Chapter 66: Chapter 66

RUBY.

I wandered out of their mansion in confusion so many questions swirling around my head. What the hell was between my father and Daniel's father? What were they hiding from me? Why the hell couldn't I just be free? Toby raced out and grabbed me by the hand.

"Let go of me," I said.

"Where the hell are you going dressed like this? No one will even let you out the gate," he said.

"I want to see my father."

"And you will, let's get you home so you can take a bath and rest. The excitement from these past days must have worn you out." He was correct. I was tired but I didn't tell him that, I just slipped into his car when it was brought upfront. We drove back to our apartment without saying a single word to each other, each person to his thoughts as the radio played some soft tune at a low volume. I matched out of the car and into the elevator ignoring the stares I got. Toby laughed as the elevator doors closed behind us.

"What's so funny?"

"Everyone is staring at you walking around in pyjamas that's what," he laughed.

"Childish." I scowled at him. He had stopped laughing but he still had a stupid grin on his face.

I went straight to my room when the elevator doors slid open. I decided to take a soak in the tub and I fell asleep at some point. I was startled awake by frantic banging at my bathroom door. I sat up in the bathtub when the door came flying open.

"What the hell?" I screamed, bringing my hands to cover my exposed breast. "Turn around you pervert," I shouted at toby who just stood there gawking at me.

"Sorry," he said, turning to face the door. "You were gone for a while so I was worried something had happened to you."

"I fell asleep, now would you get out?" He scurried out of the room at my command. I held the sides of the tub and lifted myself out of the water and wrapped a towel from the rack beside the tub around my skin. Back in my room, I rubbed in my favourite lotion to revive my skin. The extended soak had left my skin looking wrinkly from all the water it had absorbed so I took my time smoothing It out before I put on a shirt and a pair of sweatpants. I heard a knock as I rolled my socks on.

"You can come in now," I answered after a few seconds. Only then did he kick the door open and step in, well, he learnt his lessons fast. He held a large tray filled with food in his hands.

"I bought you breakfast as a peace offering." I relaxed in my bed with my back against the headboard and motioned for him to set the tray down across my lap.

"Are you just going to sit there and stare at me all day?" I asked him after I chewed a piece of scone. He just shrugged but he didn't make any move to leave the edge of my bed where he sat and stared.

"Your kidnappers left my suitcase behind at the inn, I have some pieces in there that I love. Can they send them?"

"Sure thing, I'll see what I can do."

"Good," I nodded and continued eating.

"I'd like us to be civil with each other if not for anything then at least for the baby's sake."

"We'll see," I said concomitantly. I didn't believe a word that came out of his mouth. He sat with me until I finished my food. When I finished he cleared the plates and left with the tray. He was probably doing all this as part of his father's ploy. I wasn't going to play into their hands again. It didn't take a minute before I was sound asleep again.

I woke up from my sleep feeling rejuvenated and dressed up in a simple floral print flair dress and wedge sandals. I picked up my handbag and headed out the door.

"Where are you headed to?" Toby asked, startling me.

"How is it any of your business?" I asked.

"I'll take you to wherever it may be then," he said. He hopped off the couch and picked up his car keys.

"What are you now, my chauffeur? If you are scared I'll try to run away, don't be, I'm not going anywhere until I'm free from you legally and in every way," I said heading toward the elevator.

"You've got my kid growing in your belly so you're stuck with me for another twenty or more years," he said as he followed after me.

"A kid you didn't want," I retorted. He had nothing to say in reply to that. I let him drive me to my father's house and we rode in silence as was becoming our norm.

"Darling, the prodigal child is here," Lola announced when I entered my father's house.

"What the hell were you thinking running off like that," my father scolded after appearing from lord knows where.

"Dad, can I have a word with you in private?" I asked.

"Whatever you need to say, sure you can say it with your stepmother and husband present," Lola replied before my father could.

"Dad," I complained, not giving Lola any attention.

"Let's talk," he said, turning to leave the room. I followed him as he led the way to his office.

"What do you want to talk about," he said after he had sat at his desk and poured himself a glass of scotch.

"What is this business with Toby's father about?"

"You don't need to worry about that," he said casually.

"This business is ruining my whole life and you're telling me I don't need to worry about it, that's bullshit," I said angrily.

"What are you whining about, you're married to the man of your dreams. Just stay faithful to him and make it work. You are ruining your life with your own life." I gaped at him in disbelief at the words that were coming out of his mouth. Where the hell was my father and who was this man in his place?

"I'll get to the bottom of this fishy business with or without your help," I said, turning to leave.

"Keep your nose out of things that don't concern you, it's for your good," he called after me.

"Let's go," I told Toby, who Lola had been entertaining in the living room. She had an array of food and drinks spread out before him and sat near him discussing stuff I don't care to know. I waited by the door as Toby said his goodbyes to Lola and my father. When he was finally done we walked out to the car.

"Are you okay?" Toby asked when we settled inside the car.

We stepped into our supposedly empty apartment only to hear, "welcome back guys". I clutched my chest in fear that only abated when I saw it was just Clara.

"Mum, who let you in?" Toby asked, my fear turned into annoyance. It looked like I just wasn't going to get a break today.

"Ruby, can I have a word with you?" She asked.

"I'm all ears," I answered.

"Toby, excuse us then. Let's have a little girls' chat." Toby looked at me as he tried to gauge if I was comfortable being left alone with his mother. I gave him a little nod before he left the room.

"I know I've not been the most welcoming but now with my grandchild on the way I'd like us to start over," she said when Toby left the room.

"As I said to Toby earlier, we'll see how things go."