Chapter 1 One

It was a Saturday afternoon at Oakland Community College, and Ruby Rivers was seated in her regular spot at the back of the classroom.

A teacher was present and teaching, but Ruby's mind was elsewhere. She was sketching a new jewelry design which was a hobby of hers. She was subconsciously doing this when her attention was brought back by her.

She looked at the phone screen, expecting a notification or rather job offer from a company she had just applied to be a designer for. Instead, it was a number she didn't recognize.

She was uncertain about picking up this call as she was in class but excused herself and stepped out into the hallway to answer it.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice soft, almost whispering.

"Is this Miss Ruby Rivers? I'm calling from Northeast Memorial Hospital. There's been an accident. Your brother and mother were involved." the voice said frantically.

"What?...wait.. what?!!!" Ruby stuttered, sounding miserable. " Please,I am on my way. Do whatever you can to make sure that they survive." She was already crying profusely and at this point and running towards the exit of her school hall.

The voice replied "Your brother... I'm sorry, he didn't make it."

Ruby felt stiff. The phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor. She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe, struggling to process this information. Her brother was gone.

Her thoughts and grief was interrupted with someone still calling her name through the phone she had dropped a while ago.

She picked up her phone and the voice continued " Ruby Rivers, Your mother is in a critical state and needs immediate surgery. Can you come to the hospital immediately and sign the form so we can begin the surgery?"

"I am on my way, pleas..... save her" Ruby said sobbing profusely.

Racing out of the college, Ruby ignored the glances she received from other students, her mind solely focused on reaching the hospital.

As she reached the intersection, her mind everywhere else but not with her present self, she ran into the road without looking.

A car honking continuously snapped her out of her thoughts, but it was too late. A sleek black car had overturned sharply and smashed into a nearby wall to avoid hitting her.

Ruby stood still and struggled for air for a second. "Please, not now." she murmured to herself, already exhausted and thinking if the day could get any worse.

The car was a luxurious car -a 2024 Range Rover Velar, if she wasn't mistaken. The driver, an unfriendly looking man in a dark suit, jumped out and began inspecting the damage hitting his leg into the damaged wall.

Ruby could see the furious expression on his face even from afar.

"I'm so sorry!" she shouted, her voice trembling.

She rushed to the man, reaching in her bag for a pen and a scrap of paper or anything. "I'm so sorry, please, I'm in a hurry. Here's my number. Please, call me. I'll pay for the damages, I swear."

Without waiting for a response, Ruby shoved the paper into the man's hand and took off running again. She couldn't afford to lose another second, her mum needed her now more than ever.

She finally reached Northeast Memorial Hospital. She approached the reception desk out of breath while asking for her mother's room.

"Please," she begged the nursewith tears now flowing freely, "please save her. She's all I have.. Please... I don't have most of the money right now, but I'll find a way to pay. Just don't let her die."

The nurse's expression softened "We'll do everything we can, Miss Rivers. But the surgery is expensive, and we need payment upfront before we can start any procedure on your mother"

Ruby felt hopeless. She was barely making ends meet as it was, working nights at the local diner and attending classes during the day. She had nothing to offer but pleas.

As she turned away from the desk downcast, a familiar figure was walking angrily towards her and looking at her with so much loathe.

She recognized the face. It was the man from the car-the CEO of Carrington Group, Brad Carrington.

"You!" he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Who would have thought? You think you can just run off after endangering my life and childs with your carelessness?"

Ruby opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come out. What could she say? She could only stare at him, her mind and body weighed down by how the day had turned out.

Brad noticed the tears staining her cheeks, but there was no sympathy in his expression. "You've put my daughter's life at risk. And now you're here in a hospital?" He scoffed, his voice laced with disgust. "Pathetic."

"Please, I am sorry for any inconvenience I caused you today, please..." Ruby whispered, her voice cracking. "I'll pay for the damages. I just need time. My mother-"

"I don't care about your excuses," Brad interrupted coldly. "You'll definitely pay, one way or another. Or I'll have you thrown in jail. No need for long talk"

Ruby's heart skipped. This day couldn't get worse. She had the worst day of her life and the day was far from being over. What could she have done differently for today to be different? She was sick and tired of living as it was.

Before she could respond, Brad pulled out his phone and dialled a number. "This is Brad Carrington. I need the police at Northeast Memorial Hospital immediately. I've found the woman who endangered my life and damaged my car."

Ruby's eyes widened in shock as she fell to her knees. "No, please, don't.. Please!" she begged, reaching out to touch him, but he stepped back, avoiding her touch as though she was infected.

Ruby fell to her knees, her tears flowing freely now. "I'm begging you, Sir." she cried. "I just lost my brother, my mother's dying... Please don't do this. Please!"

Brad looked unaffected by her pleas as he spoke to the police on the phone, his voice stern and apathetic. "Yes, she's here. No, she's not going anywhere."

Ruby felt misery and anguish as he ended the call. Her world was falling apart, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. This was the worst day of her life, and it was only going to get worse.