"What did he say?" Melissa asked, her curiosity piqued as walked in with Raymond. Ruby now looked more energetic than she was before she left. The gloom that had shrouded Ruby's face earlier had dissipated, replaced by a hint of hope. Ruby's response was measured, her voice tinged with a cautious optimism. "He wants to earn back my trust," she said, her words dripping with a mix of vulnerability and longing. Melissa's eyes sparkled with interest, her tone gentle and encouraging. "And? What else did he say?" Ruby's smile grew, her voice gaining strength. "He apologised for hurting me, for breaking my trust. He wants to prove himself to me, to show me that his love is real." Melissa's face lit up with a warm smile. "That sounds like a great start, Ruby. Maybe this is the beginning of a new chapter for you both.” Ruby nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to believe it, Melissa. I want to trust him again." Melissa's expression turned thoughtful. "Trust takes time, Ruby.
The next day, Ruby arrived at the restaurant in time,eager to begin her new role. Marco greeted her with a warm smile and showed her to the staff room, where she could change into her uniform. As she tied her apron strings, Ruby made a mental note to make a good impression on her first day.She was ready to work hard and prove herself, to show Marco and the rest of the staff that she was a valuable addition to the team. The lunch service was busy, but Ruby was determined to keep up even when it wasn't really easy for her to do so. She took orders, served tables, and worked efficiently, her movements becoming more professional with each passing minute. At the end of the shift, Marco patted her on the back and smiled. "You're a natural, Ruby. Welcome to the team once again." “Thank you Marco “ she beamed with a smile As she changed out of her uniform and prepared to leave, Ruby's phone buzzed with a text from Javier. "Hey, how was your first day?" he asked. Ruby smiled, feeling a f
Ruby stepped out of the room to take a call from Melissa, leaving Javier to drift off to sleep because the call was taking so long. However, his slumber was short-lived. A terrifying dream jolted him awake, his heart racing and his sheets drenched in sweat. In the dream, he was back in the water tank, reliving the horrific experience of being trapped and left alone to drown by Nathan and Veronica and no Ruby to help him. Javier's breath came in ragged gasps as he sat up, rubbing his eyes, trying to shake off the vivid nightmare. Just as he was starting to calm down, Ruby returned to the room, her expression concerned. "Hey, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." Javier hesitated, unsure how to share the darkness that still haunted him. "Yes I am," he muttered, trying to brush it off. But Ruby's eyes lingered, sensing there was more to it but she didn't want to persist. "They've finished cleaning the next room, so I'll head there. See you tomorrow," she said, gathering he
Thirty minutes passed, and Ruby still couldn't sleep. She turned to face Javier, her eyes drawn to his peaceful expression. She sat up slowly, trying not to disturb him, and reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from his face. Her hands lingered, caressing his skin as she gazed at him,though she wanted to move her hand away,but her hand had it own mind Javier's voice startled her, his eyes still closed. "Why did you cross the line?" Ruby flinched, trying to pull away, but he caught her hand. "I didn't mean to... there was a fly on your face," she stammered. Javier's eyes opened, a hint of a smile on his lips. "A fly? You should have left it. Now, your hand belongs to me." Ruby teased, "Are you going to cut it off?" Javier's gaze locked onto hers, his voice low and gentle. "Just pay me for it. It will settle it” The room fell silent, until Ruby surprised him by removing the pillows between them. “Maybe you can own me just for tonight. I broke the rule” “What are yo
Javier held up his hands in surrender, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Okay, I admit it - I was stupid. I'm really sorry if I hurt your feelings." Ruby's pout softened, her eyes sparkling with forgiveness. "It did hurt, but I appreciate your apology. It's fine now." Javier's eyes locked onto hers, eager for clarification. "So, does last night still mean nothing?" Ruby's cheeks flushed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It means exactly what it meant to you." She opened the car door and stepped out, leaning against the vehicle as she gazed at Javier. His grin returned, shameless and endearing. "What about tonight? Can I still pick you up from work?" he asked, hopeful. Ruby's response surprised him, her tone possessive. "Yes, but don't come with your car. We'll take mine. I don't want attention drawn to you." Javier chuckled, intrigued by her sudden display of jealousy. "Anything you say. And on Saturday, we'll take your birthday gift for a spin?" Ruby nodded, a smal
For days, Javier persisted in his efforts to regain Ruby's trust, making a point to visit the Italian restaurant where she worked for lunch, despite its distance from the company. His thoughtful gestures, including leaving generous tips, never failed to bring a smile to Ruby's face. However, his frequent visits also sparked envy among her colleagues, who would often gush about him and wishfully speculate about the possibility of him asking them out. Ruby's discomfort grew as she listened to their comments, feeling a surge of possessiveness and jealousy. She couldn't help but think, "He's mine, not yours!" and sometimes felt the urge to set them straight, to claim Javier as her own and warn them off. But she bit her tongue every time, choosing instead to savour the knowledge that Javier's eyes were fixed solely on her and let them continue to wish. “It's fine. Everybody has the right to wish for something. But trust me,yours will never come true” She would always tell herself whenever
As the words tumbled from Ruby's lips, Javier's heart soared, but he tempered his excitement, seeking clarification. "What did you just say?" he asked, his eyes locking onto hers with intense focus. Ruby's face lit up with a radiant smile as she repeated the words he longed to hear: "I said I love you, you fool!" Javier's restraint vanished, and he swept Ruby into his arms, his lips crashing down on hers in a passionate kiss. "And I love you more!" he exclaimed, his voice muffled between kisses. Overcome with joy, he lifted his head and declared, "You have no idea how happy you've made me! I've got my woman back!" His happy shout drew the attention of those around them, and Ruby's giggles turned to gentle cautions. "Javier, people are staring," she whispered, her cheeks flushing with delight. But Javier just grinned, unrepentant, his eyes shining with happiness as he gazed at Ruby. "Let them stare," he whispered back. "I'm the happiest man alive, and I want the world to know it!”
Wednesday night arrived, and Veronica was escorted out of her cell by the corrupt warden on duty. She was led to a secluded area where the others awaited, their faces shrouded in shadows. With haste, they thrust a wad of cash into her hands. "We'll be back before anyone notices," one of the women whispered, as the warden nodded and melted into the darkness. The group made their way to the restroom, where the leader revealed a hidden entrance by lifting the toilet, exposing a large hole. Veronica's face contorted in disgust. "You can't be serious. We're not escaping through this...this sewer, are we?" The leader's expression remained resolute. "I know it's not ideal, but there's no other way out. This is our only chance." Veronica's indignation grew. "This is unacceptable! You didn't warn me about this...this filth. You expect me, Veronica McLaren, to crawl through that?" Her voice dripped with disdain. The leader's tone turned stern. "If you're backing out, now's the time. But know