Chapter 2

Ted fell off the bed with a great howl.

At that moment, Ruby finally returned to her senses. She frantically pressed her hands against Ted's wound.

She glared at me with teary eyes.

"Arthur, you've lost your mind!"

The ambulance arrived soon afterward, and the paramedics placed Ted on the stretcher.

She held Ted's hand tightly, and she looked very pained from seeing Ted hurt.

Before they left, Ruby turned around to glare at me. My heart sank when I saw the hatred in her gaze.

I was left alone in the mansion.

I stood in a daze for a very long time.

As I glanced around the mansion, I found that it had been designed exactly to my liking.

I still recalled Ruby's words from the other day.

"Arthur, from today onwards, this will be our home for the rest of our lives."

At that moment, I could only feel revulsion.

I left the mansion and went back to my rental apartment.

My phone rang nonstop the entire way back.

I knew she was calling me, but I did not answer.

After a long while, I heard her coming in through the apartment entrance.

Ruby opened the door using her key and stared at me impatiently.

"You didn't answer my text messages or any of my calls.

"What do you want, Arthur?"

Her chest rose and fell sharply.

"Go and change to a new set of clothes. The city hall is still open now. Let's go and register our marriage."

I looked up at her and smiled mockingly.

"Why aren't you finishing those last three times before you marry me?

"Can't he get it up after getting hurt in his head?"

Ruby's face was flushed. She bit her lower lip.

"What do you want? Ted's already hospitalized because of you, and I've promised you to marry you. How long are you going to be jealous for?

"Arthur, don't forget that I'm the one who gave you everything you have right now.

"You've waited for a thousand days. Can't you just wait a little longer?"

She was not taking any responsibility.

I found the whole thing utterly pointless.

"You're right, let's not get married. Let's break up…"

Before I could finish my sentence, she interrupted me impatiently.

"Everyone in this city knows that you're my fiancé. Break up? What about my reputation?"

I pulled up my photo gallery and flipped through those intimate photos that I took.

"You still care about your reputation? I'll make sure everyone sees what kind of person our great philanthropist really is."

Immediately after I said that, Ruby picked up the ashtray and forcefully flung it at me.

I heard the smashing sound, and the shards from the ashtray cut the skin next to my eye.

Blood immediately covered my vision.

Ruby's expression was extremely cold.

"If you're angry about it, you can share those photos as you please. It doesn't matter how you plan to smear my name.

"But don't even think about doing that to Ted."

When I saw how Ruby was protecting Ted unconditionally, I laughed.

Once, she'd defended me the same way. Now, she'd simply chosen someone else.

I wiped the blood off my face, but my eyes were wide open and alive with fury.

Ruby wanted to say something, she stopped herself when she met my gaze.

In the end, her ringtone broke the silence.

When she saw Ted's name on her phone, her expression softened a little.

She took out a check from her bag and tossed it to me.

"I'll buy the photos from you. Tomorrow, I'll pick you up to go to the city hall.

"I'm warning you for the very last time, don't try to cause trouble for Ted."