Chapter 2 - The Rescue
At 8:16 the next morning, Ruby transferred $286,400 from her company’s reserve account.
Jameson stood beside her in the home office, watching every number she entered.
When the confirmation appeared, he exhaled as though he had been underwater.
“It’s done,” Ruby said.
For several seconds, Jameson did not move.
Then he wrapped his arms around her.
“You saved me.”
Ruby rested her cheek against his shoulder. She wanted to believe the trembling in his body came from gratitude rather than fear.
“We saved our family,” she said.
Jameson kissed her forehead.
“I’ll spend the rest of my life making this right.”
He offered to take Lily to school, something he rarely did on weekdays. Ruby watched through the front window as he fastened their daughter into the car.
Lily waved.
Jameson smiled and waved too.
For the first time since seeing the debt letter, Ruby felt hopeful.
She returned to the office and emailed her business partners. She told them the expansion would need to be postponed because of an unexpected family situation. The responses were supportive, but Ruby knew the delay would affect employees who had trusted her.
She told herself she had made the responsible choice.
Marriage required sacrifice.
At 10:30, Evelyn arrived without calling.
She swept into the kitchen wearing oversized sunglasses and carrying two garment bags.
“I heard the good news,” she said.
Ruby looked up from her laptop. “What good news?”
“That Jameson’s financial issue has been settled.”
Ruby closed the computer slowly. “How do you know about that?”
Evelyn removed her sunglasses. “He called me.”
“He told you?”
“I’m his mother.”
Ruby tried to ignore the irritation rising in her chest. “It was private.”
“Nothing concerning my son is private from me.”
Evelyn placed the garment bags over a dining chair and opened the refrigerator.
Ruby noticed that Evelyn seemed unusually cheerful.
“Are you staying for lunch?” Ruby asked.
“For a little while.”
“What’s in the bags?”
“Clothes.”
“I can see that.”
Evelyn looked over her shoulder. “Jameson asked me to bring them.”
“Why?”
“He has an event.”
“What event?”
Evelyn’s smile faded slightly. “You should ask your husband.”
Ruby checked her phone.
No messages.
She called Jameson, but it went directly to voicemail.
At noon, the school called.
Jameson had never brought Lily.
Ruby stood so quickly that her chair struck the wall.
“What do you mean she isn’t there?” she asked.
The receptionist explained that Lily had been marked absent. No one had seen her that morning.
Ruby ran toward the entryway while calling Jameson again.
This time he answered.
“Where is Lily?”
There was silence.
“Jameson, where is our daughter?”
“She’s with my cousin.”
“Why?”
“I had something urgent to handle.”
“You took her to someone else without telling me?”
“She’s safe.”
“Give me the address.”
“You’re overreacting.”
Ruby stopped near the front door.
The coldness in his voice was unfamiliar.
“Bring her home now.”
“I’ll bring her when I’m finished.”
The call ended.
Ruby stared at her phone.
Behind her, Evelyn calmly poured sparkling water into a glass.
“What is happening?” Ruby demanded.
“Jameson is taking control of his life.”
“Taking control?”
“He has spent years being treated like a guest in this house.”
“This is not about the house. He took Lily somewhere without telling me.”
“She is his daughter too.”
Ruby stepped closer. “Where is she?”
Evelyn took a slow sip.
“You should prepare yourself, Ruby. Today may be emotional.”
Before Ruby could respond, a black sedan pulled into the driveway.
Jameson stepped out first.
A tall brunette woman emerged from the passenger side.
Ruby recognized her.
May you like
Celeste Monroe had worked as Jameson’s assistant two years earlier.
She was carrying Lily.
