To the Love of My Life

Since Ruby was coming back to the Gregorys for New Year, she had thought that she might bump into Steve, but she didn’t expect to run into him unexpectedly right at the entrance of the Gregorys’ house.

He still looked as cold and indifferent as ever, but probably because it was New Year’s Eve, he wasn’t dressed in his usual formal attire. Instead, he casually wore a white sweater paired with a long black trench coat, casual yet elegant, making him look much younger than in the office.

Everyone present was adept at reading social cues, so the tense atmosphere only lasted for about half a minute. Steve’s older sister, Wenny, laughed and took the lantern from Steve’s hand: “Steve, I just remembered, I’ve been stewing a dessert in the kitchen, it should be almost ready, help me find a servant to take it off the stove.”

Steve knew full well that Wenny was trying to defuse the situation by having him leave, so he stared at Ruby for about five seconds before handing the two red lanterns to Wenny and turning around to walk towards the Burtons’ courtyard.

Ruby’s gaze remained on Steve, and perhaps Madeleine’s words had some effect on her. As he turned away, she subconsciously noticed his leg and found that his usual graceful stride, as Madeleine had said, was indeed somewhat hesitant, especially his left leg which seemed very stiff as he took each step.

When Steve’s figure disappeared into the entrance of the Burtons’ house, Lady Gregory immediately returned to the entrance of the Gregorys’ house, glanced at Ruby and said, “Come in.”

Then she turned around first and walked towards the courtyard of the Gregorys’ house.

Ruby quickly followed.

Although it had only been forty days since she had last been home, the living room had changed a lot. Many old pieces of furniture had been replaced with new ones, and the butler was busy preparing New Year’s Eve dishes in the kitchen.

Lady Gregory did not mention Ruby’s marriage to Steve, nor did she ask Ruby why she had broken off the engagement as before, she only instructed a servant to clean up Ruby’s room and then gestured for her to sit down.

Maxwell Gregory, who had followed her into the room, sat down on the sofa opposite of Ruby. Like Lady Gregory, he didn’t bring up the past, only briefly inquiring about Ruby’s recent situation.

Ruby didn’t hide anything and told Maxwell about the house she had rented and her current job.

When Lady Gregory heard Ruby’s words, she handed her a cup of tea, her expression faltering for a moment before saying, “If you don’t want to live outside, just come back home. As for work, you can do whatever you like if you really enjoy it.”

In Ruby’s memory, this was one of the warmest sentences Lady Gregory had ever said to her.

Her eyes suddenly became a little warm, she lowered her lashes, forced a smile, and gently “hmm” to Maxwell and Lady Gregory.

–

The night had just fallen, and the sound of firecrackers came one after another from outside the window.