To the Love of My Life

Ruby’s mind was filled with the words Madeleine just said to her. She hadn’t completely digested them yet, so she was in no mood to watch the fireworks and shook her head indifferently: “Let’s see, I’m feeling a bit nauseous from the car ride, and we’re not far from our destination anyway, so I’d like to walk.”

“Alright.” Madeleine sheepishly said two words and stopped the car.

Ruby got out of the car, waved her hand at Madeleine, then closed the door. She waited for Madeleine to slowly drive away before she began walking towards the Gregorys’ residence.

Her mind was a mess all the way.

Madeleine had parked not far from the Gregorys’ residence. It only took Ruby ten minutes to walk to the front gate.

Two servants and Maxwell Gregory were standing at the villa’s front door, putting up couplets and hanging red lanterns. Maxwell stood in the center of the doorway, occasionally raising his hand and directing the servants. The couplets were compared back and forth for a while, and finally, Maxwell nodded his head. The servants pressed the big red couplets firmly against the wall.

Ruby stopped ten meters away from the gate of the Gregorys’ residence. Although she hadn’t seen Maxwell Gregory in just forty days, he looked much older after his serious illness compared to the last time she saw him. His back was slightly hunched, and his hair at the temples was a bit gray. He occasionally raised his hand to cover his mouth and cough twice.

The first to notice Ruby was the servant standing on the ladder, putting up the couplets. When the servant saw Ruby, she paused visibly, then excitedly exclaimed, “Miss is back?”

Following the servant’s words, Maxwell turned his head, and his gaze met Ruby’s.

Ruby stood still for about a minute, then slowly walked over and called out, “Dad.”

Maxwell stared at her for a while before nodding, “You’re back?”

Ruby also nodded without saying a word.

The excited servant then called out to Lady Gregory, who was talking to Madam Burton not far from the Burton’s front door, “Madam, Madam, Miss is back.”

Quite a few people were also putting up couplets at the entrance of the Burtons’ residence. They all turned their heads to look at Ruby.

The Burtons didn’t know why the marriage contract between Ruby and Steve had been broken, but the message they received seemed to indicate that it was Steve’s idea. So when Madam Burton saw Ruby, she felt embarrassed and nodded awkwardly, “Ruby, you’re back.”

Ruby and Steve were almost engaged, but now they had gone their separate ways. Facing the Burton family members suddenly, Ruby was not without embarrassment. However, she still tried to maintain a smile and called out, “Aunt Burton.”

As Ruby’s voice fell, Steve, who had no idea what had happened outside, walked out of the Burton’s yard carrying two big red lanterns in his hands.