Henry knew it was Ryan calling. Seeing Ruby's annoyance, he knew she was already interested in him and didn't want her conversation with him interrupted, especially by her husband. Thinking about Ryan on the other end, Henry felt even more excited and continued to caress Ruby's calf with his foot.
"Darling, come to the hospital quickly. My hand and foot are broken."
Ruby was startled, "Was it a drunk driving accident?"
"No, it was that little bastard Henry who beat me up!"
Ruby glanced at Henry, thinking: He's sitting right in front of me. How could he have attacked you?
Ryan continued, "After you left, Quentin and I also left. Henry stayed behind in the parking lot. When I went down, he ambushed me, breaking my left hand and foot, and even two ribs. I just got out of surgery."
Ruby asked calmly, "Why?"
Ryan said angrily, "He said Quentin's injuries didn't cost fifty thousand, so he wanted to make sure mine did."
Wow, that's brutal!
"Alright, I'm on my way."
After hanging up, Ruby coldly asked Henry, "Had enough?"
Henry immediately withdrew his foot.
Ruby continued, "Ryan asking you for fifty thousand was excessive. I thought you were generous for sending it without a word. Turns out you were holding a grudge? You're right, I'm beautiful, and Ryan is ugly. Does that mean I must cheat? You say you can give me security, yet here I am having tea with you while my husband is hospitalized because of you. His father was once a top official in Harbor Springs. Many current leaders were promoted by him. Do you think pleasing me will save you from his father's wrath?"
Henry was about to explain when Ruby suddenly grabbed his teacup and threw the tea in his face. She grabbed her purse and stormed out, shouting for the waiter to bring the bill.
Henry didn't expect Ruby to flip out and not give him a chance to explain. Tonight's plan was ruined. He quickly called Victoria.
Victoria, seeing Henry's number, answered while heading out, "Henry, what's wrong?"
"The talk fell through."
"Where is she?"
"She just went downstairs."
"Don't worry, leave it to me!"
Victoria crossed the street and met Ruby, who had just finished paying.
"Sis, what's wrong?" Victoria asked, approaching her.
"That little bastard!" Ruby fumed. "He hospitalized my husband and now comes begging me! If he had sincerely apologized, I might have forgiven him. But he dared to flirt with me, thinking he's handsome enough to seduce me!"
"Sis," Victoria interrupted, "to be honest, he asked me to call you because he likes you. You should know, when I called, he hadn't attacked your husband yet, right?"
Ruby paused, then said, "That little bastard is cunning. He must have planned to cripple my husband and thought of using me as a breakthrough."
Victoria shook her head, "I know he's ruthless and cunning, but I can assure you, he's not someone who goes after every woman he sees. To be honest, I've tried to seduce him several times and failed."
Ruby looked at Victoria, stunned.
Victoria continued, "If he feared your father-in-law, he wouldn't have beaten your brother, let alone attack your husband and then come to you for mercy. You haven't seen him in action. What about Erick? His aunt and uncle are high-ranking federal officials, and Henry still beat him and took his bar. Erick just called me, asking me to elope with him."
Ruby remained silent.
Victoria added, "Sis, I know we can't be compared, but as women, we're both suffering. I gave my inheritance to Erick for survival, but he would give me to any man for his benefit. I thought finding Erick meant happiness, but I was wrong. Loving too deeply means getting hurt deeply. You're the same. Without Ryan and his father, you'd still be in some remote town. Ryan has given you pride, even the hospital director respects you, but you don't owe him. Do you know most of our hostesses have slept with your husband?"
Ruby was shocked, glaring at Victoria, "Victoria, I used to look down on you, but we've grown close, and I've always treated you like a sister. I don't know why you've changed, defending a country bumpkin. I don't want to know your reasons, but you don't need to slander Ryan. I can believe Erick might invite Ryan to drink and play once or twice, but saying most prostitutes have slept with him is too much."
Victoria smiled bitterly, "Sis, because I feel you care for me, I'm telling you the truth. Many of our prostitutes have been treated by you, and you even asked me why they all had a small triangle on their abdomen."
Ruby nodded.
Victoria continued, "That's Ryan's doing. He has a fetish for marking the women he sleeps with. All our prostitutes bear his mark."
Ruby looked at Victoria, stunned.
Victoria asked, "Ryan must have said many bad things about me, right?"
Ruby awkwardly smiled. Ryan had often mocked Victoria at home, saying she was so common that even if she lay there for him, he'd spit on her.
Victoria pulled Ruby aside, turned on her phone's flashlight, and unbuttoned her pants, revealing the same triangle mark on her abdomen.
Victoria smiled bitterly, "Our prostitutes say Ryan has triangular eyes, so he marks every woman he sleeps with with a triangle."
Ruby was shocked.