Chapter 2

Uremia!

The word on the report burned my eyes. I held back my tears and looked at my pale-faced dad, Donny Klein, lying in the hospital bed.

All these years, I had been so obsessed with Ruby that I never noticed how the illness had already left its mark on Dad's face.

Guilt and regret swept over me like a raging tide, drowning me. I could no longer hold back my tears as they fell hard onto the crumpled report in my hand.

I went to the payment counter, my eyes swollen. When I saw how little was left in my bank account, my heart dropped again.

The nurse kept urging me, her eyes filled with disdain.

I gripped my phone, feeling awkward. "Can I…"

Just then, Ruby came out of the elevator and rushed over, panting. "Archie, I heard your dad is sick…"

When she saw my red-rimmed eyes, she pulled me into her warm embrace and reassured me, "It's okay. I'm here now."

Ruby was always like that, showing up whenever I was at my most helpless—whether I'd been rear-ended, caught by city officials, or found myself in any number of other situations where I needed her.

It was like she could see the future and appear out of nowhere at just the right moment.

I grew up without a mother, so I craved the warmth of a mother's embrace more than anything.

That was why, after Ruby broke my hand, I forgave her when she bent down and apologized, then stayed by my side day and night without ever complaining, even when I deliberately made things difficult for her. I even fell in love with her, a woman 12 years my senior.

A mature woman's warmth was intoxicating, enough to make me lose all sense of direction.

"Ms. Monroe!" Ricky called out.

Ruby instinctively pushed me away, and I came back to my senses, forcing a bitter smile.

I had fallen for her fake tenderness again.

How pathetic of me.

Ricky glanced at the bank balance on my phone and exclaimed, "Archie, how do you only have this much money left? Is Ms. Monroe not giving you enough money every month?"

His voice was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

They all thought I was Ruby's boytoy and started pointing fingers at me.

Ruby frowned, but she didn't try to clear up the misunderstanding. Instead, she lowered her voice and said to me, "Ricky didn't mean it that way. I'll talk to him when we get home. He's sensitive. I can't correct him in front of everyone…"

To save Ricky's dignity, Ruby was willing to let me be labeled her boy toy. But then, it made sense. I was just a sinner. How could I compare to her precious adopted son, whom she spoiled rotten?

I looked at Ruby, my eyes devoid of warmth. "Give me 500 thousand dollars!"

Ruby froze when she heard my words.

After all, I had never asked her for money before. But since I had already been labeled her boy toy, I might as well make it worth something. Besides, I needed the money for Dad's treatment.

Ruby's expression darkened, and she looked displeased. "What did you say?"

"I never took any of the clothes and watches you gave me before. Those alone are worth more than 500 thousand dollars, right?"

Ruby was furious. "How is that the same?"

Of course it wasn't.

When the master gave the dog something, it was a gift. But when the dog asked the master for something, it was overstepping its place.

Ricky patted Ruby's arm, and she instantly calmed down. He smiled, undisguised contempt in his eyes. "Archie, Ms. Monroe left in a hurry, so she didn't bring her purse. Here. I have five thousand dollars. Take it."

He pulled a stack of cash from his bag and took my hand. But just as he slapped the cash into my palm, his sharp fingernails suddenly dug into my flesh.

I cried out in pain and shook his hand off. Ricky screamed as he fell hard to the ground, the cash scattering everywhere.

He looked up at me, tears in his eyes. "Archie, why did you push me? I only wanted to give you money. I never meant to humiliate you."