Ruby Ring : War in Life

Rain lashed heavily against the panoramic windows of the penthouse apartment, blurring the city lights into shimmering streaks. Inside, Runa, pretending to be Izzy- stood before a mirror, the reflection of a face that was not her own, the face staring back was beautiful, undeniably so, but it wasn't hers, it was Ruby's.

Five years. Five years since the night that changed everything. Five years since the screech of tires, the shattering glass, the blinding pain. Five solid years since she traded her life for a flawless imitation.

Runa touched the smooth skin of her cheek, a nervous tic she have not been able to break. The faintest scar, barely visible under expertly applied makeup, was a constant reminder - a physical; manifestation of her carefully constructed lie.

Tonight was the annual Blackwood Tech gala, a glittering spectacle of wealth and power. Tonight, she was the perfect hostess, the beloved wife of the CEO of Blackwood Tech. a woman who had it all. But, the glided cage felt more like a prison.

Her hand trembled as she reached for the diamond necklace that her husband - her husband- Ethan had bought for her. The weight of it was almost unbearable, a reminder of the life of another she had stolen.

Suddenly, a noise - a creak from the hallway - - sent a jolt through her. She whirled around, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. It was just the wind, rattling the windows. But the primal fear, the constant fear that Ruby might appear had become a permanent fixture in her life.

She closed her eyes as a chilling thought sliced through the quiet apprehension: Was Ruby never going to wake up? If she ever wakes, would she come for revenge? The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, the reflection of the mirror seemed to shift, to flicker as if a ghost were trying to break through the surface. She gasped. Or was that just her anxiety? The gala awaited. But tonight, the pretense was heavier than ever.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The air in Blackwood Technologies office hung thick with the scent of old paper, ozone from the servers, and the faint, lingering aroma of Ruby William's favorite vanilla-infused coffee. 11pm. Most people were already asleep, yet Ruby sat hunched over her keyboard, the glow of the monitor illuminating her fiery red hair like a halo. Outside, the rain hammered against the panoramic windows, each drop a tiny percussion note against the otherwise silent symphony of the night.

Ruby was not just working late, she was lost in her work, preparing Ethan's presentation. The project - a revolutionary new AR design software- consumed her. Lines of code danced before her eyes, each keystroke a brushstroke on a digital canvas. She had been fueled by lukewarm coffee, a half-eaten takeout containers, and the sheer adrenaline of nearing completion.

She wasn't alone. Ethan Blackwood, her boss and boyfriend, was quietly packing up his things in his office, he shut his windows and grabbed his suit as he walked out of his office with his briefcase in his right hand. Closing the door behind him, he saw Ruby still bent on her work, watched her for the last hour and captivated by her focused intensity. Ruby had the habit of diving headfirst into her work until it was finished and Ethan admired her dedication.

Ethan straightened up from his door that he leaned on before, stretching his arms over his head as he yawned and walked towards Ruby's desk. The clicking faint sound from his shoe heels broke the silence, making Ruby jump. She blinked, pulling herself back from the digital world.

"Almost done?" Ethan asked softly, standing at the center of Ruby's office space, his voice a gentle rumble that cut through the quiet hum of the office. 

Ruby smiled, a tired but genuine expression that lit up her face. "Almost. Just a few more tweaks and I think we are golden. I want you to have it perfect by tomorrow's presentation, otherwise..."

Ethan moved toward her desk, the soft padding pf his shoes on the carpet barely audible. he leaned against the edge, his gaze gentle. "You work too hard, Ruby. You need to go home now. Seriously." He knew her passion, but he worried that one day she might collapse from the sheer force of her own drive.

Ruby chuckled, a self-deprecating sound that belied her exhaustion. "I know, I know. But I am getting close, and I am always like this whenever I am close to the finish line! It is almost like a competition with myself now."

"A competition that you always win," he murmured, his eyes twinkling with affection. He reached out and gently touched a stray strand of hair that had fallen across her face, tucking it behind her ear. The brief contact sent shiver down her spine, a familiar electric charge that never fail to ignite something warm and special between them.

"You always know how to encourage me," she responded, her voice tinged with emotion.

He smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that reached his eyes. "It is one of the things I love about you, Ruby. Your passion, your relentless drive... your incredible brilliance." He paused, letting the words hang in the air between them. "But I also love the quiet moments, the way you look when you're completely lost in your work. It's captivating."

The compliment brought a blush to her cheeks, she avoided his gaze, focusing on the screen, but the tips of her ears gave away her embarrassment and happiness. 

He leaned in closer, the space between them almost closing. The scent of his cologne - a clean, woodsy fragrance - mingled with the vanilla of her coffee, creating a unique and intimate perfume. "Let's go home," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "I'll drive you."

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and affection, as she saved her work and shut down the laptop. "Okay, " she breathed, her voice barely audible. His touch lingered on her hand for a moment longer than was strictly necessary, before he gently released her. That simple gesture sealed the unspoken affection they shared as she stood up, grabbed her handbag and tied her desk. Ethan held her hand as they walked out of the office to the elevator

The car ride was quiet, filled with the comfortable silence of two people deeply connected. Ethan drove carefully, his right hand occasionally resting on Ruby's knee, a reassuring touch that spoke volumes without words.

As they pulled up to Ruby's house, a charming brownstown nestled in a quiet neighborhood, the city's hum faded into the background. Ethan parked the car, turning to Ruby with a smile. "Home sweet home," he murmured.

Ruby smiled back, her eyes shinning with happiness. She reached for the door handle, but Ethan beat her to it as he had already alighted from the car and opened the car door for her, helping her out of the car as if she was royalty. As her feet touched the ground, he leaned and slightly pecked her on the cheek.

Th simple gesture sent a wave of warmth through her. She smiled, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Thank you," she whispered.

She paused at the edge of the sidewalk, turning to wave goodbye. "Goodnight Ethan, see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Ruby," he replied, his eyes lingering on her face. he watched as she waved once more before turning and entering his car and drove into the building's entryway. Only then did he drive away, his heart filled with a warmth that transcended the simple act of driving someone home.

Meanwhile, the rhythmic click-clack of Runa's heels echoed through the otherwise silent hallway of their house. She had arrived home late, after a particular extravagant event. The heels, a recent purchase, were uncomfortable and pinched at her toes, but their elegance gave her a a momentary thrill.

She held the shoes in her hand as she approached her own bedroom, tiptoeing carefully, she assumed that her sister and mother would be asleep, having called them earlier but there was no single response. The would be no one to scold her since no one saw what time she came home, to make up an excuse, she thought that she needed to remove her makeup and get ready for bed.

She reached the doorway and eased it, open just enough to peer inside. Her mother's room was dark and quiet, her bed disturbed. Relief flood her. Just then, a soft burst of laughter echoed from Ruby's room - a light ,melodious sound that shattered the silence. The voice was Ruby's which sounded more like she was making a call, and her voice more louder than usual. The sound stopped her dead in her tracks, not with terror, but with a prickling sense of unease.

She felt jealousy and sudden curiosity, whatever that was making Ruby laugh so heartily like this certainly she was a talking to the man she loves, Runa thought within herself. This fleeting feeling of being left out, coupled with her general dissatisfaction with her own life.

.

e