Ruby gazed brightly at the jewellery sets in the glass display case. Her fingers could only touch the glass, as it took Ruby months to buy them all. "Buy them if you want." The baritone voice made Ruby's body startle, and she turned her head to the left. Ruby's eyes opened wide when she saw Victor's face! Someone she called a brother, but they didn't share the same blood. "Victor! What are you doing here?" said Ruby, who initially hesitated to call Victor by name. Since they were no longer close, Ruby chose to part ways with her adoptive parents. "You want that? I can get it for you," said Victor, who did not respond to Ruby's question. "No! No... Thank you, Victor," Ruby replied, refusing Victor's offer of a gift. "I would like a set of this jewellery," Victor said to the waiter standing behind the display case. "Yes, sir." Ruby's eyes widened, and she met Victor's gaze with one raised eyebrow. Who wouldn't be suspicious of the man in front of her? They hadn't seen each other
"Does he think he can threaten me? Oh! Of course, he can't," Ruby said, still annoyed by Victor's words. Ruby was still struggling with material items. She had missed her dinner. Ruby was used to this. She was storing the big, heavy boxes one by one in the warehouse. Was anyone helping her? No, Ruby was working alone. "Ruby. Finish this before you go home." Ruby returned with two stacks of large boxes containing various types of paintbrushes. Her body was about to break after standing and sitting for hours in the warehouse, and she had to take another deep breath when she saw the two new stacks of boxes she had to finish tonight. "Cheer up, Ruby! This isn't the job you wanted," Ruby tried to encourage herself. The smile returned to her face. Reenergized, Ruby began to finish the remaining two boxes before she headed back to her apartment. After almost an hour wasted, Ruby was able to stretch her muscles, staring at the clock on the wall. It was almost 11 p.m., and Ruby quickly s
"Why are you so confident that I can carry your baby?" Ruby muttered without looking at the other person. "I'm so sure. Because you always take care of your health, never drink alcohol or smoke," said Victor, who had been quietly snooping on his adopted sister's free-living activities. Ruby would no longer be surprised by Victor's words of truth. Victor had the money; he had the power, and Ruby must have been the one being monitored all this time for personal gain. "Umm. It turns out I've been monitored all this time," Ruby replied with a small nod. "Do you have a boyfriend?" asked Victor upon hearing Ruby's casual reaction. "Why don't you ask the people you hired to keep an eye on me? They'll know if I have a boyfriend or a guy just having sex," Ruby continued with a yawn, feeling sleepy from Victor. "No. I wouldn't believe you if you were having sex. Because you already said that I'm the first man to get your virginity," explained Victor, who recalled little Ruby saying out lou
Victor was still annoyed by Ruby's words from yesterday. His focus split, he no longer listened to the meeting this time. His fingers fiddled with the spinning pen with his legs wide open, pulling slightly on the tie that felt like it was strangling his neck. "Mr. Antony, how about my explanation?" Instantly, the center of attention shifted to him. Like a soul possessed, Victor showed the side of a leader and company owner that was more than just a name. "I will confirm this tender once again. I don't want to waste a large amount of money on something that is still lacking in planning," Victor explained straightforwardly and firmly. Everyone in the room just nodded in agreement, and Victor knew in their hearts there must be someone swearing at him. "I think today's meeting is enough," Victor said as he stood up and straightened his suit. He walked away from the meeting room, his footsteps quickening as he made his way to the elevator.Just now, he wanted to vent all his anger. He did
Ruby was silent in Victor's car. She bit her lip several times, imagining what would happen to her life in the next nine months. Let's just say that she would spend this year in hell with Victor Antony as her demon.The world was too small. Ruby should have left Boston, maybe her life would have been different at the age of 26. As Victor ran out of the pharmacy, Ruby returned to her sitting position, playing with her cell phone."Take it," Victor said, handing her some vitamins and a test pack."What for?" replied Ruby, staring at the plastic bag on her thigh. She had no intention of touching it, even though she could see what was inside."What a stupid question. Of course, it's for you in the future," Victor replied curtly.Victor started the car's engine and left the dispensary. He focused only on the road without turning around. Victor already knew the expression of Ruby, who was sitting beside him."Starting in the future. I don't want to see you eating junk food, drinking alcoholi
Victor placed Ruby's body on the surface of the bed. He pulled the covers up to his chest and turned off the lights. After a long drama, Victor finally managed to bring Ruby back to the apartment. For the time being, his anger was put on hold. Victor walked to the exit door and closed it slowly.Victor looked around Ruby's apartment, which was filled with bags of groceries. Victor squatted down, unbuttoned his shirt, and rolled up the sleeves to his elbows. He began arranging the groceries one by one into Ruby's fridge, all the contents of which he had previously thrown into the garbage can and even some food that was no longer suitable but still kept."Gosh, why is this apartment so hot?" Victor muttered, pushing his hair up.'I shouldn't have been adopted by your family!'Ruby's words replayed in his mind. Was Ruby so sorry for everything? Victor felt sorry for her, but he had no choice. Only Ruby could help him, there was no woman in the world that Victor could trust other than Ruby
Ruby waited in front of the ER room. The young pregnant woman was in labor, but there was no one to accompany her until this moment. Ruby waited with fear and anxiety—what if something went wrong?Ruby's phone rang again, and she could only grunt at the incoming call from Victor. If she didn't answer the call, she would be in trouble again."Hello Ruby, where are you right now?""At the hospital.""What happened?""Nothing.""Don't lie, I'll see you now! Tell me which hospital you are at right now.""No need; I'll be back as soon as the business is done.""No. I will see you."Ruby couldn't help but give the address of the hospital she was currently at. Ruby was too lazy to argue, she chose to give in and let Victor do whatever he wanted. "Rubyjane__,"Ruby turned her head and found Victor coming towards her. Ruby's body froze when Victor suddenly hugged her. Ruby froze. She didn't understand why Victor was hugging her at this time."Thank God you're okay," Victor said, releasing his
"Stay away, Ruby," Victor said, gazing in another direction. "Are you scared now? Or are you afraid of your angelic lover?" Ruby replied, still positioned close to Victor's face. "Your ears are red." Ruby continued touching Victor's earlobe. Victor brushed Ruby's hand away and gripped it. "Don't bait me, Ruby," scolded Victor, who didn't like Ruby touching him. "I'm just stating the facts. Why are you so angry when my words aren't as bad as your filthy mouth?" Ruby said, moving her body away from his and tying her hair. "What if Mom and Dad are still alive, knowing this? I think they'll forcefully marry me off to you," Ruby chirped, looking out the window. Suddenly, it was drizzling. The rain would be frequent, as it was already mid-October. "Daddy and Mommy, there's no way they're going to marry me off to a woman like you," Victor said as he started his car engine and drove at high speed through the rain. "Because I'm stupid, born into an obscure family background, and not hi
"Do you mean what you say?" repeated Ruby, pressing her lips to Victor's chest as she looked deeply into her husband's eyes."Do you still doubt me?" replied Victor again looking at his lips and then turning to his wife's eyes. "When else Ruby, I'm old enough. Rune has grown up too, he will take good care of his sister," Victor continued taking one of Ruby's hands and kissing it."You're admitting now, that you're old? Really." Ruby whispered in front of Victor's face with one eyebrow raised."This fact! I'm a 36-year-old old man now if you get pregnant this year. You'll give birth in the middle of next year, just as I turn 37 and Rune turns 5. And in the following year, Rune will enter elementary school when I'm already 38 while you're only 32 where a woman like you, at that time of the year, is beautiful."Ruby's mouth opened slightly, she could not believe the detail with which Victor said his words without pausing. Has this old man recorded all the text he said in his brain?Right
"When did you last see Ruby leave?" asked Victor probingly to all the servants gathered in the main room."Mrs. Antony left the mansion early this morning. Right after the master left for work." One of the servants ventured to answer."Then, she left by herself in a car without leaving a message? You guys don't even feel suspicious! I told you, notify me of anything suspicious!" signaled Victor with a fiery flash of anger. "I don't care! Help me find Ruby! She's been gone for hours with no word and her cell phone is not reachable either," Victor continued massaging his temples. His head felt like it was going to fall off now, panic and fear returning to him. Victor was afraid Ruby was in danger, but what scared him more was losing Ruby. Victor was afraid Ruby would leave him again.Like an unwelcome guest. Ruby emerged from the entrance, walking casually past the waiter and Victor. She took off her heels and replaced them with house slippers, took off her coat and placed her bag and
From early morning until late at night. Ruby continued to wait for Victor's return, until her clothes had changed. Her long mane, she let it flow freely as the night breeze slowly pierced her skin that was only wrapped in thin pajamas, Ruby's face was so calm - so calm that none of the servants dared to approach her just to engage her in conversation.Her mind was in a frenzy, many things were going through Ruby's mind. She kept thinking about the cause and effect of why Victor no longer contacted her, what else was going on? Why did her husband ask her not to go anywhere, when Ruby really wanted to see Victor after hearing that her husband was having problems at the company.Why was Victor always hiding the problems that were happening to him?"I love your dress." a soft whisper swept over Ruby's heart which warmed up instantly.Turning her head slightly, her body twisted. Victor's burly arms landed perfectly, scooping up the small waist of hers that was consumed in the warm embrace
After reading the message from Noah. Ruby was silent for a few seconds, not noticing the arrival of the waiter returning with painkillers and a sandwich. She was still silent as she stared at the dimmed and wiped cell phone screen. It had been a long time since she and Noah had communicated, the last time Ruby had informed Noah that she had received a scholarship in Canada. After a long period of not texting or communicating, it had been almost five years since he had texted her again."Should I reply to his message?" Ruby wondered, turning on her cell phone and looking at Noah's message that she had yet to reply to.She didn't reply to the message. Ruby put her phone back down, and took some painkillers while eating piece after piece of sandwich that filled her stomach. Suddenly, the waiter approached her with a bouquet of roses so large that it had to be carried by two female waiters who were still struggling. Ruby frowned, confused by the bouquet of red roses placed in the living
Victor's fingers that were previously wrapped around Ruby's waist moved to encompass Ruby's synthetic buttocks, pushing Ruby's body against the wall behind her. Still smothering, Ruby's lips had been sucked deeply and so strongly Victor thrust his tongue into Ruby's mouth their eyes were closed enjoying the increasingly chaotic kiss.Ruby took a deep breath as Victor released the call with his eyes so dim. Ruby's eyes looked at Victor's face, her hands still on Victor's neck rubbing the back of his neck. Victor continued to stare into Ruby's eyes, gazing deeply into each other's with lips parted and swollen, Ruby accepted Victor's thumb into her mouth."I can't promise to be gentle this time," he said in a heavy, husky voice."I don't care," Ruby replied, pressing Victor's burly chest against her. She was a little surprised when Victor lifted her up like a sack of rice, his head pointed straight down. Little slaps Ruby got on both her buttocks."Ruby-" sounding desperate as he pressed
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