CHAPTER 11

Ruby's POV

“What do you mean by that?” I demanded, my voice trembling with both anger and disbelief as I stared at Sophie.

Could it really be true? Was I right all along about who was behind the accident? My mind raced.

Struggling to understand how she, my own sister, could do something so cruel to me again.

I looked deep into Sophie’s eyes, searching for answers, though my heart already knew the truth.

Her silence, the shock on her face,it all pointed to one thing. she was the one behind it.

Before Sophie could respond, Logan stepped in.

“You’re mistaken. You didn’t hear what she said right,” he said, grabbing hold of Sophie’s hand as if to shield her from my accusations.

Didn’t hear right? The words echoed in my mind. I knew exactly what I heard, and no matter how much he tried to twist it, I wasn’t going to back down.

Seeing Logan stand there, defending her, made my blood boil. How dare he? He wasn’t just protecting her, he was holding her hand right in front of me.

It was too much. The betrayal was suffocating, and all I wanted was the truth even though I was sure of who was behind it.

Sophie stood there, frozen, not saying a word. She looked terrified, probably because of the way I was glaring straight into her eyes, demanding answers without speaking.

She knew I was onto her. She could see it in my eyes.

I was tired of waiting. I needed answers, and I needed them now. My patience had run out. I took a step closer to her, my mind racing with anger.

For a moment, all I could think about was wrapping my hands around her throat, making her feel the pain she had caused me.

But I didn’t,because, she had Logan standing there like her guard dog, ready to step in.

“You’re going to pay for this,” I hissed through clenched teeth, my voice shaking with rage.

“Ruby! I said to you…” Logan started, his voice trying to calm me down, but I didn’t even let him finish.

I didn’t care what he had to say. I wasn’t going to listen to more of his lies or excuses.

Without another word, I turned and stormed out of the house, leaving him mid-sentence.

I wasn’t going to waste another second in that place. I got into my car, my hands trembling with anger, and sped off toward the hospital.

As I drove, the only thing running through my mind was revenge. Sophie couldn’t get away with this.

She had nearly destroyed me, and there was no way I would let her walk away without paying for what she did.

Her birthday was tomorrow. What better chance to get even than on the day she’d least expect it?

I arrived at the hospital, my heart full of hope that Julian would be stronger, that he’d be better.

But even as I walked through the halls, doubts swirled in my mind. Would I really be able to let him back into my life?

What if something went wrong again? What if the past repeated itself? The questions buzzed in my head, filling me with anxiety.

“Mrs. Ruby?” I heard a voice call out, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turned to see Dr. Smith approaching, a warm smile on his face. He gave me a small nod, and his expression said everything.

Julian was okay. I could see it in the way Dr. Smith carried himself.he didn’t need to say a word.

My steps quickened as I made my way to Julian’s room, the door slightly ajar. When I entered, I saw Julian sitting there, lost in his own thoughts.

His eyes were distant, like he was somewhere far away. He didn’t even notice I’d come in at first.

“Are you okay?” I asked softly, trying to keep my voice light, though I was anxious. I forced a smile, though my heart was still heavy.

Hearing my voice seemed to pull him back to the moment. He turned to look at me, his expression unreadable for a second, as if he was processing everything that had happened.

Then, slowly, a small smile appeared across his face.

“I can see you’re getting better now. Just focus on healing that wound,” I said as I settled into a chair next to his bed.

We talked for a few minutes about his recovery, discussing how long it might take before he could be discharged from the hospital.

I felt a sense of relief just to be sitting there with him, knowing he was alive and awake. It felt like a small victory after everything that had happened.

But then, out of nowhere, he asked a question that caught me off guard.

“What’s our next plan for the revenge?” he said, his eyes serious.

Did he really not remember how we had planned everything? It shocked me, but I tried not to let it show.

Still, I couldn’t let myself get upset. The relief of seeing him alive was too important.

“Sophie’s birthday is tomorrow,” I replied, my voice tinged with worry.

“But I’m not sure you’re fit to be released today.” I added.

I hesitated, biting my lip. I didn’t want him to get involved in this mess again. The thought of him getting hurt terrified me.

Losing Julian would be a trauma I couldn’t handle. I couldn’t bear the idea of him going through any more pain because of me.

“You don’t need to worry about me. I can do anything for you,” Julian mumbled, his voice low but filled with determination.

His words felt strange, almost too intense. Anything for me? He had never said something like that before.

It was unexpected, and I didn’t know how to react. My heart tightened, a mix of confusion and something softer I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

“Ruby?” Julian’s voice pulled me back from my thoughts.

I looked at him, forcing a smile.

“I can handle everything myself. Just stay here and heal,” I said, trying to keep my tone calm and reassuring, though deep down I was still worried about him.

“Ruby, I said I’m fine,” he insisted, his voice steady and filled with resolve.

He was still determined to help, despite everything he had just been through. Despite nearly losing his life because of me, he still wanted to fight by my side.

Part of me wanted to keep him safe, keep him far away from this dangerous people.

He kept pushing, his eyes filled with unwavering conviction. “Let me help, Ruby.”

I hesitated, my mind spinning. I didn’t want to risk him getting hurt again.

But at the same time, I couldn’t deny how important it was to have him by my side and him also getting what rightfully belongs to him.

I sighed, my shoulders slumping in defeat.

“Okay, fine,” I finally said, my voice soft but firm. “You can help”.

He gave me a warm smile, and for a moment, I saw a light in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

He seemed genuinely happy that I had agreed to let him help. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of confusion.

How come his smiling? Because I had never seen him smile. Or was it because we’d never really talked or had any fun together before?

We’d always been focused on other things, never on simple moments like this.

I won’t lie, I liked the way he smiled at me, but I kept it hidden. I couldn’t let myself get distracted now, not when so much was at stake.

“Umm, that reminds me…” I said, trying to push my thoughts aside. “You haven’t rented the hall yet, right?”

The question hung in the air, and I already knew the answer. He hadn’t had the chance to do it with the accident.

For a second, a wave of dread washed over me. I couldn’t help but feel like our plan was already slipping away.

Chris Hall wasn’t some small venue you could just book on short notice. It was popular, expensive, and getting it on such short notice would be nearly impossible.

I felt my mood sink. We only had one day left, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission was going to fail before it even started.

“I think our plan is going to fail this time,” I said with a sad, heavy tone.

"We can't rent Chris Hall before tomorrow. It just feels impossible."

Julian didn’t seem worried at all. He looked at me with calm eyes, as if everything was under control.

“I’ll handle it. All you need to do is get ready for tomorrow,” he said softly, his voice full of assurance.

Then, without warning, he placed his hand over mine, his fingers warm and steady. He looked at me with a smile that made my heart skip a beat.

His gaze held me there for a moment, and I could feel something shifting between us.

“I’ll talk to the doctor about getting discharged,” Julian continued, his voice low and gentle.

“I don’t want you to feel bad because of my condition. You’ve done enough already.”

His words caught me off guard. He was so focused on helping me, even when I knew he should be resting.

“I’m willing to help you, no matter what,” Julian added, still staring at me, his gaze never leaving mine.