It was nearly two in the morning when I left the hospital.
Ruby was knocked out on sedatives. Jude curled up in that overpriced baby cot like a prince born into war. The doctors kept their heads down, afraid to speak to me. I told the bodyguards not to let anyone in unless they had a death wish.
I drove straight to the glass mansion.
The place felt colder than usual. Like something sacred had been ripped out. The lights were still automated, soft glows. bouncing off the marble floors and crystal railings. Everything was perfect. Silent. Empty.
Too empty.
I walked through the halls. No scent of perfume. No faint sounds of slippers. No humming. Just silence &
Cleo’s room was wide open.
His toys were gone. His storybooks, blankets… All of it cleared out like he never existed.
I stepped to the bed. Something caught my eye on the pillow.
A ring.
Therese wedding ring.&
I picked it up slowly. Heavy for something so small. I stared at it until my hand started trembling.
She left this. She left me.
I’squeezed it in my palm so tight my knuckles cracked. The sound echoed in the silence. I couldn’t take it. I turned and slammed my fist into the wall.
The plaster cracked. My skin split open. Blood dripped to the polished floor.
A mald must’ve heard it. She peeked from the hallway, eyes wide. She saw the blood, saw the ring in my hand.
I turned my head slowly.!!
She vanished before I could speak.
Smart girl.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Carson. My most loyal dog. My most ruthless.
He answered instantly. “Sir?”
“I want her found.” I didn’t care if my hand was still bleeding. My voice stayed calm. “Use the team. Pay whoever you need to. I don’t care if you have to bribe airport staff, stalk her friends, or break into her email. Find her.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I want access to her accounts. I want her calls tracked, her messages cloned, her locations pinged. I want to know what she eats and where she sleeps. I want to know who breathes near her.”
Carson hesitated. “Understood. But what do I tell them if they ask why?“!
I stood in the middle of the ruined room, still clutching that damn ring, blood running down my wrist.
“Tell them I’m taking back what’s mine.” There was silence on the line. I continued, voice dropping low. “She walked away first. How dare she. It should’ve been me who left her. Not the other way around.”
I clenched my jaw.
*She humiliated me in front of everyone. She disrespected my name. She made me look weak. All those years I gave her… and now she thinks she can grow a spine and just walk off like I’m some side character in her little comeback story?“”
I hissed through my teeth.”
“No. She wants war? I’ll give her war. But she’ll beg to come back before I’m done. She’ll learn the price of defiance.”
Carson didn’t respond.
He didn’t have to..
He knew what to do
And 12 I just stood there. Alone. With the blood, the silence, and her ring still burning in my hand.
RUBY’S POVE
The first thing I felt was the sun./
It poured in gently through the white curtains, casting soft light across the silk sheets. The room smelled like flowers and antiseptic. I opened my eyes slowly, like a fragile doll waking from a fever dream. I stretched a little, one hand caressing my belly, the other reaching for the button beside me.
Then I saw Jude.
8:22 PM
I stood in the middle of the ruined room, still clutching that damn ring, blood running down my wrist. “Tell them I’m taking back what’s mine.” There was silence on the line. I continued, voice dropping low. “She walked away first. How dare she. It should’ve been me who left her. Not the other way around.”
I clenched my jaw
“She humiliated me in front of everyone. She disrespected my name. She made me look weak. All those years I gave her… and now she thinks she can grow a spine and just walk off like I’m some side character in her little comeback story?“%
thissed through my teeth.
“No. She wants war? I give her war. But shell beg to come back before I’m done. She’ll learn the price of defiance.”
Carson didn’t respond.
He didn’t have to.
He knew what to do.”
And 1? I just stood there. Alone. With the blood, the silence, and her ring still burning in my hand.8
RUBY’S POV
The first thing I felt was the sun.
It poured in gently through the white curtains, casting soft light across the silk sheets. The room smelled like flowers and antiseptic. I opened my eyes slowly, like a fragile doll waking from a fever dream, I stretched a little, one hand caressing my belly, the other reaching for the button beside me.
Then I saw Jude.&
Curled up on the guest bed across from mine, little fists tucked under his cheek like some holy angel. Not a single sound from him. Perfect. Just the way I taught him.
I turned my head fully, grinning–8
“Good job, baby,” I whispered, voice like honey. “You act just like Mama. I’m so proud of you. You took Torren’s heart like it was nothing.”
My phone was on the nightstand. I picked it up and checked the messages. My eyes scanned quickly until I saw what I wanted.
Divorce finalized. It’s done. Therese is out.
Sent by my little shadow. A man who thinks he’s working for Torren, but only follows my orders. Like a dog dressed in silk.
I couldn’t stop the wicked laugh that bubbled from my throat.&
Therese Massaro. What a name. What a tired, wasted life.!
I whispered to myself, lips brushing the word like a kiss. “Finally. My turn.”
The door creaked.!
I blinked, then instantly softened my face. Innocent. Fragile. Loving.
The nurse entered, clipboard in hand. A young one. Kind eyes.
“Miss Ruby, how are you feeling?” she asked.”
I touched my belly again and gave her the softest smile. “Much better, thank you. I’m just glad the baby is safe. And my Jude too. God has been so good to me.”
She beamed, nodding. “Your vitals look excellent. We’ll get you discharged by tonight if all stays normal.“”
“Thank you so much; I said sweetly, eyes wet with emotion i summoned on command.!!
She left with a warm goodbye.
The moment the door clicked shut, I tilted my head and smiled again but not the sweet one. !
The real one. The smile I wear when I win.
I grabbed my phone again and opened my stylist’s chat.!!
Text me options. Gowns, heels, everything red. I’m taking the throne.
I pressed send and leaned back against the pillow. Everything was going just as I planned. Torren was spiraling. Therese was erased. Jude did his part.!!
And me?%
was just getting started.
