Chapter 71 D past and the present
CHAPTER 71
D Past and D Present
Leo didn’t give Ruby more than the promised two minutes. He was already waiting downstairs when she finally came down the staircase, and the moment he looked up he forgot whatever he had been thinking about.
Ruby had changed into something simple, yet effortlessly elegant. She walked majestically straight to Leo. The soft confidence in her steps, the slight nervousness hidden behind her smile all came together in a way that made him impossible to ignore.
Leo leaned back slightly against the car, his eyes fixed on her as she approached. “You took three minutes,” he said.
Ruby raised an eyebrow, a small smile forming on her lips. “You counted?”
“Every second,” he replied without hesitation.
She rolled her eyes lightly, though the warmth in her expression betrayed her. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” he said, opening the car door for her, “here you are.”
She paused for a second, meeting his gaze, before stepping into the car. The drive was different from any they had shared before.
The atmosphere became lighter and tense. Their hands brushed once, then again, until Leo finally reached for hers properly, intertwining their fingers without looking at her.
Ruby didn’t pull away. Instead, she held on.
The city lights blurred past them as they drove, the quiet hum of the engine filling the spaces between their occasional words. Neither of them felt the need to force conversation. The silence itself was comfortable, filled with everything they had already said and everything they hadn’t.
When they finally arrived, Ruby looked up in surprise. The restaurant was beautiful. Soft lights hung delicately across the outdoor space, casting a golden glow over neatly arranged tables. The sound of distant music blended with the gentle murmur of conversations, creating an atmosphere that felt both intimate and alive.
“Leo…” she whispered, stepping out of the car.
He walked around to her side, offering his hand.
“Too much?” he asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
She shook her head slowly. “No… it’s perfect.”
His lips curved slightly. “I know.”
As they walked in together, heads turned. Leo was used to attention. It followed him wherever he went. But tonight, something about it felt different.nBecause Ruby was beside him, and he wanted people to see that. They were led to a table set slightly away from the others, offering just enough privacy without isolating them completely. A small candle flickered at the center, its light dancing between them as they sat down.
For a moment, they simply looked at each other.
“You look nervous,” Leo observed.
Ruby let out a small breath. “I’m not nervous.”
“You are.”
“I’m not,” she insisted, though her fingers betrayed her slightly as they toyed with the edge of the table.
Leo leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering.
“You’re with me,” he said. “You don’t need to be.”
That made her pause. Not because of the words, but because of how he said them. There was no arrogance in his tone, just certainty and something softer beneath it.
“I’m not nervous,” she repeated quietly. “I just don’t want to ruin this.”
Leo’s expression shifted. “You won’t,” he said immediately.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“Because you’re the reason this is happening,” he replied.
The simplicity of his answer left no room for doubt. Ruby looked down for a moment, a small smile forming on her lips before she looked back up at him.
“You’re different tonight,” she said.
He tilted his head slightly. “Different how?”
“Softer,” she answered honestly.
He let out a quiet breath, leaning back slightly.
“Maybe I am.”
The waiter arrived shortly after, taking their orders and leaving them once again in their own space. But just as the conversation began to settle into something comfortable again. A voice interrupted.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise.”
Ruby’s expression changed instantly.
Leo didn't ’ but his eyes moved slowly to where she was. Standing a few steps away from their table was Clara, elegant, composed, and very familiar.
Her gaze moved between them, lingering just a second longer on Ruby before settling on Leo.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said, her tone smooth.
Leo leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression unreadable. “Clearly,” he replied.
Ruby glanced between them, sensing the shift in atmosphere immediately.
“Leo…” she started softly, but he didn’t take his eyes off Clara.
“To what do we owe the interruption?” he asked.
Clara smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I could ask you the same,” she said, glancing at Ruby again. “You move on quickly.”
The words were subtle but sharp.
Ruby felt it and so did Leo but his reaction was immediate.
“I don’t remember asking for your opinion,” he said coldly.
Clara’s smile faded slightly, though her composure remained intact. “Relax,” she said lightly. “I’m just making conversation.”
“Then you should find someone else to have it with,” Leo replied.
There was no hesitation in his tone or room for misunderstanding.
For a moment, Clara didn’t respond. She simply looked at him. Then at Ruby. Something unreadable passed through her expression before she straightened slightly. “Enjoy your evening,” she said. And just like that, she turned and walked away.
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
Ruby looked down briefly, then back up at Leo.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said softly.
“Yes, I did,” he replied immediately.
“She’s your ex,” Ruby added.
“And you’re my present,” he said.
The words landed firmly. Ruby blinked slightly, caught off guard by the certainty in his voice.
Leo leaned forward again, his gaze softening slightly as he reached for her hand. “Look at me,” he said.
She did.
“There’s nothing there anymore,” he continued. “Not for her.”
Ruby searched his eyes, as if looking for any sign of doubt. But there was none. “Okay,” she said finally, her voice quiet..
He squeezed her hand gently. “Good.”
The food arrived shortly after, and slowly, the tension eased. They talked, laughed. They shared small moments that felt bigger than they should have, like the way Leo watched her when she wasn’t looking, or how Ruby found herself smiling without realizing it.
As Leo watched Ruby across the table, her eyes lit softly by candlelight, her presence steady and real, he realized something again. Not just that he loved her. But he was willing to stand against anything that threatened what they had.
And Ruby as she sat there, her hand still resting in his, realized that whatever this was between them it wasn’t fragile.