80. ESCALATION

~RUBY

The world stopped moving.

The waves of the water below us, Ash's quiet breathing, the sound of the waiters pattering somewhere far from our table, the slow, sensuous music.

Everything faded away.

I was frozen on my seat, unable to breathe, unable to move. Ash's lips were parted midway, and Ethan seemed to be the only living thing in this environment.

Dread filled me.

Ash's eyes never left mine, and memories of the kiss floated through my mind. I remembered how he kissed me suddenly, how guilt flashed in his eyes when I slapped him.

And I remember us being very alone. Which meant that Richard must have planted a spy on us.

My breathe hitched when I remembered how smug he was, how utterly confident he spoke when he asked me to be set free.

‘Go and undo yourself, Ruby.’

Oh my God. This was what he meant.

Ethan was still staring at me, lethal malice in his gaze.

I knew there was no way I could get through him or convince him that it was not what it lo