Hunter Levisay watched his wife as she held her crying sister and mother while leaving for home.
"I don't want to leave his side," Mrs. Mason held Sienna's hand, "I promised him that I'll stay by his side no matter what happens."
The tears were falling from her eyes, and Ruby was doubling the tension by wailing loudly. However, Hunter's wife kept her calm as she whispered something into her mother's ear.
Maybe she was murmuring softly, comforting words into their ears.
"Sienna," Her mother squeezed her hand in desperation, "Your father needs you at this moment. How about…" She hiccupped dramatically, "How about you offer him your property? Just imagine… how happy he will be when he wakes up to hear this good news… You are our elder daughter, and he always loved you most."
Uh-huh, Mrs. Mason. You're manipulating your daughter. Interesting!
Hunter wished he had popcorn.
"I also love him, Mama. Don't worry. Whatever I have belongs to him," Sienna patted her mom's back and helped her stand up before turning to him.
"Hunter. I'll be back after dropping them off," Hunter just nodded and kept looking at his wife, who had started walking away in the corridor.
The moment she was out of sight, he took out his phone, "Hey, Logan. I need to know everything about my wife."
"Wife?" Logan seemed surprised.
Hunter wanted to scold him, but then realized that he never had the intention of calling a woman his wife, even if he married her. Logan was aware of it.
Then what happened now?
Contract, Hunter. Contract. She clearly expects you to respect her and spoil her in public. After all, she is the one paying you, dude.
With a smirk, Hunter ignored Logan's reaction, "Find out everything about Sienna Mason and her family. I know she is adopted, but I want a deep dive. Bring it to my table by Monday morning."
Before Logan could protest, he disconnected the call and sat down on the bench. For some odd reason, he was very much interested in knowing the woman he just married.
It never mattered to him who he would marry. It was always meant to be a contract marriage from his side. Then what made Sienna take the step?
He wasn't buying it that she was interested in women. After running Levisay Industries for such a long time, that too single-handedly, he knew a lie when he saw one.
Let's see what you're hiding, dear wife.
***
Sitting in the living room, Ruby tried to make another call to her husband, but he wasn't picking up.
She gritted her teeth and tossed her phone on the sofa.
"What happened?" Her mom asked her, leaning her head into the sofa. The constant act of crying and screaming had given her a terrible headache.
"He used to be so caring and now," Ruby muttered more to herself, "He doesn't even know how his wife is doing?"
"Who are you talking about?" Her mother pressed her temples and closed her eyes.
"Of course, Mama. I'm talking about Tom," Ruby shot at her in irritation. In her previous life, Tom was the one who approached her, but in this life, on pre-wedding dinner, he was acting like a complete jerk, keeping his eyes on Sienna.
"You are talking as if you already know him enough. Spend some time with your husband, darling. You should have chosen Hunter, he would have given you…"
"Oh, don't be so ignorant, mama. Hunter is not what you think of him. Okay? The man doesn't have anything. Plus, he offered me a contract marriage. He was never interested in me."
Mrs. Mason straightened on the couch and gave her a startled look, "What did you say? He offered you a contract marriage?"
Ruby squeezed her eyes when she realized she almost messed it up and shook her head, "Sorry… I mean to say is… he… he once offered my friend a contract marriage. Trust me, Mama. I know him. I don't know how he brought those flashy gifts for you…"
Her mother rolled her eyes and rested her back on the couch, "Now stop comparing your life with Sienna, love. Just pray that your papa's sacrifice works and she hands over her file to us."
With a shrug, Ruby again picked up her phone, "She will give it, Mama. Don't worry. Last time she did."
She mumbled to herself, but her mother heard her, "What are you saying, Ruby?"
"Nothing," She yawned loudly and stretched, "The file will be here in a few minutes, Mama… and Papa will be here tomorrow… around noon. So, don't worry."
Mrs. Mason narrowed her eyes to study her daughter's face, "Now you have started predicting the future, sweetheart!"
"Sort of," Ruby winked and giggled loudly, "Ask Papa to give me at least thirty percent of that property money."
She still remembered the worth of that plot from her previous life.
"Thirty percent? Don't be a fool, dear. You've got a rich husband now. He'll buy you whatever your heart desires."
Ruby gave her a proud smirk. Her mom was right. Tom will do anything for her. He didn't know yet that she was his soul mate from the past life.
But no problem. She would remind him soon.
When she left the room, she saw Sienna coming towards her, holding a file. Ruby wanted to laugh loudly.
Finally!
"Hey, Sia."
Sienna stopped when she found Ruby blocking her way, "How's Hunter treating you as a contract husband?"
Ruby enjoyed it when Sienna seemed bewildered at her remark, "W…What?"
"Oh, stop hiding it, Sia," She said with a smug smile, "I know it all. He is nothing but poor and extremely non-romantic," When Sienna gave her a dumb look, Ruby wanted to laugh.
The irony.
Four years back, she was standing in Sienna's position. Disappointed. Lost.
But fate had given her a chance to swap places.
Now she was unstoppable.
Her eyes dipped to the file Sienna was holding. With a smirk, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked past her.
Tom could never stay away from her because she knew how to please her husband. She went to her room and slept like a dead.
The next morning, she woke up and yawned loudly. She needed to go and ask her mother if she had gotten the property file. This act needed to end so that she could go and join her husband.
"Ruby. Sweetheart!" Her mother gave her a wide grin as she placed boiled eggs in the center of the table, "Come. Let's have breakfast before we go to bring your dad."
"Someone seems happy today," Ruby took a bite from her French toast with a teasing grin. Her mom seemed to be in high spirits.
Mrs. Mason bent ahead and whispered, "Guess what. Sienna gave me the file last night," She giggled like a baby, making Ruby laugh.
"See? I told you…" She dug into her breakfast while chatting until Mrs. Mason's phone rang.
"It's Dr. Greyson," She mumbled before taking the call, "Yes, Greyson. When can we come to pick up our parcel?"
Ruby dropped her toast at the funny choice of her mom's words as she tried to suppress her laughter. However, the very next minute, her mother's screams were echoing off the ceiling.
"Mom!" Ruby was at once on her toes, "What happened?"
But Mrs. Mason had already fainted. And the only words that came out of her mouth were… "His leg… his leg…"