~Roman's POV~A few minutes ago…I watched as Ruby walked away, the tension in her shoulders obvious even through the graceful sway of her gown. I had noticed her reactions during the conversation—how her polite smile faltered, how her eyes darkened every time Sarah touched me.I knew she hadn’t been enjoying a single second of it.Moments later, Helen excused herself, leaving me alone with Sarah. I turned to face her, my patience wearing thin.“What’s the meaning of all this, Sarah?” I asked, keeping my tone as calm as I could.Sarah raised a brow, feigning innocence. “The meaning of what?”I exhaled sharply. “You’re really going to play innocent now?”“Oh, come on, Roman.” She waved a manicured hand dismissively. “I was just telling the truth.”“The truth you chose to believe,” I countered, stepping closer.Sarah smirked. “You think so?”“I know so. And whatever game you’re playing, it’s obvious you’re trying to get on Ruby’s nerves.”“That’s definitely not what I was trying to do,”
~Ruby's POV~Helen and I sat at a small table near the balcony, glasses of wine in hand. The party carried on around us—laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses filled the air—but I barely heard any of it. My mind was elsewhere, stuck in a loop of frustration I couldn’t quite understand.Helen took a slow sip of her drink before turning to me. “Are you okay, Ruby?”I forced a smile, hoping to brush it off. “Yeah… I’m definitely fine, Helen.”She arched a brow. “Come on, Ruby. You know that doesn’t work on me.”I sighed, swirling the wine in my glass. “It’s just… nothing serious.”Helen studied me for a moment. “Is this about Sarah?”I hesitated, then exhaled. “I think so. I know I shouldn’t be bothered, and I have no reason to care, but… I don’t know why I can’t help it.”Helen didn’t say anything at first. Instead, she reached out and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.I looked down at the table, feeling ridiculous. “I sound crazy, don’t I?”Helen shook her head. “No. I to
~Ruby’s Pov~“Undoubtedly.”We laughed as I put my phone back in my purse and started to head back to the party. Just then, I looked up and saw Sarah heading toward the exit.Her heels made a sharp sound on the marble floor. The red dress fitted her figure perfectly, drawing attention, with a slit along her thigh that moved as she walked. She moved like a performer, aware that everyone was watching her. Even now, she acted as if she had an audience.She stopped a few feet away from me, turning slightly. A slow, honeyed smile curled her lips—practised, polished, and insincere.“I must say, Ruby,” she purred with a sweetness that felt more like poison, “I absolutely adore your work. The costumes, the venue’s design, even the choice of materials—it’s all exquisite. You have quite the talent.”I raised a brow, my expression neutral. “Thank you.”Sarah tilted her head slightly, studying me as if I were a painting she was debating whether or not to purchase. “You know, I have some powerful
~Ruby's POV~“Ruby, it’s not what you think,” Roman said, his voice laced with urgency.I tilted my head, raising a brow as I let out a small, nervous laugh. It wasn’t because I found the situation amusing, but because I needed to mask what I was really feeling—an unfamiliar, unwelcome sting of jealousy.“What I think?” I repeated, shaking my head with a tight-lipped smile. “Believe me, Roman, I’m not thinking anything at all.”He exhaled, running a hand through his hair as if trying to piece together the right words. “Ruby, I—”I cut him off with a casual wave of my hand. “Why should I think anything? You’re free to entertain whoever you like.” I forced a light chuckle, even though my chest felt tight. “Just… forget about it.”“Ruby, but—”“Don’t you have guests to attend to?” I interrupted again, nodding toward a small group of elegantly dressed women who were eyeing him from across the room.Roman barely spared them a glance. “That’s not what I meant, Ruby.”I lifted my glass, my f
~Damian’s POV~I held the phone to my ear, feeling frustrated as the dial tone kept ringing. When Ruby finally answered, her voice was calm and neutral."Good evening, Uncle Damien.""Good evening, Ruby," I said without wasting time on pleasantries. "Where are you?"There was a slight pause before she answered."Umm… I'm out of town presently."I clenched my jaw. So it was true."So you really left town without informing me?" My voice was firm, but I kept it measured."Informing you?" she countered, her tone shifting. "I wasn't aware I was supposed to report my whereabouts to you, Uncle Damien."I exhaled sharply. "Hmmmm."I knew how she was. Stubborn, just like her father."Moreover," she continued, "business held me down. I'll return soon, to make sure Aunt Jean's killer is found."Now, that was the part I wanted to hear."That is exactly why I'm calling," I said. "It seems we have a lead."Her voice perked up slightly. "Oh… really? That’s good."I nodded to myself. "We have intel t
"And the award for Best Fashion Designer goes to... Ruby Blackwood!"My heart stopped. I heard the applause, but it was distant, muted, as if I had momentarily detached from the present. Me? Ruby Blackwood, Best Designer of the Year? It felt surreal.I stared at the stage in disbelief. The host smiled brightly, waiting for me to claim the award. The room, full of clapping and cheering people, seemed to blur as I tried to process what was happening.Suddenly, a small hand tugged at mine, snapping me back to reality."Mummy!" Rhett’s excited voice pulled me back to the present as he grinned up at me, pointing toward the stage. "Aren’t you going? They’re waiting!"I blinked, my pulse quickening. "Oh my God," I whispered under my breath, shaking off the daze. How could I forget? I had won! I had won.With shaky hands, I stood up from my seat, smoothing down the fabric of my black gown as I tried to compose myself. I could feel the eyes of the entire room on me, but amidst the sea of fa
If you're wondering how it all led to this moment, where Roman is staring at the twins with wide eyes and confusion, it’s time to revisit the past. The story that began not with love, but with a fateful marriage of convenience, where neither Roman nor I could have foreseen what would come next.SEVEN YEARS AGO"Do you, Ruby Blackwood, take Alpha Roman Wilder D’Angelo as your loving husband...?" The priest's voice echoed in my ears.My heart skipped a beat as he read out the vows, each word drawing me deeper into a reality I had not chosen.How did I end up in this situation? Marrying someone I'm meeting for the first time today, a man I know only by reputation—powerful, ruthless, and feared by all.The truth stung even more because it should have been my cousin, Esperanxa, standing here today, not me.She was meant to be the one sacrificed as a bride to secure my uncle's alliance with the D’Angelo pack."Ruby?" The mention of my name snapped me back to the present. The faces around me
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came. My throat felt tight, and my brain scrambled to make sense of the chaos spinning inside me. The dull pounding in my head grew louder, syncing with the frantic beat of my heart.How did this happen? The last thing I remembered clearly was his lips on mine, and then—my gaze drifted down to where the sheets barely covered Roman's body.Oh God. What had we done?"What the hell are you doing in my bed?" Roman repeated sharply as he pushed himself up. His emerald eyes were no longer hazy with alcohol but hardened with confusion—and maybe regret."I—I don't know," I stammered, instinctively pulling the sheets up to cover myself. Heat flooded my cheeks as flashes of last night hit me like a freight train. The kiss, the roughness of his touch, the hardness of his member in me, the feverish way we collided into each other, desperately seeking something neither of us could define. And now this—the cold, harsh reality of daylight exposing everythin
~Damian’s POV~I held the phone to my ear, feeling frustrated as the dial tone kept ringing. When Ruby finally answered, her voice was calm and neutral."Good evening, Uncle Damien.""Good evening, Ruby," I said without wasting time on pleasantries. "Where are you?"There was a slight pause before she answered."Umm… I'm out of town presently."I clenched my jaw. So it was true."So you really left town without informing me?" My voice was firm, but I kept it measured."Informing you?" she countered, her tone shifting. "I wasn't aware I was supposed to report my whereabouts to you, Uncle Damien."I exhaled sharply. "Hmmmm."I knew how she was. Stubborn, just like her father."Moreover," she continued, "business held me down. I'll return soon, to make sure Aunt Jean's killer is found."Now, that was the part I wanted to hear."That is exactly why I'm calling," I said. "It seems we have a lead."Her voice perked up slightly. "Oh… really? That’s good."I nodded to myself. "We have intel t
~Ruby's POV~“Ruby, it’s not what you think,” Roman said, his voice laced with urgency.I tilted my head, raising a brow as I let out a small, nervous laugh. It wasn’t because I found the situation amusing, but because I needed to mask what I was really feeling—an unfamiliar, unwelcome sting of jealousy.“What I think?” I repeated, shaking my head with a tight-lipped smile. “Believe me, Roman, I’m not thinking anything at all.”He exhaled, running a hand through his hair as if trying to piece together the right words. “Ruby, I—”I cut him off with a casual wave of my hand. “Why should I think anything? You’re free to entertain whoever you like.” I forced a light chuckle, even though my chest felt tight. “Just… forget about it.”“Ruby, but—”“Don’t you have guests to attend to?” I interrupted again, nodding toward a small group of elegantly dressed women who were eyeing him from across the room.Roman barely spared them a glance. “That’s not what I meant, Ruby.”I lifted my glass, my f
~Ruby’s Pov~“Undoubtedly.”We laughed as I put my phone back in my purse and started to head back to the party. Just then, I looked up and saw Sarah heading toward the exit.Her heels made a sharp sound on the marble floor. The red dress fitted her figure perfectly, drawing attention, with a slit along her thigh that moved as she walked. She moved like a performer, aware that everyone was watching her. Even now, she acted as if she had an audience.She stopped a few feet away from me, turning slightly. A slow, honeyed smile curled her lips—practised, polished, and insincere.“I must say, Ruby,” she purred with a sweetness that felt more like poison, “I absolutely adore your work. The costumes, the venue’s design, even the choice of materials—it’s all exquisite. You have quite the talent.”I raised a brow, my expression neutral. “Thank you.”Sarah tilted her head slightly, studying me as if I were a painting she was debating whether or not to purchase. “You know, I have some powerful
~Ruby's POV~Helen and I sat at a small table near the balcony, glasses of wine in hand. The party carried on around us—laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses filled the air—but I barely heard any of it. My mind was elsewhere, stuck in a loop of frustration I couldn’t quite understand.Helen took a slow sip of her drink before turning to me. “Are you okay, Ruby?”I forced a smile, hoping to brush it off. “Yeah… I’m definitely fine, Helen.”She arched a brow. “Come on, Ruby. You know that doesn’t work on me.”I sighed, swirling the wine in my glass. “It’s just… nothing serious.”Helen studied me for a moment. “Is this about Sarah?”I hesitated, then exhaled. “I think so. I know I shouldn’t be bothered, and I have no reason to care, but… I don’t know why I can’t help it.”Helen didn’t say anything at first. Instead, she reached out and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.I looked down at the table, feeling ridiculous. “I sound crazy, don’t I?”Helen shook her head. “No. I to
~Roman's POV~A few minutes ago…I watched as Ruby walked away, the tension in her shoulders obvious even through the graceful sway of her gown. I had noticed her reactions during the conversation—how her polite smile faltered, how her eyes darkened every time Sarah touched me.I knew she hadn’t been enjoying a single second of it.Moments later, Helen excused herself, leaving me alone with Sarah. I turned to face her, my patience wearing thin.“What’s the meaning of all this, Sarah?” I asked, keeping my tone as calm as I could.Sarah raised a brow, feigning innocence. “The meaning of what?”I exhaled sharply. “You’re really going to play innocent now?”“Oh, come on, Roman.” She waved a manicured hand dismissively. “I was just telling the truth.”“The truth you chose to believe,” I countered, stepping closer.Sarah smirked. “You think so?”“I know so. And whatever game you’re playing, it’s obvious you’re trying to get on Ruby’s nerves.”“That’s definitely not what I was trying to do,”
~Ruby's POV~"I'm Sarah Merlin, by the way," she said, her voice smooth and confident.I reached out, and we shook hands. Our handshake lasted a bit longer than usual, and our eyes met in a quiet evaluation. There was something about her—something thoughtful and strategic. A hidden challenge lay behind her practiced smile.Before the tension could stretch any further, Roman coughed, breaking whatever silent battle had started between us. We both released our grip, and Sarah turned back to him with a smile—one far too familiar, far too comfortable.I didn’t miss the way she leaned into him, her body language hinting at something possessive."Roman, you look even better than the last time I saw you," Sarah said, running a manicured finger down his sleeve. "You know, I’ve missed our little late-night talks. You always did have a way of keeping things… interesting."Roman forced a chuckle, shifting slightly away from her. I clenched my fists at my sides, keeping my expression neutral.Th
~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