billion book
Chapter 526
Jacob quickly assured him, "Of course, we won't breathe a word."
But he could already feel Neil's dissatisfaction and disappointment looming in the air. He let out a heavy sigh internally. If Neil couldn't even bring up their past encounter in front of his wife, it seemed like the idea of marrying into the Shaw family was a lost cause.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
His eyes drifted to Lisa. She was still basking in her own self-satisfaction, completely unaware that Neil wasn't the least bit interested in her. She even had the audacity to sidle up to Neil, calling out, "Mr. Neil, Mr. Neil," over and over, which only deepened the frown on Neil's face.
Soon enough, they reached the dining room. It was spacious, with a grand round table made of pear wood and inlaid with jade right in the center. The jade lazy Susan was already crowded with a mouthwatering array of dishes.
Lisa exclaimed with exaggerated enthusiasm, "Wow, Mr. Neil, this is quite the feast you've laid out!"
Just then, Ruby stepped out from the kitchen. Seeing Neil, she greeted him warmly, "Darling, you're here."
The way she called him “darling” left no doubt about her identity. Lisa quickly chimed in, "You must be Ms. Ruby. Did you whip up all these dishes yourself?"
Ruby was momentarily caught off guard by the blunt question but soon replied with a smile, “I don't cook."
Neil, now at Ruby's side, interjected with a noticeably cooler tone, "My wife's hands aren't meant for chopping vegetables or cooking."
Jacob felt exasperated inside. Would it kill Lisa to keep quiet?
Leah quickly tried to smooth things over, "Of course, Ms. Ruby is an incredible person, featured in textbooks and once a reporter at Riverbrook TV Station. She played a heroic role in the Riverbrook elite kindergarten kidnapping case, saving countless families."
Stepping forward, Leah added, "I've always wanted to thank you in person. My daughter was on that bus too."
Mentioning the incident tugged at Ruby's heartstrings, bringing back memories of when the kidnapping sent shockwaves across the nation. The kidnappers had rigged a school bus with a time bomb during a field trip. Despite a day and night standoff, the authorities couldn't find a breakthrough until Ruby
courageously created an opportunity for the military.
What stood out most was a little girl on the bus. While all the other children were crying, this girl stayed calm, even comforting the others despite being tied up herself. She kept sending messages with her eyes, and somehow, without any words, they understood each other.
With the girl's silent help, Ruby found a way to let the military swoop in and save everyone unharmed. When it was allover, the girl told Ruby she wanted to be a brilliant reporter like her. Ruby gifted her a handmade bunny hair clip, something she'd crafted whenever she missed her own daughter. Content bélongs to
Meeting that girl had inexplicably helped Ruby finally move on from the pain of losing her daughter. It was a chapter of her life even Neil didn't know about.
Reflecting on those memories, Ruby felt a wave of emotion. Her expression softened as she looked at Leah, finding a newfound warmth in the connection.