Chapter six

Chloe tries to ignore the nagging feeling when out of nowhere Luke speaks. "Zoie, you have not said hi to Daddy yet" Luke uttered breaking the spell. "I am jealous of Mommy now," Luke said na may halong tampo sa kanyang boses, he even pouted his lips adding to the effect.

Chloe carefully observed a different version of Luke as he interacted with his daughter. His usual scornful look that she had grown accustomed to was now replaced with warmth, longing, and admiration. She watched as his eyes spoke volumes, expressing his emotions that she had not seen before, and Chloe couldn't help but feel a sense of tenderness wash over her as she watched the genuine affection he held for his child. He must have loved his daughter very much. 

"I miss you, Daddy! I love you!" Zoie turned her attention to her father this time, Luke scooped her in his arms and embraced her tightly. 

"You are a big girl now! You are growing so fast!" he commented, and Chloe was mesmerized by the exchange. 

She realizes that Zoie has all the features of Luke, a stunning replica of him. Suddenly, she was yet again feeling remorseful as she acknowledged that she had taken Ruby out of this beautiful family.

She cleared her throat as she tried to stop herself from tearing up, Luke stared at her, and she saw the confusion in his eyes but did not comment further. When they sat inside the van, Zoie was sitting between them. She began to narrate about her new toys and mentioned her daily activities while her parents were away.

"Mommy, I draw big, big flowers and mountains!" she uttered proudly. 

Chloe was listening intently as she couldn't help but smile at her eagerness. "Why don't you show it to me once we reached the house?" she suggested. 

Sharp gazes went her way again, most especially the blazing eyes of Luke, seemingly wanting to snap her neck. She tried to remain unaffected. “Wala akong ginagawang mali” she consoles herself. Chloe whisked the feeling until they reached the ancestral home of the Ramirez. 

“How could I keep up with this act?” She thought to herself. 

Chloe was holding Zoie's hand when she suddenly gasped, confronted by the massive garden in front of the mansion. “This place is insane.” She thought to herself. 

She's no stranger to luxury, but this was on a whole new level. The front garden resembled a meticulously crafted work of art, with an array of flowers arranged in perfect harmony. Chloe thought about how much her mother would love this place. Each bloom seemed to radiate with love and care, growing beautifully as if nurtured by gentle hands. The fountain at the center of the garden was a sight to behold, reminiscent of the intricate sculptures she had seen in Rome. Chloe couldn't help but marvel at how breathtaking it would look at nighttime, illuminated by cascading lights that would enhance the beauty of the entire masterpiece.

“Why are you acting like this is your first time seeing our house?" Luke commented on bringing her back to reality. 

She was reminded once again to be careful of her actions. "I was away far too long; I just miss the familiarity of it," she replied, hoping it would be enough for him to drop the topic.

"You never liked this place; you even said it was your eternal prison," he whispered into her ear, bringing forth a chilling sensation from within. “Ano ang kaibahan ngayon Ruby?” he asked. 

She gulped, realizing she had no answer to that question. Chloe looked at him once again, and his eyes remained stoic, mirroring the same intensity as when he usually stared at her, even in the hospital. She exhaled, feeling a sense of exhaustion settle over her. 

"I want Mommy to carry me!" Zoie uttered while she raised her arms towards her. She smiled and did what she was asked when Luke readily pulled his daughter away.

"Zoie, Mommy is tired. Let's not strain her, alright?" anito.

Zoie pouted, her eyes welling up with tears, but before she could cry, Luke lowered his body down and talked to her gently. "A lady should not act like this, Zoie; you know that right?" he soothed her. Zoie sniffed, trying hard not to hold back her tears. 

Then in her soft little voice, she replied. "Yes Daddy, I am sorry." Luke kissed her daughter and embraced her tightly.

They marched heading to the house and the anticipation built up, when they finally entered the grand ballroom, Chloe yet again found herself mesmerized by the scene in front of her, the place was massive and spacious, bathed with natural light adding to its charms, the colossal chandelier hanging from the ceiling brought the elegance of beauty giving a glimpse of what this home can offer. 

"You can rest in your room for now, I will talk to you later," Luke said oblivious to her exploration, Chloe immediately nodded as she tried to snap back to reality. She then roamed her eyes around the mansion as she tried to hide her panic. 

“Where is my room then?” She wanted to ask out loud. Chloe stood there in the living room frozen, waiting for a sign from anyone who could point her where she should go, Luke was already upstairs when he quickly stopped his movements, he then turned around to look at her. 

"Is there a problem?" he loudly asked, roaring from above. 

She tried to calm herself. "Nothing, there is no problem" came her short reply. He paused once again and with another curious thought he uttered internally “Ruby is acting strangely.”

"Mam samahan ko na po kayo sa kwarto ninyo" the driver said habang bitbit nito ang mga maleta ni Chloe. 

She smiled warmly, wanting to hug the driver sa tulong nito. “Muntikan na iyon. She has been spared this time.” She thought to herself. 

"Sige po, lead the way..." she replied. Biglang napakamot ng ulo ang driver sa naging reaction niya but she didn't mind it anymore.

Once she reached her room and the door was finally shut, Chloe released the air she had been keeping for a while now. She never knew pretending could be this stressful. She just lost a few years of her life because of her lies. She was ready to recuperate when suddenly, a loud knock echoed on her door, she traced her steps, and when she opened it, it was Luke.

“What now?” she thought to herself. 

She breathed deeply.  

"What was that act earlier?" Luke busted her door open and entered the room without her consent. His back was turned to her, and he didn't notice the stunned look on her face.

Napanganga si Chloe sa naging reaksiyon ni Luke while comprehending his words. “Act? I was not acting” she wanted to say.

She sighed, trying to calm herself. "What do you mean, what did I do wrong this time?" She wanted to clarify while she walked a few steps away and sat down at the edge of the bed.

He laughed as if it was the funniest thing in the world. "Did you lose all your memory because of the accident?" he stated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. His eyes were glaring at her, his face was damp with controlled anger, and Chloe reminded herself that she should not get riled up and retaliate, his hatred was not about her. “This is not personal; this is all Ruby” she whispered.

Now facing her, some buttons of his sleeves were unhooking, revealing glimpses of his chest. Chloe tried to concentrate, but the sight distracted her. She swallowed.

"You've been acting strangely, Ruby, even towards how you treat our daughter. When did you start showing affection towards Zoie? Don't tell me you've had a sudden epiphany, realizing you want to do what's right for our child?" He mocked; his words delivered calmly but carrying a weight that was hard to ignore. He intended to insult her, and he succeeded. 

Chloe closed her eyes tightly; she felt a throb in her temple, threatening a possible migraine. “Gaano ba kasamang ina itong si Ruby? All along she thought she acted normally in front of the little girl. Now she gets wound up because it is not usual for Ruby to care, to be compassionate, to love her child. How could that woman resist her lovable daughter? No wonder this marriage is a mess. Ruby Ramirez is a piece of work." She reflected.

Bigla niyang naalala na hindi siya dapat magreklamo sa sitwasyon niya ngayon, it was her choice to assume Ruby's role, all the good and bad, now facing how Ruby dealt with her family was one of the pieces she signed up for. She needs to remember that.

"Is it wrong for me to change and be better? Wala na ba talaga akong karapatan or pag-asa na magbago, Luke?" she asked back, softly, her voice filled with uncertainty.

He brushed his hair upwards, barely concealing his irritation. "Let's revisit, Ruby, and remind you of what nearly transpired with our daughter. Remember after you learned about your pregnancy, you chose to terminate our child without considering my feelings? You were willing to sacrifice our family for your career ambitions. I beg you not to do it, I submit to all your demands just to appease you. And even after keeping our child, you blamed both her and me for your physical changes and how they ruined your body. Three years have passed, and you haven't shown any affection for your flesh and blood. Zoie is your daughter, but you never treated her as such. So, tell me, what changes now?" He spoke through clenched teeth, his anger contained but palpable.

Chloe was taken aback by this revelation. The depth of disdain and contempt in his words surpassed anything she had ever anticipated.

How could she find peace in navigating this life? All she wanted was happiness for Ruby's family, as she had promised to do, hoping to atone for all her past sins. Yet, she hadn't realized that this woman was the source of such profound pain for her husband and daughter. How could she reconcile that truth, knowing she bears Ruby’s face?

She silently whimpered.