Chapter 3

Ruby's expression frosted over. "Is this how someone who's asking for money should act?"

I tried to explain myself, but she cut me off with a raised hand. She continued, "I know what you want to say. You want to tell me Ricky fell by himself, right?"

I closed my mouth and sneered.

This wasn't the first time Ricky had slandered me. Nor was it the first time Ruby had misunderstood me.

I was the fool, trusting too much in the love she had for me to see that the two of them were already secretly involved.

I crouched and slowly picked up the money, piece by piece, feeling numb inside as Ruby stepped on my hand and looked down at me. "Apologize to Ricky!"

The soft rubber sole crushed the last shred of dignity I had left. I resigned myself to it and said, "I'm sorry!"

But Ruby wasn't satisfied. "You should be sincere about it."

I bit down on my lip, then knelt hard on the floor and said, "I'm sorry!"

Then I raised my head and looked at Ruby indifferently. "Is that good enough?"

Her chest heaved. Then she sighed and crouched down, helping me gather the cash. "I know you're devastated by what happened to your dad, but you shouldn't let out your frustration on Ricky. Don't do this again."

I replied, "I won't…"

There was no future between us anymore.

Ruby paid part of the bill in cash and shoved the rest into my hand. "Take me to your dad!"

Dad didn't like Ruby. Even though she was rich, to him, she was just a psychopathic old woman. He had never treated her kindly or given her a warm welcome. But this time, he acted completely out of character and talked with Ruby for a long time.

I knew he wanted Ruby to take care of me. He was afraid I'd be all alone once he was gone.

A deep ache gnawed at my heart. My throat felt like it was being squeezed tight. I didn't dare to tell Dad that Ruby was a jackal in sheep's clothing.

I didn't want to completely fall out with Ruby. After all, I needed her money and connections to find a kidney donor.

That night, she found a suitable kidney. As long as it arrived the next day, Dad would survive.

The next day, I waited from dawn to dusk with hope in my heart. But Ruby still didn't arrive with the kidney.

The orange-red light fell across my sleeping dad, making him look like a hazy illusion that could disappear at any moment. The fear of losing the only family I had gripped my heart tightly.

With trembling hands, I called the number again, the same one I'd tried 99 times without getting through. This time, it did.

Ruby's friend, Miriam Kerr, answered.

It turned out Ruby had spent the whole day taking care of Ricky, who had suddenly got a headache. Dad's lifesaving kidney was with her.

I raced over to Ruby's villa, not bothering to look at the two of them kissing on the bed. I grabbed the cooler she'd thrown into the corner and ran outside.

There was only half an hour left. As long as I made it to the hospital within 30 minutes, the kidney could still be used.

I had just hailed a cab when Ruby's bodyguards dragged me to the villa's rooftop. Ricky stood outside the railing, crying his heart out.

Ruby's expression was grim as she grabbed me by the collar and marched me to Ricky. "You suddenly burst in and saw us doing that just now, so Ricky is afraid you'll misunderstand. Now he wants to end his life! Tell him you didn't get the wrong idea!"

I snorted. "What wrong idea? That you're mother and son on the surface, but actually a pair of sick freaks who kiss and sleep together?"

Ruby slapped me hard across the face. She glared at me, her voice shaking with rage. "What the hell are you talking about? If you can't convince Ricky to come back down, then your dad won't get his kidney, and no doctor will dare operate on him!"

I stared at her in disbelief, but there was no changing her mind. She had already kept the kidney waiting for so long just for Ricky.

Who knew what else she would be capable of?

Dad was still waiting for me.

I shouted, "There was no misunderstanding! You two are completely innocent, just a loving mother and son!"

A smug glint flickered in Ricky's eyes. He deliberately dragged his feet again, taking several more minutes before finally coming down.

I forced down the hatred raging inside me and rushed to the hospital, but the doctor told me that the kidney couldn't be used anymore.

And it was all because of the few minutes Ricky deliberately wasted.

I broke down into uncontrollable sobs.

Until I received a familiar, beautifully wrapped gift box.