“R… Ruby…”Lori needed a few moments to believe it. She did the same with Ed. She touched Ruby’s face until she finally pinched her cheek.“Oh my God! You’re really not Liz?!” Lori squealed.“Shh!” Ruby requested that she not scream, of course.“You’re not Liz?” Lori repeated it more quietly, still pinching Ruby’s cheek.“Does my cheek feel different?” Ruby was surprised when Lori confirmed it by pinching her cheek.“It’s not that! But Liz would slap me if I kept pinching her cheek.” Lori used the easiest way to distinguish the truth from Ruby’s statement.“Oh my God! What kind of magic is this?” Lori was convinced but couldn’t fully accept it yet.“I… I’m sorry, I deceived you before.” Ruby began by apologizing. She had deceived Lori, after all.“Yes, I was very deceived. I understood because you had a miscarriage and Pedro was a jerk, but you got worse than before." Lori shook her head. She also believed that Ruby had changed significantly as a result of losing her baby.“What about
“Ok, thank you so much.” Lori thanked the hospital administrator, who had been answering her questions. They were very cooperative, but unfortunately, the results were not satisfying. AJ was not at the hospital.“There are still six more in this area. The closest one... Ruby? Are you alright?” Lori asked, then stepped back. She had been walking alone, while Ruby had stayed behind on the hospital terrace.“Yeah, I'm just thinking.” Ruby leaned against the hospital wall for a moment, then stood up and walked over.“You look like shit. Sorry, but you’re really pale.” Lori shook her head while touching Ruby’s sunken cheeks.“When was the last time you had a good night's sleep?” Lori asked.“Mm… last night.” Ruby lied, of course. She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept well. Ever since AJ was taken by CPS, Ruby hasn’t been able to sleep soundly.“Really? You didn’t sleep at all on the flight yesterday. You didn’t even eat properly. You barely touched that one croissant.”Lori did
“What... Who?” Ed was confused. They were in Switzerland. There shouldn’t be any disturbances.“That... you’d better meet him yourself.” Otiz bowed his head.“What’s wrong with you? Ugh...” Ed got down from AJ’s bed, half-jumping. He forgot that his body hadn't recovered yet.AJ was not the only one with side effects. Ed’s body wasn’t fully recovered either. His back and hips still ached; he shouldn’t even be active yet. Ed forced himself to do so because he didn't want to leave AJ alone.“Who wants to see me?” Ed hobbled out, grumbling and puzzled. Otiz usually chased away unimportant visitors, and at this moment, Ed considered everyone unimportant.“Over there.” Otiz pointed towards the waiting room, which resembled a living room. Each room in that hospital did indeed look more like an apartment with complete facilities.Ed continued walki
"We don't do...""Did I tell you to hurt her?!" Ed shouted, still glaring at the two of them."You're the one who harmed her! Ruby hasn't eaten or slept for days!" Lori snapped back. She wasn't any less afraid, but she was exasperated by Ed's unclear anger. He had already driven Ruby away, so it was strange to see Ed frustrated now that Ruby had fainted."I didn't…" Ed's desire to argue vanished instantly. He lost interest because he could feel that Ruby's body was very warm, despite the rain soaking her."Ruby?" Ed tapped her cheek, and Ruby did not respond at all."I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT!" When Otiz saw Ed trying to lift Ruby's body, he shouted and ran toward him. It wasn’t that Ed couldn’t do it, but he shouldn't be lifting any weight yet."Don't touch her." Ed hissed and lifted Ruby himself. His waist stung, but Ed just gritted his teeth. He carried Ruby inside, and fortunately, it wasn’t far.They were in a
“Eat. You have to eat. I won’t let you see AJ until you’ve eaten.” Lori didn’t budge and continued holding the bowl of thin porridge sprinkled with minced meat and scallions in front of Ruby’s nose.This was her third attempt to persuade Ruby to eat. Lori had backed down twice, but not this time.“I want to know how AJ is doing.” Ruby insisted on getting up to see AJ.“Listen, Ruby. First, Ed might not even allow it, and second, you’re sick. Would you like to see him in this condition? AJ is also sick, and you want him to see you like this? Your fever hasn’t even gone down yet!”Lori pressed Ruby’s forehead slightly. In addition to taking Ruby's temperature, Lori also gently pushed her back to ensure a peaceful eating experience.“Eat. Your fever won’t go down if you don’t eat.” Lori lifted a spoonful and brought it to Ruby’s lips. Her eyes n
“Today is much better. According to the doctor, after Senora Herrera stopped refusing to eat, her condition improved dramatically. She is not yet allowed to get out of bed, though. Still in the process of recovery,” Otiz reported in detail, without being asked.But Ed heard everything, so the report was not in vain. Ed would have ordered him to shut up if he didn't want to hear it.“Should I ask her to leave once she’s healthy enough?” Otiz asked. Because Ruby's condition had changed, he needed to update the order.But Ed had not changed. He still didn’t know what to do.“I will wait for your decision.” Otiz finally took his leave after waiting in vain.“Hey, Otiz.” When he turned around, Otiz was greeted sweetly by AJ, who had just opened her eyes.“Hello, AJ. You look fresh.” Otiz raised his hand, and AJ slapped it.“Ow! That hurt. You have such a strong h
"Where are we going?" AJ inquired, carefully placing his hand, still connected to the IV, on the wheelchair's armrest. Ed had just picked him up and transferred him to the chair."A surprise." Ed adjusted AJ's hair, smiling."I love surprises!" AJ clapped his hands softly."Take it easy. Don't jump around. Remember what the doctor said." To prevent him from overdoing it, Ed tempered AJ's enthusiasm."Hm..." AJ muttered and nodded casually. He was worn out from hearing the rules and eager to leave his room. This was the first time he was allowed out of his room since the transplant procedure."We're going out." Ed pushed AJ's wheelchair. Their destination was not far, but a surprise awaited them in the front room, where the commotion had been four days ago."Are we going for a walk or... Oh, MOMMY!"AJ shouted, nearly making Ed lose his grip, but Ruby, quick to understand how AJ would move, immediately raised her hand, stopping him from getting down, even though she also couldn’t wait
“That's great! This is a fantastic opportunity!” Lori exclaimed, excitedly slapping Ruby's thigh.“What do you mean, great? Aren't you listening to me?” Ruby was annoyed. She had just explained how she was in a difficult position with Ed.Ruby felt relieved to finally meet AJ, but it was definitely unpleasant to have to see Ed every time, who was not friendly at all. Ruby hoped for sympathy, not Lori's cheerful shouts.“You're too stiff! Look at it from a different angle. Being close to Ed means he can't avoid you. You can freely woo him again! Don't you realize that?” Lori clicked her tongue in exasperation.“But I don't want to woo him!” Ruby shook her head, sighing.“Don't you want to make peace with him?” Lori frowned."Yes—at least for AJ's sake, but I'm unsure if wooing is the right approach. I don't want Ed to misunderstand and think I'm chasing him again. Ed will get frustrated and think I'm presumptuous and rude.” Ruby didn't want to complicate matters.Ed was already difficu