Ruby sat still, her mind racing. She had begged Hector countless times before, pleaded with him to let her go. Yet, every time, he refused. So why now? She raised her head, meeting his gaze. “Why the sudden change of heart?” Hector’s fingers curled into a tight fist. His jaw clenched, but he kept his voice steady. “Why are you questioning me?” Because it didn’t make sense. That’s why. Ruby stayed quiet, watching him. Hector exhaled and turned his back to her. Anger swirled in his chest...not at her, but at himself. If only she knew how hard it was for him to send her away. Still, she pressed. “I just want to know why, Hector. You were so sure before. What changed?” He turned around slowly and walked toward his chair, sinking into it. His eyes locked onto hers. “I have a rule,” he said finally. “A life for a life. You’ve probably heard it before,” he went on. “Since you were willing to give your life for mine, I can’t let anything happen to you. That’s why I’m setting you
Camila paced her small room, her stomach twisting in hunger. The untouched plate of food sat on the ground, mocking her. She stole another glance at it, but the knot in her chest made it impossible to eat. Then, the door creaked open. Her head snapped up, and she froze. Standing in front of her was Ruby. She looked… different. Dressed in a flowing white dress, her face soft and calm, Ruby seemed untouched by the nightmare they were trapped in. But Camila saw beyond the surface. She saw the sadness in her friend’s eyes, the weight she carried. Tears burned Camila’s vision, and before she could say a word, Ruby ran toward her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Camila clung to her, holding on as if she would disappear. Behind them, Hector stood in the doorway, watching in silence. For a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and shut the door, leaving them alone. Camila pulled back slightly, her hands gripping Ruby’s arms. “Are you okay?” R
As Ruby pulled away from their embrace, she looked at Camila with a soft but determined gaze. “Hector cares about me, Camila,” she said. “I can see it.” Camila shook her head. “Ruby...” “No, listen to me.” Ruby held her hands firmly. “Apart from the misunderstanding in the beginning, Hector isn’t a bad person.” Camila scoffed, crossing her arms. “Are you even hearing yourself?” “Try to see things from his side,” Ruby insisted. “Don Gray destroyed his family. He killed his parents right in front of him.” Camila’s lips parted slightly. Ruby’s voice lowered, filled with emotion. “Who could bear that?” She took a deep breath and met Camila’s eyes. “Look at me, Camila. Imagine if someone was responsible for your father's death. Wouldn’t you want revenge?” The words hit Camila like a blow to the chest. She gasped softly, suddenly understanding. But she still shook her head. “Ruby… revenge is dangerous. You’re playing with fire.” Ruby gave a small, knowing smile. “Tru
After they left the torture chamber, Hector led Ruby back to his room. He stood by the door, watching her for a moment before speaking. “Get enough rest,” he said. “The time for Don Gray’s execution will arrive very soon.” Ruby’s lips curved into a small smile. “You already agreed that I would do the honors.” Hector smirked, shaking his head. She never forgot anything, did she? “I did,” he admitted. Then, for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, he added, “Is there anything you want?” Ruby blinked. “I feel like I still need to do something for you,” Hector continued, crossing his arms. “For putting your life on the line for me.” The words felt strange on his tongue. Since when did he care about repaying people like Ruby so much? More than that, why was he being so... considerate toward her? He knew he was attracted to her, but he wasn’t the kind of man who was unnecessarily kind to women. The idea alone made him uncomfortable. Still, he waited for her answer. Ruby
A few hours later, Hector straightened his cufflinks and glanced at Ruby. “It’s time,” he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of excitement. "Get ready." Ruby could tell this was important to him. The sharp suit. The polished shoes. The way his men stood straighter when he spoke. She dressed quickly, slipping into one of the red dresses he had given her. Almost all of them were red. She didn’t bother to ask why. She tied up her hair and stepped out. The same men from the last execution attempt were present and four more, with the exception of the dead ones were there as well. The air in the room was humming with silent anticipation. But this time, something had changed. Ruby was not thrown into a cage. She was not told to sit on the floor like an animal. Hector pulled out the chair beside him and motioned for her to sit. The men exchanged glances. They noticed. They understood. Ruby’s place in Hector’s world had shifted. No speech. No grand declaration. Hector simp
Ruby watched in silence as Don Gray's screams faded into nothing. His body twisted and convulsed in agony until the fire consumed him completely. His last movement was a desperate, futile roll across the floor....then stillness. The room smelled of burning flesh and smoke. Hector took one last glance at the charred corpse, then waved his hand. “Dump him in the river,” he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. The men moved at once, hauling what was left of Don Gray away. But Camila was not there to witness it. She sat in her bathtub, submerged in warm water, yet feeling no warmth at all. Her mind was miles away, trapped in the past. She saw it again...the gun in her hand, her finger pulling the trigger, Hector flinching as the bullet grazed his hand. She had tried to stop him. Tried to save Ruby. But then Ruby had fallen at Hector's feet begging to be his dog, just to spare Camila. Camila squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the edges of the bathtub as nausea threate
After watching Don Gray’s body disappear, Ruby turned and walked away. She didn’t look back. She made her way to Hector’s room. Hector followed her, his sharp gaze fixed on her back. He expected something....a reaction, a flicker of emotion. But she was quiet. Too quiet. Hector prided himself on understanding people. He could break them, twist them, strip them down to their very core and know what made them tick. But her? She was an enigma. What was she thinking? Was she disturbed by Don Gray’s death? Did she regret anything? He hated this uncertainty. Hated that he even cared. In the past, he would have used pain to get the answers he wanted. A knife. A whip. A gun to the temple. But now? The thought of hurting her made him sick. The realization burned inside him like a slow fire. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to speak. "Are you okay?" Ruby looked at him, her expression calm. “I’m fine.” A lie. But he didn’t push. Instead, he changed
Hector had barely been gone an hour when Ruby stirred from sleep. She sat up slowly, hugging her knees to her chest. She felt a sadness so deep, so consuming, that it left her breathless. She didn't know how long she stayed like that, curled up on the bed, lost in thoughts. But then a soft knock came at the door. The housekeeper entered, carrying a warm smile. “Good, you’re awake,” she said gently before turning to leave. A few minutes later, she returned with a tray of food. The aroma filled the air, rich and inviting, but Ruby barely glanced at it. "I don’t really have much of an appetite," she murmured. The housekeeper placed the tray in front of her and gave her a knowing look. "You should try it. It’s nice.” Ruby sighed, feeling too tired to argue. "Thank you," she said quietly. She picked up the spoon and had a taste. And then a memory hit her. She was sick. Feverish. Weak. She had been lying in bed, waiting for the family doctor to arrive. At that ti
THREE MONTHS AGO Maya Suarez sat cross-legged on the carpet, helping her 12-year-old sister, Star, with her homework. Laughter bubbled between them as they joked over math problems in Star’s brightly colored room. For a brief moment, everything felt normal and safe. Then came a knock on the door. “Maya,” her stepmother’s shrill voice called. “Come out here. Now.” Maya stood up, exchanged a glance with Star, and stepped outside. Her heart sank the moment she saw him. Standing beside her stepmother was a man nearly twice her age—big-bellied, sweat-stained, and grinning beneath a thick mess of unkempt gray beard. His eyes were beady, too close together, and he looked her up and down with undisguised hunger. “What is this?” Maya asked flatly. “Cat?” Cat, her stepmother, beamed. “Maya, you remember I told you about the handsome man you’re going to marry? This is Angel. He came to see his bride. We’re going to start planning the wedding.” Maya recoiled. “What marriage? Liste
After Ruby accepted Hector’s proposal, he stood up, taking her with him, and crashed his lips against hers, pouring every ounce of love, pride, and joy into that kiss. Around them, the room erupted in claps and cheers. Carlos whistled, Hunter grinned and clapped with both hands, while even Manuel gave a crooked smile and joined in. And to Ruby’s surprise, Anya clapped the loudest. The moment Hector pulled back from the kiss, Anya squealed in delight and rushed toward Ruby. “I’m so excited! Welcome to the family!” she said, throwing her arms around Ruby. Ruby blinked, caught off guard. She’d seen Anya earlier, tucked slightly behind Hunter, but now seeing her up close, she was stunned by how young she looked. She smiled as she gently pulled back and glanced at the ring on Anya’s finger. “Wait… you’re married?” Ruby asked with a surprised laugh. “But you look so young!” Anya giggled. “I am! Nineteen years old and married to Hunter Steele.” She said it with pride, like a girl
Ruby couldn’t stop smiling as she held Hector’s hand, their fingers intertwined like they’d been molded that way from the start. The past one month had felt like a fairytale—a soothing balm to every scar life had left on her. She had never known peace could feel like this. Being with Hector was like waking up to sunlight after years of cold storms. He treated her like the most precious gem in the world, never raising his voice, never letting her lift a finger when he was around. He always knew exactly what she needed—even before she said it. He was soft with her in ways no one else had ever been. The man the world feared—the cold, ruthless mafia boss known for his brutality—became someone entirely different when he was with her. He was gentle, warm and patient. Even Camilla, who had once pointed a gun at Hector’s head, eventually had to admit that Hector brought out the best in Ruby—and perhaps, Ruby brought out the best in him too. Her father had adjusted well to the ne
Ruby clung to Hector’s chest, holding him tightly as sleep slowly overtook her. With her arms wrapped around him and his steady heartbeat beneath her ear, she drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep. By the time she opened her eyes again, the morning sun had already begun streaming through the curtains. She blinked a few times and reached across the bed—only to find it empty. She sat up immediately, heart racing. “Hector?” she called out, glancing around the room. “Hector?” Her voice wavered. Was it all a dream? Her hand flew to her lips—the place he had kissed her the night before. The warmth of his touch, the passion, the softness of his voice... it had all felt so real. Her eyes welled up with tears. “No,” she whispered, “It felt too real to be a dream.” Just then, the bathroom door opened. Hector stepped out with a towel slung around his waist, his hair damp and messy from a shower, water glistening across his chest. His skin was golden under the light, his sharp jawline
When Camila arrived home, the last thing she expected to see was Antonio leaning casually against her front door, arms crossed and a soft smile playing on his lips. For a moment, her heart softened at the sight of him—tall, and familiar. She walked up to him with a smile of her own and pulled him into a warm, slow kiss. He leaned into it, surprised but pleased. When they parted, he raised an eyebrow. "Okay," he said. "What was that for? You’re unusually sweet today. Should I be worried?" Camila chuckled as she fished out her keys. “I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe I’m just catching some of Ruby’s happiness. It’s contagious, I guess.” Antonio followed her inside, closing the door behind them. “Hmm. Ruby… happy,” he repeated with a dry laugh. “That’s good. Really good. But sometimes I wonder if you two came out of the same womb, with how strongly you feel about her.” Camila snorted as she dropped her bag by the couch. “You wouldn’t understand,” she said, walking into the kitche
Seeing Camila standing there with a gun pointed straight at Hector, Ruby instinctively stepped in front of him. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice sharp and protective. Without hesitation, she moved forward and snatched the gun from Camila, tossing it across the room. Camila’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I should be the one asking you that! Why is this monster in your room?” Hector smirked from behind Ruby. “Camila,” he said calmly, “you know, I never got the chance to say I admire your loyalty. It’s… impressive.” Camila glared at him, then turned to Ruby. “What the hell is going on here? Are you seriously sitting with a ghost?” Hector, unbothered, sat down and crossed his legs, silently watching the drama unfold. Ruby took a breath. “I’ll explain everything. Hector survived, Camila. He’s been alive… and he’s been protecting me. He’s not here to hurt me. He saved me.” “I still don’t get it.” “The bottom line is…” Ruby hesitated, then looked straight at Camila.
After the passion was spent, Hector pulled away and slowly reached for his clothes. The heat between them had cooled, leaving behind an echo of everything they’d shared—everything they’d lost and what still lingered in the air like a ghost. Without a word, he began to dress, his movements quiet, detached, as though what had just happened didn’t exist or had never meant anything. Ruby lay there for a moment, watching him. Her heart pounded against her chest—not from desire anymore, but fear. Fear that this would be the last time she'd see him. Fear that this was goodbye. She quickly got out of bed, wrapping the sheet around her as she rushed to him, throwing her arms around his torso from behind, pressing her face against his bare back. “Please, Hector,” she whispered, her voice already breaking. “Please… don’t go.” Hector froze. He didn’t move and said nothing. She clutched him tighter, her arms trembling. “Don’t walk away from me. Not like this.” He gently pried her hands
The house was quiet. The kind of silence that didn’t bring peace but stirred everything he was trying to bury. Hector stood by the window of his study, arms folded tightly across his chest, staring out into the vast backyard that once reminded him of freedom. Now, it only reminded him of Ruby. A knock came on the door. “Come in,” Hector said, his voice flat. The door creaked open, and one of his trusted men stepped inside. He looked hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if he should speak. “Well?” “She came, boss,” the underling said quietly. “Ruby.” Hector didn’t flinch, but inside, something shifted. “She said… she needs to see you. Just once. She said it’s important. That if she sees you one more time, she’ll never bother you again.” He turned away from the window and sat on the edge of his desk, one hand rubbing his jaw. “Did she say what it was about?” “No. Only that it was important. She seemed sincere. Sad.” Of course she did."I told her you were dead, just as yo
Hector gently pried Ruby’s trembling hands away from his body, even though every cell in him ached to do the opposite—to turn around, pull her into his arms, and hold her close like he used to. But he didn’t. His voice was clipped, and unreadable. “I need to get rid of these bodies,” he said flatly, without looking at her. The moment she heard his voice, Ruby gasped sharply. It was like the air had been knocked out of her lungs. Her knees weakened, and her heart thumped wildly in her chest. It was him. It was really Hector. Alive. Breathing. Standing just inches from her. And yet… he wouldn’t even look at her. While her thoughts spun out of control—memories, regrets, guilt crashing all at once—Hector raised his phone to his ear and gave a cold order. “Come in. Bring two body bags with you.” Ruby remained frozen where she stood, staring at the blood pooling near her feet and the lifeless bodies of Eduardo and Selena. But none of it moved her. The shock that Hector was still al