Master Heather took a deep breath to control his emotion and said softly, "...Do you really think so?"
Ruby said a matter of factly, "Of course."
"I have long known that I'm just a stranger to you guys."
"No matter how long I stay in that house, I can't feel the warmth of a family."
"No matter how hard I worked, I can't match up to Crystal in your eyes."
Nobody dared to reply. They just waited for Ruby to finish with red eyes and a crestfallen look.
"Actually, I was really happy at that time. The villagers didn't take me kindly. They treated me far worse than that of a dog. I was like a worm that could die anytime. So when I found my family, I honestly thought they would treat me better."
Their hearts skipped a beat when they heard the words 'worse than a dog'
Ruby didn't notice it and continued on, just like telling some insignificant stories.
"I am aware you have adopted a child in my replacement."
"That's why I didn't dare to hope for much. I just hope you would love me a little, and protect me from the storm."
"However now.."
Ruby looked up to see their faces. She didn't care how sad their expression was, nor how they pretend to understand her.
She just wished to brutally slap them. She wanted to confront all the mistreatment the original owner experienced.
Once the original owner's resentment has washed away, she could then walk with peace of mind. From now on, they could pretend to be strangers together. She would erase her last name and use her nickname only.
Ruby snickered inwardly. It's better to be an orphan than to have this kind of family.
Really not worth it.
She restrained herself and continued, "Let's walk our own path."
Madam Heather's face had already wet from the tears. Her body was trembling. Even the Master couldn't keep up with his daughter. His head throbbed painfully.
Guy's gentle face had gone, replaced with a cold, heavy expression.
The twins too were shaken to the core. Guilt and sorrow almost drowned them.
They instinctively felt that whatever coming next would likely deal a heavy blow to them.
The Heather family didn't want to hear it anymore. Yet, they didn't have the guts to stop her.
Turned out, they were right.
"I will throw away Heather's name."
"You just need to regularly support me with pocket money and transfer the property I should have."
"I will not appear in front of you again, okay?"
Ruby's hopeful expression struck them like a bolt of lightning.
Why? How could this happen?
Exactly how much pain had they inflicted on her?
Master Heather hollered with a livid expression, "Absolutely not! Don't even think about it!"
"Why?"
"Isn't that your wish? I'm merely granted it."
"Rather than we stab each other to death, it would be better to cut our relationship early on."
Master Heather choked from her words.
He dearly wished to slap his past self but it was all too late.
Now, his only way was to find out the best solution.
To make his daughter stay.
To make her forgive them.
Master Heather was preoccupied with his own thoughts that he wasn't paying attention to his wife's condition.
Madam Heather felt faint. Her vision almost went completely white.
She had never thought highly of this child. She even went as far as comparing her with Crystal.
She didn't have an ounce of affection for Ruby.
But why?
Why does her heart hurt so much?
It's suffocating her.
Taking her breath and cutting her wounds.
Madam Heather was dying from heartache.
Guy didn't have the time to speak because Madam Heather's body swayed.
"Mom!!"
The Master snapped out of his trance and speedily caught his wife. His face was pale from fright. It was a good thing he can catch her on time.
The bodyguards and assistants that were enjoying the show instantly panicked. They swarmed to help Master Heather and ran around calling for help.
It was chaos. Guy and the twins desperately tried to calm everyone down.
Therefore, they didn't notice it.
Taking advantage of the commotion, Ruby quietly slipped away.
Blending with the background and successfully broke free from the watch of bodyguards.