"It’s time to leave," Ruby’s driver eyed Ella from head to toe before quietly bowing to Ruby.
Ruby’s brows tugged together slightly. But when she looked at Ella, her gaze softened. She patted her hair, "Don’t overthink things, hmm?"
When Ruby reached the Ambrose Mansion, she was summoned to study.
"You are hanging out with Ella Yu?" Mr. Ambrose was sitting across the main desk, with a book in his hand. When he spoke, he looked up at Ruby.
Ruby did not respond to his words.
"In the past, she humiliated you in front of a bunch of socialites. And it hasn’t been long since she got you kidnapped. You don’t mind?"
Ruby looked at the man calmly, neither defiant nor docile.
Mr. Ambrose did not look amused, "You remind me too much of your father, quite unbending and unbreakable, traits I don’t really like. Even though you are not my child, I care for you quite a bit."
The man stood up and approached her, "Ella was once involved with Maxwell so he had to take the blame for your kidnapping as well. He is grounded in the mansion these days. It is only ideal for you to stay away from her... which I believe you will," He patted her shoulder.
"As for your marriage, previously I told you to start preparing for it but you can take some off it."
Ruby’s eyes finally shifted as she looked at him.
"The Hill Entertainment is in crisis these days. I thought things would get back to normal in no time but now it seems like they have offended some big shot."
Ruby frowned, "Since when?"
Mr. Ambrose was briefly surprised when he got a response from her. After giving it a thought, he said.
"The first hit to their company started the day you came back. The Hills are a prestigious family themselves so someone who can drag them through mud for this long cannot be anyone ordinary."
Ruby fell silent. For some reason, the image of one person appeared in her mind.
The man she bumped into when she went to Ella’s dorm room. And the same man who had accompanied Ella to Ronan’s condominium.
Even though he hadn’t said many words, he had emanated a sense of power that was impossible to overlook.
"Don’t worry about it," A hand fell upon her shoulder. Mr. Ambrose continued, "I won’t let you marry in a messy family. For now, you can play around. Once the Hill Family cleans their mess, you can leave university and take proper etiquette lessons before your marriage."
Ruby paused for only two seconds before she turned to leave.
"Ruby, visit your mother and have her eat something."
When she heard that, Ruby’s heart dropped to her stomach. And her footsteps picked up on their own.
By the time she reached the bedroom adjacent to hers, her feet halted for a moment before she rushed in.
But the moment she entered, Ruby’s cold face cracked.
Leaning back on the headboard of the bed was a woman dressed in a beautiful nightgown. She was looking out of the window in silence.
Her long red hair draped over her body, barely covering the garish marks that were peppered all over her collarbone.
"Mom..." Ruby’s voice trembled.
When the woman turned to her, something pricked Ruby’s eyes.
The woman had a pale face and the corner of her lips bled gently. Ruby’s eyes slowly traced over the messy sheets before landing on her face again.
Mrs. Ambrose stared at Ruby for a moment before she snapped out of her reverie and put on the upper robe of her nightgown, "Dear, when did you come back?"
Ruby poured a glass of water for her before she sat by the bed, "Mom..."
"Maybe, it was my fault," Mr. Ambrose’s voice was hoarse, "I went behind him to hold the rituals for your father’s death anniversary. He discovered it..."
Ruby smiled coldly, "Mom, for how long are you going to deceive yourself?"
"Dad has been dead for years now. He was never the problem between the both of you," Ruby smiled coldly, "The man you have married is never going to change because he is a psychotic, selfish and cruel bastard...’’
Ruby’s face whipped to the side.
"Get out!" Mrs. Ambrose snapped, her body trembling in the chilly wind.
Ruby looked up at the woman, wrapped the blankets around her and left the room. As the door closed, the sound of sobs reverberated in the entire place.
Ruby’s footsteps slowed only for a moment before she went to her room.
Removing her leather jacket, she loosened her bun. As her hair cascaded down, she slumped on the couch and picked up her phone.
There was a message from Ella: [Did you reach home? Is everything alright?]
After responding to her text, Ruby put the phone down.
The abrupt ringing of her phone pierced through the silence in the room. Ruby snuck a peek at the caller ID before she hung up on the call.
The person was oddly persistent. In a few seconds, her phone rang again.
Heaving a soft sigh, Ruby sat up on the couch and answered the call, "What do you need?"
"Miss Ambrose, must you be so rude to me?" Ronan’s calm voice sounded from the other side, "I just called to check on you."
There was silence on the other side before Ronan spoke again, and this time, his voice was solemn, "Ruby, what’s wrong?"
Ruby’s brows furrowed slightly, "I am annoyed by your constant pestering, if that isn’t clear enough to you by now..."
"Alright, jokes apart. You have been annoyed with me since Day 1 but your voice doesn’t crack when you are speaking out of annoyance. Now, cut the bullshit and tell me what..."
The rest of his words remained unsaid as Ruby cut the call and blocked the number.
The information that Ruby was interacting with her would surely reach her stepfather. That, Ella was certain of. But with the marriage ahead, the man would deal with things sensibly.
After thinking things through, Ella dropped a message to Ruby and walked back to her dorm room.
On her way back, the conversation with Ruby played in her mind. And her thoughts wandered back to the one thing she was trying to avoid since morning.
Ronan: Which god should I pray to have my wish fulfilled?
Author: No god can fulfil your wish.
Ronan: Why? Other people’s wishes get granted. Why not mine?
Author: *strokes chin* Because you need two things.
Ronan: *perks up* Tell me.
Author: *raises a finger* First, you need a clear wish first.
Ronan: Obviously, I want—
Author: You cannot say she took your virginity, you want her to take responsibility, annoy her 24X7, act like a jerk and then expect her to magically open up to you! *deadpans*
Ronan: *flinches and slowly nods* ...What’s the second thing?
Author: *leans in and whispers*
Ronan: ...Does that actually work?
Ronan: *turns to readers* Guys, *coughs* if you help fulfill my wish by meeting those conditions... I’ll grant yours someday. Drop some love, hmm? *smiles charmingly* Power stones, golden tickets and reviews—everything counts~