Chapter 9 Return What's Mine!

• Ruby’s POV
• “I know what he did was painful, but do you plan to keep him away from his child forever?” Lily asked, her eyes boring directly into mine.
• “I plan to,” I replied, unbothered by her scathing gaze. “He rejected me and this child. Do I need to remind you of how he called me a whore and gold digger? Do I need to remind you of the times I worked several jobs to take care of Emma while I got no support from him for his child? Tell me, Lily, which one of these things are you suddenly forgetting?”
• She shook her head, drawing closer to me. “Ruby, I understand what you went through, and I hate him for that, but this isn’t about you alone. It’s about the baby you’re carrying. That baby deserves a father. Every baby deserves a father, Ruby. You know this!”
• I rolled my eyes, her words unnerving my soul. “Well, not Dominic Sinclair! He’s a poor excuse for a man. He deserves no mercy, no pity, and definitely no access to my child. This child right here,” I sneered angrily, pointing to my belly. “This child belongs to me and me alone!”
• “Think about it this way,” she continued, not about to give up. I knew Lily; she didn’t give up on matters easily. “He told you he was impotent. He had no idea he could have a child, so it only made sense that he wouldn’t believe you. No sane man would believe that a woman is pregnant for him when he knows he's impotent."
• “Oh, really?” I snapped at her, my eyes widening in rage. “And if so, what about Natalie? Why did he leave me for her? Why?”
• “Hmm…” she sighed defeatedly. “For that, I have no idea, but I do know that the way you’re seeing him has to change. He has told you that he’s willing to take responsibility for the child.”
• “Well, things don't work that way. He doesn’t get to just decide when to—“
• The sudden ringing of my phone cut me off. The shrill sound echoed through the room, startling me. I glanced at the clock, it was 11:35pm. Who would be calling me at this time? An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as I fumbled to pick up the phone, my eyes narrowing at the unknown number displayed on the screen.
• Lily’s gaze was fixed on me, her worry mirroring my own. “Who is it?” she mouthed.
• I shook my head, my throat tightening with apprehension. “Hello?” I answered, my voice trembling slightly.
• For a moment, all I heard was ragged breathing. My heart pounded in my chest, a sense of dread creeping over me. “Who is this?” I asked again, my anxiety growing by the second.
• “It’s me. Benjamin Gustavo. The owner of everything you were given,” a cold, menacing voice finally responded.
• “Benjamin Gustavo?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
• “Yes, the only son of the man your mother conned into marriage,” he said spitefully.
• Shock hit me like a tidal wave. Oliver Gustavo had a son? Why hadn’t he told me? Why had he given everything to me instead? Questions swirled in my mind, but I couldn’t form a straight thought.
• I looked at Lily, who stared back at me with wide, concerned eyes. “What’s going on?” she mouthed again.
• “I have no idea,” I said, my voice shaky.
• “You have eight weeks to return all the shares and properties my dad gave you to me,” Benjamin continued, his tone cold and authoritative.
• “Or what?” I managed to ask, my voice barely holding steady.
• “Or you’ll regret it,” he replied, his voice dripping with menace. “I'll make your life very difficult if you don’t comply. I know where Emma schools." He dragged on, his chilling tone pushing fear into my bones. Believe me, you don't want to mess with me."
• A shiver ran down my spine. This was the last thing I needed. With Dominic and the baby, my life was already in a chaos.
• “What exactly do you want?” I asked.
• “I want what rightfully belongs to me,” he snapped. “You have no right to my father’s fortune, and I’ll make sure you pay for every day that you enjoyed what’s mine.”
• Before I could respond, he hung up, leaving me with the ominous threat echoing in my mind. I stared at the phone, my hands trembling.
• Lily grabbed my shoulders, shaking me gently. “Ruby, who was that? What did they say?”
• “It’s… complicated,” I replied, my shaky voice barely above a whisper. “Oliver Gustavo has a son, and he just asked me to return everything his father gave me.”
• Lily’s eyes widened in shock. “I don't understand. Why would Oliver give you everything when he has a son?"
• “I don’t know,” I admitted, frustration and fear battling for dominance in my mind. “I have no idea why he kept this from me.”
• Lily bit her lip, deep in thought. “We need to figure out what’s going on, Ruby. This Benjamin guy sounds dangerous.”
• I nodded, my mind racing. “And we need to protect Emma and my baby. I can’t let Benjamin hurt us.”
• Lily wrapped her hands around me, hugging me tightly, offering what comfort she could.
• “I need to find out more about Benjamin,” I said. “Why did Oliver hide him from me? And why is he suddenly coming out now?”