"Tia!"The one who called out was Lori, and she seemed eager to help, but Mìa held both of their hands back, letting Ruby struggle to get up. Mud blackened the left side of Ruby's body."Leave her be! This way, she'll contemplate her fate. She shouldn't have set foot in this house from the start!" Mìa still laughed.Ruby heard it all while trying to tidy up the mess. She was trying to stay calm, hiding her anger."Tia Mìa, you're going too far," Lori said again."No. Her father's treatment of Ed went too far. It's foolish for her to dream of living peacefully here! She is a cheap girl, only capable of seducing men." Mìa pulled Lori and Mayte's hands, both of whom looked shocked.Ruby should have been patient and silent, as planned. But this was the moment when Ruby felt that all her acceptance wasn't enough. She yielded, stayed silent, and was obedient. She listened to all the heartless insults without trying to defend herself. However, intentionally pushing her into the filthy mud wh
Ruby glanced at the intertwined hands and then looked away. Not out of jealousy. Ruby just felt it was inappropriate. Ed was still her husband—Liz's husband. He shouldn't be holding hands with another woman."Need help?" Ruby looked up to see a hand extended towards her. It was Lori who offered assistance. Ruby looked at her hand, surprised to receive help from Mayte's side.But Ruby remembered that Lori hadn't intended to antagonize her earlier. She had even been firmer when reprimanding Mìa earlier."I won't let go, so you fall again. I genuinely want to help because your situation looks sad. Sorry," Lori said honestly, assessing the situation.Lori's honesty about her situation actually made Ruby feel more at ease. It seemed Lori was the type to be very open."Thank you, but your hand will get dirty," Ruby declined. Although she didn't want to refuse assistance, her body, particularly her hands, wasn't suitable for contact at the moment.Ruby stood up, looking at her hands, which w
"Look clearly! Don't close your eyes or turn away."Right as Ed said it, Mayte turned away and shook her head. Sobbing, she covered her face."I think there's no need for further explanation. You don't need to ask why I married her," Ed grinned, snorting."Do you want me to not cry when I look at that? I know the pain must be unbearable, Ed. I cry because I imagine you suffering!" Mayte sobbed harder. Her head tilted up, but before she could look at Ed, she turned away again and shook her head."I know, and that's why I don't want to continue this anymore. You don't need to stay out of pity for me. I told you to leave because...""Who said I'm staying out of pity?" Mayte interrupted again. She didn't remember ever saying it in front of Ed."You said it, thinking I wasn't awake yet," Ed said flatly. At that time, he couldn't open his eyes or move, but the sounds and conversations around him were clear."What do you mean?" Mayte frowned."I heard you talking to your father." Ed also rec
"Don't talk about that!" Javier snapped. Refrain from discussing Lori."Are you really going to support Esli for mayor? He's very ambitious." Javier normally wouldn't interfere when Ed made political decisions, but he wanted to know because of Esli."And isn't Mayte's father ambitious too? You shouldn't forget what he did in the southern district. He may appear sweet, but he has unexplained wealth that is even greater than Esli's. They're both rotten, so it doesn't matter who ends up being mayor. I just have to make sure it'll benefit us." Ed was tired of talking so much. But he had to, because Javier wouldn't stop asking until satisfied."You married Liz, not just because of my persuasion." Javier complained. Thinking his brother made the decision solely because of him, of course Javier was disappointed to find out Ed had his own plans."I made a beneficial decision based on your wishes. Isn't this even better? You're happy, and I'm doing the right thing." Ed didn't see any more reas
Ed looked at Liz, who resumed scooping despite her body being very dirty. She no longer seemed bothered by all the dirtiness. She still wore a hat, but Ed could see sweat dripping. If her clothes weren't dirty from the mud, they might still be wet from sweat."What's wrong with you?" Ed murmured, furrowing his brow. He became more puzzled after seeing Javier's report firsthand.The girl he married showed a lot of unexpected sides. Far from his and Javier's expectations, they felt they knew Liz, even if only briefly. Meanwhile, Ed no longer saw traces of the Liz he met as a child. Aside from growing up, Ed no longer saw a spoiled, whimpering girl.He had misinterpreted her whimpering as a sign of weakness because Liz had shed many tears on their wedding day. But now he saw a very different side. This was a trait that an Esli child should never have had."Are you really going to finish all that?" Ed asked, finally approaching."AGH!" Ruby shrieked and turned around, brandishing her shov
"Huh?" Ruby, who had been squirming in an attempt to free herself, fell silent again upon hearing the absurdity."I thought you were more sensible now, but it seems you still want to tease other men," Ed hissed again."No!" Ruby vehemently denied it, forgetting all her fear because of the misconceived accusation. She couldn't understand how Ed could think like that."Denying it, but you do this?! You want to show off this red color to all those men?!"Ruby screamed as Ed's hand suddenly slipped in, pulling her underwear back. Ruby wriggled free, covering the front of her body with her hands before crouching down. Then it became evident why Ed could describe the color of her underwear so accurately."AGH!" Ruby screamed and hurriedly covered her body with the dirty overalls she had discarded earlier. Ruby didn't care about the dirt. It was still better than that see-through white shirt.Tears welled up in Ruby's eyes as she remembered t
Ruby's body might have initially responded, but slowly it changed into a very different feeling. Ruby couldn't forget that pain. Ed's rough movements and the way he made her feel like a slut left a lasting impression on Ruby."Don't..." Ruby whispered, pleading and shaking her head. The tremble that engulfed her was no longer from desire, but from fear."Don't what?" Ed stopped holding his hands and frowned. Ed couldn't comprehend why the woman, who had evidently provoked him earlier, suddenly pleaded with harsh words. Ed looked at her bowed head."Are you so afraid of my face?"Ed withdrew his hands and stepped back. The question wasn't even a shout, and it didn't require an answer. Ed just reminded himself that the woman in front of him had fainted when she first saw him."I forgot." Ed smiled bitterly. He forgot that he shouldn't hope for a woman to accept him when Mayte—who had been with him long enough—felt doubtful.Ed then
"Ed? Are you still here?!"Mia and Pedro were both surprised, but Pedro was more shocked as he stumbled to his feet with a pale face."I thought you had returned to the city." Pedro tried to sound casual while Ed looked at him sharply."Who are you lusting after?!" Ed snapped."That's an unfounded accusation, Ed. Don't jump to conclusions. I have no intention of pursuing Liz. Mia is just jealous because I am friendly to her. But am I wrong to be friendly? Liz is your wife, and I know you will be working with Esli Ramos after you get married. I can't be rude to her, can I? It will affect your affairs."Pedro explained it at length. His words were convincing and true. Ed never asked Pedro for help, even though he knew the man wanted it. But apparently, he knew enough about his dealings with Esli.Ed glanced at Mia, who appeared to be folding her arms across her chest with a pout. But that was it. She didn't supplement her earlier accusation with evidence or anything. So, her earlier ran