Unlike the Promises

"Stupid girl!"

Ruby, who had just lost consciousness, opened her eyes after receiving an insult and a slap on her cheek.

Ruby rubbed her sore cheek, and instantly her blurry vision cleared. She realized she was now lying on a large bed after her body went limp upon seeing her husband's hideous face.

"Do you want to get us all killed or what? You just needed to kiss him! You're a fool!" Esli, Liz's father, said so. He appeared furious, occasionally glancing toward the door, concerned that someone might overhear.

Ruby was too shocked to respond to the insult from the father of a woman who should be in her position. She hadn't expected to receive such harsh anger. After all, it wasn't her intention to faint. Who would've thought that the man who became her spouse would look like a monster?

"You screamed in his face and fainted? You just insulted him, fool! Why didn't you just throw shit in his face?!" Esli rubbed his face in panic.

Ruby's fainting after seeing Eduardo Rosas' face could certainly be considered an insult. Ruby also knew that her scream and fainting spell were very rude. It seemed Ruby couldn't bear to see his terrifying face.

"You didn't say his face would be like that." Ruby couldn't be angry at him, but she defended herself. Despite feeling nauseous and dizzy, Ruby felt that if she hadn't been so surprised, maybe she wouldn't have fainted.

"You would've run even before setting foot here if I mentioned his face!" Esli exclaimed.

Ruby fell silent. She couldn't be too hypocritical. That face reflected ten percent of her desire to accept this strange and bizarre job. Eduardo, in the photo, was very handsome.

However, her mother was responsible for 90 percent of Ruby's problems. Money and care for her sick mother. Ruby might prepare her heart better.

"You should've seized this opportunity to live more comfortably! Do you want to continue living in that gutter with your mother?"

Ruby's face and ears reddened instantly upon hearing Esli's subsequent insult.

Their living area might be squalid, but Ruby and her mother were happy there—before her mother fell ill. Esli was a stranger. He didn't know how hard they worked to sustain that life. He had no right to insult her.

"You are-"

As Esli covered her mouth, Ruby fell silent. The door to the room she was in opened.

Esli's hand, which had been covering her mouth tightly, changed direction and stroked Ruby's face.

"You still look pale, Liz. Should I ask for hot tea or something else?" Esli asked gently, as if all the scolding and insults had just been a dream. He stroked Ruby's cheek with a falsely affectionate face.

Esli's demeanor had deceived Ruby the day before. A heartbroken father who didn't want his daughter's marriage to be canceled. Ruby felt pity and fell easily into the trap.

"She doesn't seem sick anymore."

Ruby turned to see who had come, but then looked down. The man who entered was indeed Eduardo—Liz's husband.

"Forgive Liz, Don Rosas. She fainted only from tension and fatigue. She hasn't slept for nearly two days, preparing for the wedding. I hope you understand." Esli approached, behaving very submissively. He was trying to placate her with a fawning attitude. The hierarchy, which Ruby observed, was unmistakable. Her fictitious father was afraid of Eduardo. Esli appeared to be obedient.

"Are you sure she just passed out because of tension? Not because she's crying over her misfortune of marrying a disgusting husband?" Eduardo approached the bed.

Ruby, who had been looking down, dared to peek. Eduardo's eyes were very green. Just like the photo she had seen. The photo Esli showed wasn't fake; only his face had changed. Whatever caused his injuries was extremely harmful.

His face seemed divided in two. The right side was still smooth, but the other looked uneven, with three large grooves running from forehead to neck. Wrinkled and forcibly pulled until the left side of his mouth tilted upward. Like forming a permanent mocking grin.

Ruby regretted screaming earlier. The wound must be painful, and Ruby added to the pain by screaming when she saw it.

"Not fainting anymore? Are you sane now?" The question didn't come gently. His tone was cold, and his terrifying face showed no affection at all.

Esli approached, trying to persuade.

"Forgive Liz. She..."

"Shut your stinking mouth!"

A harsh insult that startled Ruby. She usually only hears such insults when passing by the nightclub area near her apartment. Eduardo easily silences Esli.

"I don't care about your excuses! It's clear that if you embarrass me again, I'll consider our deal canceled. You may utter..."

"It won't happen again, Don Rosas! Truly! It won't happen again. Liz is healthy now and will attend the party with you!" Esli reached for Eduardo's hand to plead. But it was quickly brushed away.

"Don't touch me!" Eduardo hissed.

"I'm sorry. Sorry." Esli apologized nervously, then approached the bed.

"Liz—Morrita." (My dear little girl)

Esli called out gently and helped Ruby stand from the bed.

"If you faint again, I'll make sure you can't open your eyes forever."

Another threat from Eduardo made Ruby want to cry. She had just opened her eyes a few minutes ago, understanding nothing, yet she had to receive a slap and such a terrifying threat from two different men. Ruby began to feel that she had made a mistake in accepting Esli's offer.

"Ridiculous! A wife who faints at the sight of her husband's face."

A scoff echoed as Ruby lowered her head to conceal her tears. Then a hand grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up. Ruby's brown eyes met the sharp green eyes. The scars also covered Eduardo's eyelid. Making it unable to blink normally. The wound was heavy and severe.

"See this face? You'll see it for the rest of your life! Don't hope you can run or try to avoid it. This face will always be your nightmare!"