Chapter 2

Amber Pov

"Night bar?" suddenly asked the handsome man who didn't seem to like what he heard.

"Yes, Mr. Salvatore. My stepsister works at a night bar," Ruby answered. "We don't want her to work there because her work is dirty and it could ruin her reputation but she doesn't want to listen to us. She is very hard-headed. She says that money is easy and fast to earn at the night bar where she works, especially if her customers are gallant," Ruby's lengthy explanation to the man she called Mr. Salvatore. I couldn't help but to raised my eyebrows again to the highest level after I heard what my stepsister said.

"There's nothing wrong with me working in a night bar. What's wrong are the people with dirty minds and narrow-minded just like you," I defended my job. I feel like Ruby wants me to look bad in front of the man called Mr. Salvatore and I don't know why she did that.

"Amber is right, Ruby. Don't bring your behavior there into our house. And are you not ashamed of our visitors and you are proudly claiming that you're working in a night bar? I think you should go to your room because we are talking about something important here," Uncle Roman told me. I was even more confused by their actions. I can feel that they want to chase me away in front of their guest.

"Go to your room, Ruby, and don't argue with Amber anymore. She has a visitor and it would be embarrassing if you showed that kind attitude in front of her guest," said my mom. As usual, she sided with Ruby again. But that's not new to me, so I just shrugged my shoulder at what she said. But I noticed that she also called me Ruby as the father and daughter called me. I felt that there was something strange around me. Why are they pushing me away as if they don't want me to hear what they are talking about with the two guests? Is it a secret that I can't be allowed to hear it?

"Sorry if I disturbed your conversation with your guest, Uncle Roman," I immediately apologized to my stepfather. But it was out of my nose. "But why did Ruby and I suddenly exchange our names? Did you secretly baptize me again while I was sleeping so my name became Ruby?" I asked him with annoying tone. 

Now, I am sure that something was wrong with them when the two guests frowned and moved their eyes to Ruby and then change at me while the three people who lived in this house seemed to turn pale. Their expression seems like they are caught while doing something bad.

"What are you talking about, Ruby? Don't talk to your parents like that," said Ruby, who seemed to be the first to compose herself.

"Excuse me, Ruby. I only have one parent among them and she's my mom because the other is your father. Also, why are you acting like that? Do you want my name that much so you are claiming it?" I asked her annoyed. Her face becomes pale again and then she looks at my mom as if she is asking for her help. And of course, my mom is always ready to help her stepdaughter.

"It's not a joke time, Ruby. Go to your room—"

"Who is the real Amber Cruz between the two of them?" the bespectacled man asked as if he couldn't stand it anymore. His voice cuts my mom's words. 

If I will base his looks and outfit I will think he is a secretary. The male secretaries of a CEO that I used to watch in Asian dramas are like him with well-combed hair that goes all the way to the right, wearing thick glasses, and holding an attaché case.

"I am," Ruby and I answered at the same time. The man's look became even more confused while the handsome man's eyes suddenly narrowed as if he didn't like what was happening.

"Don't you hate my name, Ruby? Why are you claiming now my ugly name? Did you find some gold or gems in my name that you wanted to own even if you hated it?" I teased my stepsister.

"That's enough, Ruby! Go up to your room and take some rest," she ordered me in a high voice, her eyes suddenly widening as she throws a warning look at me. And just like I often feel, I felt pain because she took Ruby's side again as if she was her child and not me. I thought that I'm used to this kind of treatment of my but I was wrong. I still feel hurt inside. And what is wrong with my question? I just want to know why she claims my name. 

"Okay fine. I don't care if she wants to claim my name. If she wants it then she's free to use my name," I said before turning my back on them and walking.

"Wait a minute," the handsome man interrupted just as I was about to leave. "Grandpa told me that Amber had a necklace with a pendant ring. Who has it now?"

After I heard what he said I unintentionally holds the necklace I was wearing. The pendant of my necklace is a ring. Dad gave it to me when I was little. He said that this necklace is a gift to my dad from his kind boss and dad gave this to me as a gift on my upcoming tenth birthday. Dad died after I celebrated my tenth birthday. This necklace is my remembrance of my dad. But does this necklace of mine have a connection to the purpose of the two visitors? And also why Ruby is pretending to be me?

"That's my necklace, Ruby! Why do you have my necklace? Give it back to me right now," shouted Ruby who suddenly stood up and approached me. She was about to rip off my necklace but I quickly dodged her.

"You can claim my name for all. I care but not the necklace that dad gave me," I spoke firmly to her. If she tried to snatch away my necklace again she will see what she is looking for.

"Give me back my necklace!" Ruby shouted. She grabbed my bag and threw it on the floor. Because of what she did my school ID came out of my open bag. Ruby's eyes widened when she saw my ID and was about to pick it up quickly but the handsome man was ahead of her in picking up my ID.

"Pauline Amber Cruz," he reads my full name then looks me seriously in the eye. "You're going to be my wife."

My heart almost fell from what the handsome man said. Did I hear it right? This handsome stranger wants me to be his wife? What kind of nonsense is he talking about?