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.

a polite nod before

air conditioning was set low, and Ruby, already feeling

condition, "Ms. Adams, are you feeling unwell?

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 to go

if it were being squeezed. "Alright, Trevor, I'll

away and then glanced upstairs, meeting a pair of cold, sinister

Ms. Adams is

disdainful gaze, and turned away. From now on, he intended to make Ruby pay for

the laundry room, Ruby shivered involuntarily while washing a rag. She carried a basin of water to the living room and began

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

efficiently, her illness not affecting her progress. After dusting, she took

black slippers suddenly stepped on her rag. Fortunately, Ruby pulled her hand

"The daughter of the Adams family, on her knees cleaning my floor. Never thought I'd see the day." Ruby bit her lip and lowered her

her; it

of the Adams

about shaming the Adams family? If I had a daughter like you, I'd have

said, "Think

with sweat and clinging to her

hand, "Your

and she struggled, "What are you

me," Donovan suddenly leaned in close, and Ruby, frightened, closed

ears, "Ruby, don't get any

the floor, Donovan's words, "You disgust me," ringing in her