Naomi never understood why Ruby was adamant in speaking to Stephan. It was a fact that he was a billionaire and money for Ethan’s chemo wouldn’t put a dent in his mountain of wealth. “Naomi I thought we decided to raise Ethan without Stephan’s interference or input” Ruby was scared Stephan would accuse her of being a gold digger “I know we agreed but this is life-threatening and I can’t just sit back and do nothing. If you don’t want to approach him it’s fine but please don’t stop me from approaching him” a hint of frustration evident in Naomi’s voice. Ruby’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she watched Naomi speak with such conviction. She knew deep down that Naomi was right, that they had to do whatever it took to save their son. Reluctantly, Ruby nodded and reached out to gently grasp Naomi’s hand “You are right,” Ruby whispered her voice filled with a mix of recognition and determination. “You can approach him once, if it doesn’t go as planned we will never reach out to him
Ruby was shocked to see Naomi walk in with Stephan, she never expected her to be able to convince him that Ethan’s was his. The man was as beautiful as the last time she saw him. She stared at him lacking words to say“Hi, you must be the mother of the child?” Stephan asked. He recognised but he wanted to be sure.“Yes I am, my name is Ruby Qin” Ruby replied “Can I see the child?” “Yeah sure you can, this way please” Ruby led him into Ethan’s room, the baby was sleeping peacefully.“I heard from your friend that he is suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and he needs chemotherapy”“That’s true” Ruby replied as she nods “Well, like I told your friend I’m not sure the baby is mine but I won’t just sit and do nothing so I will pay for his treatment and then when he is okay, we will run a DNA test at the hospital of my choice, is that clear?”Ruby stared at him in disbelief, if he didn’t believe Ethan was his then why was he here? Does he think she sleeps around and then tries
As Stephan drove out of the hospital, he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next if the child was truly his. How would he be able to tell his family about his son when they have been disturbing him to proceed with the wedding? He had been stalling the wedding plans because he wasn’t in love with Amelia, she was just his childhood friend whom he sees as a sister. Their union was orchestrated by their parents because they believed their union would be great for business. Stephan went ahead with the proposal as planned but he couldn’t go through with the wedding. Stephan decided to keep the information about him having a son to himself till he confirmed if Ethan was his. His head was aching from processing everything he found out today, he needed to relax so he drove straight to the hotel. As he got to the hotel, he slipped into the private elevator that led to the penthouse he wanted to be alone. The elevator pinged signifying they had reached their destination “Whe
As Amelia left, Stephan collapsed onto the couch, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. He knew that agreeing to the dinner was the right thing to do, a chance to spend time together and perhaps find some clarity in their relationship. But a fragment of his being could not shake the feeling of discomfort; he knew that this dinner was just a strategy devised by both families to strengthen their relationship. He felt as if he was being tugged into a conflicting path—his family's expectations, his desires, and the gravity of responsibility that came with it all. The news about his son had shocked him to the core, and he could not bear the thought of entering into a loveless marriage when his heart yearned for something more. After much consideration, Stephan decided to hold back the wedding for as long as he could so he could buy time to get his messy life on track.A call interrupted his thoughts, he reached for his phone in his pocket and looked at the screen, he r
Stephan couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease as he walked into his childhood home the next morning. The recognisable scene of the well-decorated walkway and the aroma of freshly made coffee should have brought him warmth, but today it only increased his nervousness. He made his way to the dining area where his father was seat at the head of the table patiently expecting him.With caution, Stephan said, "Good morning, Father," and sat down across from him.His father looked up from his newspaper, his face unreadable. “Good morning, Stephan,” he replied curtly.The room was dead silent, and Stephan braced himself for whatever discussion was going to take place. He was familiar enough with his father to know that although he was a quiet guy, his words were powerful when he did speak.It seemed like a lifetime, but at last, Mr. Rodriguez folded his newspaper and put it neatly next to his plate. He met Stephan's stare, and there was a decidedly steely edge to it. “Stephan,” he
The following day, Stephan, Ruby and Naomi waited by Ethan’s bedside in the hospital room while a staff of medical professionals carefully prepared him for the transfer. The air was charged with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. Stephan looked on watchfully as they placed Ethan onto a stretcher, attaching tubes and monitors to his tiny body. Dr. Evans walked up to them; his face dimmed with sorrow and understanding. He was honestly wishing Stephan, and Ruby good luck in this new journey of Ethan’s treatment. I know for a fact that St. Luke Hospital will offer him the specialized treatment he needs. Stephan inclined his head gratefully as the doctor spoke. “Thank you, Dr. Evans, we thank you for all that you have done for Ethan.” Naomi put her hand on Ruby’s shoulder, her eyes ignited with a determination meant to encourage Ruby. “We shall do everything possible to make sure that Ethan gets well, he well well-being is our priority and if transferring him to St Luke would he
At Stephan’s words, Amelia’s heart missed a beat. Something important? What could it be? Her mind raced trying to find any rational justification for his haste. Was something wrong with his family? Maybe it was about their relationship?“Yes, of course, Stephan. Dinner would be great,” Amelia said, her voice full of both excitement and doubt.They decided to have their date at a quaint Italian restaurant close by. As the time for their dinner drew closer, Amelia couldn’t help but feel something was amiss. She quickly prepared herself for the dinner. She wore a red sleeveless dress, paired with a silver heel and clutch, she did her hair in a high ponytail. Se adorned her outfit with some expensive-looking pieces of jewellery and finally sprayed a pheromone fragrance. She twirled in front of the mirror one last time she was pleased with how beautiful she looked, even though Stephan sounded off, this was a date something they had not done in a very long time. Amelia sat at thei
Tears rolled down Amelia’s eyes as she looked at the untouched dish before her. Suddenly, the atmosphere of the restaurant began to weigh on her, and she felt the craving for fresh air to calm her thoughts down. She jumped to her feet and went outside. The night breeze brushed against her face as she crossed the crowded sidewalk. The streets were filled with gloom, and Amelia wandered through them thinking about what to do next. She loved Stephan too much to let him go easily without a fight, she had promised herself to fight for his heart, but with Ethan in the picture, she doubted if she could still win Stephan’s heart. Amelia halted right where she stood with her mind in a whirlwind of emotions. She knew she had to make a decision, and it had to be soon. Stephan was the man she had dreamed of, the one who had captured her heart from the moment they met and she was not ready to lose him for a son he just discovered, the child was a product of a one-night stand and not an aff
Stephan ignored their surprised look and went over to Ruby. He helped her clean up and took her to the room. “Stephan what are you doing here and how did you become the stripper Naomi hired?” she asked once she was settled. “I will explain later, for now, you need to get yourself checked by a doctor”“Stephan don’t be dramatic, I’m fine” She insisted she was all right but Stephan went ahead and contacted their family doctor and asked him to come over to the penthouse. The doctor replied that he was close by and would be there in a few minutes.Naomi went back to the living room and removed David’s mask, staring at him angrily, “David, care to explain why you are the stripper at Ruby’s bachelorette party?”David was sweating nervously “Uh, well... it’s a long story. But I swear I had good intentions!” The doctor’s arrival interrupts their conversation, shifting their focus to Ruby’s well-being.Naomi directed the doctor to the room “Doctor, Ruby's in there." She said gesturing toward
Naomi promised Ruby a bachelorette party to remember and she intends to do just that. She quickly picked up her phone and began to punch numbers. Naomi pressed the call button and waited for the receiver to pick up."Hey, Rita! It's Naomi. Can you swing by my place after work? I need to talk to you about something important.""Hey, Naomi! Sure, I can drop by. Is everything okay?" Rita's voice is full of worry and her eyebrows are slightly furrowed as she thinks of what could be troubling Naomi.Yeah, everything is fine. It's just... I want to provide Ruby with an unforgettable bachelorette experience, but I need your assistance to make it happen. " Naomi's voice is filled with excitement, a sly smile emerging on her face as she discloses her secret scheme."Ooh, a surprise? I'm intrigued. Count me in! I will be there the moment I finish work." Rita's eyes brighten up with curiosity and enthusiasm, she is ready to be a part of the surprise for Ruby."Perfect, thanks, Rita. See you soon
When she got back, Ruby couldn’t stop herself from telling Naomi right away about the proposal. Overflowing with excitement, she skipped her way to her friend with the shimmering ring on her finger, she held up her hands.“Look, Naomi! Stephan proposed!” Ruby squealed, and her voice sounded really happy.Naomi’s eyes flashed with delight as she looked at the ring. “I told you!” she exclaimed, unable to contain her joy.David joined in the celebration, offering his congratulations to Stephan with a warm smile.As the initial excitement began to die down, Naomi couldn’t help but tease Ruby gently. “You know, normal people usually meet first, date, and then get engaged,” she quipped, a playful smirk on her lips.Ruby laughed, nodding in agreement. “That’s exactly what I said when he proposed” she replied, her laughter mingling with Naomi’s.Naomi’s expression turned serious for a moment. “Well, I guess that makes me your maid of honour,” she declared with a grin.Ruby’s eyes lit up with
After a few weeks in therapy, Ruby began to feel better also she began to learn how to manage her fears. Finally, the day came when her therapist cleared her, declaring her ready to face the world again.To celebrate, Stephan suggested they take a trip to the island Ruby won the ticket for at the auction. The girls were excited about the trip, Stephan began to make preparations hoping to make the trip one to never forget in a hurry, especially for the girls.“Please can I bring a plus one? I don’t want to be the third wheel on this trip” Naomi asked politely “Sure! I don’t see why you can’t” Stephan replied with a kind smileNaomi’s face lit up with excitement, “Really? That would be amazing! I would ask my friend if he can come” she exclaimed eagerly “He? A friend? Just say you want to come with your boyfriend” Ruby teased “And would that be a bad thing?” Naomi retorted “Not at all my friend. As for me, I’m definitely bringing Ethan’s nanny because I need to relax and be taken ca
Amelia went over every detail of Ethan’s whereabouts with the detectives. A team of police officers were hurriedly sent to the scene to retrieve the baby. While Stephan was asked to sit and wait, his heart was pounding with mixed feelings of anxiety and hope. Each passing moment seemed like an age as he was waiting for the update.Finally, the moment arrived. Immediately the door opened, a police officer walked in holding Ethan. Stephan was filled with joy as he made his way to them. "Thank you,” Stephan uttered in a choked voice, and his tears started falling as he hugged Ethan.The officer nodded with a little smile. “He’s safe now,” he pointed out to Stephan with a grin on his face. Stephan hugged Ethan tightly as a wave of gratitude engulfed him.As Stephan held Ethan tightly in his arms, his heart still racing with the rush of relief, a call suddenly pierced through the moment of peace. Naomi’s voice crackled through the phone, urgency evident in her tone as she relayed Ruby’s re
Stephan couldn’t sleep a wink, he was so worried and confused, he kept thinking of the possibility that someone would come into his house and kidnap his child without being seen by anyone. He wished and prayed that Ethan would be okay. Twenty-four hours after the kidnap and no call for any ransom demand has been received. He hoped they would be contacted that way they would know what the person wanted rather than keeping them in the dark.He kept tossing and turning till a new day dawned. His phone kept ringing showing an incoming call. He quickly picked up his phone in case it was a call from the kidnappers but it wasn’t. It was Amelia. With a heavy heart, he answered, trying not to sound disappointed “Hello?”“Hello? What’s going on? You don’t sound good” Amelia’s voice crackled through the line, filled with concern. “Ethan is missing,” Stephan replied, his voice trembling slightly. “We’ve searched the whole house but can’t find him.” "Oh, my goodness. When did this happen?" she
Ruby began to panic as she frantically screamed Ethan’s name, sending the domestic staff to emotional agitation. “Has anyone seen Ethan? She cried out, her voice trembling with fear. The utterly confused staff shook their heads, unsure of what was happening. With a racing heart, Ruby dashed from room to room, desperately calling out for her son, but there was no reply. Fumbling with her phone, Ruby dialled Stephan’s number, her voice trembling as she screamed, “Ethan’s missing!” Stephan was confused and before he could respond, she ended the call and dialled Naomi’s number. As Stephan attempted to call her back, the line remained dead, fuelling his growing sense of fear. He decided to call his housekeeper to find out what was really going on."Hello! What's going on at home? Ruby just called me, but I couldn't understand what she was saying," Stephan exclaimed, his voice filled with concern."Ethan is missing. We've searched the whole house, but can't find him," The housekeeper repli
As the auction drew to a close, Stephan leaned in close to Ruby, his voice a soft murmur “Congratulations, Ruby” he whispered, a warm smile lighting up his features. Ruby returned the smile. She felt grateful towards him because she could never have been able to afford to bid that high without his help. Now she is looking forward to going on a vacation with Ethan, Naomi and maybe Stephan too if he wants to. The music started playing and guests commenced dancing, some were standing in groups and discussing as Stephan offered a hand to Ruby for a dance with a smile on his face.Accepting his proposal, Ruby placed her hand on his, their hands a perfect fit as they headed to the dancing area.The both of them were dancing in perfect harmony, the rhythm of the music dictating the swaying of their respective bodies.They danced their way through the evening and suddenly everyone around became engaged with their laughter, happy for them because their happiness was clear. The dance floor sud
“What? A ball?” she began to panic, her voice trembled with urgency as she confronted Stephan. "Why are you just telling me now?" she demanded, her eyes wide with alarm. Stephan’s brows furrowed in confusion, his voice calm as he explained, "I just found out myself, Ruby."But Ruby’s hysteria only intensified as she bombarded him with questions about her appearance for the ball. “What am I going to wear? How should I style my hair? And my makeup?” she exclaimed, her voice bordering on frantic as she handed Ethan over to his nanny and rushed away.Stephan called after her, his voice gentle yet firm. “Where are you going?” he inquired, concern etched into his features. “To my room to figure out what to wear!” Ruby replied hastily, disappearing upstairs in a flurry of panic.Moments later, as Ruby frantically rummaged through her closet, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Opening it, she was surprised to find Stephan standing there. “You have guests” He informed her “Me?” sh