To the Love of My Life

Chapter 646: Chapter 646: Ruby Gregory’s Confession (26)
 

“If I, from the moment of my birth, had the ability to think, to make choices, I certainly wouldn’t have lived that way.”

Steve Burton found Ruby Gregory’s words somewhat strange. As for the fact that Ruby once desperately wanted to marry him and, in doing so, had brought prosperity to the Gregorys – he initially had no knowledge of that. It was only once when Madeleine, who had a propensity to speak her mind unfiltered, let slip half a sentence that he began to notice something peculiar. He then gradually perceived a change in Ruby and understood what Madeleine actually meant with her half-stated comment.

“Do you know, Steve? From a very young age, the Gregorys imbued me with a way of thinking that consisted of only three principles:”

Those three principles were etched deep into her bones, and even now, she could recite them, each and every word, clearly.

“The first principle: Whatever Steve likes, I must also like.”

Steve’s brow furrowed slightly.

Maintaining a shallow smile and a calm demeanor, Ruby continued, “The second principle: I must do everything in my power to make Steve happy.”

Steve’s brow furrowed deeper.

Taking a deep breath, Ruby said the last sentence in a soft voice, “The third principle: I must marry Steve.”

Steve’s expression was frozen.

“So, at that time, even though I didn’t understand anything, I still knew, I belonged to you.”

It takes a lot of courage to revisit the painful past that one has lived.

Ruby thinks this is absolutely the only time in her life she would ever look back at her past, a past she once didn’t understand, but now views as absurd.

“Then, do you know, Steve, for a long time, I didn’t know what I truly liked.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Even for more than ten years, I saw other girls wearing colorful clothes, trying various scents of perfume, and making all kinds of hairstyles…” When Ruby reached this part of her story, her voice slightly quivered, “But what about me? I could only choose blue clothes, use Chanel No. 5 perfume, have long straight hair—I had no choice, because I wanted to please you. You have no idea, there was even a period where I felt nauseous at the sight of the color blue, at the smell of Chanel No. 5. I even wanted to chop off all my hair, and even sneaked into my wardrobe in the middle of the night to try on clothes of different colors, just to feel comfortable and somewhat happier.”

With only a few words, Ruby lightly described all her past experiences, presenting them before Steve.

Although he knew that Ruby wanted to marry him because of Pristine’s Enterprises that stood behind him, he had no idea that since childhood, Ruby had been subjected to such a mindset.

Even though they were neighbors, he had no right to interfere with their methods of upbringing.

Those actions of hers that used to infuriate him, upset him, were in fact each a piercing arrow into her heart. Yet what about him? He had thought she was intentionally trying to please him, and he treated her brutally as a result.

Steve’s face turned somewhat pale, as if a handful of white paint was thrown at it. It felt like a hand had reached into his chest, clutching his heart.

He wanted to stop Ruby from continuing, but all he could do was open his mouth, unable to utter a sound.