To the Love of My Life

–

Ruby Gregory washed her face, trying to calm herself down a bit before coming out of the bathroom.

She walked to the dining table and saw the food that she had only partially touched. Her fingers clenched into a tight fist, and she dumped all the remaining food into the trash bin, threw the silverware into the sink, then returned to the living room sofa, hugging a pillow and staring blankly at the study door.

After an unknown period of time, Ruby felt her eyes sour and withdrew her gaze, then flipped through the dress catalog on the coffee table.

Every dress in it was designed by famous designers, stunningly beautiful.

Ruby felt dazzled and weighed her options several times, but still couldn’t decide which ones to choose.

In the end, a wave of inexplicable sadness welled up in Ruby’s heart. This engagement was supposed to involve her and Steve Burton, but in the end, it was just her on her own.

Staring at the dazzling dresses, Ruby lowered her eyelids and then randomly picked two.

After choosing the dresses, Ruby hesitated, wondering whether or not to consult Steve’s opinion. She sat alone on the sofa facing the dress catalog for quite some time before carrying it slowly upstairs.

She walked to the study door, raised her hand, and knocked. There was no response from inside, so she dared not enter. She raised her hand again and knocked. A cool and indifferent voice came from the study: “Enter.”

Ruby pushed the door open, took a deep breath, and walked in with the dress catalog in her arms.

Steve was not working but sitting on the sofa, holding a book and reading. When he heard her enter, he didn’t look up, but just asked when she came closer, “What is it?”

Ruby gently placed the dress catalog on the table in front of him, spread it open, and said, “I’ve picked a few dresses. Take a look. Are you satisfied with them?”

Steve didn’t even glance at the dress catalog before him. He lightly turned a page in his book and replied in an indifferent tone, “As long as you like them, it’s fine with me.”

Ruby’s fingers twitched, and she turned her head to steal a glance at Steve. She waited for quite a while, but when the man showed no intention of looking at the catalog, she lowered her eyelids, hiding her disappointment. Then she bent down, closed the catalog, and embraced it again. After a pause, she said softly, “I’ll go now.”

Steve still remained silent, and just when Ruby turned to leave, he closed his book, stood up, and grabbed her shoulder, pressing her down on the table in front of the sofa.

His sudden movement caught Ruby off guard. Fortunately, his force was not strong, and unlike last time, he wasn’t violently heading straight to the point, but he also wasn’t as considerate as he had been, teasing her ever so gently.

However, when he entered her, Ruby only felt a slight pain, followed by a surge of throbbing emotions.

From beginning to end, Steve didn’t say a word or make a sound. As soon as he withdrew from her, he silently grabbed his clothes, wrapped them around himself haphazardly, and left the study.