Chapter 296
Sweet Subterfuge
âThereâs no need.â Larissa declined Edmundâs offer with a reasonable excuse. âItâs just a game to pass the lime. Regardless of whether Iâm good or bad at poker, as the youngest, I should be the one to lose.â
Her words Immediately gained unanimous praise from Marla and Nancy.
âWhat a sensible child!â
âYoung people nowadays should have such awareness!â
Frankly, Violet didnât care whether Larissa lost money or not. Her insistence on having Kevan come upstairs was to prevent him from spending time with Ruby, but she was a step too late.
Violet fell a throbbing headache coming on.
Even though Kevan assured her that nothing was going on between him and Ruby, she was still worried that problems would arise. More importantly, she was afraid that Larissa would overthink, Meanwhile..
âThanks for agreeing to come out with me.â Ruby said to Kevan, âItâs nothing.â Kevan replied with a faint smile as he drove.
Silently, Ruby stared at his side profile for a long time. Suddenly, she blurted. âDo you The Larissa?â
Kevan raised an eyebrow in surprise. âWhat?â
He sounded as if he didnât understand her question, Ruby asked more specifically, âDid you marry Larissa because you like her?â
For a moment. Kevan was silent. Then, he put on a deliberate smile. âOf course.â
âYouâre lying Ruby exposed him mercilessly. âYou donât actually like her, do you? The only reason you married her was because you had to satisfy your parentsâ wishes Kevan continued after some hesitation, if you insist on thinking that way, go ahead.â
Naturally, Ruby assumed that she was on the right track after hearing Kevanâs ambiguous response.
Biting her lower lip, she dug her long nails into the flesh of her palm, forcing herself to tear up.
âKevan â¦â Her voice trembled as if she was close to lears. âTo be honest, I havenât been happy these past few years either.â
Kevan pressed his lips into a straight line. Keeping his eyes on the wheel, he asked, âDid he mistreat you?â
Ruby lowered her head and wiped the tears away from the corners of her eyes.
âHe has other women on the side. In fact, itâs more than one,â she said.
Kevan narrowed his eyes and said with disapproval. âWhen we go back, Iâll talk to Cody.â
âNo! Ruby looked up in a hurry and grabbed Kevanâs arm desperately, âDonât let him know about this!
He will hit me if he finds out that complained to your Kevan turned to look at Ruby, his voice growing colder, âWhat, he dared to hit you?â
Tears streamed down Rubyâs face like an overflowing dam as she couldnât stop hersell from sobbing.
She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle her s obs.
Kevan probed further. âWhere did he hit you?â
Trying to stop her tears, Ruby shook her head. âNol He did not hit me Kevan slammed on the brakes and stopped the car side of the road.
He held Rubyâs shoulders, forcing her to face him.
Staring into her eyes, he repeated, âRuby, tell me. Where did Cody hit you?â
His determined gaze calmed Ruby down somewhat as he coaxed her in a gentle voice to tell the truth.
Ruby slowly unzipped her down jacket and took it off.
She rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, revealing her bare arm.
Her arm was covered in patches of blue and purple bruises. It was a harrowing sight.
Ruby continued, âNot just on my arm, but also here and there.â
She pointed to her stomach, thighs, and back âWhenever heâs in a bad mood, he would beat me up to vent his emotions.â
Kevan stared at her in shock. âRuby, why didnât you tell me earlier?