A few minutes later, after she freshened up and dressed, Ruby followed Stefan down the grand staircase, her heart pounding in her chest. The house was quiet except for the sound of birds outside and the faint rustle of the house staff moving about.
In the living room, Elizabeth Winters sat perched on one of the cream-colored armchairs, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked the sa—elegant, poised, but this ti, her eyes held a weight Ruby hadn’t seen before. A softness. Almost like a sadness.
When Elizabeth looked up and their eyes t, Ruby saw sothing else too—regret. Was she feeling regretful for betraying her? Could soone as tough as Elizabeth Winters ever admit that she was wrong?
All the while she’d been pretending to be Ivy and helping Stefan through business, Elizabeth had always made it seem like she was just an outsider and shouldn’t have a say in the business but looking at Elizabeth now, she didn’t have that fire or anything like it in them.
Her eyes were almost pleading, begging her for sothing her mouth was yet to say.
"Ruby," Elizabeth said softly, standing as they entered. "Thank you for agreeing to see ."
Ruby offered a polite nod, her heart thudding. "Good morning, Mrs. Winters."
"Please," Elizabeth murmured, her voice quiet, "call Elizabeth."
Though that was what she’d been calling her while pretending to be Ivy, now that she was no longer pretending, it sort of felt odd to call her Elizabeth.
Perhaps it was because of how she’d treated her that day at the hospital hence making her feel so uncontrollable addressing her so casually, or perhaps because she was herself now. Whichever it was, Ruby knew she’d need so getting used to if she were to ever concede to addressing her so informally.
An awkward silence stretched before Elizabeth took a small step forward. "I wanted to say I’m sorry," she said, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "For everything. For the way I treated you. For the things I said. I was... I was wrong. So very wrong. And I—" she paused, swallowing visibly—"I’m grateful you ca back. Despite everything. Despite all I said that day even when I should’ve had your back seeing as I was the reason for everything. I let my fear of not wanting Stefan to find out about my role in everything control . I wronged you and your child. I know it wouldn’t be easy to forgive or trust but I just... I still want to ask for your forgiveness. And to thank you for coming back to him. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive and give the chance to be a better mother in-law to you."
Ruby’s throat tightened unexpectedly. She hadn’t known what to expect, but certainly not this. Elizabeth was being more than humble and it just made her speechless.
She glanced briefly at Stefan, who gave her the smallest encouraging nod, before she returned her gaze to Elizabeth. "I forgive you," she said quietly, sincerely. "I think we all make mistakes when we’re trying to protect the people we love. So, it’s nothing. You were only trying to protect your child. I don’t know but I might have made the sa choice if I were in your shoes."
Elizabeth’s eyes shimred faintly with unshed tears as she gave a small, grateful nod. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much, Ruby for those words."
The conversation shifted to lighter things for a mont, and when it was ti for them to eat, Elizabeth led them to the dinning table with so much delight, glad that everything was settled between her and Ruby.
Now, the child would recieve all the love it could get from her, Stefan and Ruby. Elizabeth thought, not bothering to count Regina or Ivy since she knew they’d never happily accept this union.
The soft clatter of silverware on fine china filled the air as the three of them—Ruby, Stefan, and Elizabeth—ate in quiet comfort.
For the first ti since Ruby had stepped into the Winters’ mansion months ago under completely different circumstances, the atmosphere felt... light. Peaceful.
She rembered the first and only ti she’d had dinner with Elizabeth and her mother and she giggled inwardly.
Elizabeth, who had once been the wall between her and Stefan’s world, now smiled gently across the table, her expression softened, her once sharp edges smoothed by regret and, perhaps, newfound appreciation.
Stefan, seated beside Ruby, kept stealing soft glances at her, his thumb occasionally brushing over the back of her hand when no one was looking. Ruby felt the warmth of his touch settle deep inside her, a soft glow that seed to light her from within. Having him see her every move was like the icing on the cake.
"Thank you for breakfast," Ruby said softly, her eyes flickering toward Elizabeth. "It was really thoughtful of you."
While she’d been waiting, Elizabeth had joined the chef in the kitchen, wanting to help in anyway she could.
Elizabeth smiled, her features easing even more. "I thought it was the least I could do... after everything," she said, her voice carrying genuine sincerity. "Besides, I wanted us to sit together as a family. It’s ti I start seeing you as just that—family."
Ruby’s breath caught for a second. The word family felt foreign yet oddly comforting on Elizabeth’s tongue. It made sothing tender bloom in her chest.
She felt Stefan’s fingers tighten around hers slightly under the table, as though he too felt the weight of that word.
Elizabeth set down her teacup and turned her eyes toward Stefan. "You’ll have to be careful though," she said, her voice lowering slightly. "we may be at peace with having Ruby back now... but I haven’t forgotten what Ivy and Regina are capable of."
Ruby’s expression shifted, her brows pulling together as she exchanged a glance with Stefan.
"I don’t trust either of them," Elizabeth continued calmly, her voice firm. "I have a feeling they haven’t given up yet. You know your uncle is still bitter about the company... and Ivy? She’s her mother’s daughter through and through. Regina, as much as she’s your mother, is unpredictable. They both can do anything to see you cry, Ruby."
Stefan nodded grimly. "I’ve been thinking the sa," he murmured. "I won’t let them near Ruby. Or the company. Or our child."
At the ntion of the baby, Ruby’s hand instinctively pressed to her belly. She swallowed, her heart aching a little with the reminder of just how vulnerable they all still were.
Why wouldn’t her mother just love her like her father did? It wasn’t her fault that he died. Was it? She thought, trying not to let those thoughts show on her face.
"I appreciate you telling ," she said softly to Elizabeth, her voice calm but resolute. "And you’re right... we should be careful."
Elizabeth gave her a faint smile, her eyes softening. "I don’t say this to worry you, Ruby. Just to keep you aware. You’ve already been through enough. I don’t want to see you hurt again."
For a mont, Ruby’s chest tightened. She could almost hear the difference in Elizabeth’s voice—this wasn’t the cold, distant woman she’d known. This was... soone who cared. Not just for Stefan but, surprisingly, for her too. Or was it for her unborn grandchild?
Whether it was for the grandchild or her, she should be grateful.
"Thank you," Ruby murmured sincerely. "Really. I an it."
Elizabeth reached out briefly, her fingers brushing Ruby’s hand across the table in a gesture that, while small, felt monuntal.
"Let’s eat," Elizabeth said with a small, fond smile, pulling back and signaling a light shift in the mood. "We’ve got plenty to do, and I think we could all use a little peace before Monday starts."
The rest of the al passed in comfortable conversation—Elizabeth giving Stefan updates on minor company details while occasionally asking Ruby gentle questions about her ti away, her plans for the future, and—surprisingly—about her pregnancy.
Ruby responded softly, her guard slowly lowering, the warmth of the ho and the quiet strength of Stefan’s presence easing her nerves.
By the ti the plates were cleared and the last sips of tea were taken, Ruby felt sothing she hadn’t in a long ti.
Belonging.
As they all stood, Stefan lightly touched her back, guiding her gently toward the living room. "You okay?" he asked under his breath, his eyes scanning her face carefully.
She nodded, offering him a small but genuine smile. "Yeah," she murmured. "Actually... I am."
For the first ti, she wasn’t just saying the words.
She ant them.
And in that mont, Ruby knew: whatever challenges lay ahead—whether from Ivy, Regina, or the shadows of the past—she wouldn’t be facing them alone.
************
Hello, dearest readers! How are you all doing today? I see your votes, your comnts and I want to say thank you all.
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