Mr. Gabriel sat in his dimly lit living room, the soft glow of the lamp casting a warm light on his weary face. He stared at the wall, his mind consumed by thoughts of Ruby and their conversation. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he had let her down, that he wasn't good enough for her. The memories of his struggles, of being rejected by one person after another, flooded his mind. He thought about how Mrs. Charlotte's parents had treated him before finally accepting him. The weight of his past bore down on him, and he felt a pang of regret.
As he sat there, lost in thought, he whispered to himself, "Am I that conscious now? Am I like those people who rejected me?" He shook his head, feeling a mix of emotions. "I'm just trying to look out for my daughter's well-being. I didn't mean any harm." He took a sip of his drink, the liquid burning his throat as he swallowed. "Where are you, Ruby? I just want you to come back home."
Meanwhile, at Dhruv's place, Ruby was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. The aroma of bacon and eggs filled the air, and Dhruv's stomach growled with anticipation. He walked downstairs, his eyes fixed on Ruby as she moved around the kitchen. He watched her for a few minutes, a smile on his face, before wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Good morning, babe," he whispered, kissing her cheek.
Ruby turned around, a spatula in her hand. "Good morning," she replied, her voice husky.
Dhruv's eyes locked onto hers. "You don't have to do this," he said, his voice filled with affection. "I don't want you to stress yourself out."
Ruby smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I know, but I want to do it."
Dhruv turned her around, his hands on her shoulders. "Ruby, can we talk?" he asked, his voice serious.
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Now?"
Dhruv nodded. "Yes."
Ruby sighed, but agreed. "Fine."
The conversation turned serious as Dhruv expressed his concerns about Ruby's parents. "You know they're still your parents, and they love you," he said, his voice filled with empathy. "Your sisters also love you. You can't just shut them out like this."
Ruby looked down, her eyes welling up with tears. "I know, I just want them to accept us," she whispered.
Dhruv gently lifted her chin. "I know, but this isn't the way to do it," he said, his voice soft. "You need to talk to them, apologize for yelling at them."
Ruby nodded, feeling a sense of resolve. "Fine," she said. "But can I stay with you for just a month?"
Dhruv hesitated, his eyes searching hers. "Ruby..."
Ruby's puppy eyes got the better of him. "Please?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dhruv sighed, his resistance crumbling. "Fine, just a month," he agreed. "Then I'll get you home."
As the conversation ended, a message was sent to the Rodriguez family, informing them about the current situation and the pause on the wedding.
At the Clifford house, Cassandra was discussing her wedding plans with her mother. "I want to say that I'm not going to get married until we find Ruby," she said, her voice firm.
Mrs. Charlotte nodded understandingly. "We understand, but we have to proceed with the invitations. They're already ready to be given out."
Cassandra's expression turned determined. "Well, because of that, I'll put a pause on the wedding for a month," she said. "I want my family to be present."
Later that day, at Dhruv's house, Ruby was sitting in the living room when the doorbell rang. She got up to answer it, expecting it to be a neighbor or perhaps a delivery. But to her surprise, it was an unknown woman standing at the door.
"Hello," Ruby said, her voice polite but wary.
"Hello, I'm one of the neighbors," the woman replied, her smile friendly. "I'm here to work as a maid."
Ruby's confusion deepened. "A maid? Who employed you?"
The woman's smile faltered. "No one, I employed myself," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of desperation.
Ruby's instincts kicked in, and she blocked the woman's path. "What makes you think you'll work here?" she asked, her voice firm but controlled.
The woman's eyes darted around, avoiding Ruby's gaze. "I'll be seeing your brother, the tall, handsome guy," she said, her voice dripping with flirtation.
Ruby's eyes narrowed. "Which one?"
The woman's eyes locked onto Ruby's, a spark of challenge igniting in them. "The other one," she replied, her voice dripping with seduction.
Ruby's grip on the door tightened. "I see," she said, her voice icy. "And what makes you think you'll work here?"
The woman's smile returned, but it was tinged with desperation. "It doesn't matter, just leave," Ruby said, her voice firm. "Get lost before I do something that you won't like."
The woman rolled her eyes and walked away, leaving Ruby feeling frustrated and annoyed. Jowell, who had been watching the exchange from afar, chuckled and patted Ruby on the back. "Don't mind her," he said. "Nowadays, people are very crazy. Let them take her to therapy."
Ruby smiled wryly, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She closed the door, her eyes locking onto Jowell's. "Thanks, Jowell," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Jowell grinned. "Anytime, sis."