Rowan sends the picture to Liam to hasten the divorce. He senses Ruby's reluctance to end her marriage, so he goes to their house, knowing the picture will create a rift between them. He hopes to appear like a prince in shining armor, ready to protect her.
“How dare you hit a woman like that, you fool who doesn’t know her worth?” Rowan says. Liam is taken aback by his sudden appearance. “You have no right to walk into my house and tell me what to do with my wife,” Liam argues.
Rowan’s expression hardens. “I’m here because you clearly don’t understand the value of the woman you’re mistreating. Ruby deserves respect and love, not this kind of humiliation.”
Liam’s face reddens with anger. “And who do you think you are to come here and lecture me? You have no idea what’s going on in my marriage.”
Rowan steps closer, his face redden with anger. “I don’t need to know every detail to see that Ruby is being mistreated. You’ve shown her nothing but disrespect. If you truly cared for her, you’d treat her with the kindness and respect she deserves.”
Liam clenches his fists, struggling to contain his rage. “You think you can just waltz in here and play the hero? This is between Ruby and me. Stay out of it.”
Rowan shakes his head. “It’s not just between you two anymore. When someone is treated poorly, it becomes everyone’s concern. I won’t stand by and watch her suffer because of your actions. She’s an actress, for crying out loud. You shouldn’t have disfigured her face with just a slap, you moron. Come here,” Rowan calls out to Ruby.
Ruby moves closer to Rowan as she watches the confrontation, knowing Rowan is right. The tension in the room makes it hard to think clearly, but she is impressed by how Rowan stands up for her. She realizes she needs to be with a man like him who will cherish her, not with a lowlife excuse of a man like Liam.
Liam takes a moment to look at the man in question. He furrows his brow with the realization that the man looks familiar. He has seen him in a photo in a hidden album labeled “Moonlight” from before he and Ruby got married. He is perplexed, knowing that the years they have been married have not made her forget her first love.
“So, huh, your ‘Moonlight’ walks in like the hero in shining armor to save you, right? So, all the years of our life, laughter, tears, and memories mean nothing compared to your precious ‘Moonlight’?”
“Hold it right there, Liam. We have no laughter, no tears, no goddamn memories,” Ruby says. “You mean absolutely nothing to me.” Her eyes transform, shining with a new glint as if his words stir up a deep longing in her. “Let’s get a divorce,” she spits out like venom.
Liam feels like the ground beneath him shudders as the woman he thought he knew, the woman he loved, vanishes, replaced by a stranger consumed with hatred that leaves no room for him in her heart. “A divorce?” he asks again to be sure he heard right. The room seems to darken as if the shadows are closing in to witness his humiliation.
Ruby's gaze remains steady, her voice cold and unyielding. "Yes, a divorce. I’m done with this charade. I can’t stay with someone who doesn’t trust me and only drags me down."
Liam struggles to find words, his face a mask of disbelief and pain. "After everything we've been through, you want to throw it all away just like that?"
“It’s time for me to move on and be with someone who truly values me,” Ruby says. She gestures with her hand. “I am a superstar shining bright for the world to see. While you”—she turns to him with disdain—“are just a dull house husband. I must have been under a spell when I agreed to marry you. Gosh, such a fool, happy to wallow in mediocrity.”
"Is that how you see me? After all, I've done for you, supported you, and loved you?" Liam asks, his voice breaking.
Ruby laughs coldly. "You call this between us love?" she asks, pointing between Liam and herself. "You are just holding me back, Liam. I have grand ambitions, and you're too easily satisfied with the status quo. You lack ambition, you're unwilling to work outside. You don't deserve me," she says, jabbing her finger into his chest.
Liam's heart breaks as he hopes for a change of mind. His voice is barely above a whisper. "And what about our life together? Our dreams, our plans?”
"That's all in the past now. Sign the damn divorce papers. Let's go our separate ways. It's time for me to move on and shine without you holding me back," she says, tossing a pre-drafted agreement onto the coffee table. "I've been stuck with you for so long, taking in all your baseless accusations."
Though Liam had expected this, he still felt the impact reeling on him like a sore wound. He looks at her and shakes his head at the woman he loves, now transformed into a stranger consumed by her vanity. Her success has become a poison, infecting her with arrogance. He has worked tirelessly behind the scenes so she could soar high and be in the spotlight.
Liam isn't lazy. His choice to be a house husband is to support her since his wealth is managed by professionals who are just one call away to handle his needs, which he can always do from the comfort of his home.
This is a secret he has been waiting to reveal—last night, he planned to unveil part of his true identity by transferring his renowned entertainment company into her hands and letting her pursue filmmaking as a hobby rather than as work. However, he is grateful that fate has other plans.
Liam looks at her one last time, shaking his head as he signs the paper. The scratch of the pen is the only sound in the room.
Liam rises from his seat, his eyes on his ex-wife. "Goodbye. I wish you well in your life and career," he sighs, moving to the door. With a final glance, he walks out.
Ruby's eyes remain fixed on the chair Liam stood up from. Her heart is enveloped in emptiness as she watches him leave. Rowan, noticing her change in demeanor, understands that she is regretting her bold decision to pursue a divorce. He brings her in an embrace, her heart swells with joy and gradually soothes her nerves.
"Don't worry, babe. We'll create our masterpiece—a blockbuster film with us as the stars. Our fans, who have been rooting for us, will see our lives shining brighter than any award or accolade. You, Ruby, will be the center of my world," he whispers, his breath tickling her ear.
His words send shivers down her spine. She has longed for these words since her youth. Hearing him say that she will be the center of his world makes her heart flutter. She turns to him and says, "Promise me, Rowan.”
"I promise you, Ruby, we will be the most enviable couple in Hollywood, and I'll be right by your side every step of the way, treating you like the queen that you are."
She smiles widely as a thought strikes her. "Oh, Rowan, see, I’ll secure the leading role in the next film, and I’ll make sure you are cast as my co-star. Together, we will be unstoppable—a powerful couple," she declares with determination, which slowly fades the emptiness she felt earlier. Unknown to her, her success in the film industry has been largely due to her ex-husband’s efforts, and Rowan is using her to climb the ladder of success, with no real love for her.
Liam's heart tugged in his chest as he walked out the door, leaving behind Ruby and Rowan. He walked aimlessly without direction because he felt used by his wife. He had been the driving force in her acting career, and now he was being repaid in this way.But then, realization dawned on him, mixed with anger. He remembered that this was his home, and the ones who should be leaving were his cheating wife and her lover, not him!The sudden ringing of his phone brought him out of his reverie. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and placed it to his ear."Good news, sir. The new movie is set. The director has agreed to your terms, and your wife has been cast as the female lead," Lilia's voice came through.A bitter, cold laughter escaped Liam's mouth. "Too late, Lilia. We are already divorced."Lila, on the other hand, was thrilled as she voiced out, "Finally, this is great news!" Liam was taken aback by her reaction."What was that, Lila? You seem so happy about the news.""Nothing, si
Liam looks into her eyes and feels an inexplicable attraction. They both stare at each other, caught in a moment that seems to stretch time. She coughs, trying to break the spell that has engulfed them."I'm Remi, and you?" she asks, adjusting her hair and tucking a few loose strands behind her ear. She looks up at Liam with a hesitant smile."I'm Liam. Nice to meet you," he says while nursing his sore side."Would you like to grab a coffee?" she asks, her voice still a bit shaky from the earlier ordeal. "I could use someone to talk to right now.”He nods. "Sure, that sounds good," he replies, trying to push aside the pain from the fight. "I could use a break."They walk together to a nearby café. Inside, the atmosphere is cozy, with dim lighting. They find a quiet corner and order their drinks.As they sip their coffee, Remi begins to open up. "It's been a rough few days. I was supposed to get a lead role in this big movie. I’ve worked so hard for it, and I knew I was the best fit. B
Liam stiffens as Ruby and Rowan step into the elevator. Ruby looks at Liam and Remi with disdain, noticing how close they are standing. Her heart tugs in her chest as jealousy flares up, but she quickly masks it with a sneer."Well, well, isn’t this cozy," Ruby says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn’t realize you had moved on so quickly. And to think you accused me of being unfaithful in our marriage—talk about the pot calling the kettle black. And with *her* of all people," she adds, spitting out the words as she glares at Remi.Remi stays calm, though Liam can sense the tension in her. She’s putting on a brave front, holding herself together despite the hurt Ruby’s words are causing.Though Ruby's words sting, Remi is determined not to give her the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.Ruby has always been jealous of Remi—the way she carries herself with grace and poise, and she knows Remi is a great actress. Ruby just got lucky in landing the lead role.Liam steps forward, tryin
Liam was dressed in a shirt and trousers that didn’t fit him well, but he tried to look confident as he arrived at the party. He stepped out of the taxi, ready to walk into the event, but just as he was about to enter, a bodyguard stopped him.“Hey, you! Stop right there. Where do you think you’re going?” the bodyguard asked with a stern look.Liam smiled brightly, trying to stay calm. “Hello, I’m going right into the party,” he replied.The bodyguard looked at Liam with disdain, eyeing his poorly fitted clothes. “Dressed like this? Are you sure you haven’t lost your way?” the bodyguard sneered.“No, I haven’t lost my way. I’m here on invitation,” Liam insisted, standing his ground."Invitation?" the bodyguard asked, looking surprised. "Oh, I guess you must be one of the servers who didn’t come with the company bus. Wait right here while I call your boss from the catering company to come and identify you."“No, you’re mistaken. I’m not a caterer—Murphy invited me,” Liam said, trying t
Ruby was stunned as murmurs spread through the hall. Everyone watched as Murphy humiliated her. The upcoming actors and actresses, who admired Ruby as a big name in the industry, were shocked by what happened. Ruby, however, didn’t back down. Her face showed disgust as she turned to Murphy.“You invited this low-life actress trying to get noticed, and she brought this worthless man who looks like a beggar?” Ruby said, pointing at Liam.Murphy looked in the direction Ruby was pointing and saw that she was referring to Liam. He was furious to realize that Ruby was insulting Liam.Ruby doesn’t realize how powerful her ex-husband is. She thinks he’s just a worthless househusband with no ambition.Murphy quickly approached Liam to show his respect, and everyone was surprised by the gesture. However, before Murphy could get too close, Liam raised his hand to stop him and gave him a look that signaled not to come any nearer. Murphy understood that Liam didn't want to reveal his identity y
Lady Williams sits in the living room, watching her youngest child, Ruby, on the television. She eagerly waits to hear about Ruby's latest achievement as an actress."That's my wife. I'm so happy, and I'm sure she's going to win," Liam says excitedly.Lady Williams, Liam's mother-in-law, laughs heartily, looks down at Liam, and snaps, "Get out of here right now and slice some apples for me. You're such a disgrace to the family.”Liam is married to Ruby, the actress. He has worked hard, doing endless tasks and being treated like a servant. He has supported Ruby's acting career out of love.Liam feels humiliated right in his own house. This has been his life for the last three years. He clenches his fists tightly, trying to swallow the humiliation from Lady Williams's outburst. But for the love he has for his wife, Ruby, he rushes into the kitchen to do Lady Williams’s bidding.The soft hum of the refrigerator and the rhythmic chopping of the crisp apple are the only sounds in the kitch
Liam’s happiness knows no bounds. He believes his wife has declared him the most important person in her life. Unaware that she actually praised someone else in the crowd, he gazes at his reflection in the mirror, a smile spreading across his face, thrilled to think he is the center of his wife's universe.He answers the call, his tone cheerful. It’s his manager, Lila, on the line. She has watched the entire awards show and saw that Ruby acknowledged someone else."Prepare a transfer agreement for the company's shares and send it over," Liam instructs Lila."But sir," Lila starts, wanting to tell Liam what she witnessed during the ceremony.“No buts, Lila. Just do as I say, and please don’t question my decisions again,” Liam says, his voice firm and commanding, reflecting his position as the owner of the largest entertainment company in New York City.Lila hesitates, then replies, “Yes, sir.”Liam ends the call and takes a deep breath, still riding the wave of joy from Ruby's success.
After an exhausting night with Rowan, Ruby returns home, her face flushed, thinking about her escapade with him. She bites her lips as she steps into the room and gasps when she sees that it is decorated according to her preferences. Even her favorite food is placed on the table. She scoffs, "Is this the only thing you can put together after you kept bugging me to come home?" She kisses her teeth in annoyance.Liam, who is standing nearby, looks hurt and confused. He takes a deep breath and tries to keep his composure. "I wanted to make last night special for you. I thought we could celebrate your success together."Ruby rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Celebrate? Really? I work hard day and night to keep the family going, and this is what you put together? But anyway, I’ll pardon you for being silly. Come over here and give me a massage," she says, flopping onto the sofa. "Gosh, I’m so tired."When she sees that Liam remains unmoved and does not immediately respond to her request, s