Chapter 21: I’ll Try
Ruby’s mind raced, trying to recall the details Ivy might have mentioned. She painted a picture quickly, describing the stone path, the rose bushes by the fountain, the small bench under the pear tree.
He nodded as she spoke, as if remembering it all just from her words. "I missed that place," he murmured.
Regina gave her a brief, approving smile.
Elizabeth said nothing but watched Ruby closely—thoughtfully.
After that, dinner flowed smoothly—almost too smoothly. Every word, every gesture, felt like a scene in a carefully choreographed play. Ruby sat at the table with the grace of a trained performer, and beside her, Stefan remained composed, but Ruby could sense he was still searching—for clues, for truth or maybe she was just being paranoid and he was just being his usual self.
He wasn’t outright suspicious, not yet, but something in his subtle pauses, in the way his hand tightened ever so slightly around his cutlery, told her he wasn’t entirely convinced either—that was what her head was telling her but her mind was saying something else. He was troubled by something he wasn’t sharing.
Just then, Elizabeth set down her glass of wine and turned to Ruby with a calm smile. Her tone was light, casual, almost as if the compliment came to her naturally—but Ruby knew it was calculated.
"I heard from Oliver that you stepped in at the company today."
Ruby paused, surprised. "Oh... that was nothing of importance."
Elizabeth nodded with a thoughtful hum. "And who says it isn’t? He said you spoke with confidence. Said you corrected the board’s assumptions about Stefan’s capacity to lead. That takes courage. how did you feel when she took charge, Stef?"
Stefan shifted slightly beside her, his brows pulling together into a smile as he recalled that moment.
"I have to say I was the most happiest and most proudest to have my wife beside me. I’m glad she was there," he said proudly and Ruby turned to look at him.