Ruby:
“Darling, what were you doing?” Mrs. Smith asked the moment I entered the living room, her gaze flickering between me and her husband like a hawk assessing its prey.
Her voice carried an edge, thinly veiling an accusation that unsettled me. After discovering the truth about Mr. Smith moments ago, I understood her behaviour and why she acted like a jealous wife. It was clear that whatever had occurred between Mr. Smith and Lilith had left Mrs. Smith feeling deeply insecure.
I met her gaze squarely, refusing to let her intimidating demeanour shake me, and, even with the accusations lurking beneath her words, I tried to maintain a calm exterior, determined not to give her any reason to doubt my professionalism. But as I trailed behind Mr. Smith, her piercing stare felt like a weight on my shoulders, as if she were attempting to see through me.
The hostility in her eyes sent chills down my spine. It was unnerving, to say the least, to be the target of such intense scrutiny, and despite my attempts to stay calm, I didn’t want to be misunderstood and unfairly labelled as a threat to her marriage. I felt exposed and vulnerable, hoping she wouldn’t misinterpret my intentions.
I forced a smile to conceal the turmoil raging inside me, even as my heart raced. Being perceived in such a negative light was frustrating, and yet, I couldn’t entirely fault her for her suspicions.
“Where is the visitor?” Mr. Smith’s voice interrupted our staring contest, his tone carrying a hint of impatience as he addressed his wife. Gradually realising her subdued behaviour, his gaze shifted between her and me. Then he sighed in frustration, as if just becoming aware of the underlying tension in the room.
“Becca, answer me,” he repeated, and there was a subtle edge to his voice.
“In the dining room, waiting,” Mrs. Smith replied in a low voice as she avoided meeting her husband’s eyes. Her hands fidgeted nervously at her sides, betraying her inner turmoil.
The tension in the room made me feel uneasy, and I realised it was best to excuse myself and give the couple some privacy. It wouldn’t be considerate to linger knowing it was hurting Mrs. Smith, even though her husband didn’t show any sign of care about her feelings.
To be honest, I had expected a different response from him, hoping he would treat his wife better, like a queen, given his history of disloyalty and illness. Especially considering his wife’s unwavering support during the tough times. However, Mr. Smith’s next words caught me completely off guard.
“Jane will be having dinner with us before she leaves,” he declared, his gaze fixed on his wife as if daring her to object. Mrs. Smith’s reaction was immediate, her mouth opening and closing in shock before she shot me a venomous glare that filled me with guilt.
I didn’t expect him to take my words earlier seriously. He should know better.
I offered a nervous smile in return; the weight of her gaze felt like a physical presence in the room, surrounding me like a dark cloud. As Mr. Smith led the way to the dining room, I followed behind him, my heart racing with every step I took.
But as we entered the dining room, I made a conscious effort to push aside my apprehension. I had no reason to feel guilty because I wasn’t pursuing her husband, contrary to her suspicions. This realisation eased my mind, and I stepped into the room with renewed confidence, determined not to let her scrutiny affect me.
Yet, as I stepped further into the room, my determination faltered. Sitting confidently on one of the dining chairs, as if she owned the place, was Lilith.
I was caught off guard by her presence here, and seeing her sent a shockwave through me. The surprise on her face matched the astonishment I felt. Our eyes locked, and I could see the mix of disbelief and disdain in her expression, as if she were silently daring me to challenge her. A shiver ran down my spine as I prepared myself for whatever confrontation might unfold.
“What is she doing here?!” Lilith exclaimed, her voice full of disbelief as she turned towards Mrs. Smith, confusion evident on her face. Mrs. Smith looked puzzled as she glanced between Lilith and me, clearly unaware of our history.
“Do you know Jane?” Mrs. Smith asked Lilith in a friendly manner, unaware of the situation between us. Unlike me, she spoke to Lilith gently and with kindness, which proved that she was aware of the abomination Lilth had committed with her husband.
“Jane? What on earth are you talking about? Her name is Ruby, the lowlife omega,” Lilith spat, her words dripping with venom. My heart raced as I prepared to confront her, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Even though her appearance was unexpected, I refused to show any weakness. I squared my shoulders and met her gaze with defiance, a fiery spark burning in my eyes.
“I could ask you the same thing: What brings you here, Lilith, the home wrecker? You’ve got some nerve to act like you own the place after what you’ve done. Shame must come with a hefty price tag because you certainly seem to lack it.” I laughed mockingly, cracking my knuckles in readiness to punch her in the face if needed.
My instincts were urging me to confront her physically; my wolf was craving to taste her blood. Yet I knew I had to tread carefully with my words, as revealing what I knew was my leverage to secure the council position from Mr. Smith. However, witnessing Lilith’s manipulation once again pushed me to the edge.
“What did you just say?” Lilith’s lips curled into a sneer as she regarded me with disgust.
“Enough,” Mr. Smith’s voice boomed just before I opened my mouth to respond. He shot me a warning glare, indicating he didn’t want his wife to learn the truth. But didn’t he realise that by allowing Lilith into their home, he was indirectly hurting her?
“Uncle, why is this bitch here?” Lilth asked, her voice dripping with hostility, and I felt a surge of indignation rise within me. I refused to let her belittle me in front of Mr. Smith and his wife. With a defiant smirk, I locked eyes with her, determined to hold my ground.
“I’m not a bitch, Lilith. I’m a guest. A very important one,” I retorted, my voice tinged with sarcasm as I turned to Mr. Smith to emphasise my point before meeting her gaze.
“A guest?” Lilith questioned, her eyes boring into mine, fury evident in every line of her face. But I refused to back down, keeping a smirk on my lips.
“Are you deaf or stupid?” I continued, my tone sharp, as I addressed her directly. “Unlike you, I actually have important matters to attend to, and I don’t go around opening my legs like a loose dog.”
My words clearly struck a nerve because her face turned red with anger, and I could sense the simmering rage beneath the surface as Lilith clenched her fists at her sides. Anticipating retaliation, I grinned, but instead, she stormed over and forcefully grabbed my arm, leading me out of the room with a tight grip.
As we walked down the hallway, her grip tightened, and I winced slightly, feeling the pressure on my arm. Yet I maintained a composed facade, refusing to show weakness despite the discomfort.
“What game are you trying to pull?” Lilith demanded, pushing me against the hard wall of the hallway. I chuckled before meeting her gaze with feigned indifference, pretending to inspect my nails nonchalantly.
“Game? What do you mean? I didn’t know we were playing one,” I replied casually, a hint of amusement dancing in my eyes as I observed her reaction.
“You know something, don’t you? Why else would you be at my uncle’s place? What’s your fucking plan?” Lilith’s voice grew more intense; her frustration was palpable.
“Uncle or lover? Do you think I’m like you, willing to steal him away from his wife and have another child with him? It’s a tempting offer, but unfortunately, I can’t have any more children,” I teased, enjoying the sight of her face turning red.
“What are you talking about?” Lilith stammered, trying to play stupid, causing me to roll my eyes.
“Stop pretending, Lilith. I know your little dirty secret and how devious you are. But I must applaud you for being a hardworking bitch.” I taunted
“Don’t get cocky with me. You’re no better than me, Ruby. Or should I say, Jane, you imposter? Did you steal her identity to get here because you’re ashamed of being seen as a lowlife omega? I’ll have Jane report you for identity theft to the board of the academy and have you dismissed,” Lilith spat, her fists clenched at her sides.
“Hmm,” I hummed, eyeing Lilith suspiciously. “You seem very close to her.”
“What do you mean?” Lilith asked, her voice strained, avoiding my gaze.
“It seems playing dumb is your specialty. When you see Jane, tell her to turn herself in. I won’t rest until she pays for taking my child from me and reveals who put her up to it. And now that I think about it,” I paused, locking eyes with Lilith, “it’s just too much of a coincidence that my child was taken and my mate rejected me right when you came into my life.”
“What are you talking about? You have no proof to accuse me,” Lilith protested, her voice trembling.
“I never accused you, but now that your conscience is speaking out, I’ll gather all the proof I need to bring you down, Lilith. You killed my friend Andrew, and you ruined my life. Now, you’ll watch as I take everything precious from you. Get ready to see hell,” I declared, and then she attempted to grab me, but I swiftly twisted her arm, ignoring her yelp of pain, and left her stunned as I walked back to the dining room.
“I’ll be leaving now. Thanks for the dinner invite,” I said with a polite nod to Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
“Are you not staying for dinner?” Mrs. Smith’s tone held a hint of disappointment, as if she had wished I would linger a bit longer, a fact that amused me.
“No, I’m afraid I have more important matters to attend to, and I also need to find a replacement nurse because I’m resigning,” I replied smoothly, not bothering to wait for their response as I turned to leave.
“Why are you so concerned about her, Uncle?” I heard Lilith’s voice inquire from behind me. Just as I reached for the door handle, Mr. Smith dropped a bombshell.
“I know this may come as a surprise, Lilith, but I want you to treat Ruby with respect. She’s my new candidate for the council president position, and I hope you two get along,” he said, catching me off guard for the second time in a row. I didn’t need to see Lilith’s reaction to know it would be filled with rage and anger.
As I opened the door, I could already hear Lilith’s voice screaming in anger, nearly deafening me. Without hesitation, I walked out, leaving the chaos behind.