~RUBY Ethan had to be kidding, right? I waited for him to smile, for that confused, strange look to be replaced with a teasing one. I waited for him to tell me that it was a joke, and that he was just messing with me by asking that question when it should have been obvious what we did. What I'm pretty sure we did. What my husband's face was insinuating that we didn't do. It had to be a joke. One I was willing to forgive if he was willing to admit that he was kidding. “Ruby? I just asked a question. What did we do last night?” Damn. Damnit. Damnitdamnitdamnit. Ethan really was asking me what I meant. He looked rough and smelt like he had bee drinking, which meant that he must have come out here to drink after our lovemaking. Hence the forgetfulness. Right. “I don't know why you are so hesitant to talk to me. I remember getting drunk with Ash and falling asleep. My memory doesn't contain any activity with you so do me a solid and talk to me,”

~RUBY I watched the boys leave, my mind distant, the lawyer's words swirling around in my head. Ella was escorted by the detective to another room, and within few minutes, I was left alone with my thoughts. I found it hard to think. I was too exhausted, too weary to do anything, so I didn't think. Instead I laid down on the bed that used to be Ella's until minutes ago, and closed my eyes, trying to stop the continuous battering of thoughts in my head. My mind settled into a dull rhythm after some minutes, and the pounding in my head lessened. Somehow, things would go right. I had no idea how this was going to happen, but here I was, hoping against hope that things go right before it got too late. The house was quiet, and I wondered what the boys were up to. Ella would be sleeping, or resting somewhere else in the house and I decided to go check up on her. She was in the bedroom opposite mine and Ethan, and I felt grateful for whoever chose the room. It was probably

~RUBY I stood at a spot, my legs frozen, unable to move. Portraits of myself in different canvases stared back at me, unblinkingly. The only difference was that I was painted with black hair, instead of red. But God, the image was uncanny. He captured my expressions perfectly, as though he drew me while I was sitting before him. What... how...he was obsessed with me so bad that he drew me this perfect from memory? When I was married to his brother? When he had never, for once, bothered to be nice to me? The speed at which my jaw dropping surprise turned to anger took me aback for a second, but I didn't let it stop me. "What the hell is your problem? Have you lost your head? Why the fuck do you have this much portraits of me? Are you that jobless? You have nothing better to do?" I started, the pitch of my voice rising with each word. I knew my words were cruel, but I was past caring. I wanted to murder him so much that my blood boiled with anticipation just at

~RUBY Tomorrow was the trial. I woke up nervous, my heart beating with the speed of a jet, and it took all my willpower to not call the detective and cancel. Ethan was cool with me being the witness at the court, and he had promised that I would be fine. Ash was indifferent, of course. Not like I expected a reaction from him or anything. But he could have acted like he was worried or concerned about me. Right? Ella was quiet the whole time, and as Ethan left for work, Ash for his evil hideout, she pounced on me. "I feel like I'm in a prison," she stated and her suddenness took me by surprise. "I'm sorry...what?" She sighed, sitting down beside me and placing her head on my shoulder. "I don't know. I know I've been here for days but it seems longer. All I can see is the four walls of this ridiculously big mansion. I need to go out. You know I've never had the patience to stay indoors for long," she said as she sighed again. I knew she was right. Ella ha

~RUBY I stayed by Ella's side all night, my eyes wide awake and alert as I watched her unconscious form. There was nothing else to do. It was my fault that she was here, in this state, and the least I could do was pull an all-nighter. Ethan and Ash stayed up with me, after the depart of the detective and when it was midnight, Ethan went home for a bathe and change of clothes since he would be going to work when it was day break. Ash stayed in the waiting hall, while the nurses gave me permit to stay in the same hospital room with my friend. Dawn crept upon me and met my unblinking stare, fastened on Ella. If only— No. I would not go down that train of thought. There was no use wishing something else had happened. The door opened, and Ethan walked in, worry coating his entire body and making his shoulders rigid with fear. Fear for me. Fear for my friend. Fear for the outcome of these chain of events. "Ruby. Darling. You've not slept a wink since yesterday