~Ruby’s POV~The clear evening air hit my skin as we stepped out of the boutique, the faint scent of expensive perfume still clinging to my clothes. The boutique attendant, poor thing, was still blushing furiously, her eyes darting anywhere but in our direction. I couldn’t blame her—walking in on me half-dressed with Roman standing next to me had clearly been too much for her.Roman, of course, was still revelling in it. His smug expression was practically carved into his face, his lips twitching as he threw one last flirtatious jab my way.“You know, if you needed help getting dressed, sweetheart, all you had to do was ask,” he mused, his voice dripping with amusement.I knew that apology instead of his usual smugness was too true to be true. I exhaled sharply, gripping the handles of my shopping bags a little tighter. “Say one more word, and I swear I’ll introduce my heels to your skull.”His chuckle was infuriatingly smooth, completely unbothered by my threat. “Now, now, no need
~Ruby's POV~I was standing at the kitchen counter, absentmindedly chopping vegetables for dinner, the knife slicing through the soft flesh of a ripe tomato with a satisfying squish. The hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the otherwise quiet room. I had managed to avoid him for most of the evening, but I knew it wouldn’t last forever. And sure enough, just as I thought I might finally have a peaceful night, he appeared in the doorway.Liam.He stood there for a moment, his frame blocking the light from the hallway. I didn’t look up, trying to keep my focus on the tomatoes, as if I could lose myself in the task at hand. But I could sense him in the room, as if his presence was a heavy weight pressing down on me.“You’re avoiding me,” he accused flatly.I paused, the knife still held in the air. My heart raced, but I didn’t want to give him the pleasure of seeing my reaction right away. So, I finished cutting the tomato before I spoke.“I’m not avoiding you,” I replied, try
~Ruby’s POV~The scent of expensive perfume and face powder filled the room as Helen leaned in, her fingers steady as she applied the finishing touches to my makeup. The cool brush of powder against my cheek was strangely soothing, though it did little to calm my nerves."Hold still, Ruby," Helen muttered, dabbing at my cheekbone."I'm trying," I sighed, resisting the urge to shift. "But it's hard to focus with those two bouncing around like hyperactive rabbits."Across the room, the twins were a blur of movement—twirling, hopping, and nearly knocking over a lamp in the process. Little Ruby's laughter rang through the air as Rhett spun her in a dramatic circle."Be careful, you two. Don't break anything," Helen warned, arching an eyebrow at them."We won't!" Rhett called back confidently.Helen smirked. "The room can be easily replaced. But I’m not so sure about your bones—or any other part of your body."That made them stop. Mid-spin, Rhett froze, setting Little Ruby back on her feet
~Ruby’s POV~The car was running quietly near the entrance, and the sound of the engine was the only thing breaking the tense silence between Roman and me. I sat with my hands clasped in my lap, my fingers pressing into the fabric of my dress. I took a slow breath, trying to calm the nervous energy that was building up inside me.Roman, in the driver's seat, had his phone in one hand and was typing swiftly. I glanced at him, my stomach twisting."We're here." Roman’s message to Kai was sent with a quiet whoosh.A moment later, his phone buzzed."Alright, just go to the entrance and give them the card to scan… I'll take care of the rest."Roman’s fingers hovered over the screen for a second before he replied, "Alright, on it."I swallowed hard, looking up at the venue's grand entrance. The tall, wrought-iron gates loomed before us, flanked by uniformed security guards who looked anything but welcoming. The golden glow from the entrance lights made the entire setting feel even more da
~Liam’s POV~The day before…The city lights stretched far beyond the glass windows of my hotel room, neon reflections dancing on the smooth wooden floor. The hum of the air conditioning filled the silence as I leaned against the desk, staring at the half-empty whiskey bottle beside me. I had poured a glass earlier but barely touched it. My thoughts were too heavy, swirling with the weight of the conversation I had with Ruby.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply."Was it right to ask her? Or should I have just stayed quiet, waited for her to bring it up when she was ready?" I muttered under my breath.The words still echoed in my mind, along with her hesitant response and the way she looked at me but couldn’t quite meet my eyes."But at the same time... she wasn't going to address it anytime soon, was she? She definitely wasn't, and if I hadn't spoken up, we’d still be dancing around the tension. And things were already weird enough."I let out a humourless chuckle and sat
"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
~Liam’s POV~The day before…The city lights stretched far beyond the glass windows of my hotel room, neon reflections dancing on the smooth wooden floor. The hum of the air conditioning filled the silence as I leaned against the desk, staring at the half-empty whiskey bottle beside me. I had poured a glass earlier but barely touched it. My thoughts were too heavy, swirling with the weight of the conversation I had with Ruby.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply."Was it right to ask her? Or should I have just stayed quiet, waited for her to bring it up when she was ready?" I muttered under my breath.The words still echoed in my mind, along with her hesitant response and the way she looked at me but couldn’t quite meet my eyes."But at the same time... she wasn't going to address it anytime soon, was she? She definitely wasn't, and if I hadn't spoken up, we’d still be dancing around the tension. And things were already weird enough."I let out a humourless chuckle and sat
~Ruby’s POV~The car was running quietly near the entrance, and the sound of the engine was the only thing breaking the tense silence between Roman and me. I sat with my hands clasped in my lap, my fingers pressing into the fabric of my dress. I took a slow breath, trying to calm the nervous energy that was building up inside me.Roman, in the driver's seat, had his phone in one hand and was typing swiftly. I glanced at him, my stomach twisting."We're here." Roman’s message to Kai was sent with a quiet whoosh.A moment later, his phone buzzed."Alright, just go to the entrance and give them the card to scan… I'll take care of the rest."Roman’s fingers hovered over the screen for a second before he replied, "Alright, on it."I swallowed hard, looking up at the venue's grand entrance. The tall, wrought-iron gates loomed before us, flanked by uniformed security guards who looked anything but welcoming. The golden glow from the entrance lights made the entire setting feel even more da
~Ruby’s POV~The scent of expensive perfume and face powder filled the room as Helen leaned in, her fingers steady as she applied the finishing touches to my makeup. The cool brush of powder against my cheek was strangely soothing, though it did little to calm my nerves."Hold still, Ruby," Helen muttered, dabbing at my cheekbone."I'm trying," I sighed, resisting the urge to shift. "But it's hard to focus with those two bouncing around like hyperactive rabbits."Across the room, the twins were a blur of movement—twirling, hopping, and nearly knocking over a lamp in the process. Little Ruby's laughter rang through the air as Rhett spun her in a dramatic circle."Be careful, you two. Don't break anything," Helen warned, arching an eyebrow at them."We won't!" Rhett called back confidently.Helen smirked. "The room can be easily replaced. But I’m not so sure about your bones—or any other part of your body."That made them stop. Mid-spin, Rhett froze, setting Little Ruby back on her feet
~Ruby's POV~I was standing at the kitchen counter, absentmindedly chopping vegetables for dinner, the knife slicing through the soft flesh of a ripe tomato with a satisfying squish. The hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the otherwise quiet room. I had managed to avoid him for most of the evening, but I knew it wouldn’t last forever. And sure enough, just as I thought I might finally have a peaceful night, he appeared in the doorway.Liam.He stood there for a moment, his frame blocking the light from the hallway. I didn’t look up, trying to keep my focus on the tomatoes, as if I could lose myself in the task at hand. But I could sense him in the room, as if his presence was a heavy weight pressing down on me.“You’re avoiding me,” he accused flatly.I paused, the knife still held in the air. My heart raced, but I didn’t want to give him the pleasure of seeing my reaction right away. So, I finished cutting the tomato before I spoke.“I’m not avoiding you,” I replied, try
~Ruby’s POV~The clear evening air hit my skin as we stepped out of the boutique, the faint scent of expensive perfume still clinging to my clothes. The boutique attendant, poor thing, was still blushing furiously, her eyes darting anywhere but in our direction. I couldn’t blame her—walking in on me half-dressed with Roman standing next to me had clearly been too much for her.Roman, of course, was still revelling in it. His smug expression was practically carved into his face, his lips twitching as he threw one last flirtatious jab my way.“You know, if you needed help getting dressed, sweetheart, all you had to do was ask,” he mused, his voice dripping with amusement.I knew that apology instead of his usual smugness was too true to be true. I exhaled sharply, gripping the handles of my shopping bags a little tighter. “Say one more word, and I swear I’ll introduce my heels to your skull.”His chuckle was infuriatingly smooth, completely unbothered by my threat. “Now, now, no need
Ruby’s POVThis was all his fault.If Roman hadn’t insisted on this whole ridiculous “taking turns” thing, I wouldn’t have been in this situation.One second, I was reaching for the zipper at the back of the dress, and the next, my foot twisted awkwardly in these damn heels. My ankle gave out, and suddenly, gravity was having its way with me.“Shit!” I gasped as I stumbled forward. My arms flailed, grasping at nothing but air.And then—I didn’t hit the floor.Instead, I collided with something solid. Warm. Unyielding.Roman.His arms were locked around my waist, his grip strong and steady as if catching me had been second nature. My fingers had instinctively curled into the fabric of his shirt, and for a moment, all I could do was breathe, trying to process what had just happened.His scent—masculine, fresh, with that faint hint of cedarwood and something uniquely him—wrapped around me, making my already racing heartbeat go into overdrive.I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of jus
~Roman’s POV~The day was going almost well… at least as I expected it would go. Ruby looked as uncomfortable as I felt amused."Alright, let’s get this over with," she muttered, already moving toward the dresses like she was marching to war.I followed behind, hands in my pockets, completely at ease.She pulled a black gown from the rack, holding it up in front of her. "What about this one?"I tilted my head, pretending to think. "Hmm. Too safe."She scoffed. "Too safe? You just want an excuse to keep me in here longer, don’t you?"I smirked. "Maybe."She groaned, dramatically rolling her eyes. "Next."She picked another dress. I judged that one, too.And the next.And the next.It was fun—too much fun.But really? I just wanted her to look perfect. Not just because of the event. Not just because of the mission.Because she deserved to be the most stunning woman in that damn room.Eventually, she gave up with a loud sigh and shoved a handful of dresses into my arms. "Fine. You pick.
Ruby's POVI still didn’t understand why we had to do this together.I leaned back against the car seat, arms crossed, watching the city lights blur past through the window as Roman drove. The smooth sound of the engine filled the stillness around us, but my thoughts were buzzing with questions."This is unnecessary, you know," I finally said, turning to him. "I could’ve just gone with Helen, and you could’ve gone with Kai or—literally anyone else."Roman kept his eyes on the road, one hand on the wheel, the other casually resting against the gear shift. His lips twitched like he was expecting me to say that."I wanted your opinion on what to pick," he said simply.I scoffed. Right. "My opinion? That’s just an excuse. You just want to spend more time with me."Roman smirked. "Perhaps so. And I need to look charming and all of that."I raised an eyebrow. "I should’ve known. To impress and attract more girls, right?"Roman exhaled dramatically, shaking his head. "Oh, come on, Ruby. It’s
~Ruby’s POV~"Over here, everyone, I think I found something," Kai announced triumphantly, his fingers still flying across the keyboard."Finally!" Esperanza groaned as she pushed past Keely and dashed into the livingroom. Her excitement was obvious.Keely followed immediately, brushing off her jeans as she leaned in.I took the seat beside Kai, scooting closer and fixing my eyes on the laptop screen. My pulse quickened. This was it."What do we have here?" I asked, barely keeping my voice steady.Helen and Roman re-entered the room, standing behind Kai with tense expressions."Give me some space, you all," Kai grumbled, his fingers clicking aggressively on the keyboard. "I need air.""Sorry, Kai," Roman smirked. "You won’t be getting any. We’re all just as tense as you."Kai exhaled dramatically, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he focused, scrolling through the data on his screen."Alright, so we have…" He trailed off, his eyes scanning rapidly.Everyone leaned in as the information l