Chapter 279
The Contract Marriage
Ever since Ruby left that day, she had cut off all contact with him.
Although he had asked his mother to look for her in the next few days and he himself had sent people to look for her, but they all said that they could not see Rubyâs shadow.
When Ruby left, Julian was afraid that such a thing would happen. He did not expect that it would actually happen now.
Julianâs heart was tightly gripped. He was nervous, uneasy, and afraid. He was afraid that in his life, he would very likely pass without Ruby.
When Julian heard that his father was getting better today, he asked his secretary to send him to the hospital. Christian had already received a call from Julian, so he had been waiting at the door for a long time.
Now that Ruby was not by Julianâs side, Christian could understand Julianâs uneasiness and fear.
When he saw Julian walk out of the car, he quickly went up to grab his hand and took him to Ethanâs ward.
Julianâs eyes could not see, but after hearing Christian talk about his fatherâs condition, he was still very happy in his heart. Christian helped Julian sit down next to the bed. Julian held his fatherâs hand and chatted with him for a while.
After sitting in his fatherâs ward for a while, Julian asked Christian to take him to the sofa and sit down.
âWhat is it? Do you have something to say to me?â Seeing his brotherâs anxious look, Christian asked slowly.
âBig Brother, you have to help me!â Julian grabbed Christianâs hand and said nervously.
âWhat do you want me to help you with?â
âCan you help me find Ruby? I donât have any news about her now. I have a bad feeling that something has happened to her.â Julian had not been able to get any information about Ruby in the past few days, so he could not think of a better direction.
âAlright. Then I will help you take a look.â Christian nodded his head in understanding.
âCan you go now?â Julian could not wait any longer. Without Ruby, he felt that he could not do anything.
âDonât be too anxious. I will first arrange this place and then go to her house to take a look. You go back to the company first. Is this okay?â Seeing his brotherâs nervous and anxious expression, Christian comforted him slowly.
âIâm not going back! Iâll wait for you here! Big Brother, you donât know. Ruby is not by my side right now, so I canât do anything. I canât see anything from the start. But now, I canât even concentrate when others are talking. Just let me wait here, okay?â
Christian looked at Julianâs expression and nodded slightly. âOkay, then Iâll call Aunt Daphne over first.â
As finished speaking, he took out his phone.
Daphne came very quickly. She was originally in Sarahâs delivery room. As soon as she received the call, she rushed over in less than two minutes.
Christian first returned to Sarahâs delivery room. As soon as he entered, he saw that the two little fellows had just eaten milk and they both fell asleep in a second.
Christian greeted Sarah and Samantha and then left the hospital.
He drove over according to the address of Rubyâs house that his brother had told him.
Rubyâs house was in the rural area of the suburbs. Christian drove for more than an hour before he finally found it. After asking about Rubyâs home address, Christianâs car finally stopped in front of Rubyâs house.
Looking at the fence door in front of him, and then looking at the tricycle parked in front of the door, Christian lifted his foot and walked into Rubyâs house.
Before, he only knew that Rubyâs house was poor. But when he pushed open the fenced door and walked into the yard, only then did Christian know what kind of situation Rubyâs family was in.
It was almost noon. When Christian walked into the yard, he heard many people talking and laughing in the house. He glanced around and found that Rubyâs house had a total of four tile rooms. In addition to the main room having a door, there was also a door in the side room. However, there was a lock on the door.
On the open-air stove, two women were chatting happily and busily. When they saw Christian, the stranger, walk in, both of them stood up and looked at him.
âBrother, who are you looking for?â One of the women, who was in her thirties or forties, looked at Christian and asked him warmly.
This was the countryside. It was not like the city where people would get angry when they saw someone entering their house.
âHello, Big Sister. I want to ask if this is Rubyâs home?â Christian asked slowly.
âYes. Who are you? How do you know the name of our Ruby?â Another woman in her fifties or sixties looked at Christian vigilantly.
âOh, itâs like this. When Ruby was working in the company, I borrowed some money from her. I went on a business trip a while ago, and just came back today. I heard that she wasnât at the company anymore. So I asked around along the way. Are you Rubyâs mother?â
Looking at the other partyâs vigilant expression, Christian did not reveal his identity.
The other party sized the man up carefully.
In the army, Christian had faced many situations much worse than this. He had even handled the enemies in the war singlehandedly, let alone a country bumpkin, who was sizing him up now.
âOh, I am not her mother. Today Ruby is engaged. Her mother is in the house chatting with her in-laws.
I am Rubyâs aunt.â When the other party heard that the man was here to return the money, she immediately relaxed her vigilance.
Hearing this, Christian frowned. âEngagement? How old is Ruby? Why is she engaged so soon just like that?â
When the other woman heard Christianâs words, she could not help but laugh. âI can tell that you are from the city. You might be a little older when you get engaged there, but here Ruby is not considered young. She can even get married.â
âThen elder sister, donât tell me that she will get married in few days?â
The woman heard his words and smiled. âYouâre right, he said. Next month, 8th, auspicious day.â
âIs that so? Thatâs really a good thing. Then can you call Ruby out? I have to tell her personally about the money. Donât you agree?â
âThatâs true, but now. . . Ruby is not in a position to see you today. . .â As she spoke, Rubyâs auntâs gaze seemed to sweep in the direction of the side room.
Christian heard her and smiled. âIsnât today her engagement day? Itâs not like sheâs getting married. Is she not home?â
Christian paid attention at the other partyâs movements and instantly understood where Ruby was. But he still pretended he did not know anything.
âYes, she is. But itâs not convenient for her to see you now. Why donât you come back another day?â
The other party said with some difficulty.
âThen can you tell me when she will be free?â
âI donât know about that either. . . Why donât you come back after the eighth of next month.â Rubyâs aunt looked at Christian with a vigilant expression.
Christian knew that he could not get anything out of these woman, so he nodded at the two of them and thanked them before leaving Rubyâs house.
Julian was a married man no matter what. Christian could not go to the house to find Ruby directly, so he temporarily went back to the hospital.
Julian had been waiting in his fatherâs ward. When he heard that Christian had finally returned, he nervously looked in Christianâs direction and asked.
âBig Brother, did you see Ruby? Is she home? Why didnât she call me? Did something happen to her?â
There were too many questions that he wanted to know urgently.
Christian looked at his brotherâs anxious expression and was silent for a moment. âJulian, you guessed right. Ruby did have some problems.â
âBig Brother, what problem? Tell me quickly, what happened to Ruby?â When Julian heard Christianâs words, he became even more nervous.
âWhen I went to her house today, I found out that today is the day of her engagement. And on the eighth of next month, she will be getting married.â
âWhat did you say? You said. . . Ruby is getting married? No! I am going to find her!â
When Julian heard Christianâs words, he instantly stood up from the sofa and was about to walk out when Christian grabbed his wrist.
âSit down first. What do you think you can do for Ruby if you go like this?â
âBig Brother, she canât marry anyone else. She can only marry me! Big Brother, help me! I canât live without Ruby! I canât live without her!â
Julian nervously grabbed Christianâs hand. When he heard the news of Rubyâs engagement, his emotions went out of control.
âSit down first. Weâll discuss what to do first. Even if you run over like this, you can only make things worse. If you really want to help her, you have to calm down first.â
Julian heard Christianâs words and sat down. He looked at Christian nervously. âDid you see Ruby?
How is she feeling? Is she happy? Doesnât she miss me at all?â
âI didnât see her. She must have been forced to get engaged. Now that she was locked up in a remote room, she must have suffered a lot. Sheâs not in a good situation at all.â
âThen. . . Big Brother, can you help me bring her out? As long as she comes out again, I wonât let her go back anymore.â
âActually, the most important thing right now isnât to bring her back. Itâs just that you have to think about how to resolve this matter from the very start. Right now, sheâs only getting engaged, not getting married. There are still some days until the eighth of next month. You have to solve this problem from the very start. After all, you are still a married man. If you really plan to be together with Ruby, you must first resolve the relationship between you and Vivian, right?â
Julian nodded. âBig Brother, you are right. I was too impatient. I know what I should do.â
After coming out of his fatherâs ward, Julian asked his mother to take him to Vivianâs delivery room.
His Big Brother was right. If he wanted to be together with Ruby, the most urgent thing right now was to settle his marriage with Vivian.
On the way, when Daphne heard Julian say that he was going to find Vivian to discuss the divorce, she stopped in her tracks.
âJulian, I know you donât like her now. But you have s child now after all. No matter how good Rubyâs temper is, if she marries you, she will be the childâs stepmother. And if she has your own child in the future, it will definitely not be good for Stephen either.â
âYou all know that a stepmother and stepson will always be at odds with each other. Just look at the relationship between me and your Big Brother. Was I able to accept Christian as my own son? Or was Christian able to accept me as his mother? Just to avoid me, Christian left everything and joined army, you also know that. I donât want Stephen to live such a life. So think about the divorce carefully, okay?â
Although Daphne was also angry with Vivian, no matter what, Vivian was the biological mother of her grandson. This point could not be changed by anyone.
âMom, I canât let myself suffer for the sake of my child for the rest of my life. I canât see it with my eyes now. You also know how she treated me. Is that kind of woman worthy of being Stephenâs mother?
Anyway, Iâm going to divorce her!â