"Ah, my favorite!"
Grace exclaimed with delight, accepting the glass of hot coffee and the box of apple pie that Ruby had brought from Casa Nueva—her café.
"This is perfect, as always." Grace inhaled the aroma of the coffee and smiled gratefully. Whenever Ruby visited her mother, she always brought something for Grace as a token of appreciation.
"You’re too kind to me, Ruby. I’ve gotten so used to your sweet gestures now. I’ll have to hold you accountable if you ever come without bringing anything." Grace glanced at the pie Ruby had brought and smacked her lips impatiently. The aroma was incredibly enticing.
"Don’t worry, I’ll always be sweet to you." Ruby winked at Grace.
Of course, Ruby never minded being kind to Grace. According to her, the woman was like an angel. Since Ruby first arrived in New York, Grace has always helped her.
It wasn’t just about caring for her mother at ADDF; Grace al
"AJ? Where are you?""Is that your mom?" asked Ed, pointing at the chubby woman calling out. He peeked through the window.“Pffft… no. My mom is beautiful. She's named Ms. Rosemore. A teacher.” AJ shook his head vehemently, not accepting that Ed’s guess was so far off.“Go, or she’ll report you to your mom.” Ed pointed to the door. AJ had to leave before the woman considered where he might be.“Yeah…” AJ nodded reluctantly, then hoisted his backpack.“Keep this meeting a secret from her.” Ed pointed at the woman below.“Of course! I won’t introduce my friend to her!” AJ shook his head immediately.Ed felt relieved but also amused. Seeing him pout was similar to seeing Javier sulk.“You’re smart.” Ed patted AJ’s head, and his nose seemed to flare with happiness at the compliment.“Go.” Ed whisper
"Beast? What beast?" Ruby was confused."The beast from the fairy tale," said AJ.Ruby chuckled softly. "Now isn't the time for you to talk about fairy tales, AJ. You're sick.""But...""Answer first. What were you doing before your nose started bleeding?" Ruby asked. She wanted to know the cause."Mm, what was I doing? I was playing." AJ answered hesitantly, avoiding eye contact.Ruby recognized this behavior as an attempt to lie. "AJ?" Ruby pressed firmly.AJ's lips immediately pouted. "I was hiding in the treehouse," AJ admitted in a whisper.Ruby sighed and sat on the edge of AJ's bed."Ms. Rosemore didn't mean to doubt your abilities, AJ. She just didn't expect you to read so fluently. You shouldn't be upset at her just because of that. You...""Oh my, AJ. Is that true? Are you upset at me?" Ms. Rosemore, who had just followed them in, replied in surprise. This was the first time she heard about AJ's anger.
“I…”Ed wanted to respond by saying 'his friend', but then realized that someone nearing forty years old is not suited to befriend a four-year-old boy. He would look like a child predator searching for prey.“Are you his mother’s boyfriend?”Another suspicious question came as Ed was still thinking, which made things even weirder. “What do you mean?” asked Ed.“What’s your intention with AJ?” The woman continued to pose sharp questions, and her movements now seemed aggressive. She stood in the middle of the hallway, blocking Ed.“I just want to return something AJ gave me. I have no other intentions.” Ed raised his hands and stepped back, showing a calm demeanor. He didn’t want to appear aggressive in a place full of children.“Really?” Ms. Rosemore still looked doubtful and scrutinized Ed closely. Ed didn't look suspicious from the
Ed calculated in his head, recalling the amount of Diego’s drugs he had consumed. He couldn't rule out the possibility that an overdose might have caused him to see something unusual. But Ed remembered that the last time he took those drugs was two days ago.There are no drugs in his system now. His mind and vision were clear. So, what he was seeing should be real.Ed felt his coat, then took out his phone and called Otiz.“Where is my wife?” Ed asked. He sought to dispel the feeling that he was losing his mind. Maybe Liz was indeed in New York.“Umm, still the same. Señora hasn’t left the city.” Otiz answered, obviously puzzled. Meanwhile, Ed needed something to hold on to, as his head suddenly felt very light.“Are you sure?” Ed frowned and rubbed his face, which suddenly hurt. Extreme confusion gripped him.“Yes, I can ask them to send a photo if you’re not sure.” Otiz suggested.“Alright.” Ed ended the call while the voices in his head were clamorous.He couldn’t comprehend what h
“Are you okay?” Otiz presented Ed with a bottle of mineral water.They were already in the VIP waiting room at the airport, but Otiz would run out if necessary—if Ed needed medical help.In Otiz’s eyes, Ed looked like he was having a heart attack. Ed returned to the car, pale as a ghost, completely unresponsive, not even objecting when Otiz drove. Ed just sat there, holding his head, for the entire trip.He was still sitting there, looking unwell. Otiz was understandably worried.“Did something happen?” Otiz asked. He knew it was a stupid question because, clearly, something had happened to make Ed look so empty.“Is Liz in Mexico?” Ed inquired again, pressing firmly against the aching side of his face. There was no way he could be calm after all this.“Yes. I also confirmed that she’ll be in San Miguel de Allende for the next few days.” Of course, Otiz requested not just photos but also other information.“Then who was that here?” Ed murmured quietly.Not Liz. Ed was now sure. He cou
"AJ? Are you done? It's time for breakfast!"Ruby called out, her gaze shifting to the bed. The clothes she had prepared were already gone. For the past few months, AJ has no longer needed her help getting dressed. The last time, AJ had learned to button his shirt, and now he was quite capable. He now refuses Ruby's help every time."I'm done!" AJ appeared at the top of the stairs. He had been downstairs earlier."Oh, alright. Good job." As she walked into AJ's room, Ruby patted his head, praising him."Wait, where's the undershirt you wore to school a few days ago? I only found the shirt."Ruby checked the towering pile of clothes once more—clothes she had been trying to ignore for a few days due to being overwhelmed—and found something missing."Oh, I gave it to Beast. His ear was hurt." AJ paused for a moment to explain, then ran downstairs."Be careful!" Ruby warned, but AJ had already reached the dining table, and Rub
"Sorry, I seem to be quite busy today."Ruby handed Ed his coffee, trying to keep her tone as friendly as possible."Are you the owner of this place?" Ed asked, though he already knew. Sitting for hours didn't mean Ed noticed anything besides reading.Ed glanced often at Ruby, observing her as she worked. Seeing how several employees—both from the kitchen and waitstaff—asked her questions, Ed knew that the woman sitting in front of him was more than just a cashier."Yes, that's right." Ruby nodded."A remarkable achievement." Ed didn't mince words. Owning a medium-sized and seemingly successful business was no straightforward feat."Thank you." Ruby smiled politely."Sorry, but you mentioned AJ earlier. How do you know him? Frankly, it makes me uncomfortable. You're a stranger." Ruby firmly reprimanded him, making an effort to treat Ed as distantly as possible."I mean no harm. AJ helped me when I was in trouble; we
[Where are you?]Otiz sent a message. Even though it was just a message, Ed could imagine Otiz's worried face as he sent it. He must have panicked when he realized Ed had left without him, not saying where he was going either.They were still in New York, not in Mexico. Otiz always believed Ed was in danger. Russell 'owned' the streets there; Ed shouldn't be aimlessly wandering around the city.[Just wait]Ed replied briefly, then leaned back in his seat again. He waited while holding a book, occasionally glancing at the group of children playing not far from his bench.There was a fairly large playground in the park, and Ed knew AJ would be there every Wednesday and Friday. He had observed this last Sunday.AJ would be in school in the mornings, except on Wednesdays and Fridays, when Ruby would pick him up herself. However, a staff member from one of the daycares would pick up AJ on those two days. Ruby would only pick him up in the evening
“Such chaos,” Liz lamented as she watched the crowd of rowdy children, who had become the main guests at her wedding.“Yeah, I didn’t expect it to get this wild either.” Ruby sat beside her, watching AJ hand out chocolate-covered strawberries to the other kids.He wasn’t alone—Claud, Val's second child, was helping him. They eventually grew close, even though their conversations were sometimes limited because Claud was more fluent in Italian than English. Still, they got along well enough.“How did it all start?” Ed frowned.“I don’t know.” Ruby was also unsure.“Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed when AJ asked.” Liz deeply regretted it.Somehow, AJ had convinced Liz to provide a chocolate fountain for her wedding, and it had become the source of chaos. The younger children were enjoying it, but soon chocolate stains appeared on the white tablecloths, as wel
"Do I have to? I already checked that document yesterday. Can’t you do it instead?" When Ed saw another email from Otiz, he complained.It was a financial report. Since Matteo had spread his investments in every direction—across more or less thirty companies—the financial reports Otiz received came from all directions, across different types of businesses. Ed hadn't anticipated this.Being an investor wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed. He still had to work.“You’re the one who has to check it. I’m just the middleman,” Otiz firmly refused.He could refuse because the request was made over the phone. Perhaps if they were face-to-face, Otiz would be more compliant. He was no longer blindly following Ed's orders, carefully sorting out what should and should not be done. He was only responsible for delivering financial reports, not reviewing them.Ed grumbled. He was quite used to reviewing company pa
"‘What do you want to show me?’ As she approached Ed, Ruby inquired.She left AJ's side; he was busy reading a story to his two younger siblings. Elena and Elisa sat quietly, either really listening or getting sleepy. It was already time for their afternoon nap."Read this," Ed shifted, making room for Ruby to sit beside him, and handed her a phone displaying an article in Spanish. Less than two hours had passed since the publication of this hot news story.Ruby didn’t pay attention to that, though, because she was immediately stunned by the headline.‘DEA ARRESTS MAJOR MEXICAN CARTEL AND EXPOSES BILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESS NETWORK’"What... you...?" Ruby turned pale and panicked, of course."Read it to the end," Ed said, pointing to the rest of the text that she had not yet seen.Ruby read quickly and frowned. There was no mention of Ed or Rosas anywhere. Only Reyes. Marco Reyes. He was the story's
Two black vans speed down a deserted road. It was already nighttime, and they were the only ones there. The end of the road was in sight—a black iron gate.“Ram it!”A shout rang out, and the vans didn’t slow down. The passengers inside, all dressed in black, held on tight as a deafening crash echoed.The gate fell, bent, but opened. The two vans barged through and stopped right in front of the brightly lit house.“Get in and kill everyone!”Another shout, and the people inside the vans scrambled out, storming into the beachside house. Some were carrying firearms; others were wielding clubs.However, as they entered, everyone froze. No one came to greet them. The house was supposed to be full of guards, which was why they had come in numbers—ready for a confrontation.In reality, what greeted them was silence. Not a single person appeared, even though the house was brightly lit.“
"AJ, don't make Abuela tired!" Ruby reprimanded AJ for running away with something, while Mia pursued him.But it was impossible to make AJ stop, especially since his younger siblings were laughing joyfully at his antics. Elisa and Elena had just learned to walk, and they happily followed him around.AJ couldn't stop when he had such an audience. Mia seemed to be scolding him, but everyone knew Mia could never really be upset at AJ.Ruby had to step in, followed by Ed to watch over Elisa and Elena. Although falling on the sand wouldn't hurt, the beach had sharp rocks that could scrape them."Mommy! They should chase me! Don't pick them up!" AJ didn’t want his little sisters to be carried away and stop the fun."Alright," Ruby said, intending to supervise them closely."How about we take a vacation?" Ed abruptly proposed the idea, having just finished reading a message on his phone."Hm?" Ruby was surprised. There had been no suc
"Here."Ed gave Otiz a handkerchief to wipe away his tears. If it had been just a few, he would have let Otiz cry—and wiped the tears with the sleeve of his jacket.The problem was that Otiz couldn’t stop crying. He had already been emotional when Ed stood beside him at the altar, and it got worse when he saw Lori walking down the aisle, escorted by flowers. It was all too beautiful and dazzling for his eyes.“Sorry,” Otiz stammered, wiping the remaining tears from his face.“What are you apologizing for? At a wedding, shedding tears is not considered inappropriate. You're just too happy. No one will blame you.” Ed gently patted Otiz’s shoulder and then turned his gaze forward.Of course, Lori was the focus of the event. Her choice of dress was perfect, blending seamlessly with the entire garden decor. Flowers, ribbons, music, and all the other elements were carefully and precisely chosen—now showcasi
Ed tapped his finger on the glass in his hand. His eyes were fixed on a single point—Marco Reyes.The man was speaking with Otiz. Nothing important. Marco was just making small talk, and Otiz was doing the same—being polite, answering Marco's questions about his law firm's progress. Ed actually needed to speak to both of them, but he chose to start with Marco first.Ed just needed to gesture with his chin, and Otiz understood immediately. He excused himself, making up a reason, and left Marco alone."I need to talk to you," Ed said as he approached."Oh? What is it?" Marco immediately followed Ed, moving to the quiet side yard. The other guests filled the living room."I want you to handle the shipment to Ecuador and Brazil next week."Marco looked as if he had choked. This was incredibly surprising. Ed had never let him touch the South American market before. Ed had always handled it himself. Marco had only been managing North A
"Mommy, I want to try! You be Elena, and I'll be Elisa."AJ reached out his hand, asking for the milk bottle from Ruby. He wanted to try feeding the babies—and he chose Elisa.Usually, Tita was around to help Ruby, but today Tita was busy, so Ruby had been on her own since earlier."You can, but please be careful, okay? Don’t let her choke, and don’t squeeze." Ruby guided AJ's hand to hold the bottle filled with pre-warmed breast milk, helping him apply just the right pressure so it wouldn't press too hard against Elisa's lips."Wow! Look, Mommy! She's drinking!" AJ exclaimed happily, eyes sparkling with joy. This was the first time he was directly involved—doing something for his little sister. AJ usually watched, but at first he was afraid to hold the babies. He would look in awe but wouldn’t dare touch them.“See? It’s not a big deal, right? You don’t have to be scared anymore.”&l
From their disheveled appearance, it was clear that Liz and Asher had either just rushed out of a room or possibly run over here. One thing was certain: as soon as they heard the news about Ruby, they had hurried over."Where? Ruby... You're pale. Why... It shouldn't be happening now."Just like Lori, Liz was out of breath as she approached Ruby, panicking. The news had shocked everyone. Liz had already planned to stay in Puerto Vallarta next week to be there for Ruby when she gave birth.Of course, Liz no longer lived at Ed’s house. She had managed to buy her own apartment.“I’m fine, and they’re fine too. But the nurse hasn’t brought them here yet. Calm down… breathe.”Ruby was already able to speak clearly and now had to calm Liz down. She was the one lying down, barely conscious, yet had to reassure everyone else."Are you really okay? No problems? Any complications?" Liz touched Ruby’s bo