Tom stumbled upon a business acquaintance in the hotel lobby. He had to keep his expressions in control while meeting that man. The shame he had to face because of his wife was still fresh in his mind.

Ruby took the opportunity and left the hotel in a hurry. She needed to leave the place before he could make her accompany him.

She was sure another torturous episode was waiting for her at home, and she didn’t want to go back to bear his abuse.

God knew exactly what he was planning to do next. What if he locked her away in the store room of that house, the one that had been sealed since centuries?

Nah! She couldn’t take the risk.

***

Ruby got up in bed and tossed the blanket aside, not shy of her nudity. The man behind her couldn’t stop himself from admiring her naked ass.

She pulled on her skirt and then started buttoning up her blouse. The man lit a cigarette and smiled, "When you showed me your middle finger, I knew you would come back."

His remark didn’t make her angry. Instead, she just smiled and shrugged, "I realized late that I made a mistake," She ran her hand several times through her hair.

In her past life, she never needed a casting couch. In fact, she started a campaign against such women who used to get good roles after offering their bodies.

"So..." She picked up her bag and looked at the naked man, sitting on the bed, "Do I need to give another audition?" She placed her hand on her hip.

He shook his head, exhaling the smoke through his nostrils, "Nope. Don’t worry. That role is yours. Come tomorrow and sign the contract."

Ruby smiled with a nod, "I’ll be there."

***

Instead of heading back home, she hailed a cab and went to her parents’ house.

"Sweetheart!" Her mom hugged her after opening the front door, "I thought you were mad at us."

Ruby was still mad at her parents, but right now she couldn’t afford to be angry with them. Once her career took off, she wouldn’t need them anymore.

Her father was sprawled on the living room couch, watching some business report on TV. He didn’t even look at her.

"What are you doing here?" He asked with his eyes still fixed on the screen.

Ruby sighed, and for a second, she wanted to cry and begged her parents to understand her. But not this time.

She swallowed it down.

"I’m here for a few days," She tried to keep her voice steady, "I’ll leave. Don’t worry."

That made her parents pause.

Slowly, George Mason reached for his crutches and pushed himself up, "You can’t stay here," He said flatly. Ruby couldn’t see any warmth in his eyes, "Go back to your husband, Ruby."

Ruby balled her hands into tight fists, "I’m not going back, Papa. Why don’t you understand?"

His face hardened along with his eyes, "You don’t have a choice, Ruby."

"I do!" Her voice rose before she could stop herself, "He abuses me, Papa."

There was silence in the room now. Her mother touched her back, "Ruby... sweetheart."

But her father let out a short, humorless chuckle, "So?"

Ruby was stunned by his tone deaf response. She stepped back, shaking her head, "What do you mean? I told you everything last time when I ..."

"Ruby!" He closed his eyes in irritation, "He is your husband, and a husband has rights over his wife."

"Papa— he— he hits me— slaps me..."

"Enough!" He snapped at her, "We know how you exaggerate things. Stop fooling us!"

Ruby stood there with her mouth wide open. Why was he being so unreasonable?

Her mother stepped in, there was pleading in her voice, "Both of you... please. Just calm down. Let’s sit and talk—"

"Shut up!" George Mason’s roar echoed through the room. Even the servants in the kitchen stopped working in shock.

Mariana Mason flinched, instantly falling silent.

Ruby stared at her father. He was treating her as if she were not his daughter but a burden.

"Go back, Ruby," He repeated tiredly, "Instead of coming to us every day, go back and fix your marriage."

Tears spilled out of her eyes as a hollow laugh escaped her lips. She was still in disbelief. In denial.

"My marriage?" She repeated, "Papa, I ..."

George didn’t want to hear her, "Don’t test me, Ruby!"

She saw her father’s back when he headed to the study room. Ruby wished Sienna had broken both his legs.

It would have served him right.

"Ruby," Her mom whispered, looking down at the floor. She couldn’t make eye contact with her daughter.

"Mama. I need to go to my room. I’ll go back in the evening," Without waiting for her mom’s response, she went to the staircase.

She needed time to think.

She needed a roof over her head just for a little while. After that, she could arrange a cheap rented apartment.

***

Once she was inside her room, all the past images started playing before her eyes like a movie reel.

She now regretted choosing Tom. He wasn’t the man he had been when he was her lover.

She dialed the director’s contact number, whose name was Gabriel, keeping her fingers crossed. He was the only one she could rely on.

"Yes?" He took her call after the first ring.

"Gabriel?"

"Who is this?" The question made her blood boil. How many girls did he take to his casting couch?

"It’s me... Ruby Black— Mason... Ruby Mason. We just met in your office," She tried to remind him, keeping her tone polite.

"Oh, Hi, Ruby."

"Hi. Gabriel. Do you think you can arrange an apartment for me?"

The line went quiet for a few seconds, making her believe that the call had dropped.

"Sure," He laughed, "How about you pay me another visit, and I arrange something for you."

Ruby gritted her teeth. This was happening because of Sienna.

"Fine!" She mumbled, "I’ll be there tomorrow."

She hadn’t even cut the call when, without warning, someone yanked her back by her hair.

"Who the hell do you think you’re talking to, you bitch?" Tom’s cold voice came right behind her ear.