Ruby.
For three days, I’ve been haunted by the vivid image of their passionate embrace, an intimate scene that unfolded right before my eyes with only a door shielding me from their sight.
Following the intense confrontation with Damian and my attempts to avoid Liam, I found myself stuck within the office alongside my son. The need to stay hidden until the tension dissipated kept us locked away, especially when Lilith approached Damian and Liam stormed off with an air of mystery, leaving me hesitant to step out into the aftermath.
Even though I had strained my ears in an attempt to hear the conversation between Lilith and Damian, I couldn’t make out a word as the office was soundproofed.
What annoyed me most was the fact that they made my son go late for his classes, and saying the whole intimate interaction between them was painful to watch would be an understatement, as my heart ached when I saw them caress each other erotically without fear of people passing or minding anyone. The way Lilith had wrapped her hands lovingly around Damian’s neck and the way he had pinned her to the door with so much lust in his eyes made everything Lilith had said about them true.
Honestly, I had thought Damian was different-a good kind of different-with all his heroic acts of saving me, especially when I needed him the most, but I guess he was still a man and couldn’t control his pants.
Even though I had tried so much to control my feelings and expressions in front of my son by making my face expressionless, my mind churned with a tempest of emotions as I watched Damian and Lilith together, and an unexpected pang of jealousy seized me. Even my wolf, usually calm and collected, stirred with possessiveness.
What I found funny was that not too long ago he was acting like an alpha male and showing his dominance, shielding me from Liam, but he was no different-an even bigger asshole, cheater, and lair.
How could he interact with Lilith in such a questionable manner when I was only a door away? For moon sake, I was his mate, and he should have at least had some respect for me until I left before doing whatever he was doing with her. Why did he blackmail me like he actually wanted me to be his?
Yes, I won’t deny that I initially found it enticing and refreshing when he indirectly tried to assert his claim over me by being possessive without offering me a choice. However, after witnessing the spectacle he made with Lilith, I felt foolish for falling for his manipulative tactics and finding myself unwittingly becoming his Luna.
At a certain point, I grew weary of watching their prolonged display of affection, as it was taking forever to end, and each passing second made my wolf howl louder in pain. I walked to a far corner, ensuring my son’s eyes were shielded, waiting until I was certain their intimate moment was over before we left.
That marked the last day I laid eyes on Damian, as I never spotted him around the academy afterward, which struck me as odd. The damaged part of me was sure he had taken whatever romance he shared with Lilith to a more private setting, allowing them to continue without any disruptions.
Observing them together heightened my awareness that he was less trustworthy, and I should fortify my guard around him even more than I did with Liam. His close proximity to someone who posed a threat to me raised a significant red flag that shouldn’t be dismissed.
I know I told him that I needed a week to myself, but secretly, a part of me had hoped he would check in on me during those days, ensuring that I hadn’t disappeared. Unfortunately, he never did.
Instead, I only witnessed his beta picking up and dropping off his daughter at school. In those moments, I did my best to evade her by lurking in the shadows. Occasionally, I noticed her sensing my presence and sniffing the air, as if trying to locate me. However, I would swiftly vanish before she could. It wasn’t her fault that I avoided her; it was her father’s fault, as he was untrustworthy. After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“If you aren’t going to give your full attention to this work, then why don’t you just quit?” The voice carried a tone of malice, and a forceful tap on my shoulders accompanied the words. Turning, I met Jane’s infamous glare, which I was getting used to. She was the chubby nurse who had openly shown her dislike for me since the first day I walked into the sick bay in hopes of finding a cure for the children.
Oh, she was such a b*tch.
“Jane, I’ve got this under control. No need to tap me like I’m some disobedient child,” I responded, maintaining a calm demeanour despite the irritation bubbling within me.
She huffed, folding her arms across her chest. “You’ve got it under control, huh?”
I sighed, controlling my urge to pull her by the hair and yank it off until she became bald. “See, it’s just been a rough day, Jane. I’ll try to focus more.”
“Well, try harder. These patients need care, not someone lost in their thoughts and probably out of their mind. You know you could also just quit and become a patient who needs help; after all, you look crazy,” she retorted, her stern gaze lingering on me.
Why was she always quick to insult me? What was her problem?
“Between me and you, Jane, trust me, you are the one who looks sick, but I am sure you aren’t ready for that conversation.” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
“Excuse me?” She hissed.
“I said I’m sorry. I’ll get back on track.” I smirk, looking at her with a daring look. I don’t know why I was still trying to act humble when everyone knew about my capabilities and how good I was at this job. Maybe it was the fact that I didn’t want to draw too much attention to myself or my son by creating a scene.
My mind was still grappling with the events from the previous day, and I was contemplating the right answer to give Alex regarding his questions. My son was no fool; he had understood every conversation I had with Damian but chose to remain silent. Unfortunately, when we got home, the first thing he asked me was, “Mom, are you going to accept that man and move in with him? Does it mean that the scary man is going to be my father?”
I found myself speechless at his words, cursing his intelligence. Since then, I haven’t said anything to him, only nodding my head, as I had nothing more to say and didn’t want to lie to him any longer.
“See yourself lost in thought again and thinking about your failed life that cannot be fixed.” Jane snapped, bringing me out of my thoughts, and I scratched my chin in irritation. Why was she after me today?
“Jane, I don’t have time for your games,” I retorted, irritation evident in my voice as I brushed off her attempt to provoke me.
“I don’t care, and here’s a little something to occupy your mind. I need you to document all the sick patients that have come in over the past century,” Jane declared, handing me a massive file that looked like it could contain the medical history of an entire town.
I raised an eyebrow, my annoyance growing as I glanced at the formidable task before me. Past century? “What is the meaning of this? It’s beyond overwhelming.”
“I am your senior, and you will do what I say.” She spat, and my eyes widened at her audacity.
“There’s no way you are serious, right? This is almost impossible to complete!” I stuttered as I slowly processed the sheer volume of work ahead of me.
She smirked. “Well, if you want to keep working here in peace without problems, then you better get started.”
“But this… this is a lot.”
“Exactly. It’ll keep you busy. Now, get to work. Good luck, Ruby.” she ordered, her no-nonsense attitude leaving me with no option but to dive into the overwhelming sea of medical records spanning decades that would surely take me another century to finish.
I had no choice but to delve into the mountain of medical records; the pages seemed to multiply before my eyes. The weight of the responsibility pressed down on my shoulders, and the sheer volume of information threatened to engulf me.
There was much to be done, so I stretched my body in a relaxed manner. Jane watched with an arched eyebrow, enjoying my struggle. “Don’t worry, dear. You’ll get used to it. Just make sure you don’t mess up; these records are vital.”
I couldn’t help but wonder why she assigned me such a crucial task. I suspected this responsibility was originally meant for her.
With a forced smile, I nodded, realising that this daunting task would test not only my organisational skills but also my patience and determination to prove myself in this new job.
After approximately three hours of work, my entire body felt sore, and just as I contemplated taking a break, my heart skipped a beat when I noticed a file labelled “Case Closed.” The name written on it sent a shiver down my spine-it was the name of the person I cherished the most.