Chapter 16
Ruby was getting ready for work when she heard a knock on her door.
She dropped her purse on the couch as she walked to the door to see who it was.
“Ophelia” she called in surprise. That was unusual, to see Ophelia by her door in the early hours of the morning, looking so angry. There was not a single smile on her face.
Ophelia usually smiled, there was hardly a time who wouldn’t see her smile, and the fact she knocked just once scared Ruby. Ophelia never knocked without banging on the door and screaming her name.
“Ophy..” Ruby called in a low voice, moving close to her.
“Is everything alright?” She asked in concern, she wanted to hold Ophelia when she snapped at her coldly.
“Don’t fucking come close to me!!!” Ophelia yelled, her sudden outburst taking Ruby by surprise.
She had to blink repeatedly to make sure she was not in a dream or something.
“Ophelia, what happened to you? Why are you acting so strange?” She questioned, her heart beating in her chest.
“You liar, cheat, and sneaky bitch” Ophelia fired at her.
“Wh.. at? Wh…at?” Ruby stammered in surprise.
“What’s..” she never got to finish her questions when Ophelia threw some papers at her
Ruby hadn’t noticed that she was holding them before.
“What’s this?” She asked, but it seemed the answers were in the newspapers, so she bent over to pick them up.
Ruby’s heart raced as she looked at the picture in the newspaper.
“Oh my god!” She exclaimed as she used the back of her hands to rub her eyes, staring at the newspaper occasionally.
The headlines read. ‘WIFE OF BILLIONAIRE, JAXON HUGH VAUGHN SPOTTED!’
Ruby gulped down loudly as she stared at Ophelia.
“How long has this been going on?” Ophelia asked as Ruby inhaled nervously, her breath shaking.
Her cover had been blown, it was written in the newspaper that Billionaire Vaughn was spotted playing lovey-dovey with his wife in front of a restaurant.
That was a lie! He was not being romantic to her, he was scolding her.
It was a picture of the both of them, the picture was probably taken when Jaxon placed his hand on her chin and made her look at him. From the angle the picture was taken, it looked like they were sharing a kiss.
“I can explain..” Ruby stuttered with shaky hands. Jaxon was a billionaire, that explained his wealth. She had no idea.
“Explain what exactly Ruby? That you’re married and to Mr Vaughn of all people!!!” Ophelia yelled at the top of her voice, feeling betrayed.
She’s been friends with Ruby for so long, how could she lie to her?
“You know I feel like a fool right now” Ophelia confessed.
“Ophy, please I can explain” Ruby begged in a low voice.
“Explain what Ruby?? What’s there to explain?? It’s so clear what’s going on there. You’re married to Mr Vaughn!!” Ophelia yelled as she bit her lips hard trying to contain her anger.
“I can’t believe I’ve been telling you about how much I wanted him and how I crush on him. I was his die-hard fan. And all this while, you kept quiet about it. You never told me that the man you were married to, was the same man I’ve dreamt of being with. How could you?” Ophelia grilled as she held Ruby Hy her shoulders shaking her violently.
“Why did you lie to me huh? Even if no one knows about your relationship and you both decided to keep it a secret. You could have told me! I’m your best friend. When did you even get married?” Ophelia asked in a low voice as she slowly let go of Ophelia’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry” Ophelia apologized in a low voice.
Realization dawning on her, Jaxon was THE Mr. Vaughn. Ophelia crush. She had no idea about that.
How was she supposed to know that Jaxon was him? She knew nothing about Jaxon.
And why was she in the newspaper? Jaxon wanted their relationship to be a secret right?
“Sorry, for what exactly??”
“The thing is, you’ve never been straight forward Ruby. You tend to lie a lot!” Ophelia accused.
“You’re a liar!” She blurted out angrily.
“I share all of my deep secrets with you, but you tell me nothing”
“I’m not even angry that you’re married to Mr Vaughn. I’m angry that you hid the truth from me!! If you would have just come clean, I would have been so happy for you! I would have been delighted that you were married to a man like him. That you will finally get a good life. Then you’ll not get to work so hard, we’ll go on vacations together. You’ll live happily Ruby. But you lied!” Ophelia’s voice turned cold that minute.
She was so angry that Ruby kept quiet all the while, why she was fantasizing about Jaxon.
It made her feel stupid.
“He paid for Kimberly’s bills right?” Ophelia suddenly asked.
“Answer me!!” She yelled.
“Yes,” Ruby replied slowly.
“I said it. There was no way you would have won a lottery” Ophelia scoffed.
“I always knew you were lying but I decided to keep quiet about it. You were the lady at the party right?” He asked again as Ruby nodded slowly.
“I knew it. I knew that something was off”
“I’m really sorry. Ophy. I didn’t intend to hide the truth. And I have no idea how this came out?” Ruby said, pointing at the newspaper. She was sure the news was everywhere now.
“You should be worried about our friendship. Not this!” Ophelia fired at her.
“I’m sorry. Ophy. I didn’t have a choice. I swear. I wanted to tell you the truth but…”
“But you didn’t!” Ophelia chimed in.
“The fact here remains that you lied and you’ve always been kind of lying”
“You know what?” Ophelia began.
“I just came to share the good news with you, that our friendship is officially over!” Ophelia announced as Ruby felt her head begin to spin.
“What? Ophy no.. we can talk this out. Please just listen to me”
“There’s nothing to listen to. Enjoy your married life. Ruby. Have a nice day..” Ophelia smiled at her as she turned to leave.
“Ophelia please listen to me!!” Ruby called after her, but she had already gotten into her car and driven off.
“What is this?” Ruby muttered to herself as she fell weakly on the ground.
What was going on?