CHAPTER 124: NOT READY

Rayna burst into the room like a whirlwind, clutching her phone in her hand and eyes wide with excitement. "Ruby! Oh my God, have you seen what’s trending today?! You’re not going to believe this—so much is going on right now!" she said breathlessly.

Ruby, who had been curled up on her bed with a book she wasn’t really reading, looked up with a faint frown. "Trending? What is it?"

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Though she’d said she was fine and didn’t want Stefan back in her life, he’d been the only thing on her mind all morning, wondering if she could really carry on with her decision.

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As much as she was feeling hurt, she also knew she loved Stefan deeply and knowing now that he was here in Florittle trying to get her just seemed to disrupt the little peaceful life she’d thought she was beginning to have.

Rayna after hearing what Ruby replied didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she climbed onto the bed beside Ruby and shoved her phone into her hands. "Watch this first."

It was better to have her see the video than telling her about it. She was one hundred percent sure Ruby wouldn’t want to listen of she heard Stefan’s name.

Ruby glanced at the screen, confused, until she recognized the serious face staring back at her—Stefan. Her stomach flipped involuntarily.

He looked... different. Tired. Resolute just like he looked the previous day. The video began to play, and even though Ruby wanted to look away and return the phone to Rayna, something in his voice rooted her to the screen and before she knew it, she was giving her full attention to the video.

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What was it about anyway?

"Hi, everyone... I wasn’t going to say anything. I really wasn’t. But with everything that’s been circulating in the news lately, I think it’s time I cleared the air so everyone knows the truth..."

Ruby watched in stunned silence as he spoke about Ivy, the rumors, the divorce. He was composed, direct, and heartbreakingly sincere. When the video ended, she handed the phone back quietly, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

"He really said all that?" she asked, her voice softer than she had intended.

Rayna nodded. "Yup. It’s everywhere. People are losing their minds. Apparently, someone is accusing Ivy of manipulating Eliana into having that accident. Her leg’s badly damaged, and now Stefan’s using the whole mess to finally push for a divorce."

Ruby blinked. "Divorce?" she echoed, like she needed to hear the word again to believe it. "Why? Because he found out she left him or because of me. I hope not."

"Seems like it’s probably because he knows the truth now," Rayna said with a shrug. "He must’ve finally come to his senses. Took him long enough."

Was he really ready to go through all that trouble for her? Was it even for her? Or because of the baby? Did he find the ultrasound result? How did he find out the truth? How did he finally put it together? Was it his mom or did he figure it out on his own? Why was she even thinking about all of that? Did it matter?

Ruby looked away, pretending to smooth the crease in her bedsheet. Something twisted in her chest—a flicker of something she couldn’t name. Relief? Bitterness? Longing? She couldn’t tell. But she wasn’t about to let it show.

"Well, good for him," she said flatly. "At least he’ll be free from Ivy’s manipulations now."

Rayna stared at her for a second, then tilted her head curiously. "True. But what does this mean for you? He’s getting divorced from her probably just to make things right with you. He’s shown you that much by finding you here."

Ruby didn’t miss the hint in her best friend’s voice. She glanced at her, lips tightening. "It means nothing."

Rayna raised an eyebrow. "Nothing?"

Though she’d been mad at Stefan after seeing Ruby suffering that way but right now, it seemed he was sincere and had just made an honest mistake. Perhaps, she could’ve made that mistake if she were in his shoes too.

"I’m not going back to him, Ray," Ruby said flatly.

Rayna sighed and leaned back on the pillows. "Left to me, I’d say you should forgive him. I mean... it wasn’t entirely Stefan’s fault, Ruby. He’d acted thinking Ivy was the one who’d stood by him through thick and thin. He’d been blind and could only rely on his emotions and at the time, his emotions must’ve been clouded by the happiness of finally seeing the woman he loved again. I guess that’s why he came after you the moment he realized the truth. I hate to say this but you do know you’re also at fault? Maybe if you had told him the truth—about Ivy running away and you taking her place—if you hadn’t kept putting it off until it got to that point, then maybe things would’ve turned out differently."

Ruby’s heart clenched, her gaze dropping to her lap. She knew Rayna was right. She’d had the chance to come clean more than once or twice or even thrice. But fear and guilt had held her back every time. And now? Now it just felt too late. None of this was meant to be.

"There’s no point thinking about what could’ve been," she said quietly. "We’ll never know how things might’ve turned out so why bother thinking it?"

Rayna was quiet for a beat before reaching out to squeeze Ruby’s hand. "You still love him, don’t you?"

Ruby gave a humorless laugh, blinking away the sudden sting in her eyes. "That’s the problem, isn’t it?"

Rayna sighed. "Whatever you decide, I’ll be here for you, Rubes. I just want you to be happy and not regret your decision later in the future especially since whatever you decide will deeply affect your child too."

They sat in silence for a long moment, the weight of unspoken emotions settling between them. The video had stirred something deep within Ruby—something she’d buried beneath anger and disappointment.

Maybe Stefan had wanted to tell her these things. Maybe he truly wanted a new beginning. With her that’s why he came for her like Rayna had said.

But for Ruby, it wasn’t just about love. It was about trust. About healing. About choosing herself for once.

And as much as a part of her wanted to believe in what they could still have... the larger part of her wasn’t sure if she was ready to take that risk. At least, not yet.