Chapter 144


    The phone clicked dead, and Ruby''s anger red like a bonfire in a Midwestern field. Clutching her


    cell, she redialed with shaking fingers. Soon after, a woman''s stern voice crackled through the


    speaker. "Stop calling Xavier, Ruby. You''re not fit to be part of the Rond family."


    Ruby recognized the voice—Xavier''s mother. Their paths had crossed once. Mrs. Rond''s gaze


    had beenced with disdain when itnded on her, as if Ruby were somemon weed unworthy


    of her manicured garden.


    And then, silence. The call was disconnected again.


    Ruby''s thumb hovered over the screen, ready to dial once more, but a sharp message disyed:


    Blocked.


    The atmosphere in the private dining room turned cold as a New Ennd winter. Billy red at


    Ruby, disappointment etched on his face, as he stood up and snapped, "Ruby, what the heck are


    you up to? I moved heaven and earth to book this VIP room, and now you''re telling me Xavier


    blocked you? His mom forbids your little romance?"


    Lauren''s temper red, "Is Xavier''s mom out of her mind? Our Ruby''s a catch—she’s the one who''s


    too good for Xavier!"


    Billy just stared at her, dumbfounded. He seriously started to doubt whether Lauren had been


    reced by a doppelg?nger. How could she not grasp the gravity of the situation?


    Ruby, tears streaming down her cheeks, sobbed, "Mom, Dad, I don''t get it either. Xavier''s been


    nothing but sweet to me, even said he couldn''t marry anyone else. He must be under his family''s


    thumb. I''ll see him tomorrow, get to the bottom of this."


    "Right," Lauren said with resolve, "I''ll go with you to see Xavier tomorrow."


    If Billy''s fury could have taken form, it would have incinerated both Lauren and Ruby, leaving


    nothing but ash.


    "You twoplete blockheads!" Billy fumed as he stormed out. He couldn''t bear another minute in


    that room.


    Exiting the VIP area, Billy descended to the lobby, where he encountered Josefina stepping out of


    the elevator, surrounded by a group that seemed to be her family. They were all smiles, showering


    Josefina with adoring looks as if she were some kind of precious jewel.


    Josefina caught sight of Billy and told her family, "I''ll just pop to the restroom. You guys go ahead to


    the car."


    The group left the restaurant, and Billy approached Josefina. "Who are they?" he demanded with a


    righteousness that was almostical.


    Josefina chuckled softly. "Mr. Antonio, since when are you someone to inquire about my affairs?"


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Billy''s eyes narrowed, fixated on her. "Why are you so hell-bent on ruining me?"


    Josefinaughed, a sound as light as champagne bubbles. "When have I ever tried to ruin you?


    You''re the one running thepany. If it''s failing, how is that my fault?"


    Billy was stumped and pressed on, "But who are those people? Your family?"


    Billy didn''t quite believe it because he noticed the watch on Garrett''s wrist, worth five million.


    "Mr. Antonio, my personal life is none of your business." Josefina was exhausted, wondering how a


    simple meal could lead to an encounter with Billy.


    She stepped forward to leave, but Billy tried to block her path. s, Josefina moved with the grace


    and speed of a gazelle, leaving Billy to stumble and fall. By the time he picked himself up and


    dashed outside, Josefina was pulling away in a sleek Maybach.


    Staring at the license te and the parade of luxury cars following it, including a Mercedes, he


    doubted his own eyes.


    "If those people were Josefina’s rtives, what kind of family did shee from?"


    The question gnawed at him as his phone buzzed. "Mr. Antonio," the voice on the other end started,


    "I''ve uncovered something..."