To the Love of My Life

As it neared noon, Maxwell woke up, and the family of three had lunch in the hospital. Ruby accompanied her father for a while, playing Chinese chess.

Steve Burton and the US$6,860,000 were jam-packed in Ruby’s mind, heavy and suffocating. However, she still worked hard to be obedient and sensible, cheering her father up. She persisted until 3 o’clock when her father went to sleep. Then she made an excuse to Lady Gregory that she needed to return to the company and left.

Upon leaving the hospital, the smile on Ruby’s face faded away. She took out her phone, with a peaceful screen and no incoming calls or messages regarding Steve. WhatsApp was also quiet. Ruby stared at the screen in a daze for a while, then made a call to Madeleine.

It took quite a while for the call to be answered. Madeleine’s voice sounded a little hoarse: “Ruby?”

“Hmm, Madeleine, where are you?”

“I’m at home.” Madeleine paused for a moment: “Is something wrong?”

“Something’s up. I’ll come to you. Let’s talk face to face.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Ruby flagged down a taxi and headed directly to Madeleine’s home.

Ruby knew her friend was referring to the apartment where she usually stayed in the city. Ruby had been there many times, so upon arriving at the residential entrance, she easily found Madeleine’s doorstep.

After ringing the doorbell and waiting for quite some time, footsteps could be heard from inside. Then, the door was opened, revealing Madeleine in a long nightgown. She looked pale with disheveled hair, a swollen mouth, and indistinct traces of red on her cheeks concealed by her hair.

Upon seeing Madeleine in this state, Ruby hurried forward, lifted her hair, and examined her swollen face. She frowned deeply: “Madeleine, what happened to your face? Who hit you?”

However, Madeleine looked calm. She turned her face away from Ruby, and walked into the room.

Ruby closed the door and followed Madeleine: “Who was so cruel to hit you?”

It seemed like Madeleine didn’t even hear Ruby’s question. She went straight to the water bar, poured a glass of juice for Ruby, brought it to the living room sofa, sat down gracefully, and only then mentioned casually: “It was Howard.”

Astonishment flashed in Ruby’s eyes: “Howard? He hit you?”

“Yes.” Madeleine nodded calmly, raised her hand to brush her hair, and Ruby’s keen eyes caught the purple and blue marks all over Madeleine’s fair and tender neck.

Ruby had experienced intimate moments with Steve many times, and naturally, she knew what the marks on Madeleine’s skin represented. She was shocked: “Madeleine, you, you and, Howard…?”

Although Ruby didn’t finish the latter part of her sentence, Madeleine understood what she meant. Without hiding anything, Madeleine nodded assertively at Ruby: “Yes, you guessed it right, I slept with Howard.”

Ruby was so surprised that she couldn’t say a word.