chapter 5

Amber's POV

"You misunderstand!" he stressed. His eyes flashed with anger, as if afraid that all his rot would be exposed before me.

Disappointment and anger filled my heart when I heard Ruby's assertion that I had misunderstood. However, I couldn't let myself continue to sink into the darkness created by this affair.

"Listen carefully, Ruby. I won't let your rot remain hidden. I will reveal everything that exists if you are involved in an affair with Nath," I said in a voice full of determination.

Ruby looked surprised and worried. He tried to cover his fear with a fake smile. However, I could see the anxiety radiating from his eyes.

"What do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about," he said in a shaky voice.

"I already have enough evidence, Ruby. So, don't pretend anymore. I know everything," I said firmly.

Ruby was silent for a moment, trying to find the right words to defuse the situation. However, the silence only made me more certain that my suspicions were correct.

"I... I'm sorry if there was a misunderstanding. I never played behind Nath's back, you have to trust me," said Ruby in a tone full of fear.

However, his words were unable to calm my anger. I felt betrayed by a friend whom I always considered close. My trust has been shattered into pieces.

"No, Ruby. I can no longer trust you. You have betrayed our friendship and ruined my life. I don't want to see you again," I said in a voice full of despair.

My words made Ruby speechless, and the anger radiating from her eyes made me even more convinced of the truth I was revealing. The two of us faced each other, with broken feelings and a torn friendship.

"Listen to me, Amber! I do things like this for good reasons too! You know, right, I would never do something unimportant if it didn't benefit myself?" Ruby said with words that made me even more trapped in her hearing.

Actually, what does Ruby want to do? Isn't her husband famous for his handsomeness and wisdom in leading? Even a friend of mine can lose a long-standing relationship because of the changes that happen to him.

"What? Tell me, Ruby! Tell me! You're saying it's profitable? Profitable in what way? Explain to me!" My scream hit him straight in the face. Ruby immediately looked away, as if she didn't want to see me with increasingly high emotions. Even though this was all because of his actions.

Ruby looked at me with eyes full of anger. "You'll never understand, Amber! You only see one side! I'm doing this to protect myself, to get what is rightfully mine!" his voice echoed in the room, depicting despair and intense desire.

We both stared at each other, trapped in tense silence. The atmosphere in the room grew hotter as if the fire of our anger was burning between us. Strong emotions collide, creating tension that is difficult to decipher.

"Protect? Mine? Is that what you said?" I babbled in a shaky voice, my body shaking as I rose from my seat. My sad gaze was directed at him, reflecting my heart breaking into pieces. It hurts so much pain.

"From the start, I was too naive to share my problems with Nath, with you!" I said again, my voice choked with deep sadness. My eyes started to water, and suddenly I was just tired. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore, they flowed endlessly.

"But why me, Ruby? Why did you betray me?" I can no longer bury the increasingly overflowing emotions. I squatted on the floor, letting my tears flow freely. My face was covered, trying to express all my pain and disappointment.

Full of emotion, I uttered, "You're mean, Ruby!"

He responded firmly, "Yes, I was mean to you! I was very mean, Amber! All of this was your fault! But, I did all this because there was something I couldn't tell you!"

Unexpectedly, tears began to flow from Ruby's eyes. Their friendship was so closely tied that both of their eyes were streaming with tears.

I raised my head, looking at Ruby with hatred radiating from my face. My heart is full of anger that is difficult to contain. However, even though I stood straight, trying to hold it all in, the words I wanted to say could no longer be held back and came out full of anger.

"You really deserve to be a concubine in the palace, don't you? Betraying friendship and taking someone's husband just for your personal satisfaction. You are indeed a cheap woman," I sneered sarcastically. Even though the words came out of my mouth, there was a tightness in my chest after saying them to my best friend.

Ruby looked at me with burning eyes, filled with overwhelming anger. Without hesitation, he swung his hand and slapped me hard in the face, making my head sway to the right side. Pain shot through my cheek, but I laughed bitterly as I said, "A slap is nothing, Ruby. My heart is too broken and I can no longer feel the pain!”

In my bitter laughter, there was hidden pain behind it. My heart is broken and hurt by the friendship that has been torn apart. I realized that harsh words and cruel actions would not change anything. Only destruction and loss were left behind.

Supposedly, I shouldn't have said those words. I have lied to myself again with untrue words. I tried to hide the deep wounds in my heart by lying to everyone.

However, Ruby firmly interrupted my words with a voice full of strength. "Shut up!" he shouted in a voice that radiated courage. "You don't know anything about me! You don't know what I'm facing or the reasons behind my decisions! Don't you dare insult and belittle me!"

Ruby's screaming voice filled the room with incredible power, reflecting how angry she was at that moment. I felt such strong emotional vibrations as if my words had touched a very sensitive point in his life.