The Billionaire's Contract Lover

PTE

Begi

ub

through the hall

ust I call you be

r arms. She drew in a slow, steadying breath. That tone-sharp, impatien

softly as she stepped

nails tapping rhythmically against her elbow. Beside her, Clara lounged on the

u so long?" V

e clothes outside

ng at her lips. "And you couldn't run? Honestl

tion prickling under her skin, but s

Move to the kitchen and start preparing foo

shed cleaning the room

or an update on your chores? Or are y

" Ruby w

. Now

he kitchen, feeling Clara's sati

eyes stung. Another day begins with insults, a reminder that in

always liv

this home. Her childhood had been filled with warm laughter, her mother's humming driftin

and endlessly patient. Her father adored them both, the thr

nded when Rub

bered holding her mother's hands, feeling the warmth slip away day by day. She remembered the nights spent praying, the morni

ed, something inside Ru

ve, a once United home

utiful, sophisticated, and smiling a smile that never reached her eyes. When Anderson introd

t day they met and said, "Oh, she's

, not knowing the truth h

er, Vivian bec

and dripping with entitlement. Clara looked at Ruby

ed to be

hyly. "Do you want

"Play? With you? I don'

ed the beginning

me, showering Ruby with false praises, whi

erson stepped out,

ous of her, she had everything her daughter lacked. She decided to get rid of her by hitting her on the far

darkness behind the curtain

***

med so hard the wal

e wooden spoon. For a second, she thought the sound might c

ting down the porch steps, sharp and angry, followed

as g

and made her chest feel tight. She stood alone in the kitchen, the smell of stew thi

ock above the sink

verything was always

, there would be yelling. If it was ready, there might still be y

refully, as if sudden movement

She hadn't eaten since morning, but hunger was something

left the house. She said it reminded her of disres

thing worse. Ruby heard footsteps coming closer enoug

the kitchen w

rfectly arranged, her face calm in that t

rous. Her silence was sharper than scre

you're doing?" Vi

s finishing dinner. Dad

ftly, but there w

t?" she said. "You think foo

nce had taught her that wor

kitchen suddenly felt too

ce low, "that when he leaves like

around the spoon. "I'm

harply. "That's your problem.

-the bubbling stew, the heat still rising, the

cross her face

vian said. "Fine. Let's s

d react, Vivian

" Ruby cried,

oo late, the

lming shock that stole the breath from her lungs.

n erupted

he floor. Liquid splas

colla