Rudy's voice echoed with conviction and determination.
"This is just an act to get back at Derek. Kia is just a means to an end. You mustn't fall for his charm, his money or his pretentious care. All men are cruel and heartless. They can never be trusted, especially the nice ones. No more falling in love. No more fairytale wishes. No more building your castle in the cloud. It's time to wake up and face reality."
Her gaze narrowed and her eyes darkened as she vowed.
"I will work twice as hard. I will fend off every male superiority and manipulation. I will stand tall and proud for you..." Her eyes lowered to her flat stomach and a smile slowly lit up her eyes as she stroked her flat tummy. "...my precious gift ."
Squashing every sprouting bud of affection in her heart for Kai, Ruby returned to the bed and grabbed a few bites of everything on the tray.
When she was satisfied, she carefully wiped her lips, picked up her matching handbag and exited the room in search of her fake husband.
-
-
Outside the VIP lounge of the beach resort, Kai stood by the edge of the elevated terrace, staring into the open sea, his mind in chaos after what he had learnt the previous night.
His little feisty princess had been sleep-talking to someone named Elena, and she had said something that knocked the air out of him.
"Could it be?" He pondered out loud, recalling how she had reacted to the barbecue fish.
Just then, his phone buzzed and when he saw the name flashing across his screen, his expression dampened. He let out a sigh as he swiped the receive button.
"Hello, Mom."
"Kai, where are you?" The sweet and angelic subtle voice of Ariella echoed from the other end.
"I'm..." Kai was saying when the approaching sound of a stiletto heel clicking sharply against the polished wooden floor made him tilt his gaze backwards and then he froze, his breath hitched.
Blissfully aware but uninterested in the effect of her presence on Kai, Ruby walked up to him and said politely in a subtle but emotionless tone.
"Thank you for everything, Mr Treshvire. I'm ready if you are."
Kai blinked twice, stunned by the coldness in her tone and her drop-dead gorgeous appearance. He almost forgot to breathe as he stared helplessly at her until his mother's sharp voice snapped him out of his trance.
"Mom...please let me call you back. Love you." He ended the call, a sheepish smile stretching across his lips as he held her slightly icy gaze.
"You look beautiful."
"I know... Can we go now? I've been away from home for over seventeen hours and my parents will be worried sick." Ruby maintained a formal demeanour as if she were speaking to a business partner.
"Sure...umm..." Kai's gaze flickered to her bare left fingers, and a crease appeared on his forehead, which immediately disappeared when he met her raised eyebrow. "Give me a few minutes." He smiled and dashed away in the direction of the suite, only to return with a broad smile framing his lips.
"You forgot this..." He opened the ring box and retrieved both the engagement and wedding band.
"No...I can't." Ruby shook her head, her tough demeanour crumbling slightly.
"Why?" Kai arched his brow. "We are married after all. You and I are a couple."
"Not a real couple." Ruby corrected sternly. "This is just to get back at Derek and nothing more. We will go our separate ways once I have achieved my goal."
Kai felt something sharp pierce his heart at her cold and emotionless words. But he managed a smile, knowing she was still hurting and would need time to heal.
Nevertheless, he had no plans of breaking up with her anytime soon and maybe forever.
"This ring..." Ruby continued, gesturing at the sparkling diamond. "...is way too expensive for me. I'm a simple country girl and I don't like flashy things. You could get me something cheaper and return this." She concluded, meeting Kai's surprised gaze.
"Seriously!" Kai couldn't hide his bewilderment.
Many women would kill to have such a sparkly accessory, and yet here was this angelic beauty who only deserved the best, rejecting such a simple gift.
"Yes. My mind is made up. Now, can we leave, please?"
Kai hesitated but decided not to push the matter any further, knowing she won't budge. He slipped the ring into his pants pocket and led her to the car.
-
-
An hour later, the newly registered couple were seen, smiling and chatting casually as they made their way out of the civil affairs bureau, with Kai holding their marriage certificate.
He led her back to the car, opening the front passenger door like a complete gentleman while Ruby teased him for his chivalry.
As they drove back to Rollington County, Kai continued to prove to Ruby by his gentlemanly actions that not every man in the world was a complete jerk.
After almost five hours of a long and memorable drive back to her hometown, Ruby's bubbly expression turned sour as her father's modest compound came into view.
A feeling of guilt, anger and betrayal washed over her, filling her with nervousness and a sickening fever.
"You're going to be fine." Kai's deep, sexy voice felt like a soothing balm as she turned her head sideways to look at him.
"Thanks." She forced a smile.
"I can still come with you if..."
"No!" Ruby cut him off almost immediately. "You're still a stranger and I don't think this is the right time for you to get into the picture."
"I perfectly understand." Kai smiled. "But if that foolish jerk tries anything funny, I'll be there in a heartbeat to put him in his place." He warned, his tone very serious.
"I mean it, Kai... Do not interfere," Ruby stressed sternly. "Let me handle this myself. Remember, you promised things would be done my way."
"Fine.... You are the boss." Kia pulled up by the driveway and watched the front door to Ruby's parents' house open.
He leaned backwards and retrieved a brand new iPhone which he got for her. "Take this... My number is saved on the speed dial. Feel free to call me anytime."
"Okay." Ruby exhaled, her heart pounding erratically as she saw her father marching towards the car like a military commander preparing for war.
"And this..." Kai slipped the engagement and wedding ring band into Ruby's ring finger while she was distracted looking at her father and the entire family running towards the car.
Her gaze flickered to the diamond ring on her finger and Kai's mischievous smirk as he leaned in and kissed her briefly on the lips.
"Kai!" She gently pushed him back, flashing him a death stare. "What are you doing?"
"Stirring the troubled water." Kai winked at her and she immediately got the picture as she caught sight of Derek's car arriving in the opposite direction.
Throwing all caution to the wind, Ruby leaned closer and kissed Kai back, immersing herself in it until she heard her father's angry voice and someone trying to yank open the front passenger door.