Chapter 486 A Fortune for Her, a Chance for Them

Chapter 486: Chapter 486 A Fortune for Her, a Chance for Them

This was more than just a stack of contracts.

It was a comprehensive breakdown of everything Ryan owned: every company, every asset, every property, and every trust associated with his name. Nothing had been left out.

And the contracts themselves were even more shocking.

They stipulated that Ryan would transfer fifty percent of his transferable assets, including but not limited to his equity holdings, into Ariel’s name.

Ryan would also serve as her legal representative.

Once Ariel reached adulthood, she would be free to take over the company whenever she wished.

As for the remaining assets, the agreement explicitly stated that they would serve as a guarantee, giving the Taylor family the means to hold Ryan accountable.

If Ryan ever remarried Rose and subsequently betrayed her in any way, the assets covered by that provision would be transferred to the Taylor family without compensation. The family would then hold them in trust for Rose.

Every term had to be properly notarized, and the agreement would become legally binding once signed.

James stared at the documents in disbelief.

"What the hell are you—"

Ryan was handing over half his transferable fortune and placing the rest under the Taylor family’s control. He was practically giving them the means to keep him in check for the rest of his life.

"If there’s anything you want to add, say so now. The lawyer is here."

Ryan tapped his fingertip against the tabletop.

James stared at him as if he’d grown another head.

"Are you absolutely sure you’re thinking straight?"

Once the initial shock wore off, James let out a disbelieving laugh.

"Do you even understand what you’re doing?"

"Of course."

Ryan lifted his head to look at him.

"There’s one thing we may need to adjust later. If Rose and I have more children, we’ll need to revisit the terms and make fair, reasonable changes to account for them. Would that be a problem?"

James felt his throat tighten.

He’d never imagined Ryan would go this far.

It was a direct, decisive way to settle the matter—one that left little room for doubt.

Ryan’s determination to spend the rest of his life with Rose was almost staggering.

"Has Rose agreed to marry you again?"

"Not yet."

James stared at him.

"Then why are you going to all this trouble before she’s even made up her mind?"

Ryan answered calmly, "If she wants to remarry me, we can do it whenever she’s ready. If she’s happy with things the way they are now, I’ll respect that, too."

He wasn’t going to force Rose into another marriage.

He would find his way back into her life one step at a time. The marriage certificate could wait.

What mattered was that when Rose finally made her decision, it would be because she genuinely wanted to be with him.

James couldn’t argue with that.

He was still reeling from Ryan’s decision.

He knew exactly what kind of man Ryan was: a ruthless businessman who made decisions without hesitation, a brilliant mind who’d reached the top at an astonishingly young age. Ryan had outmaneuvered countless seasoned executives, and few people could match his instincts or his cunning.

Yet now, he’d laid his entire financial life bare and willingly handed the Taylor family the means to hold him accountable.

He was giving them something far more convincing than empty promises. He was making himself answerable for how he treated Rose.

Not many men in Ryan’s position would have the nerve to do that.

And it said everything about how much Rose meant to him.

For a moment, James couldn’t find anything to say.

Ryan looked directly at him.

"I know you want Rose to be happy, too. And I know you don’t completely trust me. That’s why I’m doing this. It’s my way of showing you that I’m serious. As for how I’ll treat her, you’ll have to judge that for yourself over time."

James remained silent for a long while.

Then, at last, a strange, almost helpless smile spread across his face.

"Ryan, I told you that you’d lost your mind."

He shook his head.

"Fine. You and Rose will have to figure things out between yourselves. I’m not signing anything right now, and I’ll keep these documents with me. But don’t expect me to put in a good word for you. The rest is up to you."

At the end of the day, he was Rose’s older brother.

He couldn’t bring himself to stand in the way of a decision that ultimately belonged to her.

What happened next was for the two of them to work out.

After all, Ryan had never been one to back down from a challenge.

And when it came to Rose, he seemed prepared to risk everything.

*****

Rose didn’t go to NYU right away.

Instead, she headed straight to Diana’s place.

The moment she stepped inside and confirmed that Liam wasn’t there, she practically threw herself onto the couch.

"Help me! Please, somebody help me!"

Wrapped in a blanket, Diana settled beside her and poked her cheek.

"What happened? Did that silver-tongued fox finally turn up the heat? Couldn’t handle him?"

Rose collapsed against the cushions like a limp noodle.

"He got his memory back."

Diana immediately understood.

"Ohhh. So you melt when someone treats you well, but dig your heels in when they push you." She paused, considering the situation. "Honestly, it’s easy to stay together when life is good. The real test comes when everything falls apart. When Ryan was at his lowest, he chose to let you go because he didn’t want you wasting your entire life on someone he believed couldn’t give you a happy future."

She shifted closer and lay down beside Rose.

"The fact that he survived everything and made it back to you? That’s a miracle in itself. Sometimes people don’t realize what they have until they’ve lost it. And let’s be honest, haven’t you two already lost each other once?"

Ryan had been forced to watch Rose walk away after their divorce.

Rose, in turn, had come terrifyingly close to losing him for good.

They’d both experienced the kind of heartbreak that left a person wondering whether there was anything left to hope for.

And now, against all odds, they had another chance.

It was a blessing disguised as a second ordeal.

Rose blinked, deeply affected by Diana’s words.

Turning her head, she studied her friend.

"You act like you never take anything seriously, but somehow, you always see things more clearly than anyone else."

Diana had always been more perceptive than she let on.

Perhaps it had something to do with the way she’d grown up. Her biological parents had always been there, yet she’d never been the one who received any particular favoritism from them.

She’d learned to act as though nothing bothered her, using her carefree attitude to cover the sensitivity and vulnerability she kept hidden from everyone else.

"I’m just worried you’ll be too scared to admit what you really want," Diana muttered.

The frustration Rose had been carrying around all morning began to ease.

She smiled, rolled toward Diana, and pinched her cheek.

"Wow. Marriage really has changed you. Look at you, dispensing wisdom like some seasoned relationship counselor. Is this what married life does to a woman?"

Diana hurriedly tried to dodge her hand, then broke into a cough.

"Hey! Get away from me. I’ve got a cold, and I’m not trying to give it to you."

Rose reached out to feel her forehead.

Just then, Diana’s phone rang.

It was a video call from Liam.

Diana immediately shushed Rose before answering.

Liam was still at work, but the moment the call connected, he turned his attention to the screen.

"Have you taken your medicine yet? I’ve already set out the right doses for you. I’m getting some water now, and I’m going to stay on the phone until I see you take them."

Diana stared at him indignantly.

"Liam, do you seriously not trust me?"

He tapped the screen with his pen as if he were giving her a light smack on the head.

"No, I don’t. You’ll find some excuse to throw the medicine away when I’m not looking. I’m watching you take it."

Diana was speechless.

Rose quietly burst out laughing.

Even with a packed schedule, Liam had taken the time to video-call his wife just to make sure she took her medicine. The man really didn’t trust Diana to follow instructions on her own.

But then again, wasn’t that a kind of happiness in itself? Knowing that someone was thinking about you even when they were busy, making sure you were all right and taking care of yourself.

Diana might have been annoyed, but she couldn’t deny that Liam knew her far too well. He’d predicted exactly what she’d do if left unsupervised.

Grumbling under her breath, she finally got up, fetched the medicine, and swallowed it with water.

Her face scrunched up in disgust.

Only then did Liam seem satisfied.

"Good girl." His voice softened, patient and affectionate. "I’ve got a meeting tonight, so I probably won’t be home until late. Let me know what you want for dinner, and I’ll pick it up on my way home."

"Okay, okay. I’m hanging up now!"

Liam leaned closer to the camera, one eyebrow lifting as a playful smile crossed his face.

"See you tonight, baby."

Diana looked utterly defeated.

Liam had always been good at using his gentle charm to keep her in line. That wasn’t allowed, this wasn’t permitted, and absolutely no cutting corners when it came to her health.

He doted on her, but he refused to indulge her when she was doing something that wasn’t good for her.

And he’d been like that for years.

The call ended.

Rose immediately clicked her tongue.

"Well, well, well. That man really has you wrapped around his little finger. Don’t take a good husband like that for granted."

Diana lunged at her.

"Oh, you’re one to talk! You’re laughing at me when you can’t even handle the fox waiting for you at home!"

Rose burst out laughing and dodged her attack.

She didn’t stay at Diana’s place much longer before heading to NYU.

Whatever was happening in her personal life, work still needed to get done.

When she arrived on campus, she noticed groups of students gathered around, chatting excitedly about something.

She didn’t pay much attention to them until she reached the lab.

"There’s a film crew on campus," someone was saying. "They’re shooting this big-budget medical drama, and apparently, they’ve been spending time here researching everything. They’re taking the medical details seriously, too."

"Wait, a film crew actually got permission to shoot at NYU?"

"This production has some serious connections. I heard two of the lead actors even sat in on classes today to get a feel for the subject. I wonder who they are. They must be pretty big names."

Rose caught a few snippets of the conversation as she walked past.

A film crew on campus? A couple of actors sitting in on classes?

It had nothing to do with her.

She put it out of her mind and got to work.

After finishing up her lab work and reviewing the latest data, Rose decided to grab something to eat.

She was heading downstairs when a car pulled up across the street.

Liam emerged from a nearby building and climbed into the waiting vehicle.

His assistant stood beside him, briefing him on something as they spoke. Liam listened with a serious expression, all business—a stark contrast to the patient, affectionate husband Rose had just watched on Diana’s phone.

Rose slowed to a stop.

She hadn’t expected to run into him here.

Just as she was about to turn away, another figure slipped out of the building.

The person was bundled up in layers of clothing, keeping herself covered from head to toe. But judging by her figure, Rose could tell she was a woman.

The woman glanced around before approaching the car.

Then she opened the door and climbed into Liam’s vehicle.