CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

Stephan's heart burst with joy at the sight of Ruby's determination and thankfulness. He understood he did the right thing by assisting her, even though it could lead to more problems with Amelia.

The two of them felt at home in the warmth of the lamplight, and camaraderie started to develop between them. Days transformed into weeks, and Stephan helped Ruby build a strong foundation for her business by providing support, guidance, and resources.

Investors were captivated by her enthusiasm and motivation, placing her in a position to raise the startup capital for her company in a short time. Stephan noticed his fascination with Ruby increasing with each triumph she made. One evening, they were both on the porch looking over the garden and then Ruby turned to Stephan with a beaming smile on her face."I can't sum up enough how appreciative I am for all that you have done in my life. At the moment when nobody had much faith in me, you did." With all this emotion," Stephan took her hand