As Liam continued to think about Ruby, he felt a strong desire to learn more about her art and her story.
Earlier, after the art competition ended, Sophia had insisted on stopping by to see Evelyn, Liam's mother.
Liam had reluctantly agreed, and now Sophia was downstairs, chatting with his mother.
Liam's thoughts drifted back to Ruby, the young artist he'd met at the competition. Her passionate expression and sparkling eyes lingered in his mind, a stark contrast to the sense of obligation that filled him as he heard Sophia's laughter mingling with his mother's warm tones downstairs.
The scent of freshly brewed tea wafted up, mingling with the sound of clinking cups, and Liam's stomach tightened with anticipation.
"Liam, dear, Sophia is asking about you," his mother called out, her voice carrying upstairs. "Would you like to join us for tea?"
Liam hesitated, his heart heavy with the weight of expectation. He shifted uncomfortably on the chair, his mind racing with doubts. He took a deep breath, pushing aside his thoughts about Ruby for the time being. "Yes, Mother, I'll be right down," he replied, his voice measured.
As he entered the living room, Sophia's eyes met his, and she smiled warmly, her gaze expectant. Her hands were clasped together in her lap, and her posture was perfect, exuding confidence.
"Liam, I was just asking your mother about the wedding plans. I think we should finalize the guest list soon."
Liam's response was lukewarm, his tone detached. "What wedding plans?" He sank into the armchair across from Sophia, his eyes drifting to the window.
Sophia's smile faltered, and her eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice.
His mother's expression turned disapproving, her eyes narrowing slightly as she set her tea cup down.
"Liam, dear, we've discussed this before. Our families have agreed on the arrangement, and it's time to start making concrete plans," she said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of disappointment.
Liam shrugged, a surge of rebellion rising within him. He crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw clenched in frustration. "I clearly said I wasn't interested."
The room fell silent, the tension palpable.
Sophia's eyes widened in surprise, and her voice was tight with annoyance when she spoke up. "Liam, we've been planning this for months. You can't just back out now."
His mother's face turned stern, her jaw set. "Liam, we've been over this," she said, her voice controlled but with an undercurrent of frustration. "This arrangement is beneficial for both our families. You need to take it seriously."
Liam shrugged again, his mind racing with doubts. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and met his mother's gaze. "I don't see the point in forcing something that doesn't feel right," he said, his voice laced with a quiet defiance.
The air was thick with unspoken words, and Liam knew this conversation was far from over.
Sophia's eyes flashed with anger, and his mother's face softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "We'll discuss this further, Liam. But for now, let's just enjoy our tea."
Liam nodded, but the tension in the room remained, a silent challenge hanging in the air.
Liam nodded, but his mind was already racing with ways to escape the conversation.
He forced a smile, trying to appease his mother and Sophia. "Yes, of course. Let's enjoy our tea."
The rest of the tea time was stilted, with Sophia's anger and Liam's frustration simmering just below the surface.
As soon as they finished, Liam stood up, his movements abrupt. "Excuse me, I need to go work on some papers," he said while walking towards the stairs.
His mother raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, while Sophia's face fell, her eyes flashing with disappointment. "I should take my leave," Sophia said, standing up.
Liam nodded politely, relieved that Sophia was leaving. "Thank you for coming, Sophia," he said, his tone neutral.
He walked upstairs, his mind racing with doubts and questions about his future. He entered his room, closing the door behind him, and took a deep breath, feeling a sense of solitude wash over him. For a moment, he just stood there, his eyes closed, trying to clear his mind.
Finally, he opened his eyes and walked over to his desk, his thoughts drifting back to Ivy and their relationship...
...
As Ava and Ruby sat on the couch, discussing Ruby's situation with her father, Mark and Vida had already retired to bed. Ava motioned for Ruby to follow her to her room.
"Let's get some rest, Ruby," Ava said softly. Ruby nodded gratefully, feeling exhausted and emotional.
The next day, Ava and Ruby headed to their part-time job at the coffee shop. During their shift, Ruby's phone buzzed with a message from Aurora.
Ruby decided to call Aurora instead of responding with a text. "Hello, Ma'am Aurora! I'd love to meet. Actually, I work part-time at a cafe. Why don't you come here instead?"
Aurora's voice was warm on the other end of the line. "That's perfect, Ruby! What time works for you?"
Ruby checked her schedule. "I'm working the morning shift today. You can come by around 2 pm?"
At 2 pm sharp, Aurora walked in, her smile radiant. "Ruby, dear! It's lovely to see you."
Ruby's face lit up as she greeted Aurora.
As they chatted, Aurora asked for a latte and savored the flavor. "This is delicious. This cafe is nice."
Ruby smiled, feeling proud.
Aurora's gaze turned thoughtful. "Ruby, I think there's a connection between us beyond just art. I've been feeling it since we met at the competition."
Ruby looked curious, and Aurora continued, "I think I'd like to get to know you better, Ruby. Would you be open to that?"
Ruby nodded, intrigued. "Yes, I'd like that."
Aurora smiled, and they began discussing art, music, books, and life experiences.
As the afternoon wore on, Aurora glanced at her watch. "Ruby, I've enjoyed our conversation immensely. Would you like to meet again soon?"
Ruby's face lit up. "I'd love to, Ma'am Aurora."
Aurora smiled warmly at Ruby. "Wonderful! Let's plan to meet again soon".
Ruby's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That sounds amazing! I'd love to."
Ava watched with interest, noticing the connection between Ruby and Aurora.
As Aurora left the cafe, Ruby walked to Ava with a big smile. "I really like her, Ava. She seems so kind and genuine."
Ava nodded, smiling back. "I can see that. You two do seem to have a connection."
Ruby's thoughts drifted back to Aurora's words: "A connection beyond just art." What could that mean?
As Ruby pondered Aurora's words, she felt an inexplicable connection to her.
A few days later, Aurora called Ruby with an invitation to a charity gala.
"Ruby, dear, I've got an invitation to a charity gala, and I thought it would be lovely if you could join me."
Ruby's heart skipped a beat. "I'd love to, Ma'am Aurora! Thank you for thinking of me."
Aurora chuckled. "Please, call me Aurora. We're beyond formalities now. I'll pick you up at 7 pm on the night of the gala."
Ruby couldn't wait, feeling excited about spending more time with Aurora....