Ruby didn't know whether to cry or bang her head on the wall.
What has gotten into Hunter?
He never played a protective husband in her previous life. When they met for the first time, he offered her a contract marriage that she found quite insulting. Still, she went ahead with it because she thought he was filthy rich.
Now, in this life, Tom wasn't even bothered that his bride was in distress because of her father. And Hunter?
He left the hospital and took his wife along with him.
"Ruby!" She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Mom?" Her mom's face was streaked with tears, "I don't know why Tom is acting like a jerk and … and look at Hunter… He was never…"
"Ruby," Her mom looked at her in disbelief, "Can you think of your father once instead of getting worried about those two men?" She confronted her, "All your life you showed jealousy to Sienna, and I always stood by you even when you were wrong, but for once, can you think about me, Ruby?" She held Ruby's shoulders and gave her a good shake, "Your father lost his leg. With Sienna's consent."
She gave Ruby a little shove and started crying.
The two doctors had long gone when they saw them fighting with each other. Mrs. Mariana Mason didn't know how she would face her husband.
What would she tell him once he got back his consciousness?
From the start, she was against this plan, and now they all were bearing the consequences.
That Sienna!
She balled her hands into fists. If Hunter hadn't reached here on time, she would have hit her face once or twice.
"Mrs. Mariana Mason?" A nurse announced in the corridor.
"Yes?" She looked up tiredly and then searched for Ruby. She was nowhere to be seen. Mariana gritted her teeth in anger.
"Mr. Mason is awake and asking for you," Mariana Mason gulped hard and then tried to smile.
"S…sure… I'll go and meet my husband. Thank you…"
The nurse nodded and left. Mariana Mason looked here and there and then decided that it was not a good time to see her husband.
He would get angry and could do more damage to his health. She could meet him later once he was mentally stable.
Yes. This was the right decision.
She straightened her shoulders and headed to the exit door.
***
Sitting in the passenger seat, Sienna stared out of the window. She felt this odd emotion, familiar to confusion, settling in her chest.
Am I supposed to live here? In this house?
The car was parked right in front of it.
Hunter shot her a questioning glance, and she quickly shook her head.
"Well. Don't get me wrong. I like it here…" She said, forcing a smile.
It was a small house near the beach— quiet, simple, and modest.
But Ruby…
In previous life, Ruby lived in the Xanton area, a place little better than the slums. Ruby never liked it there.
Then why did Hunter bring her here?
She turned in her seat to look at him, "Are you sure this is your house? Because…" She threw her hands up in the air, "How will you manage the rent and everything? You should have talked to me…"
If he thought that she would let him keep spending her money senselessly, then he was mistaken.
"Don't worry," He shrugged, "It belongs to a friend."
"I don't like being a freeloader," She retorted.
"You aren't …" He chuckled, turning away his head, "It's just that… rent is nominal here."
Sienna needed to make him sit and talk to him. Even if it was a contract marriage, they needed to discuss their financial situation.
At least, until she secured a job somewhere.
"Fine…" She rolled her lips between her teeth, "From now on…no more spending without consulting me… Okay?"
Hunter had suddenly gone quiet.
"Okay, Hunter?" She raised her voice a little when she didn't get a response from him. Hunter nodded silently.
She kept drumming her fingers on her lap when Hunter at last ran out of patience.
Sienna was taken by surprise when he bent over her and reached out to unbuckle her seat belt. Sienna lifted her gaze and found his face dangerously close to hers.
At the very same moment, Hunter decided to look at her.
For an instant, Sienna wanted to snatch those dark glasses off his face.
"What?" She snapped, trying to control her erratic breathing.
"Hey, menace. Relax!" He smirked as his hand raised to hold the stray hair on her forehead. Sienna held her breath as he tucked it behind her ear.
She kept looking at his face, holding her breath. The man wasn't even moving. Or did he forget so quickly that she was not into men?
"What is your eye color?" The silly question left her lips before she could even blink, taking Hunter by surprise.
He chuckled and shook his head, "Does this thought keep you awake, menace? My eye color?"
Is he calling me Menace? What kind of name is it?
He let out a heavy sigh before moving away, as if...
As if he didn't want to.
"Shut up, Sia. You are imagining things now…"
Hunter got down and then rounded the car to open the door for her like a gentleman.
She ignored the hand he offered to help her out and stepped out of the car.
The house might be small, but it was neat. There was a modest living room with an open kitchen that had glossy marble tops.
A door was there on the ground floor, but Sienna only glanced at it before moving on.
The stairs caught her attention.
Hunter followed her gaze and gestured towards it, "Let's go…"
Sienna climbed the stairs and scanned the open area, "Is it a bedroom?" She pointed towards the door.
Hunter went ahead and opened it without a word. The room was decorated with a simple, neatly made bed pushed against the wall and a wooden side table.
There was an attached bathroom and a walk-in closet, too.
"Not bad!" A faint smile curved her lips, but then she spun around with a frown, "Where will you stay? Don't have any fancy notions about…"
Hunter threw his hands up in the air, "I'll take the one downstairs…"
Sienna nodded and then stretched herself, "I need to freshen up," Hunter left the room with a nod, leaving her alone.
There was another door on the left that she missed earlier. When she opened it, she stepped onto a small balcony, the sea breeze welcoming her, tossing her hair back.
Sienna smiled to herself and closed the door. She liked the house. Thank God she didn't get the same one that was given to Ruby.
She took a long, relaxing shower and then came out wearing a loose shirt and her panties. While pulling her jeans up, she left a voice message for Lina.
"Before anyone recovers from the shock, I'm contacting that young doctor, or we won't be able to go ahead with our plan."
With that, she tossed the phone on the bed and decided to go downstairs.
Man! She was hungry.