X Chapter 25 I was sitting in that hospital room , wrapped in one of those awful gowns that make you feel naked even when you're covered . The AC was too cold , the sheets were stiff , and my hand was resting on my belly like some tragic heroine . The bump looked real enough . My cheeks were still stained with tears . Carefully timed and artfully smudged , just like the mascara I let run down my face on purpose . Jude was knocked out beside me , his little hand resting limp on the blanket , with the IV taped down like some pitiful movie prop . I heard footsteps just outside the room - sharp heels , the scent of Chanel No. 5 , followed by a slow , heavier stride . A nurse peeked in . " Mr. and Mrs. Massaro are here . " Perfect . I let my shoulders tremble as I turned to the door , just in time for Mrs. Massaro to rush in like she was Florence Nightingale herself . " Ruby , darling ," she gasped , already pulling me into her arms . I broke instantly . " He's been so distant , " I whispered . " I don't even know what I did wrong . " She held me tight , her bony fingers stroking my hair like I was a dying bird . " You poor thing . You look exhausted . Has he even been here? Has he called ? " I sniffled , pulling back just enough to look at her with wide , wet eyes . " He hasn't touched me in weeks . He doesn't return my calls . I'm pregnant with his child , and it's like I don't even exist to him anymore . " She gasped and covered her mouth like I'd just confessed to murder . " Ruby , that's unacceptable . You've done everything right ." Mr. Massaro finally spoke , his voice sharp . " Where the hell is he ? " He pulled out his phone and dialed Torren . One ring . Two . Three . Then Torren finally answered , his voice slicing through the speaker like a blade . " I'm in a goddamn meeting ! Investors are breathing down my neck . This better be good . " Mr. Massaro snapped , " Your wife is in the hospital . Your son is hooked up to an IV . Is that good enough for you ? " There was a pause . Then Torren laughed ; cold , bitter , like he didn't give a single damn . " Oh , please . This again ? Is she crying ? Let me guess , she fainted from stress , or the baby's acting up again ? Or maybe it's Jude this time ? What's the crisis of the week , huh ? " I flinched , loud enough for the phone to catch it . " Torren , please … I just needed you here . I didn't know who else to call . " He didn't even soften . " You know what , Ruby ? You always don't know . You always play the helpless card . Maybe if you stopped acting like a soap opera extra and started acting like a grown - ass woman , I'd take you seriously . " Chapter 24 3/3 72.7 % 22:32 Sun , Aug 10 VOLL CARIADICIN སཱུ ༣. 47 % L D X " Torren ! " Mrs. Massaro barked , horrified . But he kept going . " You're nothing but noise . A drama queen who fakes tears like she fakes orgasms . " I choked on a sob . " How can you say that to me ? After everything- " " You want to play the sympathy card again ? Try harder , Ruby . I'm not your damn audience anymore . " Then he hung up . Silence bloomed in the room like poison gas . Mr. Massaro was already halfway out the door , muttering something about fixing the investors before everything burned . I didn't care . I was too busy shaking in Mrs. Massaro's arms like I'd been gutted . She clutched me tighter . " You don't deserve this . Not after everything you've given him . That boy was raised with no spine . " I sniffled and whispered , " It's her . It's Therese . Ever since she came back , he's been like this . She twisted him . The board's whispering again . They all look at me like I'm just … something temporary ." Her fingers stiffened around mine . " That bitch ." I kept going , slow and broken . " She ruined everything . She poisoned him . She wants my life back , my son , my husband … and I won't let her . " Mrs. Massaro pulled away just enough to look me in the eye . Her gaze was full of fire now . " I still remember that girl , " she said , her voice sharp . " She humiliated me . Made a fool of our name . I had to claw my dignity back piece by piece after what she pulled in front of the Lamberts ." I lowered my voice . " Then why is she still here , Mother ? " She blinked . " What are you suggesting ? " " I'm saying maybe we shut her up . Not forever . Just long enough for her to remember she's not welcome here . " Mrs. Massaro was quiet for a moment . Then she smiled - slow , deliberate , like a queen choosing which chess piece to slaughter next . " You're dangerous , Ruby , " she whispered . " And that's why you're perfect ." I leaned into her . " I know someone . Mico's cousin . He does things . Quiet things . No mess . No trail . " " I'll call the old security firm , " she said . " The one we used during the merger war with the Silvanos . They still owe us . " I smiled and finally wiped the tears from my face . Chapter 25 2/3 74.7 % 22:32 Sun , Aug 10 " She should've stayed dead , " I said , my voice soft as silk and twice as sharp . Mrs. Massaro kissed my forehead and whispered , " Then let's bury her again . " And just like that , the war was back on . ** X THERESE'S POV Ephraim was in Virelia , soaking up the coastal luxury like he was born into it . That man could step into a room full of oil magnates and still manage to look like he belonged more than all of them . The last time I checked my phone , he had just wrapped a cocktail meeting with a Saudi prince and a Norwegian banker who apparently had a thing for yachts and underaged brunettes . I was nowhere near yachts or scandals . I was in the backseat of a black SUV , crawling through the hills just outside the city , finally heading to my father's old house . I hadn't been there since before everything fell apart . Since Ruby started playing house again and Torren started looking at me like I was an itch he couldn't scratch off . The skies were overcast , and the rain had just begun to tap against the windows . It wasn't heavy yet , just a warning . The kind of soft drizzle that made the whole countryside look like it was holding its breath . Saul was at the wheel . Ephraim had insisted I take him , which meant I couldn't say no . Saul wasn't one for conversation , but he was solid , quiet , the type who probably didn't sleep unless it was upright with one eye open . He had a faded scar above his right brow that gave him a vaguely haunted look , and I once overheard Ephraim say the man had been shot twice and still managed to drag his squad out of a burning building . So , yeah . I trusted Saul . Aug