Ruby could still lift her head.
“Just dizzy. I guess yelling so much this morning wasn't healthy,” Ruby complained. She already felt exhausted from all the drama, even though her day was far from over.
Ed smiled and started the car. “You're too tense. I think it's not just AJ who's anxious about his first day of school.”
“Indeed,” Ruby muttered. Of course, she was also worried about AJ's situation. Although frustrated and angry, Ruby was genuinely concerned that AJ might struggle to fit in.
Ruby knew Ed chose that school because of its quality, but it was vastly different from AJ's previous school.
“Relax. AJ is very sociable and friendly. He is also acquainted with some of the children who attended our wedding. They go to the same school. It won't be completely unfamiliar,” Ed reassured her.
At the wedding, some guests had brought their children, who helped AJ devour the chocolate fountain. Th
"Where did she go?" Mia murmured as she re-entered the house with Mayte. Ruby was nowhere to be seen."Let's just go inside." Mia pulled Mayte along, guiding her to the table that Tita had prepared. It was filled with tea and cakes."I'm glad you could come today," Mia said."Thank you for the invitation." Mayte politely sat down and took the cup of tea meant for her."I'm really sorry. I didn't know Ed would remarry so quickly." Mia shook her head, looking regretful. Mayte just gave a strained smile.It was Mia who informed Mayte about Ed's wedding cancellation as soon as she heard the news. Although the details weren't complete yet, since Ed hadn't mentioned getting remarried, Mia had already given Mayte hope, only to crush it later with the news of the wedding.It took Mayte more than a month to finally accept Mia's invitation. She had been too shaken, but once again, Mia had nurtured her hopes."The important thing is that you're
Mayte looked up, gazing at Ruby, and once again felt astonished. Ruby's point of view had never been so sharply—and bravely—expressed in Mia's presence."I'm right, aren't I?" Ruby sought Mayte's opinion."Mayte and I couldn't choose our fathers or where we were born..." Ruby turned her gaze back to Mia and smiled."But you can choose, Tia. You’re free to choose who you marry and who you befriend, but it turns out both choices were wrong."Mia flushed deeply, but her lips remained sealed. She had no retort, unable to pick up any crumbs to turn the situation around because Ruby had left no crumbs—nothing. It was too direct to be countered."I’d love to stay longer with you both, but AJ’s already home. I have to be with him. See you later, Mayte. It’s been a pleasure meeting you." Ruby smiled warmly and nodded at Mia before leaving the table.Another bang was heard—Mia slammed the table onc
"Hi, you're Abuela's guest."AJ greeted Mayte in the kitchen as she warmed milk in front of the heater. The kitchen activities had ended, and Tita and the other servants were nowhere to be seen."My name is Mayte." Mayte smiled and extended her hand.They had met earlier but hadn't had a chance to introduce themselves. Mia didn't seem interested in making introductions, and Ruby didn't either; in fact, she seemed to want to keep AJ away. Understandable, though."Alvaro Javier Here… Rosas. Alvaro Javier Rosas. Just AJ, though. It's easier." AJ smiled and took Mayte's hand."Oh… I see." Mayte instantly understood the reason behind the name.Mayte hadn't believed Lori when she mentioned the child—after the marriage was official—but she couldn’t deny it now, seeing the child standing tall in front of her—clearly a Rosas."Are you warming some milk? I want it too." AJ had come to the kitchen to grab a
Ruby rubbed her head as she staggered forward. She had been trying to walk straight, but her head refused to cooperate. Several times, she had to stop and feel for something nearby, searching for support to stay on her feet.Her dizziness was worse than yesterday, and she was trying to find medicine again. But it was getting more difficult. Ruby wanted to seek help, but she knew that Tita was probably still asleep. It was too early—the sky was starting to lighten, but the sun had yet to rise.“W
"At least you're aware. I still haven't forgotten how you fainted from a fever before."Ed reached out and held Ruby's hand as she lay there. They were already in the ER, waiting for various tests to be done.Ed requested a full set of tests, so they had to wait a little longer for the results."Oh, yes. I remember." Ruby smiled. There was no way she could forget."I still don’t understand why you had to swim in the middle of the night, even now." Ed frowned. After learning who Ruby really was, Ed got answers to a lot of her odd behaviors, but not that one—the strangest of all."I… At the time, I was feeling extremely guilty. Esli… We had just returned from Esli’s house, right? He told me he wanted to make you fall in love with me. He wanted you under my control, so he could use you freely."Ruby knew that was all in the past, but as she said it, the guilt still stabbed at her throat. It was bitter, accompanie
“We made it in Zurich,” Ed said.SMACK!Ruby slapped Ed’s hand a bit hard, rolling her eyes. Tita was still in the room, helping to tuck Ruby in as she lay down.“What? I’m right, aren’t I?” Ed didn’t feel guilty or embarrassed at all.Tita smiled amusingly. Of course, she understood what Ed meant.“I’ll get some tea and cakes. You need to eat a lot.” Tita stroked Ruby’s head with a cheerful smile. Ed had already told her.“Please tell me AJ’s home already.” Ruby would tell AJ herself later. He was still at school.“Of course, Señora.” Tita nodded and excused herself.“You need to practice stopping that smile.” Of course, Ruby was scolding Ed, who hadn't stopped smiling since earlier.“True. I imagine Otiz will be very surprised to see me smiling constantly.” Ed tried to lower the corners o
“What the…” Liz looked up and gasped. She hadn't realized Ed had arrived; she had only noticed him.“What are you doing here?” Liz snapped with a trembling voice.“I’m asking! Who could have done this?” Ed hissed, eager to get an answer.“What do you mean, who?! He… he…” Liz couldn’t hold back her grief and began sobbing again.But Ed understood. Liz thought the suicide was real. Her thinking was simple. Esli hadn’t involved Liz too deeply in his dark world. Liz was cunning, but she hadn’t been tainted by it.“If anyone… it’s you who killed him! You’re the one who made him lose…” Liz stood up and tried to be frustrated at Ed but collapsed again, too weak to stand."Do you expect me to remain quiet and accept it after everything you've done?” Ed scoffed.“So you were the one who killed him then!
“Mommy is sleeping, AJ. Later, okay?”Tita tried to persuade AJ, who was insisting on entering Ruby’s room. He had just come home and was looking for Ruby, whom he hadn’t seen that morning. Tita promised to check on Ruby later, as she was still asleep.“But I want to see Mommy!” AJ insisted, trying to pull away from Tita’s grasp.“Later, AJ. Let Mommy rest first. Tita coaxed, "You can see her afterward."“But I want to...”“QUIET!”AJ’s words were cut off by Mia’s shout as she appeared from the hallway where her room was located.“Can’t you just be calm for one day?!” Mia snapped.“AJ, let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make you some cookies.” Tita quickly tried to pull AJ away from Mia. Every time Mia approached AJ, Tita would attempt to pull him away.“I want to see Mommy! Mommy is sick. Have y