Chapter 38 I can't go back
CHAPTER 38
I can't go back.
“No.”
The answer was firm.
Anderson stood there for a moment, stunned.
Leo stepped slightly forward, his presence now unmistakably protective.
“You’ve heard her,” Leo said. “Leave.”
Anderson’s jaw tightened, anger burning in his eyes as he looked from Leo to Ruby.
But Carl’s imposing figure and Leo’s cold authority made it clear there would be no forcing his way in today.
With one final glare, Anderson turned sharply and walked back toward the elevator.
The hallway fell silent again, as Carl closed the door.
Inside the apartment, Ruby stood still for a moment, exhaling slowly.
Leo walked toward her, his voice softer now.
“Are you okay?”
Ruby looked up at him.
For the first time since her father arrived, the tension in her shoulders eased slightly.
“Yes,” she said quietly.
And this time, she meant it.
The apartment slowly returned to its usual quiet after Anderson left. The heavy tension that had filled the air moments ago faded, but the emotional weight still lingered.
Ruby stood near the living room window, staring at the fading evening sky. The orange glow of sunset reflected softly against the glass, but her mind was far away.
Carl had already returned to his post near the entrance, calm and composed as if nothing unusual had happened.
Just then, Nora hurried out from the hallway.
Nora had been Ruby’s maid since she moved into Leo’s apartment. She was a warm woman in her forties who treated Ruby less like an employer and more like a daughter.
The moment she heard the commotion earlier, she had stayed nearby, worried.
Now that things were quiet, she approached Ruby carefully.
“Miss Ruby…” Nora said softly.
Ruby blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
Nora looked at her face closely, searching for any sign of distress.
“Come with me,” Nora said gently. “You shouldn’t stay out here.” Ruby didn’t argue. She simply nodded.
Nora placed a comforting hand on Ruby’s shoulder and guided her toward the hallway.
“Let’s get you back to your room,” she murmured.
The soft sound of their footsteps echoed along the corridor until they reached Ruby’s bedroom. Nora opened the door and ushered her inside.
Ruby sat slowly on the edge of her bed. For a moment, neither of them spoke to each other.
Nora sighed quietly and went to draw the curtains, dimming the room into a peaceful calm.
“Men like him,” Nora muttered softly, “they remember their children only when it’s convenient.”
Ruby let out a small breath of air that almost sounded like a laugh.
“I’m fine,” Ruby said, though her voice carried a trace of exhaustion.
Nora turned and looked at her kindly.
“You’re strong,” she said. “But even strong girls need rest.”
Ruby gave a small nod.
“I will.”
Nora gave her one last reassuring smile before leaving the room.
Outside in the hallway, Leo had just finished speaking quietly with Carl.
Carl briefly explained what had happened before Leo arrived, his expression remained calm, but his eyes were thoughtful.
“Good job,” Leo said simply.
Carl nodded at once.
Leo walked towards Ruby’s room, he stopped briefly when he saw Nora stepping out.
“How is she?” Leo asked.
Nora sighed.
“She says she’s fine,” Nora replied. “But that man shook things up.”
Leo nodded slowly.
“I’ll talk to her.”
Nora hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“Should I prepare dinner downstairs?”
Leo shook his head.
“No.”
He glanced toward Ruby’s closed bedroom door.
“Bring dinner upstairs instead.”
Nora smiled knowingly.
“Of course, sir.”
Leo opened Ruby’s door and stepped inside.
Ruby was sitting quietly near the window now, her knees drawn slightly toward her chest as she looked outside at the darkening sky.
She didn’t turn when she heard him enter.
Leo closed the door gently behind him.
“You’re very quiet tonight,” he said.
Ruby finally looked at him.
Her expression was calm, but Leo could still see the faint sadness behind her eyes.
“I’m just tired,” she said.
Leo walked further into the room.
“Do you feel like going back to him”Leo said.
“No”
Leo studied her face for a moment.
“Good,” he said simply.
Ruby blinked.
“That’s all you’re going to say?”
Leo shrugged lightly.
“You handled it.”
Ruby looked down at her hands.
“I thought seeing him again would make me feel something,” she admitted quietly.
Leo waited.
“But it didn’t,” she continued.
“That’s because you already moved on.” Leo spoke gently.
Ruby looked up at him.
The quiet sincerity in his voice warmed something inside her chest. Before she could respond, Leo reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
“I actually came here for something else,” he said.
Ruby tilted her head slightly.
Leo pulled out a brown envelope.
“I was planning to give this to you later tonight,” he said.
He walked over and handed it to her.
Ruby looked confused as she took the envelope.
“What is it?”
“Open it.”
Ruby carefully pulled out the papers inside.
Her eyes scanned the document slowly.
Then suddenly—
Her eyes widened.
She looked up at Leo in disbelief.
“Is this…?”
Leo nodded.
“Your registration.”
Ruby stared down again at the papers.
Her name was printed clearly at the top.
Registration Confirmation — Culinary Arts Program
Her hands trembled slightly as she flipped through the documents.
“You… you actually did it?” she whispered.
Leo crossed his arms casually.
“You said you wanted to attend culinary school.”
Ruby looked completely stunned.
“I thought you were just saying that to make me feel better.”
Leo shook his head.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
Ruby felt her chest tighten with emotion.
“I start next month,” she said quietly, reading the date.
Leo nodded.
“You’ll have private transportation, security, and everything you need.”
Ruby suddenly laughed in disbelief.
“You’re serious.”
“Very.”
For a moment, Ruby didn’t know what to say. No one had ever supported her dreams like this before, not even her father. She looked up at Leo again, her eyes shining slightly.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Leo walked a little closer.
“You don’t need to thank me.”
“But I do.”
Before he could respond, Nora knocked gently on the door.