Ruby
I heard Allison crying as I was walking through the hallway, making my way to her bedroom. My head was pounding, yet the burning ache in my heart was more hurtful than anything else.
I was going to lose my first daughter��the one that made a mother. I couldn't believe it. All because my husband wasn't going to choose her over his gang. Why, God? What did I do to deserve this?
I staggered before leaning against the hall of the corridor. Tears started rushing down my cheeks again. It was so painful. The pain was unbearable as though someone was cutting my chest open and stabbing me continuously. I wanted to cry my heart out. But I didn't want anyone to see me crying here. After all, I was still their boss lady.
I pressed my hand over my mouth to not let out a sound. I clutched the fabric over my chest and bit my lip so hard it could bleed. "I'm sorry, Eve. I'm letting you down," I let out.
Hearing Allison's cries again, I wiped my tears and cleared my throat before going into her room. As soon as Allison saw from Maya's lap, she stopped crying and forwarded her tiny hands towards me.
I forced a smile on my face and picked her up. I kissed the top of her head and cooed her in my arms. "Have you fed her yet?" I asked Maya.
"Yes, Boss Lady. Don't worry about her, and leave her in my care. Please take a seat," said Maya and she made me sit on the bed before going out for a while.
When she left, I hugged Allison tightly. The small baby in my arms patted my cheek with her little soft fingers, trying to stop the tears which were gushing out again. Little kids were so innocent, so was my Everley. Why was she being held for something that wasn't even her fault?
"It's all my fault, Allie, isn't it? I really shouldn't have let Eve go out with Liam. I'm so stupid. I have also said so many mean things to Vexon. I'm sure it's not easy on him, either. I'm the worst. I'm hurting everyone, including your unborn sibling. I even got your elder sister kidnapped. I'm the worst wife and the worst mom."
Just thinking about Everley's condition got me goosebumps. My baby girl must be so scared right now. How would she feel when she would get to know that her father wouldn't even choose her over his gang? She would rather feel like dying, just like I was feeling right now.
But don't worry, baby. I'll try my best to save you. Your mom won't let anything happen to you.
I wiped my tears quickly when Maya entered the room with a tray in her hand. There was a glass of juice, a few sandwiches on it, and my medicines.
"Maya, I really don't feel like eating anything," I told her.
"I know, Boss Lady. But the baby in your womb must be really hungry. You haven't eaten anything since this evening. You already seem so pale," Maya said and placed the tray in front of me. "For the sake of your baby, please eat something."
I did feel hungry but my throat felt so dry, I highly doubted if I could swallow even a grain of food. I handed over a fast asleep Allison to Maya and forced myself to take a bite of the sandwich. Immediate nauseousness engulfed me. I hurriedly drank the juice to make nauseousness go away.
"I can't eat anymore," I mumbled and pushed the tray away. Probably my baby didn't want to eat either, knowing his sister might be starving too.
"Okay, fine. Take your medicines, please." Maya handed me a glass of water and medicines.
Once I had gulped down the pills, I realized that the medications were in our bedroom. Did she get them in front of Vexon? Or did Vexon send her?
Before I analyzed anything more, Vexon burst through the door. "You're receiving a call again," he breathed out and showed me the burner number displaying on the screen.
Maya left the room quietly with Allison after closing the door as Vexon approached me. I stopped him from picking up the call and asked, "Are you really sure about this?"
Vexon nodded and didn't wait another second before answering the call and putting it on the loudspeaker.
"Have you made the decision?" Liam's sadistic voice rang out from the other side.
"Yes," Vexon answered carefully.
I gulped, preparing myself to hear the awful words. Tears brimmed my eyes once again.
"And what is it?" Liam asked.
Vexon took a deep breath and said, "I will surrender."
I was shocked to hear his words. I grabbed his arm and made him face me. "What are you saying? Have you gone��" Vexon put his hand on my mouth to shut me up.
"Stay quiet," he warned me and turned towards the phone again. "Where should I come?"
"I'll text you the address. Arrive there at 4 a.m. without any guards. Don't try to outsmart me, otherwise, I will put a bullet in your precious daughter's head," Liam threatened us. "Also, don't forget to bring Ruby."
"Why should Ruby have to come? I'm the one who needs to surrender. Let Ruby stay out of it. She did nothing wrong. She isn't even involved in any of my business," Vexon protested and I took a glance at him.
I swatted away his hand from my mouth and said, "Don't worry, Liam. I'll come. Just keep my daughter safe." There was no way I would let Vexon go alone, and I wanted to see Everley as soon as possible. I wanted to embrace her in my arms once again.
"Ruby!" Vexon hissed lowly.
"Okay, fine. I'll be waiting for you two. Be on time, and let me warn you again, don't try to play smart with me,�� said Liam.
As soon as Liam hung up, both I and Vexon let out at the same time, "Are you insane?"
"Why did you agree to surrender? Are you fucking out of your mind?" I yelled at the top of my lungs.
"I thought that's what you wanted me to do," Vexon retorted.
"How can I want you to actually surrender? Do you even know what is going to happen once you do surrender? You will be put behind the bars, Vexon," I reasoned out.
Why did this have to come to this? What was going to happen to my happy family? Just one person was up to destroying my family.
"That was what I was trying to say, but you said Ev's life took more priority." Vexon's voice was much calmer than before as if he had already thought it through. "I am going to take this responsibility for not living up to the expectations of a good father. So, it doesn't matter what happens to me. Ev needs to be saved, no matter what, and I will do it alone, so you stay at home, okay?"
"Who are you to decide that?" I challenged him. "I'm going with you, whether you like it or not. I will not leave you alone there."
Vexon exasperated a sigh. "What can you even do in your condition?"
"Are you saying I'm a liability now that I'm pregnant?" I couldn't help but let out a humorless laugh.
"It might sound harsh, but it's true. You can't be doing what you used to, otherwise, you will end up losing the baby in your womb. Can you handle that?" he questioned me.
I hesitated to answer.
Didn't you say you were going to protect Everley no matter what? Why are you backing off now? taunted my subconscious.
"Yes, I can. Now you are taking me along with you. I won't hear another word, Vexon," I announced and was about to walk out of the room.
Vexon held me back by my arm and requested in his usual gentle voice, "Please, Ruby. I won't be able to take it if something were to happen to you or the baby."
"Trust me, nothing will happen to me. I can take care of myself, and I won't let anything happen to our baby," I assured him, even though I was getting a bad feeling about it.
Vexon still wasn't convinced, so I leaned forward and pecked his lips, which caught him by surprise. I placed my forehead on his, breathing heavily.
"If you can risk your whole career and the Gladiolus, I can surely risk mine as well," I let out, trying my best to put on a smile.
He didn't meet my eyes but nodded his head. He placed his hand over my stomach and caressed it. "You have to be extra careful," he said. His voice was so quiet that I almost missed whatever he was saying.
I could sense how scared he was. He was probably even more scared than me. I knew he wasn't saying but he surely had a backup plan. There was no way Vexon would risk everyone's life like that. Therefore, one mistake could cost him everything.
I released a deep sigh and wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his chest. Even after all this, it felt good to be in his arms. "It's going to be alright, Vexon. Our happy family won't be destroyed that easily."
He hummed and hugged me tighter. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Don't worry," I assured him and broke apart from him. "Let's go now, shall we?"
Even though I wanted to say, still I couldn��t tell Vexon that I was having a bad feeling about this as well.
