“This is bad Ruby, this is really bad.” I said, running a hand through my hair. My mind raced as I tried to figure out our next move.“Is she going to be okay?” Ruby asked, her voice trembling.“Barely,” I said, my throat tightening. “We need to move fast.” I handed her my car keys. “Go open the car doors.”I scooped Bronwyn into my arms, her weight surprisingly light, and carried her out of the house. Ruby held the door open as I gently laid Bronwyn across the back seat.As we drove off, Ruby kept glancing back at Bronwyn’s unconscious form.“This doesn’t feel real,” she whispered.“Stay calm,” I said, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “We’ll get her to the hospital, and they’ll take care of her.”“No,” Ruby said abruptly, turning to face me.I shot her a quick glance, confused. “No? What do you mean, no?”“She told me not to take her to a hospital,” Ruby said, her voice firm but laced with fear.“That doesn’t make any sense, Ruby,” I said, my frustration bubbling up. “She’s injur
“Mum!” Little Ruby’s voice rang out, shattering the quiet.I stirred, groaning softly as I blinked my eyes open, disoriented. Little Ruby stood in front of me, her wide grin splitting her face. Behind her, Rhett peeked over her shoulder, his expression equally eager.“Hey… what’s going on?” I mumbled, trying to sit up. My body felt heavy, and my head was still foggy from sleep.“I knew you’d change your mind,” Rhett said excitedly.“What do you mean change my mind?” I asked, confused.“So this was your plan all along, huh, Mum?” Little Ruby said, narrowing one eye suspiciously as she tilted her head.I blinked at her. “Plan? What plan?”“You waited for us to fall asleep, didn’t you?” Little Ruby continued, her voice dripping with mock accusation. “Then you and Roman had your fun—movies, games, maybe even… couples’ stuff!”I froze, my half-asleep brain struggling to process her words. “What are you talking about?”“And you both look so cute together!” Rhett added, cupping his face dram
~Little Ruby's POV~We got home, and our bags were so heavy I thought my arms would fall off. But Kai was waiting for us, and he came to help.“Back so soon?” Kai said, smiling as he grabbed a couple of bags.“Do you want us to spend the whole day there?” Roman asked, shaking his head.“Nope, not at all. Was just saying,” Kai teased. Then he peeked at the bags. “What did you get for me?”“Nothing in particular, but we got a lot of things!” I said proudly.“You can pick anything you want!” Rhett added.Kai chuckled as he looked at the pile of shopping bags. “A lot, I see. Thanks, you two.”Roman stretched, looking like he was already done with the day. “I’ll just head to my room and get a shower.”“Alright,” Mum said, nodding at him.“See you little ones later,” Roman said, heading upstairs.“Alright,” Mum said, turning to us. “And you two, off to your rooms. Make sure to take a shower before coming back.“Okay, Mum!” Rhett and I said together as we climbed the stairs.Rhett got to his
~Ruby's POV~I was lying on my bed, soaking in the quiet, when the door creaked open; Rhett and Little Ruby popped their heads inside. Their mischievous smiles were enough to set off alarms in my head.“Hey, Mum. What are you doing?” Rhett asked casually. “Umm… nothing, exactly. Just trying to relax,” I said cautiously, narrowing my eyes at them.“Oh, that’s nice. What a coincidence,” Little Ruby said, her voice too sweet to be trusted.“Coincidence?” I asked, sitting up. “What are you two planning?”"Well... we were thinking the same thing too. So... you can relax outside—with us,” she added, her grin broadening.“No. Not a chance.” I shook my head firmly, but they didn’t even flinch.“Come on, Mum! You can even swim with us,” Rhett chimed in.“Oh… so that’s why you’re both dressed like that?” I asked, eyeing their swimsuits.“Exactly! Trust us, it’ll be fun,” Little Ruby said, bouncing on her toes.“Remember, I can’t swim, guys,” I said, raising an eyebrow.“Oh… that's true. But th
~Little Ruby's POV~“Rhett?” I stopped laughing as I went under the water. I came up a little while later, feeling scared and weak. “Mum! Help! I think Rhett is drowning!” I screamed, my voice shaky with fear.Mum jumped out of her chair so fast it looked like she flew. She ran to the pool and, without thinking twice, dove right in—even though I knew she didn’t know how to swim. My heart pounded so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest.I swam toward Rhett as fast as I could. Mum splashed wildly beside me, and together, we grabbed him and pulled him to the shallow end of the pool. I could barely breathe by the time we got him out.Rhett coughed and blinked, sitting up. “Whoa… that was close,” Mum said, gasping for air.“It sure was!” I said, relieved but still shaking. “You scared us, Rhett!”“Sorry…” Rhett muttered, rubbing his head. Then he looked at Mum. “Wait, Mum… you’re swimming!”I turned to her, and suddenly, her face changed. Her eyes widened, and she looked at the w
~Ruby's POV~I blinked, feeling confused, as I looked down at my twins. They were holding onto me tightly, their small arms wrapped around me as if I was the only thing keeping them safe. My body felt weak, and my thoughts were jumbled, but I managed to lift my hands and gently place them on their heads.“I’m okay,” I whispered, though my voice was barely audible, hoarse from whatever had just happened.“Don’t scare us like that again, Mum,” little Ruby said, her voice trembling as if she was holding back tears. Hearing the crack in her voice broke something in me.“I promise,” I murmured, my lips trembling as I pulled both of them closer. Their warmth was grounding, pulling me back from the abyss I felt teetering on.I glanced up and saw him—Roman—sitting back on his heels, watching us. There was something raw in his expression, something I hadn’t seen before. Relief, maybe, but it was more than that. He looked shaken, like what just happened had hit him almost as hard as it hit me
"Are we going to keep staring at each other, or are you actually going to kiss me?" I whispered.Roman didn't need any more encouragement. He cupped my face, and our lips crashed together, sending a shiver down my spine. His hands were on my body, exploring every inch of me.My own hands were tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. I could feel his heart racing against my chest, his ragged breath on my neck.The tension between us was undeniable. It was like a fire, consuming us, making us forget about the world around us."Are you sure about this, Ruby?" Roman whispered, his voice thick with desire."I'm not. So go on before I change my mind."His eyes lit up, a sly grin tugging the corners of his mouth. "As you wish."And then his lips were on mine again, claiming them in a way that sent a wave of heat through my body. I lost myself in the moment, in the feeling of his touch, his scent, his taste.My mind was swimming with desire, and the only thing that mattered was being with him
~Roman's POV~I watched from the couch as Little Ruby, Rhett, and Kai stood back to admire their handiwork. The dining area sparkled under the soft glow of the overhead lights, the scent of dish soap still lingering faintly in the air.“Whoa… I think we did a great job here,” Kai said, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest like he’d just finished building a skyscraper.“Hmmm… I’m impressed,” Ruby said, leaning against the wall with a proud smile.“Welcome to the team, Kai,” Rhett said with mock seriousness, offering his small hand for a handshake.Kai crouched slightly to meet Rhett’s height and clasped his hand. “Thank you for having me. It’s an honour.”The formal tone of their exchange sent everyone into a fit of laughter. Even Ruby, who was clearly still a bit tired, couldn’t hold back her chuckles. Moments like these reminded me how much warmth and chaos this house had brought into my life.Once the laughter died down, we all made our way to the living room. The kids darte
~Ruby's POV~Helen sat facing me with her arms crossed, her face giving away nothing. "So, what should we do now?” she asked.I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. “We’re going to reject the contract.”Helen’s brows shot up. “We are?” she asked in confusion. “But it’s too late for that already. The agreement is practically sealed.”“It’s still my choice,” I said firmly. “I don’t have to go through with it.”Helen shook her head, clearly unimpressed. “Come on, Ruby. I don’t buy this whole rejecting-the-contract thing.”I scoffed. “Can’t you see? He had this all planned, Helen.”Helen gave me a sceptical look. “We can’t be sure of that. And I definitely didn’t know it was his company when I accepted. Think about it—you’re going to lose a lot of clients if you let personal feelings interfere with business. And it’s perfect to get new clients.”I frowned, thinking it over. Helen had a point. My company had built a reputation for professionalism, and backing out now would send
~Ruby's POV~“Roman?” I blinked, barely believing he was standing in front of me.“Good morning, Ruby,” he said in a neutral, almost unreadable tone.I glanced back into the house, then stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind me. “What are you doing here?” I asked in a hushed voice.“I just wanted to make sure you and the kids are safe,” Roman said simply.I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Are you our guardian angel now or what? The danger is over there, not here, Roman.”“Maybe,” he admitted, his gaze steady. “But I needed to make sure you weren’t tracked or followed here.”I studied his face, trying to figure out what he wasn’t saying. “Oh, I see. So you drove to the airport, booked a flight and flew all the way here—” I paused, narrowing my eyes, “—all just to check on us?”“Yeah, exactly,” Roman said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.A small scoff left my lips, followed by a reluctant smile. “That’s… nice, I must say.” I nodded, pressing my lips together. “Guess
~Ruby's POV~By morning, I had packed our bags, and before the sun had fully risen, we were already on our way to the airport. Roman had been quiet when we left—he hadn’t argued, hadn’t fought me on it. But I could feel his disapproval like a heavy weight pressing against me.The kids were excited about the trip, chatting nonstop on the plane, but I could tell they were trying to ignore the deeper reason behind our sudden departure.Hours later, we landed in Howling Heights.As we stepped out of the plane, the fresh air hit me like a comforting embrace, carrying the familiar scent of pine and earth. It had been too long since I’d been back.A sleek, black, and unfamiliar car was parked just ahead.“Mum, did you book a cab?” Little Ruby asked, tugging on my sleeve.“Yeah,” I replied, glancing at my phone. “But it’s still two minutes away.”Before I could question anything further, the car door opened, and a tall, blonde-haired man stepped out.For a moment, my breath caught in my thro
~Ruby's POV~The morning light streamed through the shattered windows, casting uneven patterns across the chaos we were still struggling to fix. The living room was chaotic. Pillows were ripped apart, furniture was overturned, and shards of glass sparkled spookily in the sunlight. It had looked like this since last night when we came home to find everything in disarray.I tied my hair up in a messy bun and sighed, dusting off a chair before pushing it back into place. The kids worked beside me, picking up books and scattered papers. We were making progress, but the house still felt violated, like an open wound refusing to heal.Then the doorbell rang.We all froze, exchanging quick glances.“I’ll check it,” I said before either of them could protest.They nodded hesitantly, their gazes following me as I walked toward the door. My heart pounded a little faster than usual, my fingers tightening around the doorknob as I cracked the door open.Roman.His dark eyes studied me carefully,
~Ruby's POV~“Alright, there’s still time. This could work,” I said, turning back into the kitchen. “You both go get dressed—we’re going shopping.”Their eyes lit up with excitement as they jumped on a spot. “I don’t have a problem going like this,” Rhett said, glancing down at his clothes.I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that’s true.”“But I definitely do,” Little Ruby protested, already making a beeline for the hallway.“Oh no, no, no, no.” I quickly reached out and stopped her, placing my hand on top of her head. “Yours is perfectly fine.”“But Mum—”“It’s just a quick trip to the store, nothing more.”“That’s what you always say,” she grumbled, folding her arms.Rhett smirked. “Besides, it’s not like you’re going out there to find a boyfriend.”“Ewwww! Definitely not, Rhett!” Little Ruby shot back, making a face of pure disgust.“So what’s the big deal?” I asked, shaking my head.“You always have to look your best.” She gave me a cheeky grin. “And who knows… maybe I will see a boyf
~Ruby's POV~The past few days had been eerily quiet—no threats, no signs of danger lurking in the shadows. It was almost too quiet, but I refused to let paranoia rule my life. After much back and forth with Roman, arguing and declining his protests, I had finally convinced him to let me and the kids return home.As we pulled into the driveway, I could feel Roman’s tension from the driver’s seat. He scanned the area with sharp, trained eyes, his senses heightened, searching for anything out of place. I knew what he was doing—even though everything seemed normal, he wasn’t convinced.We stepped out of the car, and the kids rushed ahead excitedly.“Are you sure this is a good idea, Ruby?” Roman asked, his voice low but firm.I turned to him with a reassuring smile. “If it weren’t, I wouldn’t have attempted it.”His jaw clenched slightly. “But we can’t say for sure.”Before I could respond, Little Ruby tugged at my sleeve. “Mum, is everything okay?”I looked down at her bright, innocen
~Ruby's POV~“These files contain everything—videos, recordings, photos, and documents—about an illegal operation.”I stiffened.Kai looked at me carefully before continuing, “An illegal operation your dad stumbled upon.”My heart stopped.“Wait… what?” I stared at Kai, my stomach twisting in knots. “My dad would never be involved in something illegal.” My voice wavered between disbelief and confusion.Kai leaned forward, his face calm but serious. “That’s the point, Ruby. He wasn’t involved. I think he was gathering information on the people who were.”I swallowed hard, glancing at Roman, who was just as focused. “You think so?” Roman asked cautiously.“With the way things are looking, yes.” Kai clicked through a series of images on his laptop. “Look at how these pictures are taken. The distance, the angles—”I squinted at the screen. The grainy images showed shadowy figures in what looked like an empty warehouse, the glow of headlights illuminating a large truck. The camera’s vantag
~Ruby's POV~Roman and I woke up early, the warmth of the evening breeze slipping through the curtains. After a quick shower, we dressed and made our way downstairs, the scent of food drifting from the kitchen.As we entered the living room, I immediately spotted Rhett, little Ruby, and Kai sitting on the couch, completely engrossed in the cartoons playing on the TV.I adjusted my shirt, smoothing out the wrinkles, and schooled my face into a neutral expression.Little Ruby was the first to notice us. She turned her head, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. “Oh, they’re finally out.”“Finally,” Rhett added dramatically, stretching his arms. “About time.”Kai smirked but said nothing, his eyes flickering between Roman and me with barely concealed amusement.Little Ruby sat up straighter, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Sooo… I guess the massage was a success?”I inhaled sharply. These kids.“You two, come here. Now,” I said, crossing my arms, my voice firm.Little Ruby and Rhett imm
RUBY'S POVSlowly, passionately, Roman kissed me as his hand trailed down my body.His fingers traced my breasts, my nipples, making me shiver, before moving lower, across my stomach, to the place where I needed him most.He stroked me, his fingers teasing, tantalizing, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through me.He continued his sweet torment, his mouth claiming mine, swallowing my moans.A shiver ran through my body causing goosebumps across my skin, sending tingles downwards along with wave after wave of pleasure crashing upon my wet shores.The heat rising from deep within my core intensified with each passing minute until finally, I felt an intense burning desire take control of my senses, for