Forbidden Passion

Ruby lay in bed, and only after hearing them leave did she weakly get up and head to the bathroom to take a shower.

Ruby felt feverish and kept sneezing under the showerhead.

Ruby was really sick. The usually warm water felt cold against her body, making her shiver. After struggling to finish her shower, she dried herself with a towel.

In the mirror, Ruby saw her pale cheeks and the increasingly visible bruises on her neck.

Ruby closed her eyes and swallowed with difficulty. Her throat hurt so much that it almost brought tears to her eyes.

Summoning her strength, Ruby finished drying off and put on the clothes beside her.

The weakness from the fever made her dizzy. She sat by the bed for a while before heading downstairs.

The kids weren't home, and the living room was empty. Only Ollie came out of the cat bed and circled around her. She noticed the cat food bowl was empty and refilled it before grabbing her bag and heading out. The breeze outside was cool and comfortable.

Ruby arrived at the Building Three. After hesitating for a moment, she rang the doorbell. Soon, the door unlocked, and she took a deep breath before pushing it open and walking in.

Passing through the courtyard, Ruby reached the foyer. A middle-aged man, around fifty, stood at the door. He looked kind and somewhat resembled Elijah.

"Ms. Adams, right? Mr. Ziegler mentioned you'd be coming to cook and clean today. It's still early, so you can start with the cleaning," Trevor Torres said.

Ruby nodded, "Okay, how should I address you?"

"It's Trevor. Mr. Ziegler will need you to take good care of things here. Come in, I'll show you around the villa." Trevor stepped aside to let Ruby in.

endured much hardship, and her previous arrogance and sharpness had been worn away by life. She gave Trevor a polite nod before walking in. Disposable slippers, like those in hotels, were

was set low, and Ruby, already feeling unwell, nearly fainted after

her condition, "Ms. Adams, are you feeling unwell? You look very

hot outside. I'm fine, Trevor. Let's continue the tour." Trevor led Ruby back to the living room, "You're responsible for cleaning the first floor. Mr. Ziegler has instructed that you are not

if it were being squeezed. "Alright, Trevor,

and then glanced upstairs, meeting a pair

Ms.

the stairs, withdrew his disdainful gaze, and turned away. From now on, he intended

rag. She carried a basin of water

taken on all kinds of jobs to support herself and Ethan. Being a

dusted the cabinets efficiently, her illness not affecting her progress. After dusting, she took a rag specifically for the floor and

for long when a pair of black slippers suddenly stepped on her rag. Fortunately, Ruby

her with a sinister expression, "The daughter of the Adams family, on her

Donovan would humiliate her; it was something

no longer the darling of the Adams

sneered, "Worried about shaming the Adams family? If I had a daughter

and was already exhausted. She stubbornly said, "Think whatever you want, Mr. Ziegler. Please move, I

Ruby's white shirt, soaked with sweat and clinging

Ruby up, gripping her chin with his other hand, "Your shirt is

and she struggled, "What are you talking about? I

Ruby, frightened, closed her eyes. The next second, she was pushed

mocking voice echoed in her ears, "Ruby, don't get any ideas. You disgust

"You disgust me," ringing in her ears. Her vision went black, and she