<b>Chapter </b><b>96 </b>


    Patricia was the one who lifted the Martin family out of obscurity and gave them a real shot at life


    again.


    When Patricia was little, she was the only child–her parents adored each other, the house was always full ofughter, and money was never an issue. Whatever she wanted, she got.


    Ruby’s childhood couldn’t have been more different. Her parents, Emerson and Tina, always lived in the shadow of their eldest brother. Sure, they enjoyed some perks from the family name, but their lives were nowhere near as easy or carefree as Patricia’s.


    And honestly, they never really cared much about Ruby. Whenever Ruby wanted something and her parents refused, it was Patricia who secretly made it happen. Patricia was beautiful, generous, and had a heart of gold.


    But even so, Theo chose Ruby.


    He nced down at the small hand tugging on his suit jacket, his lips pressing into a thin line as he tried to find the right words.


    Then, out of nowhere, a voice rang out by the elevator–sharp and mocking: “Wow, Theo, my sister’s only been gone six months and you’re already hooking up with her cousin?”


    /* <![CDATA[ */


    fpm_start( "true" );


    /* ]]> */


    Ruby’s scalp tingled at the words. She turned to see Chelsea leaning against the wall, arms crossed and a smug look on her face.


    People passing by slowed, sensing drama. Within seconds, whispers spread through the crowd:


    “Isn’t that the guy from that wife–murder case?”


    “The one who was just in courtst week.”


    “Yeah, that’s him. I heard he set the fire himself.”


    “They say his wife lost her legs saving him, and his family ditched her because she was disabled. Then he killed her.”


    “Heartless jerk.”


    “Total disgrace.”


    Theo’s jaw tightened as the words reached him. He shot Chelsea a freezing stare, pulled open the car door, and drove off–leaving Ruby standing there, stunned and alone.


    Chelsea let out a long, mocking whistle. “He’s gone and you’re still standing here, daydreaming about


    him?”


    Ruby shot her a re. “Chelsea, you did that on purpose.”


    “Of course I did! I skipped lunch just toe down here and give you a hard time. That’s real friendship, isn’t it?”


    She smirked, stepping closer. “But honestly, of all the people in the world, you had to fall for your ex–brother–inw? Aren’t you afraid of karma?”


    <b>11:18 </b>


    “You’ve always been good at taking calling Patricia ‘sister‘ all sweet and innocent, but all along, you had your eyes on her husband. Isn’t that just wild?”


    Ruby’s voice shook. “What are you even talking about?”


    Chelsea didn’t back down. “Oh,e on. Who was it that couldn’t afford a pretty princess dress as a kid and went crying to Patricia? Who begged her to buy concert tickets and ne rides to see your favorite band? I even heard Patricia paid for the hotel the first time you slept with Theo. She took care of you for years. And how do you thank her?”


    “You called her a cripple, rubbed it in her face that you were Theo’s childhood sweetheart. Ruby, <i>don’t </i>you ever worry about karma?”


    Ruby’s eyes shed. “Don’t forget, Theo was my fiancé first. Patricia just had to get involved and mess everything up. If it weren’t for her, none of this would’ve happened. Why should I forgive her just because she was nice to me when we were kids?”


    “Stole your love?” Chelsea scoffed. “As if Theo was even worth stealing.”


    She folded her arms. “Ruby, ask anyone here–doesn’t saving someone’s life mean anything?”


    “You act like you’re innocent, but why don’t you talk about how your parents stole Patricia’spany? Or how your mom tried to poison her in the hospital? Your family tried to ruin her, but she’s not allowed to fight back?”


    “If you want to me someone, me your own parents.”


    The crowd’s whispers grew louder. Ruby stood there, face drained of color, clutching her car keys like


    a lifeline. She hurried to her car and drove away, her whole body shaking.


    Back at home, Theo stood by the wine rack, uncorked a bottle of red, and drank nearly half of it before knocking on Howard’s study door. <fn9773> Newest update provided by fι?dnοvel</fn9773>


    “Dad, I think I need to leave the country for a while.”


    11:18 1