A few minutes later, after she freshened up and dressed, Ruby followed Stefan down the grand staircase, her heart pounding in her chest. The house was quiet except for the sound of birds outside and the faint rustle of the house staff moving about.
In the living room, Elizabeth Winters sat perched on one of the cream-colored armchairs, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked the same—elegant, poised, but this time, her eyes held a weight Ruby hadn't seen before. A softness. Almost like a sadness.
When Elizabeth looked up and their eyes met, Ruby saw something else too—regret. Was she feeling regretful for betraying her? Could someone as tough as Elizabeth Winters ever admit that she was wrong?
All the while she'd been pretending to be Ivy and helping Stefan through business, Elizabeth had always made it seem like she was just an outsider and shouldn't have a say in the business but looking at Elizabeth now, she didn't have that fire or anything like it in them.
