Daiman.I lay in bed, relishing the rare moment of solitude after Ruby left to pick up her son from school. I had asked her to do the same for my daughter, Anna, knowing how excited she would be to see her angelic friend waiting for her.The thought of Anna's joy warmed my heart, and making her happy was my intention and the least I could do after leaving her to go on a life-threatening adventure.I felt grateful to Ruby for being here for her, even though it wasn't her responsibility. Despite everything, I couldn't shake off the awe I felt towards Ruby for saving me.Waking up to find her sleeping beside my bed touched me deeply and made my heart flutter in a weird way, and I couldn't resist pulling her closer to me. She looked so serene and beautiful in her slumber, and when she confessed she had saved me despite knowing I had risked my life just to save my dead mate, I knew at that moment I couldn't help but feel undeserving of her kindness. It was evident that Ruby hadn't been tr
Damian"Daddy!" she exclaimed, dropping her bag and rushing over to me. I couldn't help but smile wider as I stood up, opening my arms wide to welcome her embrace."Hey, sweetheart. I missed you so much," I said, scooping her up into a tight hug."More than the air you breathe?" My daughter questioned me with a smirk on her lips, and I grin at her mischievousness."Yeah, more than the air I breathe," I chuckled, and she squeezed me tightly, burying her face against my chest."Where did you go, Daddy? I was so worried," she mumbled, her voice muffled against my shirt. I held her close, feeling a rush of love and gratitude for her presence."It's okay, honey. I'm here now," I reassured her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head."But you were gone, Daddy, and I was lonely," she muttered sadly."I just had an unexpected adventure, that's all," I explained. She pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with curiosity."An adventure? Tell me all about it!" she exclaimed, her excitement contagio
Three days later.RubyI knocked softly on the door, feeling the nervousness coursing through me, evident in my sweaty, shaking hands. After a few seconds, the door creaked open, revealing a beautiful middle-aged woman with a quizzical expression. She wore a floral-print blouse and jeans, her hands resting on her hips as she looked at me with a raised eyebrow,her eyes filled with curiosity. I stood before her, nervously adjusting the strands of my newly acquired fake blond hair. With a deliberate blink of my fake blue eye, I attempted to exude confidence, despite the uncertainty swirling within me.What if my plan fails and she sees through my disguise?Clearing my throat, I pushed aside my doubts and mustered a polite smile as I met her gaze."Hello, ma'am," I began, my voice steady."I'm here to speak with Mr. Smith. Is he available?" I kept my gaze steady, hoping to convey a sense of professionalism despite the unease I felt.The woman's brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced a
RubyFeeling completely drained, I stepped into Damian's office, finding him completely engrossed in his work. When he looked up and caught sight of me, a faint smile graced his lips, but it quickly faded into a look of concern. His blue eyes softened with worry as they met mine, sensing the exhaustion written all over my face."Fuck, you must have had a rough day," he remarked, his tone sympathetic. He rose from his chair, a gesture of solidarity, as I made my way to the inviting, comfy couch in his office."Trust me, I fucking did," I managed to joke, a weary smile playing on my lips. Self-consciously, I brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, feeling suddenly vulnerable under his intense gaze.I had made a conscious decision to regard Damian strictly as a business partner and not a mate in order to feel more comfortable around him. However, the intense gaze he was giving me now ignited an unexpected feeling of warmth inside me, causing me to reconsider my initial stance.For
Ruby:"Anna, sweetheart, what's happening? Why are you so upset?" Damian asked, reaching out to gently touch his daughter's trembling shoulder. His brows furrowed, and his eyes filled with worry as he searched her face for answers.Tears streamed down Anna's cheeks as she tried to compose herself, her voice shaking with emotion. "It's nothing, Daddy," she managed to choke out between sobs. "I just miss Mommy so much. I need her."Her words cut through the air like a knife, filled with raw emotion that tugged at my heartstrings, knowing I could never replace her mother, nor could she ever perceive me as such.Soon, Damian's own eyes welled up with unshed tears, and he wrapped his arms around Anna, pulling her into a comforting embrace, feeling utterly helpless in the face of her pain.Feeling my gaze on him, his eyes met mine, and he gave me a nervous smile. I could sense he was struggling in this moment, unable to find the right words to comfort his daughter. It wasn't long ago that h
Ruby:"Alex, that's enough!" I exclaimed, my voice stern, as I intervened, trying to put an end to his disruptive behavior. But my son seemed undeterred, his anger fueling his determination to assert his dominance."Why don't you tell her the truth, mother? She is not your daughter, so let her go find hers. After all, I never asked her father to be my dad, so why is she so selfish?" Alex's words cut through the air like knives, his bitterness palpable as he directed his ire towards Anna. The hurt in Anna's eyes was evident, her lower lip trembling as tears welled up."Alex, that's not fair!" I snapped, my patience wearing thin as I struggled to maintain control of the situation. "Anna is like your sister now, and she deserves to be treated with respect.""Like my sister?" He scoffed, his stubbornness evident as he began laughing, sending a shiver down my spine. Frustration bubbled up within me, and I could feel my temper flaring as I tried to reason with him, but he kept laughing."En
Ruby:As I eased into my chair within the busy hospital ward, I felt a sense of exhaustion and weariness, despite not having undertaken any demanding tasks. The events of the previous day lingered heavily on my mind, casting a shadow over my present state.Describing my state as one of confusion would be an understatement. My son's unexpected words had left me feeling shaken and uncertain about the future of our already precarious relationship. His words echoed in my ears, a constant reminder of the rift that had formed between us and might become worse if I didn't make a drastic decision for our sake.When I requested some time to speak with Liam on my own, Alex merely nodded, his expression unreadable. He retreated to bed without saying a word, foregoing dinner and avoiding any further conversation. This morning, his demeanour remained distant, with little to no communication directed my way.The mere thought of him leaving to live with his father, abandoning me to solitude, pierced
Ruby: As I read her final words, tears streamed down my face, mixing with the ink on the page. I couldn't fathom the pain Mrs. Thompson must have endured upon discovering her grandson in a pool of his own blood.A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I contemplated the trauma she must have passed through, and in that moment, I felt a bond with her unlike any I had felt before—a bond forged in the trials of life and death. Without thinking, I placed the letter in my pocket, silently promising to try and forgive William for his grandmother's sake, as a tribute to her.I clasped her delicate hands in mine,solemnly pledging to honour her memory through my actions and to pursue justice for the sake of my son and her grandson.The perpetrators of this heinous act were truly monstrous and despicable. It was unfathomable and unbelievable to think that Jane, someone I had interacted with closely, could be among those responsible. She was a monster who had been right under my nose this whole time, an