"Everything is here, Senora," Tita said, handing a woven basket covered with cloth to Ruby."Ah, thank you." Ruby took it and immediately carried it to the side door that led to the beach. As the water came into view, her tied-up hair fluttered, and she glanced at the shoreline.Ruby's destination wasn't far. Ed was sitting in a shady spot near the black coral rocks, staring out at the sea. If he wasn't in Javier's room, Ed would be there. Ruby had memorized his location."Whose idea was this?" As he noticed Ruby approaching and taking a seat beside him, Ed inquired."Mine." Ruby smiled, showing the basket she brought, filled with food.Usually, Ruby would just call Ed when it was time to eat, but this time, she brought the food to him.Lunch had long passed, actually. The sky was already reddish from the sunset. Ruby had given Ed the chance to come on his own, but he hadn't. Ed was still not himself."It looks delicious," said Ed, lo
"I built this house here because Javier wanted it," whispered Ed.Ruby's throat tightened at the sound of Ed's raspy voice. But Ruby wouldn't speak. Ed just wanted to talk."I'm here now because I wanted to protect Javier. I had to make him happy. So now, what should I do?"Ruby's tears welled up. She understands a little more now. Ed wasn't just close to his brother—he loved him deeply, and then he unconsciously built his life around Javier's world. Ed didn't want to grieve and let go, but he didn't know what to do because the foundation of his world had disappeared. He felt so empty because his primary reason for moving forward was no longer there."My mother… She died after entrusting Javier to me. She requested that I take care of him. I have done that—but what now?"Ruby wiped her tears as quickly as possible so they wouldn't fall on Ed, but it was difficult. The story was heartbreaking. Ruby knew that Ed's parents had died,
“Where did he go?” Ruby panicked after seeing Javier's empty room.Ruby didn’t find Ed when she woke up and naturally assumed he was at his usual spot. But he wasn’t at the beach either. He seemed much better last night; he shouldn’t be disappearing now.Ruby turned back inside, determined to search elsewhere.“Office, terrace…” Ruby muttered, recalling the places she had already checked.“Busy?”Ruby shrieked and instinctively stepped back. The voice belonged to Pedro. The sleazy man was sitting near the garden that separated the main house and the chapel.Ruby didn’t respond and wanted to go inside immediately, but Pedro swiftly moved to block the door leading to the house.“You’re not going to return my greeting? So cold.” Pedro looked disappointed.“Aren’t you afraid Mia will see you?” Ruby reminded him of one thing that s
"Liz?" Ed snapped his fingers in front of Ruby's eyes after calling her name twice without getting an answer. He was still on the horse."Huh?" Ruby blinked, and her face turned a perfect shade of red."What were you thinking about?" Ed looked at her suspiciously."Nothing!" Ruby replied too quickly, making Ed even more suspicious."What did you ask?" Ruby tried to steer the conversation to something safer."I asked if you wanted to ride a horse too." Ed repeated the question Ruby hadn't heard earlier."Oh, I don't---It's been a long time since I rode a horse. I don't know if I still can."Ruby adjusted her answer because it made more sense. She didn't know if Liz could ride a horse, but Esli could afford to buy one. It was possible Liz knew how to ride. Saying she couldn't might cause problems later."Come here." Ed extended his hand and removed his foot from the stirrup."What...""Step here." Ed pointed to the
“Don Rosas, the food...”“Later!”Ed interrupted when Tita confronted him near the side door, wanting to inform him that breakfast was already over—but Ed ignored her and continued pulling Ruby towards the room.Out of embarrassment, Ruby didn't dare look at Tita. She lowered her head, following Ed with a flushed face.But when they reached the room, the pink hue on Ruby's face turned redder as Ed impatiently held her, pushing her until her back hit the door and simultaneously closing it.Ruby sighed inwardly as Ed covered her eyes with his hand before kissing her again—but that reality no longer mattered afterward.Ruby couldn’t be disappointed when Ed gave her what she wanted. Hurried, but not unpleasant. The new sensation was far from bad.Ed didn’t take Ruby to the bed but used the nearest table to support her body. Impatiently stripping off her clothes. He couldn’t be patient
"Let me help you." Tita slipped a hair accessory adorned with pink pearls into Ruby's hair, perfecting an already stunning look."There, not too thick, but beautiful. This kind of makeup really suits you." Tita then evaluated Ruby's face and was satisfied.Ruby did her own makeup. Because her previous job as a restaurant waitress required her to wear makeup, she was used to it. Initially, Ruby did it haphazardly, but many friends helped her until she found a makeup style that suited her and felt comfortable for her. Even Tita praised her."I'll put this on." Tita picked up a necklace with a luxurious blood-red pendant. Ruby didn't want to guess the price because it would be impossible to estimate."Very beautiful. It suits you." Tita sighed contentedly, admiring Ruby’s appearance."Thank you." Ruby blushed, of course. It had been a long time since she had received so many compliments."Hmm... Don Rosas isn't one to easily give complime
"Yet it seems dim when placed beside your face," Ed continued.Ruby’s heart, which had momentarily stopped, gradually resumed pumping blood. She realized Ed wasn't calling her name.Ed’s hand reached out to touch the necklace around her neck, brushing it briefly before caressing Ruby's face with a satisfied expression.“You’re perfect now,” he said.Ruby remained silent, but she tried to smile and nod, swallowing her anxiety.The red stone was ruby. Ruby knew that a ruby was a precious red gemstone; she just never imagined she would one day wear a gemstone that matched her name.“It’s not that I dislike what you’re wearing, but I don’t want anyone coveting anything that belongs to me. Not because you're imperfect, but because you're too perfect. And you’re only for me.”Ruby’s body tingled as Ed cupped her face and kissed her lips. There was a hint of lust, but wh
Ruby fervently hoped that the waiter was just referring to her jewelry, not her name. But this one called her by name, looking directly into her eyes.Ruby remembered. Paolo, a waiter at the restaurant, was one of her friends. Ruby even remembered his name, despite them not often being on the same shift. But Paolo wasn’t supposed to be here; he was supposed to be in Veracruz!“I almost didn't recognize you. You all look so different when dressed up like this. Are you a guest at this party?” he asked, moving closer with a curious expression.“Y-You’re mistaken. I’m not Ruby.” Ruby shook her head vigorously and stammered. This was a mistake, as it diminished her persuasiveness.“Huh? You’re Ruby. I’m not wrong. My friend is always talking about you, and I know this. Paolo didn’t seem like the type to accept excuses easily.“No, you’re mistaken. Excuse me.” Ruby decide