A beautiful dress, a gorgeous bouquet, and gorgeous make-up. It was a pity that a lone woman sat in the waiting room, which was also decorated so beautifully with fresh roses as if welcoming a special day for her.The sound of knocking on the door was heard again. Carly's eyes briefly glanced at the waiter who had entered near her. The waiter's face looked scared like something big had happened. But Carly still looked relaxed, even though her breathing was heavy."Excuse me, Miss--""My husband-to-be isn't coming," Carly cut in."He's not coming today. No need to worry, just let time pass," Carly continued without even looking at the waiter."But Miss, the guests are waiting for the ballroom," the waitress said with her head slightly bowed, her fingers squeezing the span skirt she was wearing."Let it be. Since there is no celebration today, you may leave now," Carly added with a sharp look at the waiter, who finally resigned and walked away.Tears fell down her cheeks. Carly's lips w
Nolan pulled a smile, knowing that the young woman in front of him was holding back fear. "I heard about you this morning. There seems to be a mistake that I need to clear up regarding your relationship with Mr. Victor Antony," Nolan said calmly."I'm sorry, what do you mean, Professor?" Ruby replied hesitantly."Mr. Victor Antony told me earlier. One of the students he knew received a scholarship here, so I asked him what the relationship was between him and the student. Mr. Antony told me that you are his future wife, and you know that Mr. Antony is the biggest donor at this university. But he asked me not to treat you too much; he didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable. But it seems that the rumors about you are triggering things to get worse," Professor Nolan explained in detail."Then what should I do? Are you going to expel me from the university and block my name from the list of students receiving scholarships?" Ruby thought the university's reputation would be ruined if s
Who wouldn't be worried when you hear that someone you love is under attack for false accusations? That's how Victor felt the first time he heard it, still needing to finish one problem. He had to hear about another problem that made him quickly fly to meet his woman.Victor would not let any lousy treatment come to Ruby. No matter how rich, great, or what titles were attached to their names. He would not let anyone breathe a sigh of relief after mistreating Rubyjane Antony."She must have been terrified. And she must be crying silently again," Victor thought. Victor was right. Ruby cried loudly when she arrived at her apartment, forcing Ruby to leave her class to avoid the rumors of infidelity that dragged her name. She also cried after receiving a wedding invitation envelope on her doorstep. Charlotte & Victor."Who should I trust? No one!" Ruby cried, still hugging her knees.She was crying with such a heartbreaking voice. Ruby was devastated; she was truly devastated, and now it
(Four years later) After that incident, Victor no longer sought Ruby's whereabouts. He lets Ruby be free with her choices, and Victor only focuses on developing his business and company and raising Rune. Although he was already 36 years old, and Rune was also four, Victor was not interested in getting married. There was a knock on the door, and Victor glanced at Jaxon, who came in. "What is it, Jaxon?" Victor said briefly."Mr. Leon Matthew committed suicide in prison," Jaxon explained briefly."Mmmh, isn't that what he wanted to do for a long time?" said Victor, who didn't care about the news Jaxon had brought."Mrs. Jena was also taken to a psychiatrist because of her mental problems," continued Jaxon."They deserve that after doing such evil things to me and Ruby," concluded Victor, who still hadn't forgotten what Jena had done to Ruby. The older woman had sent out invitations and spread rumors at the university, which angered Victor even more. When he found out that Professor N
"Sir asked us to pick you up," Jaxon explained again."Gosh, what did I come back for?""Not for Mr. Victor. But it's for young Master Rune's sake," Jaxon said again."Why would he change his mind now? Before he told me not to meet with Rune," Ruby said with a flat face. If others think she has been cruel to her son all this time by not trying to meet him. I don't think you're right about that; Ruby was trying to find a way for her to find out a little information about her son's condition. But Victor wouldn't allow it. Ruby had no idea how her son was doing; all access was closed entirely to her.Didn't it seem strange to her that four years passed like a stranger? Is Victor asking her to come back for their son? Was Ruby allowed to feel suspicious about this?"I can't go back without clarity. And tell him not to involve a child," Ruby said, trying to unlock the door to her rental."Miss, please come back. Young master Rune is sick."Ruby paused her fingers to input the door password
"What do you mean," Ruby said, pushing Victor's body away. She looked deeply into Victor's eyes, putting away her nervousness. Deepen the feeling of hatred! It was true that hating Victor more would reduce the unclear feelings in her heart."Do I have to give you quips to make you understand what I mean? I honestly don't like small talk; make it clear! That I was widowed until this moment waiting for you.""Widowed? You've been married all this time," Ruby retorted with a furrowed brow. Indeed, she hadn't looked up to Victor in years. "No, I haven't. I made that clear to you, Mrs. Antony," Victor continued, not accepting the thought of Ruby accusing him of being married."Stop calling me Mrs. Antony; I'm not married. Can't you tell the difference between Miss and Mrs.? And one more thing, my name is no longer Antony. Enough Rubyjane, Mr. Antony." Victor nodded with a slight smile. "Get used to it. You are no longer my sister but will be my wife."Once again, after hearing what Victo
"I'll drive," Ruby said without a glance, stepping quickly into Jaxon's car. "How did everything happen?" Ruby continued, sitting behind the wheel.She started the car's engine and drove at high speed. The car she was driving had already left the hotel; Ruby's hands were deftly holding the steering wheel and focusing on the road, even though it was challenging to concentrate under these circumstances."Before we both stopped by a bar, I had much to talk about with Tuan, and so did he. I didn't realize how much whiskey I had sipped, so I felt a little drunk. It wasn't long before I heard the faint sound of Tuan's voice saying that he would drive," Jaxon explained in detail."I kept refusing and asked him to call one of the drivers at the mansion, as I knew he was probably a little drunk as well. He asked me to sleep along the way, and everything happened unexpectedly," he continued.Trembling. Ruby's fingers were trembling after listening to Jaxon's story; what if Victor had left her l
"Who was the man who picked you up four years ago?" The car suddenly stopped on the shoulder of the road. Ruby turned her head and found Victor's eyes staring intensely at her, locked in silence."Who do you mean?" repeated Ruby."The man who took you away from the Netherlands. Who?"Ruby thought back to when she left the Netherlands. She started a life in Shanghai; the man she was with was just a stranger who also happened to be going to Shanghai."My ex-boyfriend. We broke up two years ago," Ruby replied briefly. I don't know why she preferred to lie.Click.Victor unbuckled the seat belt and brought his body closer to Ruby's. "Don't try to lie to me, Ruby; I know all the bastard men who approached you," he said."If you already know about all the men who approached me. Why would you ask again, uh? You have the power, but you have no right to invade the privacy of my life."Victor ruffled his hair, closing his eyes briefly, fed up with Ruby. Victor's hand quickly pulled Ruby by the
Jaxon hummed a little while staring at his reflection in the glass of the sink, he wiped away the dew on the glass that was blocking the full face of his good looks. Fine hair began to grow shyly along his firm jaw, Jaxon always shaves regularly, every week but this week. He didn't think it was necessary. He will let all the hairs on his body extend naturally-except for the lower hairs.His feet stepped broadly out of the bathroom in a waist-length towel. Stopping at the table next to the television, there was the expensive wine Victor had given her. It was a pity to enjoy it too soon, she carefully poured it into the glass and sipped it slowly with her eyes closed. Tonight she was going to romanticize her long life, her body jerked in shock as the tone of her phone rang making her eyebrows furrowed."Damn it, I'll kill whoever ruined my romantic time!" he swore, grabbing the phone and looking at the caller's name."Victor?"He felt like retracting what he had just said. Jaxon caught
"Jaxon! Is my tie band skewed?""Jaxon! The shoes are too narrow!""Jaxon, Jaxon, Jaxon. Is Ruby ready?"Who's getting married and who's getting a headache. Jaxon had to hide behind the door to take a deep breath and let it out rudely, he hunched his body to correct the position of his tie, put on his widest smile until he had to show a row of neat teeth that were almost dried by the wind."Mr. Antony can't you stay calm? Sit down, breathe slowly. You're the one getting married, but I'm the one who's tired of dealing with you," Jaxon said, opening one palm to ask Victor to sit on the sofa.Victor sat down and then slightly lowered his head to inhale and exhale slowly. "I-I'm nervous Jaxon. It's my first wedding after a long wait, I can't help but be nervous." Victor stared at Jaxon with his hands clutching his chest. It was like winning dozens of tenders in one go."You're already perfect. You deserve all this," Jaxon praised sincerely. Jaxon also felt feelings of joy and sadness, he
On the other hand, Victor was waiting at the dining table. With Rune sitting on his lap, , he never let Rune eat on his lap like this. Rune had been taught to eat independently since he was one year old; since he was waiting for Ruby to come down, there was no harm in playing with his son first."Daddy, Daddy. Let's try to call Rune Daddy in full," Victor said, stroking Rune's tiny back."Daddy." Rune eloquently called Victor without stammering anymore.Until Victor showed his big smile for so long, unbelievably, when Rune repeatedly asked him to call him loudly, it was almost like a shout that did not bother Victor. He even praised Rune with loving compliments, kissing his little son Rune's face. Ruby, almost near the dining table, smiled with Rune's laughter. The interaction between father and son touched Ruby deeply, as she used to receive affection from her father as well. Victor's father treats Ruby like their own child, and Ruby understands why she was not adopted as their chil
It was already two in the morning. Still sitting on the floor surface, hiding beside the bed, Ruby kept reliving the events that happened a few hours ago. Her index finger didn't even stop rubbing her slightly swollen bottom lip, that hot kiss in the park had really made her heart pound. Hundreds of butterflies seemed to fly in his stomach, his heart beating almost intermittently with irregular breathing, as his eyes were stared at by Victor's beady eyes for a split second."When are you ready? I don't want to delay the wedding any longer, how about tomorrow? I have to prepare everything quickly. I don't want you to change your mind and cancel.""Victor-""No Ruby, no more procrastination. The sooner the better, the more you delay, the less certainty there will be. I'm old enough, there's no time to wait.""Then what about your girlfriend, Olivia?""Olivia? Since when has she been my girlfriend? And where did you find out about her, I'm not in a serious relationship with her yet.""Ho
19:00 Mansion"Rune. Why are you crying and screaming so loudly? Listen to Mommy; if you want something, ask slowly," Ruby said, soothing Rune after the servant asked her to leave."Mom-my. The bird is dead," Rune pointed at the television screen."No, it's not. It will come back to life," Ruby replied, understanding why Rune was screaming and crying.Rune nodded and pointed at the clock on the wall. Ruby frowned as her eyes also looked at the clock; why was Rune suddenly pointing at the clock?"What's wrong with the clock?" Ruby asked."Dad, come back."Just as Ruby was about to find out why Victor hadn't returned yet, at the sound of a car, Rune got out of bed and approached the window. Asking Ruby to open the balcony window, the window opened. Rune's tiny feet ran to the barrier, waving his hand, waiting for Victor, who had just gotten out of the car, to realize his existence. No reaction made Rune shout."Dad! Here!!!" Rune shouted.Ruby watched from behind as Victor smiled and wa
From that day on, Victor completely avoided Ruby. He always avoided her whenever he met her, even by accident. Just like today. After removing the cast on his leg, Victor returned to work so he had time to get busy and try to forget slowly. He tries and continues to try until Victor tries to stop loving Ruby. His desire to make Ruby feel free, so the only simple way he can do it is to forget Ruby first. Forget his feelings of love and consider what Ruby is doing to Rune as necessary."Is the steak not cooked right?" A woman's soft voice came back to Victor's ears. He glanced briefly at the woman before him; Victor had almost forgotten Olivia's existence. The woman had been getting close to him for the past few days; Victor liked Olivia's mature character - the way she spoke and her speech also reflected an educated woman. "Olivia, I'm sorry I forgot you existed," Victor said, putting down the fork and knife in both hands. He pulled the glass between himself and Olivia, taking a sma
"Who was the man who picked you up four years ago?" The car suddenly stopped on the shoulder of the road. Ruby turned her head and found Victor's eyes staring intensely at her, locked in silence."Who do you mean?" repeated Ruby."The man who took you away from the Netherlands. Who?"Ruby thought back to when she left the Netherlands. She started a life in Shanghai; the man she was with was just a stranger who also happened to be going to Shanghai."My ex-boyfriend. We broke up two years ago," Ruby replied briefly. I don't know why she preferred to lie.Click.Victor unbuckled the seat belt and brought his body closer to Ruby's. "Don't try to lie to me, Ruby; I know all the bastard men who approached you," he said."If you already know about all the men who approached me. Why would you ask again, uh? You have the power, but you have no right to invade the privacy of my life."Victor ruffled his hair, closing his eyes briefly, fed up with Ruby. Victor's hand quickly pulled Ruby by the
"I'll drive," Ruby said without a glance, stepping quickly into Jaxon's car. "How did everything happen?" Ruby continued, sitting behind the wheel.She started the car's engine and drove at high speed. The car she was driving had already left the hotel; Ruby's hands were deftly holding the steering wheel and focusing on the road, even though it was challenging to concentrate under these circumstances."Before we both stopped by a bar, I had much to talk about with Tuan, and so did he. I didn't realize how much whiskey I had sipped, so I felt a little drunk. It wasn't long before I heard the faint sound of Tuan's voice saying that he would drive," Jaxon explained in detail."I kept refusing and asked him to call one of the drivers at the mansion, as I knew he was probably a little drunk as well. He asked me to sleep along the way, and everything happened unexpectedly," he continued.Trembling. Ruby's fingers were trembling after listening to Jaxon's story; what if Victor had left her l
"What do you mean," Ruby said, pushing Victor's body away. She looked deeply into Victor's eyes, putting away her nervousness. Deepen the feeling of hatred! It was true that hating Victor more would reduce the unclear feelings in her heart."Do I have to give you quips to make you understand what I mean? I honestly don't like small talk; make it clear! That I was widowed until this moment waiting for you.""Widowed? You've been married all this time," Ruby retorted with a furrowed brow. Indeed, she hadn't looked up to Victor in years. "No, I haven't. I made that clear to you, Mrs. Antony," Victor continued, not accepting the thought of Ruby accusing him of being married."Stop calling me Mrs. Antony; I'm not married. Can't you tell the difference between Miss and Mrs.? And one more thing, my name is no longer Antony. Enough Rubyjane, Mr. Antony." Victor nodded with a slight smile. "Get used to it. You are no longer my sister but will be my wife."Once again, after hearing what Victo