Next day, Ruby woke up on an empty stomach as she had slipped dinner last night and no one had bothered to come get her.
Today was the Lycan King's hosting, a lot would happen and whatever it was, Ruby told herself to stay low without attracting attention.
As she got ready for the day, Ruby spotted Josette and Hermione at the garden, with Hermione making Josette's hair happily.
Ruby watched for a while before looking away. She resisted the bitter instinct in her to over ride her and take over.
She was over this.
The mansion was as busy as ever when she got out of her room. The fourth brother — John, the priest sat in the middle of the living room, praying.
Ruby joined the prayer and when they were done, none of the brothers gave a damn about if she was there or not.
At breakfast, Josette didn't speak as much as Ruby was anticipating what she would say this time but she was taking a kind note of Hermione's eating habit.
Everyone had light meals, but hers was different and the way she ate was more like eating as a chore and not eating to enjoy it.
Ruby's heart clenched seeing her this way.
Before Hermione leaves the table, she faces Ruby. “Since you don't have anything to do, you should join the servants to prepare for the Lycan King's arrival.”
“Yes, Ma'am.”
No one objected or supported, Ruby was okay with that. Across the table, Rafael's eyes burned on Ruby's, she didn't notice, only Josette did.
── ∘◦ ⛤ ◦∘ ──
Ruby and the servants wiped the entrance for the umpteenth time, making sure it was sparkling clean.
When everyone took a break, Ruby didn't stop, she was used to such hard labor back from the days at the prison anyway.
By evening, she was now tired and laid on the lawn with others, staring up in the sky.
Her mind flashed back to the same sky after hard work in prison, it used to feel like what would never end and now, Ruby felt the same.
The prison had tall walls and was always guarded with hawk eyed wardens. Here it wasn't different, she thought.
Josette and the brothers were always around like those wardens, waiting for her to make a mistake or for anything to happen so they could use it as leverage.
Prison terms ended in three years, and here... "My stay ends as soon as Mum is fine. No matter how long it took or how much she pushed me away."
Just as Ruby got up to leave, a white Rolls Royce almost threw her off balance with the way it entered.
"That's the family lawyer.". A servant said. "He's so full of himself."
Ruby's heart sank.
By family lawyer, she knew who that was without anyone telling her.
The one and only Kevin Jones who took over his father's law firm.
Her feet moved before Ruby finalized the thought about Kevin. He was the same man who sent her to prison by writing that petition and not defending her in court. How dare he come here now?
She flipped his hand before Kevin dashed into the house.
Kevin slowly took these dark shades off when he saw Ruby.
A sarcastic but familiar laughter escaped his lips. "Ruby Estella?"
"Why are you here?"
Kevin smirked at her audacity. "Look who's out of prison."
“Kev—”
“Our very own druggie, Ruby Lodge, the two times female team championship winner.”
Ruby’s anger tripled. “We both knew that wasn't me, you bastard!"
“What does that matter now?” Kevin laughed like the jerk he had always been since the start of days. “Even if you come back to the swimming academy, you're still a druggie whether you're guilty or not.”
All the memories hit at once just by the feel of Kevin's presence and hearing his voice. Ruby staggered back as she lost her grip on herself for a second.
Kevin was right. Ruby had almost forgotten the real reason why she was imprisoned and now that she remembered again… she hit the wall like it was Josette. “f**k you all!”
“By the way, you're still beautiful.” Kevin reached out and pulled the hair that fell to her face. “Maybe we could…”
Ruby gritted her teeth, and slapped his hand away. “You're just like them. You know nothing and stabbed me in the back."
"Stop this madness!" Kevin's tone turned thick. "What has come over you? Why are you still violent?"
Ruby's control broke. She had been able to keep her emotions in check in front of her family but why does it seem too hard in front of Kevin now?
She held on to the side pillar, blinking repeatedly to push her tears back. "I did nothing wrong. Kev, you know that."
"Well...." Kevin sighed. "The judgement has been passed, you have served your terms and you're back home. What does it matter now if you did nothing wrong or not?"
His attempt to make things sound simple irritated Ruby more, but she held on to the pillar firmly.
"You mocked me." Ruby said. "You testified against me in court. My family didn't stand by me, and you still..."
"Mocked?" Kevin took one long stride and he was standing before her very face. "Did you forget what you said the day you rejected me?"
Ruby's brain sparked. She had told him to f**k off when he made an advance toward her. She had warned him and promised she would never need his help. Still yet… "So what, huh? You could at least be nice."
"I'm sorry, the word 'nice' is not in my dictionary." Then he opened the door and went in.
Ruby gathered herself back almost immediately, and looked at the entrance.
"You would wish you hadn't known me, Kev." She whispered and turned back to join the servants.
Rafael led Kevin to the study and poured him a shot of whiskey.
"She changed." Kevin said, taking a sip.
Rafael knew who he was talking about of course. He also took a sip from his own cup and stared at the family picture on the wall. "Maybe the prison hadn't changed her?"
"What else?"
Rafael stared deeply, searching his brain, then heaved a long sigh. "Something about this family..."
Kevin paused. "Could it be Jossy?"
"I doubt not."
Outside, Josette who was on her way to show Rafael her dress froze when she heard the conversation between them.
She bit her nail.
Her second attempt to eavesdrop deeper failed when a servant passed.
Josette left like she was suddenly in a trance, still processing the words she heard.
If Ruby hadn't changed because of the prison but because of her... Josette stopped.
"Then that must mean she might want to take revenge on me?"
The thought didn't form properly she had to shake her head, breathe in and out twice and nodded to herself.
"I'm the true heiress and the team captain back at the academy. None of her revenge plans would work on me."
She turned back to the hallway leading to her room.
When she got back, Josette grabbed her phone, hands shaking as she sent a text to a contact saved as "AK Spider"
The message was long, unedited and concluded with one thing. "Ruby Lodge is back."
The latter's reply came with a thumbs up emoji.
Josette smiled to herself upon seeing that. AK Spider would never let her down.
She dressed on her own, went to Hermione's room and met her sitting on the bed, weak.
Before Hermione could see her, Josette cussed under her breath. But when Hermione looked toward her, Josette's face turned sympathetic.
"Mum..." She hugged Hermione. "You should call the doctor after the function."
Hermione held her tight. "I'll be fine, Jossy. So far you're here."
At the door, Ruby's hand stiffened around the platter she held which contained Hermione's medicine and water.
"Are you bothered about Ruby's arrival?" Josette asked. "Maybe I should tell Brother Raf to get her another apartment or something?"
"I'm fine." Hermione said weakly again. "I just... Wish you could be a little like your brothers."
Ruby waited.
"What do you mean Mum?"
"You're too soft on Ruby." Hermione said. "She's taking that for granted. I'm worried she might affect you."
Ruby turned back without a second thought.
She's heard enough.
Is Josette too nice? Ruby doesn't want to hear anything again.
She dropped the medicine on the kitchen table where Hermione could see it later and left with an empty heart.
Kevin came out of the study, they met and were about to speak when a servant came rushing.
"The Lycan King's entourage is here.”
Aksara