CHAPTER 132: A REAL MAN

As the car pulled away from the sidewalk, Ruby leaned back in her seat, eyes glassy as the world blurred past the window.

Rayna. Of all people.

Rayna had sworn she was on her side. That she would stand by her no matter what. And now, she was meeting Stefan behind her back?

What could they possibly be talking about?

What did Stefan have to say that was so important he needed her best friend?

Ruby’s mind spiraled with questions she had no answers for—and doubts she never wanted to have.

Once she was back at home, she didn’t even change out of her clothes. She simply walked into the living room, sat on the couch, and stared blankly at the TV screen that wasn’t even on.

She waited. She was going to wait here for Rayna when she returned. No matter how long, she was going to wait.

She said there as ten minutes passed. Before she knew it, it was twenty and then nearly an hour.

Then, the sound of a car door closing.

Keys jingled and the front door opened. Ruby didn’t need anyone to tell her who it was as this was the moment she’d been waiting for.

Rayna stepped inside, looking calm, as if she had actually just come back from a peaceful trip to the grocery store.

Ruby didn’t move. Her eyes were sharp now, cold and unreadable.

"Hey," Rayna greeted casually, setting her purse down. "Sorry I took a while. There was a bit of traffic."

Ruby leaned back, folding her arms across her chest.

"So, how was the grocery store?" she asked evenly.

Rayna blinked, surprised by the sharpness in her tone. "It was fine. Got what I needed."

Ruby gave a slow nod. "Really? Because from where I was sitting, it looked more like a café with Stefan Winters inside."

Immediately she heard that, Rayna froze and the room fell silent.

Her head turned slowly toward Ruby, eyes wide. She should’ve known that Ruby was just pregnant and not a fool. What had given her away? Was it when she’d refused her from tagging along or how she’d been shocked when she saw Ruby awake?

"How...?" she began.

"Is that even the point?" Ruby interrupted sharply. "You were meeting Stefan, Rayna. Behind my back. I don’t care how you spin it. Why would you do that?"

Rayna opened her mouth, but no words came out. Then finally, she said, "Because... he begged to see me. He sent me a message last night and asked for a few minutes to talk."

Ruby’s laugh was dry and without humor. "Wow. So that’s all it takes now? He begs, and suddenly you’re joining hands with people to betray me?"

Rayna took a step forward, her expression pained. "Ruby, no. Don’t say that. I would never betray you."

"Well, you just did."

"No, I didn’t." Rayna’s voice rose a little, her hands clenching. "Yes, I met with him. But not because I’m choosing him over you. I just... I wanted to hear him out. He was sincere, Ruby. He’s not the man you think he is."

Ruby stood now, anger simmering just beneath her skin. "Sincere? Did I just hear you say sincere? He broke me, Rayna! I trusted him. I gave him everything I had left. And you think I care if he suddenly found his conscience and realized the pain he caused me?"

Rayna inhaled deeply. "He knows about the baby."

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The sound of that stilled Ruby.

Her lips parted slightly as the words settled into her chest.

She’d expected it, deep down. After all, she had left the ultrasound photo in his files.

Still, hearing it aloud brought a different kind of sting. Was it because he knew that he was trying to get her back or because he truly cared? If it was for the baby, he probably would’ve mentioned it that day he came.

Rayna continued, more quietly this time. "He didn’t even mention it like it was a burden. He said he wanted to make things right—for you and the baby. I was going to tell you after I got back... but I guess now’s the time."

Ruby said nothing, her eyes narrowing, her jaw tight.

Rayna took a shaky breath and stepped closer. "Look, I know you’re hurting. I know it feels like everyone’s out to ruin your life. But Stefan... he didn’t betray you on purpose. He was blind, Ruby. Literally and emotionally."

"And when he regained his sight?" Ruby bit out.

Rayna hesitated. "He made mistakes. Big ones. But haven’t you? Didn’t you lie to him too?"

Ruby’s face twisted. "That’s not the same."

"No," Rayna agreed softly. "It’s not. But it’s still part of the story. You pretended to be Ivy. You stayed in his house, in his life, knowing who he was but not letting him know who you were. And I get it—you were forced. But don’t act like you didn’t play a role in this mess too."

Ruby’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears now. "You’re defending him now?"

"I’m trying to make you see all sides," Rayna said. "You think he didn’t try to find out the truth? He did. He suspected. He even tried to blackmail you into admitting it. But you didn’t. You played along. You convinced him you were just a better version of Ivy. He was fooled, Ruby. Not just by his mother or Ivy but by you too. And now that the truth is out, he wants to fix things. He’s not even holding it against you but trying to fix things because he loves you. He’s trying. But you’re shutting him out. I was too but now I know better."

Ruby’s hands trembled. She didn’t know what to say. Every word from Rayna’s mouth felt like a betrayal, even if deep down, a small part of her knew there was truth in it.

Rayna’s voice softened. "You can hate him as long as you need to. You can cry, scream, throw things. But you know that man loves you. And he’s not going to stop fighting until he gets you back. And frankly? That’s what a real man does."

Ruby turned away, her throat tight.

"And think about the baby," Rayna added, her voice low. "He or she deserves a father who’s present. And Stefan wants to be. Not just by the baby but in the baby’s life and yours, too."

With that, Rayna picked up her purse again and turned toward her room.

"I’ll be in my room," she muttered. "Think whatever you want. But I did what I believed was right."

As she walked down the hallway, she tried to keep her expression strong, but her thoughts drifted to Ethan and what Stefan had said about him.