To the Love of My Life

Therefore, she really likes Edric, right?

–

Ruby Gregory and Edric Reat do live in the same complex, even in the same building, but on different floors.

Ruby lives on the eighth floor, while Edric lives on the eleventh.

The apartments were individually rented by each of them.

In the elevator that Edric and Ruby were riding, they were the only two passengers.

Edric, holding the fruits, glanced at Ruby’s still-flat belly and asked, “How have you been feeling recently? Any discomfort?”

Ruby shook her head and said with a small smile, “No, I’m fine.”

“Must be tiring to work every day back and forth, right?” Edric asked.

“Not really.” Ruby paused and said, “I just play the piano, it’s quite an artistic job, it’s not tiring.”

Without saying anything, Edric looked at Ruby and said after a while, “In two months, when your belly gets bigger, stop working.”

With a playful half-smile, Ruby joked, “So, you expect me to spend your money?”

“I don’t mind,” Edric replied, his face becoming serious, “I really don’t mind. I’ve already helped with the most precious thing, money is the least of my worries.”

Ruby’s eyes curved with a smile, “I know you don’t mind, but I do.”

Realizing her words might have been too straightforward, Ruby pursed her lips and gave a half-smile, then said, “I am really grateful for all you’ve done for me. As for the rest, you don’t need to worry about me.”

Edric didn’t say anything further.

When they reached the eighth floor and the elevator doors opened, Edric finally spoke, “The fruits are a bit heavy. Let me carry them inside for you.”

However, Ruby stretched out her hand to him, “No need, I can manage.”

Edric stared at Ruby, then handed the fruits to her without further argument, “In that case, take it easy.”

“Okay.” Ruby nodded, turning to leave. Just as she was about to, she seemed to remember something and added, “Oh, by the way, I’m considering hiring a housemaid in a month or two when my belly starts to show and movements might become inconvenient.”

Though Ruby didn’t say it explicitly, Edric understood what she implied – she was telling him that once she had a housemaid, there wouldn’t be any necessity for him to help her out daily anymore.

After all, if it were not for her limited social circle, he wouldn’t even be considered qualified to help, right?

To be able to help her this much, he should be content and feel honored, shouldn’t he?

Edric took a deep breath quietly, threw a shallow smile at Ruby, and with a face that hinted at absolutely no issues, he said, “Fine, I will help you look for a good housemaid.”

“Okay.” Ruby gave Edric another smile, and with a “thank you,” she waved and stepped out of the elevator.

Edric pressed the elevator’s ‘open’ button and waited until Ruby had opened her apartment door and entered before he let go, allowing the elevator doors to close and continue ascending.

Back at her place, Ruby washed the fruits, dried them, placed them in the refrigerator, took a hot shower, put on some loose clothes, spent some time doing prenatal yoga on the living room floor, then finally crawled into bed to sleep.