Chapter 39: Not Holding Back.
The restaurant was quiet, dimly lit, with soft jazz humming in the background. A corner booth gave them privacy, and for the first time since she went to work that morning, Ruby let herself relax.
After work, because of how tired they were, Stefan had suggested they grabbed dinner out and Ruby had agreed without argument.
In the restaurant, Stefan sat across from her, his fingers wrapped around a warm glass of tea. She watched him as he listened to the waiter, nodding, his presence so composed it was easy to forget how much he carried on his shoulders.
She stirred her drink, stealing glances at him. "So, what’s there to talk about tonight? We can’t sit here all night and not talk about anything," she said after the waiter left.
His head tilted toward her slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "What is it you have in mind to talk about? You can ask me anything."
She hesitated, then met his gaze. "Did you ever feel... lonely growing up? I mean, being an only child?"
Stefan’s fingers paused against his glass.
"To be honest? Yes," he said after a beat. "More than I admitted to anyone. My parents loved me, don’t get me wrong. But they were both... busy. Always building something, always away. The house was quiet most days. Just tutors, staff, and the usual silence."
Ruby’s heart clenched. "That sounds... hard," she said, considering that she had a sibling even though Ivy had been quite troublesome to her, always getting her in trouble with their parents.
"It was," he admitted softly. "But the worst part came after my father died. I was sixteen. My mom had to work twice as hard to keep everything afloat. She buried her grief in the business, and I... I buried mine in responsibility."
He smiled faintly, a bitter edge to it. "I took over three years ago. Just before I... met you."
Ruby swallowed hard. He still thinks I’m Ivy.