Ed's hand moved faster than anything—faster even than his thoughts. He drew the gun from inside his jacket and pulled the trigger, aiming at the head. Ed didn't want to kill Russell, but he would no longer show mercy.
Russell fell silent immediately, with a gaping wound at the back of his head.
“Did you... Damn it!” Ed cursed as he turned, realizing the situation was worse than he had anticipated.
“AJ!” Ruby was screaming, holding AJ’s limp body as he lay there clutching his thigh. AJ was unconscious while blood continued to flow from the wound.
Without hesitation, Ed picked up AJ and carried him out through the door they had entered. Ruby stumbled along behind him.
“Don Rosas... Oh...” Otiz was about to report, but upon seeing the blood and AJ’s limp form, he quickly jumped down and opened the door to Ed’s car. There was no more danger, and Ed easily exited the house.
“Where&
“Get the tickets ready to go home.”Otiz was undoubtedly startled by the command. His foot, already on the gas pedal, lifted again. The car, parked at the hospital, jerked to a stop. It didn't move forward.“What?” Otiz asked, glancing at Ed through the rearview mirror.The night had grown late, and Otiz couldn't see Ed's face clearly, but judging by Ed’s slumped posture in the seat—like a coat haphazardly hung—Otiz knew something was wrong.“Get the tickets ready to go home. Immediately!” Ed almost shouted but then took a long breath, realizing Otiz didn’t deserve the anger. Otiz had worked perfectly today, doing a difficult job flawlessly.The blame lay with him. The previous incident was his fault, and Ruby had made him realize it. He had ruined Ruby and AJ's lives. It was true. They were just a normal family with a peaceful life in New York.Russell interfered because of him. Ed had gotten too close.“Aren't you waiting for a report from Mexico about Ruby Herrera? I’ve received pa
“Sorry, but is there any history of certain diseases in your family?” the doctor asked politely. The male doctor also seemed cautious.“No, Doctor... Shelby.” Ruby read the name on the card hanging from his neck. The middle-aged doctor had been kind since the beginning of AJ’s treatment and seemed very competent.“Oh, my mother had Alzheimer’s. Is that what you mean?” Ruby was still confused but tried to answer as thoroughly as possible.“I’m sorry to hear that, but that’s not what I meant.” Shelby shook his head with a smile.“What about his father? Could he possibly have a history of certain diseases?”Shelby asked a unique question that Ruby didn’t know the answer to, which only made Ruby more panicked.“Sorry, I don’t know. But why are you asking?” Ruby shook her head.“Is there any chance you could find out?”“That... would be difficult.” Ruby shook her head more vigorously. Not just difficult, but almost impossible. Last night, Ruby sent AJ's father away for good.“Oh, I see.” S
Ruby pulled back her trembling hands, covering her face to avoid screaming. The situation was too cruel."I'm sorry, but does AJ have any siblings?" Shelby asked.Ruby shook her head."Is AJ's father still alive?" Shelby asked more cautiously.Ruby nodded slowly, becoming increasingly reluctant to speak. But this was beneficial news for Shelby."In that case, you might be able to contact him. There's a likely chance that his dad will be a match for AJ. It still needs to be tested, but I think it will work. If AJ had siblings, I would recommend them, but his father could also be a suitable option." Shelby patted her own thigh to release some of her relief.The situation was vastly different for Ruby. She was once again forced to face the irony-laden reality. She had to swallow her own words, which hadn't even dried yet."What about the other donors? Is there no other way?" Ruby hoped there was, but Shelby shook her head gently.
Some people had kneeled and begged before him, but Ed usually knew why. This one was too random.“Ruby…” Ed tried to free his hand, but Ruby gripped it very tightly.“Don’t go!” Ruby wasn’t going to let him go.“Mrs. Herrera, excuse me. But not here.” Otiz, who had caught up, finally forced Ruby to stand up. Ed and Ruby were attracting too much attention, and that wasn’t good, especially with security personnel involved.“I…” Ruby resisted Otiz, but Ed leaned in and hissed in her ear.“I don’t know what you want, but don’t make a scene in public.” Ruby immediately fell silent and followed Ed as he walked out of the waiting room.Ruby didn’t know where they were going; she just followed them until they finally entered a small chapel at the airport. Naturally, the room was silent. Only one person was praying, and he departed as soon as
Ed's leg seemed to be floating, losing his footing. To steady himself, he grabbed Otiz, who was beside him, before finally being able to step forward and stand in front of Ruby. He was looking into those brown, tear-filled eyes."I'm sorry... forgive me..." Ruby whimpered, closing her eyes as she saw Ed's hand move towards her. Ruby was ready to accept anything, even if that hand were to choke her; she would remain silent and not struggle.But Ruby was startled because Ed's hand caressed her cheek. Ed's warm fingertips didn't hurt her but instead gently stroked her entire face, wiping away her tears.Ruby opened her eyes, and those green eyes were still looking at her. However, Ruby had to close her eyes again when Ed brushed her eyelids. Ed seemed to want to feel every detail of her face. The resemblance, which he had considered a miracle yesterday, seemed to conceal something deeper."Ed..." Ruby called out timidly as she slowly lowered her hand."Tea... you are that tea." Ed mutter
Ruby jolted when AJ’s hospital room door suddenly opened, but she immediately felt relieved when she saw Ed entering with Otiz.“You came…” Ruby almost smiled, but it faded quickly as Ed didn’t even look at her. He simply walked past and went straight to AJ's bed. The child was fast asleep.The taxi Ruby took managed to follow Ed’s taxi, so she knew Ed was at the hospital. She just didn’t know where exactly. She had gone back to AJ, hoping Ed would be in AJ’s room. Ruby panicked when she saw Ed wasn’t there, but decided to wait. It was the right decision, and Ed eventually came—though he treated her like she was invisible.“Ed, I…”Ruby fell silent. The look in Ed's eyes silenced her. His lips didn’t need to open or speak; Ruby could interpret that look. Ed wasn't there to hear anything. He was there for AJ, not for Ruby.“Don Rosas will undergo tests to confirm compatibility as a donor,” Otiz explained.“Oh…” Ruby closed her mouth, wanting to smile but knowing it wouldn’t be appropri
"WUAAA! It’s huge!"AJ shouted with excitement. His eyes widened as much as possible, as if trying to match the size of the dinosaur fossil in front of him. The ancient bones that formed the prehistoric creature's figure were certainly astonishing to AJ.The Saurier Museum is Zurich, Switzerland's most complete fossil and replica collection. It was a special visit, chosen by Ed to cheer AJ up.But they weren't in Switzerland just to visit the museum. The country supposedly has the best healthcare facilities. Ed was interested in that, so he arranged for AJ to be treated there.“That’s the biggest thing I’ve ever seen!” AJ shouted again.If not for his aching leg—and Ed holding his shoulder to keep him seated in the wheelchair—AJ might have jumped up and touched the display, which was not allowed to be touched.“Fish!” AJ’s attention quickly shifted when he saw the aquarium glass, revealing blue water and swimming fish.Ed pushed AJ’s wheelchair in the direction he pointed, slightly wo
Ruby wiped the sweat from her brow, then took off the coat she had worn during the trip. The humid air and overcast sky were the first to greet her as she set foot in Mexico again after so long.She wore her prepared hat and slowly left the airport. Ruby also wore sunglasses. Her face was completely hidden, as she decided to be cautious.Once she set foot in that country, her life was entirely different. She now finds herself in conflict with two terrifying individuals. If she were discovered, Esli would gladly kill her, as would the others. Ruby still hoped Ed wouldn't kill her outright.At least Ed didn't strangle her immediately at the chapel yesterday. Even though Ed made her wish she was dead by taking AJ, he didn't kill her immediately.Ruby raised her hand to hail a taxi. She was already at Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Airport, in Guadalajara, but hadn't yet figured out how to meet AJ. She wasn’t even sure if AJ was in that city. However, Ruby had to come to find out."Hello?"