60 Nights with a Billionaire

10. If she's leaving, what's the point?

Benjamin's white car sped down the empty highway, its headlights shining through the faint twilight light. Ruby sat rigidly in the passenger seat, her gaze fixated on the glass, tears slipping silently down her pale cheeks. Benjamin discovered her after two months. She was scared of what he might do next.

But there was a deeper anxiety about the contract she had made with Maya. She didn't dread death, but the prospect of breaching her contract cut deeper than anything else. She clamped her eyes closed, attempting to swallow her terror, but her tears streamed down.

Her phone was gone—she'd dropped it near the lift, leaving her with no way to contact James. Would he still be waiting for her in the parking lot, wondering why she hadn't arrived? Will he try to find her? The questions tore at her heart as Benjamin tightened his grasp on the steering wheel and the car accelerated into the darkness.

"You must be thinking of excuses. But I won't ask anything. I know you didn't want to marry me. But I will not let you escape from me so easily. Just as I kept your mother withering in a dungeon, you will rot there beginning today."

Benjamin's harsh words made no impact on Ruby's heart.

"What happened?" Are you afraid? Do you regret running away? I wanted to gift you with the status of my wife, but you preferred the dungeon."

Ruby clenched her eyes tighter and squeezed her palms, gasping to relieve her anguish.

Benjamin observed a black car rapidly following them. He gritted his teeth and slammed harder on the throttle, anxiously attempting to overtake the car approaching them. But it was persistent, growing closer by the second. Suddenly, the sleek black sedan accelerated, cutting in front of him and causing him to slam on the brakes. Ruby was startled by the sudden stop, and her eyes widened in panic.

For a single second, she was disoriented. But as she saw the black car blocking their route, recognition set in, and her horror subsided into something else entirely. As she realized who it was, she felt both relief and disbelief wash over her. She recognized the car.

Ames emerged from the black car amid the dust storm caused by the car race. His eyes, like his dazzling black shoes, were fixed on Benjamin, piercing through the headlights of his car. James lighted a cigarette, and his attractive face brightened up. He smoked deeply before returning his gaze to Benjamin. Benjamin got out of the car and stepped forward. James pushed ahead, his long legs clad in well-stitched black trousers, throwing smoke out of his mouth coldly.

"James!" Ruby's eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered while sitting in the car.

Benjamin eventually exited, gritting his teeth. "What the hell? Why are you following me?"

James exhaled a puff of smoke and glanced at Ruby. "Oh, did I interrupt something?" His words were dripping with sarcasm. "Looks like you finally tracked down your fiancée."

Benjamin's face twisted with displeasure. "Move. I do not have time for this."

"Time is up, Harries. By the way….” James crushed the cigarette beneath his shoe and slipped his hands casually into his pockets. “Where are you taking her in such a fury?"

“Mind your own business.” Benjamin gritted his teeth.

“I’m doing my business. Ruby and I have plans for tonight. You're messing with it."

"Plans...with Ruby?"

Benjamin couldn't remember if Ruby had any links with James.

"Calm down your nasty mind a bit. Return to your place." James winked at him arrogantly and walked towards Benjamin's car. Ruby slowly exited the car, swallowing saliva as she watched James approach. James' eyes were frigid when he gazed at her.

"James Miller," Benjamin shouted angrily.

James swung around and gave Benjamin an insolent glare.

"She is my fiancee." Benjamin scowled at James, His face twisted with wrath, and his voice was piercing. "Ruby, get back into the car. Now."

Ruby froze, her gaze darting snugly between them.

"Didn't you hear me?" Get into the car!" Benjamin rushed towards her, his voice full of venom.

Before he could get any closer, James stood in his way, stopping him.

"Scaring her! Very classy, Benjamin! Threatening a lady calls a man's manhood into question." He did not raise his voice, but there was a cold in it. "I told you she's with me tonight. And you know, I don't let people get in my way."

Benjamin's expression stiffened.

James’ grasp tightened around Ruby's wrist, dragging her towards his car.

"Ruby! Come back here or—"

Ruby froze again, her mind racing as she considered her mother's safety.

When James noticed her anxiety, he dropped her wrist and turned to Benjamin, his gaze dark and unwavering. "Benjamin Harries. Threaten her one more time, and you'll find out what happens when you cross me. You'll regret ruining this night.”

Benjamin's cheeks flushed with rage, but he backed aside, unwilling to risk a confrontation. With a final sneer, he climbed into his car and roared away, tyres squealing.

James returned to Ruby, his gaze softening. He cupped her face gently, keeping his voice low. "Are you okay?"

Ruby tried to stand, but her legs weakened, and she fell into his arms.

After an hour…

James paced near the bed, watching Ruby's pale face as Alex examined her. His irritation was obvious.

"Just tell me what's going on!" he snapped.

Alex took a deep breath, removed his stethoscope, and went over to him, his expression serious.

"I think... she... might be... pregnant."

The words struck him hard. His uneasy gaze relaxed, and he blinked in surprise. "Pregnant?"

Alex nodded, but continued, "We'll have to do tests to be certain. It's best if you take her to the hospital first thing tomorrow. If she is, we'll have to start the medication and monitoring immediately."

James gazed back at Ruby, his throat tightening. He walked out of the room, and Alex followed him to the living room. James stood behind the couch and glanced at the bedroom door.

"James… what’s wrong?"

"If this is real..." He trailed off and swallowed hard. Reality dawned on him: if Ruby had his child, she'd most likely follow the contract and leave after the delivery. He wasn't certain he could handle it.

Alex put a hand on his shoulder. "I understand what you're thinking. But remember, this was part of the contract."

James gave a disappointed sigh and nodded as he stared at Alex. "Can you help me find the best doctor for her?"

Alex nodded. "I'll make sure she's in good hands."

In the morning, James took Ruby to the hospital, keeping the real purpose hidden. Ruby, ignorant, assumed it was simply another ordinary check-up.

James was smoking in the hallway when Alex approached him with a stack of papers. "I was right. She is pregnant."

James did not react strongly; he had almost expected it. He just took a deep pull and remained silent.

"Doctor Scott is with her now, probably explaining everything. You should be there too," Alex insisted.

James sighed. "If she's leaving in seven months anyway, what's the point?"

"James, contract or not, she's carrying your child. Don't you believe you should be involved in this? Alex pressed.

"I forgot that my journey with her is for a few months." James sounded sad.

Alex shook his head. He had known James for years and saw his highs and lows. When James returned from the care center, he recognized the spark in the eyes James had for Ruby, which he hadn't witnessed for Maya.

"You are still married. You can't forget that."

James crushed his cigarette and responded, "Ruby hasn't even let me miss Maya in the last two months."

"James…" Alex was stunned.

"I'm not sure what's going on," James said, his gaze remote. "All I know is, Ruby's a habit I can't shake, maybe never will." With that, he turned and walked away fast.

Alex stood there holding Ruby's report and noticed Ruby walking out of Doctor Scott's office, her gaze roaming the hallway, evidently looking for James.

"Hey," he went forward, greeting her with a friendly grin.

"Hi..."

He said "Congratulations" as he handed her the reports.

Ruby gripped the papers and gulped saliva uncomfortably. "Have you seen James?"

Alex did not want to shatter her heart. He lied, "He had something urgent to do."

Ruby nodded regretfully. She wanted to see James' expressions.

"Did you...tell him?" She asked hesitantly.

Alex nodded.

Ruby lowered her gaze sadly. She recalled that it was all part of the contract, and there was no room for emotion.

"I will drop you," Alex said.

"It's okay. Thanks..."

Sadly, she went out of the ward with the reports, and Alex continued to look at her back, pitying her.

James didn't return for days. Ruby kept going to the office. Every night, she would pick up her phone and look at his phone number for hours, collecting the nerve to call him. But she couldn't. James did not call her on those days. Despite knowing that there was no room for emotions in the contract, she was unable to persuade her heart.