Chapter 18
Ruby od in the enormous walk in closet, wide eyed and staring in disbelief. There were so many
options that she didn’t en know what to pick, and she’d been standing there for more than five minutes,
“Are you almost done?” Alex called out from the bedroom
“Shit she muttered, springing into action. She rightly shut her eyes and ran her hands over the hangers holding the dresses. counted to ten in her head as she moved, and opened her eyes when she came to a stop at ten. It was a gorgeous black halter neck dress with a thigh high split and she hurriedly got into it, thanking the stars that the zipper was easily accessible at the vide and not at the back
“I’m coming“” she yelled out to Alex as she struggled to put on a pair of black heels.
Tll be downstairs” alex said, and a few seconds later, she heard the bedroom door clove softly,
Puffing up her cheeks as she let out a big breath, she sat at the vanity and put on her shoes more carefully now, then she put her hair in a neat hun with a few tendrils framing her face and neck. She was feeling a little bold, so she opted for red lipstick and a matching red clutch and headed downstairs
“Wow! You look unreal. Tina marvelled from the bottom of the stairs, standing next to Alex.
Ruby whispered a shy thank you and continued her descent down the stairs.
“Certainly took you long enough” Alex said as she finally reached them, causing Tina to whack him on the head. “You don’t even compliment your wife! I raised you better than that.”
“Mom. I’ll see you when we get back.” Alex said, placing a kiss on his mother’s head.
The drive to the restaurant was awkward and quiet. Alex worked on his phone and she stared out the window, watching the nighttime New York city fly by. But when they got to the restaurant, he opened her door for her and led her in with his hand on the small of her back. She could already see head turning as they reached the doors. She figured this would be a quiet and uneventful dinner between the both of them, so you could only imagine her surprise when they walked in and her entire family were seated right there by the entrance.
-Shit, we should leave” she said to Alex, but it was already too late because her father had spotted her
“Ruby!” he called out to her, standing up with his hand raised and waving her over with a grin on his face.
She grumbled something incoherent and walked over with Alex in tow. She figured she could just ignore him and they could go to a different restaurant, and while deep down that was what she wanted to do, she also knew it would benefit them not to cause a scene. It was a full table, and the entire family was there. Cole and Natalie included. She stole a glance at Alex to see his reaction but he was looking straight at her father.
“What a coincidence, you should join us. We’re just celebrating Cole and Natalie’s engagement. I’m sure we can fit you both in quite easily”
She opened her mouth to turn down his request, but Alex beat her to it. “I’m sorry but we’ll have to turn you down. My wife and I came here to enjoy our date by ourselves, so if you don’t mind, we’ll get to it and you can carry on.” He said, smoothly shipping his hand around her waist and pulling her close
That’s too bud, Alex,” Melanie spoke up, fluttering her lashes as she stared directly at Alex. “You should stay. I’m sure Ruby would understand. Won’t you? Si
Ruby glared at her, not missing the seductive look she was directing to Alex.
Alex ignored Melanie, finally turning to look at Cole and Natalie then. “Congrats on your engagement.”
21:27 Tue Oct 15
Chapter 18
Cole scoffed, standing up. And she watched as his eyes travelled to Alex’s arm around her waist. “You’re really going to let him touch up on you like that in public right? Haven’t you got any shame?” Cole spat, looking at Alex with burning hatred his eyes
This has nothing to do with you Cole,” she said.
“Oh trust me, it has everything to do with me. You’re still as stupid and dumb as you’ve always been. Do you really think he’d spare you a glance if you weren’t my sister? Can’t you see that he’s doing this to get to me? And to Natalie? You think it’s such a coincidence that we all ended up in the same restaurant?“
Cole wasn’t wrong, and while it hurt her to mit it, she also knew the truth. They might have been forced to marry each other, but she was pretty sure Alex wouldn’t have struck that bargain with her or even paid her any mind after their wedding if it didn’t provide him with an opportunity to take revenge. And about the restaurant, it had to be a coincidence. Right?
“We’re married, and we’re very happy,” she said, shaking away her thoughts. “And I don’t think I need to remind adea the whole thing was
you whose
Cole groaned. “He’s going to leave you. Men like him do not end up with girls like you. They just fuck ‘em and leave ‘em. But you’re so dumb that you can’t even see that, you fucking whore!
-Do not speak to my wife in that manner!” Alex roared, engaging in an intense stare down with Cole.
Ruby was shocked into silence. When did her relationship with her brother deteriorate to this extent? She saw the way he treated Melanie, and he’d never once treated her that way. Not even before their mother’s car accident. She saw all the photos on social media, of Cole and Melanie going out for lunch together, of them hanging out with mutual friends. Cole had never done any of that with her. He cared about Melanie the way a brother should, but her, his actual sister he couldn’t even get himself to speak to her politely. What had she ever done for him to treat her that way?
She thought of Alex, her heart sinking. He, too, had always made it clear that he wouldn’t treat her the way he’d treat someone he’d actually want to be with. But Alex and her they knew what they were getting into. He’d been clear about what to expect, and more importantly, what not to expect. Yet despite all that, Cole had her questioning herself. She wondered if Alex would end up leaving her It Natalie ever wanted him back, would he leave her? And if he did, what would that mean for her mother? Would her mother’s life be at risk all over again?
“Or what? You fucking bastard!!” Cole barked, breaking her out of her thoughts.
Alex’s arm left her waist before she knew it and he moved towards Cole, no doubt going in for a punch. Luckily, she was able to grab his arm on time and stop it “He’s not worth it, Alex. There’s people watching” She whispered, pulling him away from the table. But just before they could walk away, she turned to her father, feeling a deep sense of shame and hatred as she glared at him. “Enjoy the rest of your family dinner.”
21 27 Tue, Oct 15
Chapter 19
