To the Love of My Life

Chapter 117 - 117: 117: Loving Her is the Perfect Pantomime (1)

Thus, loving her became a perfect mime show performed by him alone.

Every time Ruby Gregory and Steve Burton became intimately close, she would always sneak back to her room on the upper floor through the back door of the Gregorys’ house, take a hot bath, change into long clothes, hide all the blue and purple marks on her body, and then go downstairs to greet her parents, telling them that she had returned home.

Tonight was no exception.

The reason for her doing this was simple, she just didn’t want her parents to see her disheveled state.

However, tonight when Ruby Gregory snuck in through the back door, she unexpectedly bumped into Lady Gregory, who happened to be coming out of the kitchen with a glass of water.

The dress Madeleine got for her was mid-sleeve, and on the exposed pale wrists were traces of blue and purple caused by Steve Burton’s binding.

At the first sight of her mother, Ruby Gregory’s heart trembled violently. Instinctively, she hid her handbag behind her back, looked at Lady Gregory, and called out, “Mom.”

Seeing Ruby coming in from the back door, Lady Gregory paused for a moment, “Why did you come in from the back?”

“I went back to check on the flowers that Housekeeper and I planted a few days ago.” Ruby made up an excuse and changed the subject, “Mom, why haven’t you gone to bed yet?”

“Your Dad is thirsty, so I’m getting him a glass of water.” Lady Gregory casually answered Ruby’s question, seemingly without suspicion, and carried the glass of water toward the master bedroom on the first floor.

Ruby breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could completely swallow it, Lady Gregory, who had only taken a few steps, suddenly stopped and turned around to look at Ruby with furrowed brows.

Ruby’s heart was filled with unease due to Lady Gregory’s expression. She held her bag tightly behind her back and forced a relaxed smile, “Mom, what’s the matter?”

Lady Gregory scrutinized Ruby from head to toe, as if finally noticing something  wrong, she said, “Ruby, I remember you wore a different dress when you left this morning…”

As she spoke, Lady Gregory stared at the love bite on Ruby’s neck, her brow deeply furrowed, “Ruby, that mark on your neck…’

Realizing that her question was too direct, Lady Gregory softened her tone and asked, “Who were you with tonight?”

It seemed she hadn’t managed to hide it after all. Ruby felt slightly nervous, afraid that her mother might discover other flaws and find out about Steve Burton’s cruelty towards her. Her mind raced as she quickly came up with a seemingly shy demeanor.. She slightly lowered her head and whispered, “With Steve Burton… I accidentally tore my clothes…”