Chapter 19
“Ruby”
“Let her go. Nobody wants her here anyway.”
She bit down hard on her lip as she heard the words from the people who were supposed to be her family. Her heart ached, especially for the way her brother just spoke to her. But most importantly, her heart broke for her mother. How would she react when she eventually woke up and this was what her life had become? No husband to go back to and a son who had abandoned her. Tears burned at the back of her eyes and she bit down harder on her lip, trying to keep the tears from spilling
Alex placed his hand on her bare back, rubbing in smooth circles with his thumbs. He lowered his head so that she was the only one that could hear him. “Are you okay? Do you want to leave?”
She shook her head in determination. “No, no, we came here for a reason, I’m not going to let them ruin that. Let’s go sit down and give these people a damn show.”
Alex looked at her worriedly, his eyes searching her face. It looked like he was going to say something but decided against it. Instead, his hand on her back became firm as he led her to their seat at the back of the room. She swallowed, trying to control the chills she was getting from his touch.
They had ordered ahead of time before coming, so their food and wine came in no time when they sat down.
“Well, that went well. She murmured, still looking down in shame.
There was silence for a while, and she was about to start eating her food when she saw Alex’s hand reach over for her from across the table. She looked around inconspicuously as his palm covered her small one, and sure enough, they had an audience. It was discreet, but people were definitely watching. She even saw a few cameras up. “I know you told me about how things have been, but honestly, I still wasn’t expecting that…the way that they treated you, it took me by surprise.”
She chuckled nervously, not knowing what to say to that, but eventually, she settled on the truth. “I’m used to it. It still surprises me every now and then, but it’s not that shocking to be honest.
Alex stared into her eyes then, tracing those soothing circles on her palm now. She contemplated ignoring the obvious elephant in the room, but she just couldn’t. The question left her lips before she could stop herself. “Does that bother you?! She asked hesitantly, bracing herself for whatever response she was going to get
“Does what bother me?”
“You know.. seeing Cole and Natalie be like that.. up close.” She explained slowly, feeling her heartbeat increase.
His eyes slowly moved from hers to something behind her. To Natalie. And she swallowed the sudden lump in her throat as she counted slowly in her head. 5 seconds. That was how long he kept his eyes on Natalie before he directed his eyes back to her, unblinking. It didn’t sound like much, but she knew better. Those 8 seconds carried a lot of weight, weight that was- heavy enough to cause a longing in her chest. She wanted him to look at her the way that he just looked at his ex–girlfriend. Like there was nothing prettier in the room. Like she had hung the moon herself. But she knew she could never have that. He would never look at her like that, and she wasn’t to expect it either.
“I don’t care about them.” He finally answered, taking a bite of his food.
She watched him eat, knowing that he had just lied to her. But she knew better than to push it. She would only be hurting herself more. They ate in silence before he suddenly asked her an unexpected question.
“Have you ever been in love?”
She choked on the wine she had just tried to drink, and deep throaty coughs escaped her and made her eyes water. Alex was out of his seat and by her side in seconds, rubbing her back in a comforting manner and asking if she was okay. She tried
|||
21:27 Tue, Oct 15
Chapter 19
not to be swayed by this as she tried to get back control of her bathing, she knew he was reacting like that because they had. an audience. Alterall, all they were doing was just putting on an elaborate show. When she finally stopped coughing, he went back to his seat, and she looked hack slightly, right on time to see Natalie’s eyes on them just what Alex had wanted.
“I have.. she answered his question.
“How long ago was that?”
“Up until a week ago. She answered, focusing on the little artwork on her plate.
“You were in a relationship?” Alex asked, the surprise evident in his voice.
She nodded in affirmative.
“How long had you been together?”
Three years
“Why did you agree to marry
“I didn’t have a choice”
“How so? You choose a lifetime of sadness and no love over what could have been-”
“He cheated on me. She said, cutting him off. With my half sister, under the same roof, with me right in the next room.” She lifted her head, looking directly into his eyes as she spoke. It was the night I found out I was to marry you instead of Melanie. I needed money for my mom’s bills and my father promised to sort it out if I married you. But obviously, he decided not to keep that promise.” She ended with a bitter laugh
“Where is he now?”
“I have no idea. She lied. It was better that way. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about him anyway. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she lowered her head, trying to hide it. But Alex caught on to it.
“I know it’s not the same, Ruby, but I’m here now. And you never have to be alone again.”
She nodded slowly, not knowing how to process that
“There’s someone I want you to meet.” He announced before she could think of what to say to his statement.
“Hmm? Who?” She asked with her eyebrows peeled up in concentration.
“My grandfather.”
She frowned. She could vaguely remember meeting Tina’s father once when she was a kid. But that was it. She hadn’t heard a word about him since then.
“He’s been in Asia, taking a much needed rest as he called it more than five years ago. And now, he’s finally coming back to New York. He’s heard a lot about you, and he’s really looking forward to it.”
*) think I met him once.. I totally forgot about him”
Alex nodded at her. “He likes it that way. He may be away and hidden behind the scenes, but he’s really the one who’s in charge. I think it’s a good thing that he’s coming back, it should make mom feel a little better too.
She nodded in understanding. “Hey, I wanted to thank you again She said, her voice soft.
Chapter 19
know we have a monselly beneficial agreement, but even as have lost my mother if not for you” She swallowed hard, an anguided expression on her face Ruby blinked and fored her lips into a mile. “You need her life and you arred
mine
He pushed her hair behind her ear and shook his head. “I did norsuch thing. You saved your mother’s life. As for yours. your life I bought ”
She expected ha words to wound her, to remand her that he wasn’t doing her any favours to remind her that she paid a hefty price for her mother’s life But instead, she smiled, feelingar peace with the choice she had made. “Yeah, but I’d rather be yours than be at the club” She said truthfully, thinking of all the things she would have been made to do if Alex hadn‘ walked in that day, and if her life hadn’t changed so drastically
“You’re mine now, Ruby. All mine. No one’s touching you but me” He said, almost like he could read her mind.
He leaned in across the small table and kissed her, her full bottom lip caught between his. A soft sigh escaped her when he pulled away, and she swallowed, feeling her entire body react in satisfaction.
“No one touches what’s mine, Ruby. No one will even dare think of you, dream of you. You belong to me now, and I don’t
share”
0
SEND GIFT
COMMENT
