CHAPTER 12

Ruby's POV.

"Why is he staring at me with that smile? This isn’t like him at all," I thought to myself, feeling my confusion grow.

Julian never looked at me like this before, except for yesterday and it was hard to read his face, like he was holding back something.

“You’ll need this,” I said quietly, handing Julian his phone. My eyes were still searching his face, trying to figure him out.

“Why don’t you go home and get ready for tomorrow? I’ll send my assistant to pick you up,” he mumbled, his voice calm but distant.

Pick me up? From my house? My thoughts raced. But he’s never been to my house before. Is he going to ask for my address now?

I stood there, waiting, almost holding my breath, expecting him to ask for my address. But nothing.

He didn’t say a word about it, like he already knew. My chest tightened with unease, but I tried not to let it bother me too much.

Maybe because Logan is his cousin, Julian already knows where I live? I mean, since Logan and I were both married. It could be that he might have known.

So that’s the only explanation. But even with that thought, something felt off.

But now that I think about it, Julian and Logan aren’t on good terms. They barely talk. So there’s no way Julian would know where I live. It didn’t add up at all.

“Aren’t you going to ask the important question?” I asked, my voice laced with hope.

I wanted him to ask for my address, to clear up this strange tension.

Julian looked at me, completely puzzled. His brows furrowed as if he was questioning himself, unsure if there was anything he was missing.

“I don’t think there’s any question to ask,” he replied confidently, almost too casually.

Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he let out a small gasp.

Did he finally realize? Could he have remembered that he doesn’t even know my address?

“What about…” he began, his voice trailing off as he tried to speak, but I quickly cut him off before he could finish his sentence.

It seemed like he wasn’t going to ask for my address, and the silence between us was growing heavier.

So, I broke it. “You don’t know where I live… so how are you going to pick me up?” I asked, my voice a little sharper than I intended.

Julian froze for a moment, as if he was processing what I just said. His expression shifted, and for a second.

He looked uncomfortable,like he had let something slip that he shouldn’t have. His usual calmness seemed to falter.

“I... I was going to ask that,” he stammered, breaking the awkward silence that hung between us.

His words felt forced, and I realized I might have put him in a strange position.

My heart sank. I didn’t mean to embarrass him. I hadn’t realized he was about to ask the very question I’d been waiting for.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like that,” I quickly apologized, feeling guilty for making things awkward.

Julian gave a small nod in response, his eyes softening a bit. Without dragging it out any longer, I gave him my address and assured him I’d be ready for tomorrow.

I grabbed my bag and headed home, still feeling the strange tension from the conversation.

When I walked into the living room, I found Sophie and Logan sitting there, talking quietly. I didn’t say a word to either of them.

They both noticed me when I walked in, but neither Sophie nor Logan said a word. It looked like they were deep in conversation, probably planning for the Sophie's birthday party tomorrow.

Their hushed tones and serious faces made it clear they were focused, but I didn’t care.

I headed straight to my room, my body heavy with exhaustion. I needed rest.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow,” I whispered to myself, a small smile tugging at my lips.

The anticipation for the next day filled my mind, but my body was so drained, I didn’t even notice when my eyes started to close. Before I knew it, I had drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the buzzing sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand.

Groggily, I reached for it, my eyes half-open. Julian’s name flashed across the screen. He was calling.

Still feeling the weight of sleep in my eyes, I answered the call and stood up from my bed, my voice barely awake.

“Hope you’re getting ready. It’s today, and my assistant is already on his way,” Julian’s voice came through the phone, calm but with a sense of urgency.

Today? What’s happening today? My mind was still foggy, trying to piece things together.

Then, it hit me like a wave. My eyes widened in shock as the realization dawned on me.I had almost forgotten about the today!

My heart started racing, and I quickly shook off the sleep, panic rising in my chest. How could I forget something so important?

“I’ll be ready soon,” I said quickly before hanging up the phone.

I jumped out of bed, my heart racing as I rushed to the shower. The water was cold against my skin, waking me up completely.

Once I was done, I hurried out and stood in front of my wardrobe, my eyes scanning through the clothes.

I needed something that would make me stand out.something more eye-catching than anything Sophie would wear.

After what felt like forever, I chose a simple yet elegant gown that hugged my figure just enough to show off a bit, but still felt comfortable.

It wasn’t flashy, but it had just the right touch of charm. Satisfied, I got dressed, ran a brush through my hair, and hurried downstairs.

When I glanced out the window, I saw Julian’s assistant already parked outside, waiting.

I took a deep breath, ready to head out, but just as I reached the door, Logan’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his tone cold and firm.

I turned to face him, trying to keep my cool. “It doesn’t matter to you,” I replied, not wanting to get into it with him.

But Logan’s expression froze over, his eyes narrowing like he was ready for a fight.

His whole body tensed, and I knew that if he came any closer, I wouldn’t be able to get away as easily as I had in the past.

There was something dangerous in his gaze, a warning that he wouldn’t let me leave so easily this time if he should get close.

I took a few steps back, my heart racing, as I saw Logan move closer, his eyes locked on mine with a cold intensity.

“Today is your sister’s birthday, and you can’t just leave without attending it!” he exclaimed, his voice hard and demanding.

Sister? I scoffed under my breath. How could someone betray her own flesh and blood and still be called a sister?

The thought made me smile, but it wasn’t a kind smile. It was the kind of smile you have when you know something they don’t.

Like the fact that by the end of today, I’d make Sophie cry. She wouldn’t see it coming.

Just then, Sophie stepped out of her room, drawn by the sound of Logan’s raised voice.

Her eyes widened when she saw me, clearly confused by the situation. She glanced at my outfit and then back at my face, her brows furrowing.

“Sis, where are you going? Aren’t you going to stay for my birthday?” she asked, her voice soft, almost pleading.

I turned to her, my smile still there, but colder now.

“I’ll be waiting for you,” I said, the words slipping out calmly, almost like a promise, though I knew the real meaning behind them.

I turned to leave, ready to head out the door, but before I could make it, Logan’s voice cut through the air again, sharp and filled with warning. He wasn’t done with me yet.

“So, you’d rather go see another man, right in front of me, than attend your own sister’s birthday party?” Logan’s voice boomed, his words sharp and full of accusation.

Another man? Really? Logan was unbelievable. His words hit me hard, and for a moment, I felt my blood boil.

How dare he? He had no right to talk to me like that. At that moment, he really pushed me over the edge.

“Don’t you dare say that to me again!” I snapped back, my voice rising as anger burned through me.

Logan’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly shocked by how I responded. His face showed a hint of regret, but I was too furious to care.

My hands were shaking, and it took everything in me to control my temper. I couldn’t let him see just how much his words had affected me.

Without another word, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind me so hard that it echoed through the hallway.

My heart was pounding, and I could still feel the heat of my anger as I walked to the car waiting outside.

I quickly got in and shut the door behind me, trying to shake off the tension from the argument.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice still tinged with frustration, needing something to focus on.

“Just relax, ma’am,” he said smoothly, giving me a calm glance. “You’ll know when we get there.”

It was a long, quiet drive, the kind that gave me too much time to think. But finally, the car slowed down, and we arrived at our destination.

When I stepped out of the car, I couldn't help but stare at the surroundings. Everything was more impressive than I’d imagined.

“He actually pulled it off in just one day,” I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible.

My heart raced as I looked around. The scene before me was exactly what I had hoped for.

I knew Sophie’s sad reaction was going to be everything I’d dreamed of. Seeing her humiliated, her perfect little world crashing down around her.

It would be more than satisfying. The thought of it made a dark thrill bubble up inside me.

I could already picture the shock and embarrassment on her face, and I couldn't wait to see it.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, Julian’s assistant approached, his steps deliberate and respectful.

“Ma’am, if you wouldn’t mind, could we go to the other side?” he asked quietly, his tone polite but firm.

Without hesitation, I followed his directions. As we reached the spot, I saw Julian stepping out of the hall. My breath caught for a moment.

His appearance was stunning,sharp, polished, and so effortlessly attractive that I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him.

He looked every bit the part of someone who knew exactly how to get what he wanted.

He gave a nod to his assistant, thanking him quietly before the man walked away. Julian’s attention turned back to me, his eyes sharp and focused.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked, his voice low and calm.