew I lied."
"He knew the entire time."
The color drained from Daisy’s face.
If Ryan wasn’t willing to help them...
Then they truly had nowhere left to turn.
Sky High was collapsing.
Samantha’s reputation was ruined.
Her connections in wealthy circles were gone.
Even Logan had become furious after the company’s situation worsened.
Their entire future was falling apart.
Daisy grabbed Samantha’s arm.
"Forget Ryan."
"We need to think about Sky High."
"Once we sell your shares, we’ll leave the country for a while."
Samantha looked at her.
Then she laughed.
"Sky High?"
Daisy frowned.
"What?"
"It’s worthless."
Her voice shook.
"Ryan already took everything important."
Daisy’s expression changed.
"What are you talking about?"
"The core projects. The technology. The profitable divisions."
Samantha’s eyes turned red.
"They were transferred to Kingswell Group."
Daisy went silent.
Samantha gripped her mother’s hand.
"The shareholders’ meeting..."
"I missed it."
"I thought it didn’t matter."
Her voice cracked.
"I was too focused on forcing Ryan to marry me."
Daisy’s face slowly turned pale.
"The meeting was about approving the transfer."
"Because I weren’t there, I lost my voting rights."
Samantha’s entire body went cold.
Everything she had worked for...
Gone.
Sky High still existed.
But it was only an empty company now.
The value she thought she owned had disappeared overnight.
A wave of despair hit her.
Then came anger.
"Why?"
She looked toward the mansion.
"Why did he do this?"
Daisy pulled her together.
"Stop thinking about Ryan."
"We need to protect ourselves."
She hesitated.
Then lowered her voice.
"There are other problems."
Samantha looked at her.
"What problems?"
Daisy didn’t answer immediately.
That alone told Samantha enough.
"Mom."
"Tell me."
Daisy looked away.
"The investigation..."
"If they look into the antique business..."
Samantha’s heart sank.
"What did you do?"
Daisy clenched her jaw.
"Your father was desperate years ago."
"He was drowning financially."
"When Morgan refused to help him..."
Her voice became quieter.
"He made some bad choices."
Samantha stared at her.
"How bad?"
Daisy didn’t respond.
And that silence was terrifying.
"The accident..."
Samantha whispered.
Daisy’s face changed.
"Don’t say anything."
"Not here."
The warning was enough.
Samantha felt cold all over.
Morgan’s accident.
Rose’s mother.
The antique collection.
The inheritance.
Suddenly everything connected.
Daisy grabbed her arm.
"We need to leave."
"But before that, I have to go back to the museum."
"There may still be records."
Samantha looked at her mother.
"You think there is evidence?"
"I don’t know."
Daisy’s voice trembled.
"But I need to make sure."
For the first time tonight, Samantha realized something.
The situation was even worse than she thought.
She looked back at the mansion one last time.
The place where she had once believed she belonged.
Now the gates were closed forever.
*****
The next morning.
Rose met Grace at the Bennett Museum.
The place had completely changed.
Years ago, it had been neglected and almost forgotten.
Now, it had become one of the city’s most talked-about private museums.
Visitors filled the entrance hall.
Families walked through the exhibition rooms.
Tour groups gathered near the historical collections.
Even the gift shop near the lobby was constantly busy.
Rose had heard that Ryan had expanded the business further.
Rare pieces from the Bennett collection were being loaned to major exhibitions, attracting wealthy collectors and sponsors.
She had to admit...
Ryan was exceptionally good at business.
Cold.
Practical.
Always calculating the best outcome.
But undeniably talented.
When she reached the entrance, she saw Grace waiting with Alicia.
"Sorry, Dr. Grace."
"There was traffic."
Grace waved her hand.
"Don’t apologize."
"I’m the one who should thank you for making time for me."
Rose smiled.
Alicia greeted her warmly.
"Rose."
Rose looked at her.
"Shouldn’t you be at the lab today?"
Alicia nodded.
"Usually, yes."
"But Grandma’s blood pressure has been unstable lately."
"I wanted to stay with her."
Rose nodded.
That made sense.
When they reached the entrance, Rose noticed something strange.
They weren’t asked to show tickets.
The manager immediately stepped forward.
"Ms. Bennett."
Rose paused.
The manager smiled politely.
"Mr. Knight asked us to make sure you had full access today."
Her expression changed slightly.
Ryan.
Again.
Grace looked around the museum, clearly impressed.
"The Bennett collection truly is extraordinary."
The manager nodded.
"If you’d like, I can take you to the private gallery upstairs."
"The third floor houses the original Bennett archives."
Rose looked at him.
Then at the museum around her.
A strange feeling appeared in her chest.
Had Ryan arranged all of this?
She didn’t know whether to be annoyed...
Or unsettled.
Because somehow, even after everything...
Ryan Knight still managed to appear in her life.