Chapter 504: Chapter 504: So You Knew It All Along (14)
Ruby Gregory thought about it and found it annoying. In the end, she decided to follow Madeleine’s wishes and stay with her.
Madeleine held Ruby’s hand and repeatedly mumbled “Howard.” After she had said his name countless times, she finally quieted down.
Ruby sat by the bed, staring at Madeleine’s sleeping face. After watching her for a while, she stood up, fetched a warm, damp towel from the bathroom, wiped Madeleine’s face clean, helped her change out of her clothes, and covered her with a blanket. She then tiptoed out of the bedroom, took out her phone, and called her mother, Lady Gregory.
Upon hearing that she wouldn’t be returning to the hospital that night, her mother’s first question was, “Are you at Steve’s place?”
Ruby pressed her lips together, then replied, “No, Madeleine isn’t feeling well. I’m taking care of her.”
“Oh, I see.”
Even over the phone, Ruby could clearly feel the disappointment in her mother’s voice. She suddenly felt a lump in her throat, so she looked up at the beautiful chandelier on the ceiling and whispered, “Mom, you should get some rest. I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait!” Lady Gregory suddenly cried out, stopping Ruby from ending the call.
Ruby paused, not saying a word.
Lady Gregory seemed to know that Ruby was listening. After a while, she spoke gently, “Ruby, when Madam Burton visited recently, she said Steve could help Gregory’s Enterprises. Steve said he’s prepared a plan. Your father is going to be discharged the day after tomorrow, and he wants to go back to work at the company after you get engaged. Since he’s bored in the hospital, he wants to see the plan in advance. What do you think…?”
Lady Gregory left her sentence unfinished, but Ruby understood what her mother meant.
Ruby held her phone, not speaking.
After a moment of hesitation, Lady Gregory continued, “Ruby, your father and I are too old to bring it up; it wouldn’t look good. But you’re about to marry Steve, so it’s more normal for you to ask. So tonight, or tomorrow morning, can you talk to Steve about this?”
Ruby leaned against the white wall, feeling weak. She stared at the lights outside the window for a while, then said, “Mom, I understand.”
“Good. Nothing else, then. Just remember not to stay up too late with Madeleine. Get some sleep.” Lady Gregory instructed Ruby, then added, “Don’t forget what I just told you.”
“Hmm.” Ruby’s voice sounded a bit dry, “You should get some rest too, Mom. I’m hanging up now.”
As soon as Ruby hung up, she found herself alone in Madeleine’s spacious living room, staring at the dazzling lights outside the window. After a while, she blinked and slowly walked over to the sofa. She opened her bag and took out a bottle of folic acid prescribed by her doctor. When her fingertips accidentally touched a bottle of vitamins, Ruby shuddered as though she had been electrocuted. She quickly took the folic acid, walked to the water dispenser, poured herself a glass of warm water, and swallowed the folic acid.
When Ruby returned to the bedroom, Madeleine was already fast asleep. After a quick wash, she lay down beside Madeleine.