"It's better for you to rest here for a while," Javier could see that Ruby was still not fully recovered.
Ruby's face warmed. There was neither disgust, like when Pedro approached her, nor fear, like with Ed.
"No. I will go back." Ruby wouldn't go crazy and let herself lose her way even more. Being with Javier any longer would only make her mind go crazy with fascination. Being fascinated by her brother-in-law alone was already problematic, especially considering that he is a pastor.
"I'll walk you back there."
Ruby wanted to shake her head again, but Javier had already taken her arm and helped her walk. Ruby complained inwardly, but she did need the help. Ruby knew her body wouldn't make it out of the room if she walked on her own.
"I beg you to eat more regularly. Your body seems fragile," Javier commented again as he helped Ruby up the stone steps.
"Okay." Ruby didn't object, even though she felt a bit uncomfortable. It was the first time
"Sorry, but there's nothing. All parts of your head are fine," the doctor in front of Ed conveyed cautiously, as Ed's eyes seemed to narrow further."But the pain is there!" Ed muttered."I understand, but we can't find anything. The CT scan results, as well as others, are very clean. There are no fractures or abnormalities that we can find."The doctor was also very uncomfortable delivering the news because he had repeated this procedure at least three times. And the result was always the same—no abnormalities in Ed's head."So you mean I'm just hallucinating and crazy?" Ed finally restrained himself from shouting. He hoped the doctor could help him right away. However, the doctor he approached appeared to give up and lack knowledge."Not crazy. You misunderstand. It's just a psychological issue," the doctor said, becoming increasingly uneasy. Although Ed tried to speak as calmly as possible, he knew his patient harbored anger."You j
"Finished already? Tita exclaimed in amazement as she gazed at the row of pots and all the cleaned cooking utensils. Earlier, Tita had asked Ruby to start first, and she would help after finishing sending out the food—for Javier and the workers who always received their share of meals from the house.But upon returning, Ruby had already finished washing the dirty utensils. Ruby found nearly all of the utensils heavily stained, despite their considerable quantity."Done," Ruby reported satisfactorily. Ruby is now in perfect health after eating more regularly. She could do any job without a burden. She became more efficient at assisting Tita."Yes, you're amazing," Tita said, puzzled by Ruby's work. It seemed unusual."Have you done something like this before?" Tita picked up one of the pots that had looked black yesterday, but now its bottom was gleaming. Ruby had scrubbed it vigorously earlier."Oh... that... I just learned from watching you
"Okay." Ruby nodded again with a smile. She wouldn't back down and complain."Are you sure?" The worker was surprised to see Ruby take over the wheelbarrow from his hands."Yes, but may I borrow this?" Ruby pointed to the wide-brimmed straw hat on his head."Oh, please!" The middle-aged man handed the hat to Ruby. The hat was wide, and Ruby needed it to combat the heat. It had rained heavily last night, but today was very sunny."Thank you. Please continue your work." Ruby reassured the man with her smile, putting on a waterproof overall and placing a shovel on top of the wheelbarrow, then pushing it towards the pile of fly-specked dung. Ruby put on gloves and began to swing the shovel.The man still watched Ruby for a moment, but then left her alone as Ruby started to lift the pile of horse manure. The instructions he received were clear. No one was allowed to help Ruby until she finished."Phew!" Ruby tried to muster strength, but when the swarm of flies began to buzz around the fou
"Tia!"The one who called out was Lori, and she seemed eager to help, but Mìa held both of their hands back, letting Ruby struggle to get up. Mud blackened the left side of Ruby's body."Leave her be! This way, she'll contemplate her fate. She shouldn't have set foot in this house from the start!" Mìa still laughed.Ruby heard it all while trying to tidy up the mess. She was trying to stay calm, hiding her anger."Tia Mìa, you're going too far," Lori said again."No. Her father's treatment of Ed went too far. It's foolish for her to dream of living peacefully here! She is a cheap girl, only capable of seducing men." Mìa pulled Lori and Mayte's hands, both of whom looked shocked.Ruby should have been patient and silent, as planned. But this was the moment when Ruby felt that all her acceptance wasn't enough. She yielded, stayed silent, and was obedient. She listened to all the heartless insults without trying to defend herself. However, intentionally pushing her into the filthy mud wh
Ruby glanced at the intertwined hands and then looked away. Not out of jealousy. Ruby just felt it was inappropriate. Ed was still her husband—Liz's husband. He shouldn't be holding hands with another woman."Need help?" Ruby looked up to see a hand extended towards her. It was Lori who offered assistance. Ruby looked at her hand, surprised to receive help from Mayte's side.But Ruby remembered that Lori hadn't intended to antagonize her earlier. She had even been firmer when reprimanding Mìa earlier."I won't let go, so you fall again. I genuinely want to help because your situation looks sad. Sorry," Lori said honestly, assessing the situation.Lori's honesty about her situation actually made Ruby feel more at ease. It seemed Lori was the type to be very open."Thank you, but your hand will get dirty," Ruby declined. Although she didn't want to refuse assistance, her body, particularly her hands, wasn't suitable for contact at the moment.Ruby stood up, looking at her hands, which w
"Look clearly! Don't close your eyes or turn away."Right as Ed said it, Mayte turned away and shook her head. Sobbing, she covered her face."I think there's no need for further explanation. You don't need to ask why I married her," Ed grinned, snorting."Do you want me to not cry when I look at that? I know the pain must be unbearable, Ed. I cry because I imagine you suffering!" Mayte sobbed harder. Her head tilted up, but before she could look at Ed, she turned away again and shook her head."I know, and that's why I don't want to continue this anymore. You don't need to stay out of pity for me. I told you to leave because...""Who said I'm staying out of pity?" Mayte interrupted again. She didn't remember ever saying it in front of Ed."You said it, thinking I wasn't awake yet," Ed said flatly. At that time, he couldn't open his eyes or move, but the sounds and conversations around him were clear."What do you mean?" Mayte frowned."I heard you talking to your father." Ed also rec
"Don't talk about that!" Javier snapped. Refrain from discussing Lori."Are you really going to support Esli for mayor? He's very ambitious." Javier normally wouldn't interfere when Ed made political decisions, but he wanted to know because of Esli."And isn't Mayte's father ambitious too? You shouldn't forget what he did in the southern district. He may appear sweet, but he has unexplained wealth that is even greater than Esli's. They're both rotten, so it doesn't matter who ends up being mayor. I just have to make sure it'll benefit us." Ed was tired of talking so much. But he had to, because Javier wouldn't stop asking until satisfied."You married Liz, not just because of my persuasion." Javier complained. Thinking his brother made the decision solely because of him, of course Javier was disappointed to find out Ed had his own plans."I made a beneficial decision based on your wishes. Isn't this even better? You're happy, and I'm doing the right thing." Ed didn't see any more reas
Ed looked at Liz, who resumed scooping despite her body being very dirty. She no longer seemed bothered by all the dirtiness. She still wore a hat, but Ed could see sweat dripping. If her clothes weren't dirty from the mud, they might still be wet from sweat."What's wrong with you?" Ed murmured, furrowing his brow. He became more puzzled after seeing Javier's report firsthand.The girl he married showed a lot of unexpected sides. Far from his and Javier's expectations, they felt they knew Liz, even if only briefly. Meanwhile, Ed no longer saw traces of the Liz he met as a child. Aside from growing up, Ed no longer saw a spoiled, whimpering girl.He had misinterpreted her whimpering as a sign of weakness because Liz had shed many tears on their wedding day. But now he saw a very different side. This was a trait that an Esli child should never have had."Are you really going to finish all that?" Ed asked, finally approaching."AGH!" Ruby shrieked and turned around, brandishing her shov