Ruby Grant felt a little dazed as she listened to the gossip.
Ms.
Pound, standing right beside Ruby Grant, asked with a hint of confusion, “Where’s Ceci?”
“She’s sleeping.
It’s cold out, so I tucked her into her bedding.”
Even so, Ruby Grant couldn’t stop herself from glancing back repeatedly.
Only after confirming that no crying could be heard from the dormitory did she finally let out a small sigh of relief.
She lowered her head in thought.
She’d only half-heard them earlier.
Had they said the surname was Lawford, or something more common like…
Lee?
The name Lawford was unusual, while Lee was incredibly common.
‘It must be a coincidence.’
Ms.
Pound didn’t notice Ruby was lost in thought.
As the supplies were being handed out, she nudged her with her elbow.
“Ruby, you’d better be careful.
Supervisor Shaw has been eyeing you.
I have a bad feeling about this.”
Ruby looked up just in time to see the male supervisor opposite her, the one with the thick gold chain, quickly look away.
A chill ran down her spine.
When their turn came, Ms.
Pound handed her the items.
“Ruby, my son just sent me a new down jacket.
You can have this one.”
Ruby snapped out of it and quickly waved her hands in refusal.
“Ms.
Pound, I can’t accept this…”
“Don’t argue.
It’s not for you, it’s for Ceci!
You can tailor it into a little down jacket for her.
She’ll need it!”
Ruby froze, about to protest further.
But Ms.
Pound was already walking away.
“I’m taking it up to your bed now.
Hurry back once you’ve gotten your things.
Ceci will cry if she wakes up and you’re not there.”
Watching Ms.
Pound walk away, Ruby felt a warmth spread through her chest.
They had only known each other for half a day, yet Ms.
Pound already felt more like family.
Everyone else received their supplies and left, but when it was Ruby Grant’s turn, she was held back.
“Hey, Ruby Grant.
Stop right there.”
Ruby froze.
“Is something wrong, Supervisor Shaw?”
Supervisor Shaw was a middle-aged man named Vince.
Everyone called him Vince.
Rumor had it he used to be involved in the criminal underworld.
He perpetually wore a thick gold chain, sported a beer belly, and his face was a mess of brutish flesh.
He sized up Ruby Grant, the corners of his mouth twitching into a barely perceptible smirk, like a predator eyeing fresh prey.
Under Vince’s appraising gaze, Ruby’s fingers twisted together.
“Ruby, when someone does a good deed for us, we should show our gratitude, right?”
“I’m not asking you to sell your body.
Just record a short video to say thanks.
That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
In truth, Vince’s reasoning was simple.
The benefactor was a rich man; he wasn’t after money, only recognition.
Since they’d received the goods, they naturally had to show their profound gratitude.
He was acting on his own initiative, but if he managed to please the benefactor, wouldn’t there be more donations in the future?
“Why me?”
Ruby didn’t understand.
There were so many other women, all of them older and better with words than she was.
She was always quiet and reserved.
Among the other women, she was known for being the most awkward and uncharismatic.
So why single her out?
“I don’t want them anymore.
Then I don’t need to thank anyone, right?” Ruby slowly placed the items back where they came from.
She truly needed them, but if this was the price of “gratitude,” she would rather go without.
He froze for a second, struggling to follow her logic.
The next moment, she turned to leave!
Vince snapped out of his stupor and called out loudly,
“The head of the Lawford Group said he’s giving you a personal subsidy of one hundred yuan a month!”
“Since the man did something so generous, it’s only right that you record a video to thank him, don’t you think?”
Ruby’s steps faltered.
A mocking smile touched Vince’s lips.
‘This woman.
A hundred yuan is all it takes to stop her in her tracks.
If only she knew it was much more than just a hundred…
heh.’
“You’re saying…
that person is the president of the Lawford Group?
Which President Lawford?”
Ruby turned back, her expression betraying a deep-seated fear.
Seeing her reaction, Vince gave a low cough, stepped closer, and lowered his voice.
“Who else could it be?
Don’t you know Caleb Lawford, the richest man in Kincaid?”
Ruby’s voice began to tremble.
“That’s not right.
If he’s the richest man in Kincaid, why would he suddenly donate supplies to us, let alone single me out for a hundred-yuan subsidy?
I…
I don’t even know him.”
‘He can’t.
He can’t.
He can’t have found me…’ The thought almost made Ruby pass out.
“If he hadn’t happened to pass by this morning while you were sweeping and taken pity on you for being a single mother, you think a scarred woman like you could actually catch the president’s eye?” Vince sneered.
Ruby’s heart, which had been in her throat, suddenly dropped back into her chest.
‘Phew…
so he just felt sorry for me because I have a child.’
‘She had thought…’
“I understand,” Ruby refused, her tone icy.
“But I don’t want these things.
You can record a thank-you video yourself, Supervisor Shaw, and keep the supplies for yourself.”
Seeing that she wouldn’t be swayed by threats or rewards, Vince narrowed his murky eyes, his gaze roaming over her body.
‘She’s a feisty one, isn’t she?’
He leaned in slowly, sniffing the scent wafting from her.
“Just do as you’re told, and I’ll arrange a private room just for you.
With me looking after you from now on, you…”
“Supervisor Shaw, I have to go back and look after my child!”
Ruby took a step back, dodging him.
Vince froze for a second, then his face contorted with rage.
He lunged forward, grabbing her by the hair.
“You fucking bitch!
I tried to be nice!”
Just then, the sound of Ceci’s crying echoed from the dormitory building!
Ruby struggled to break free.
But Vince’s grip was incredibly strong.
He yanked her head back so hard she thought her scalp would be torn off.
“Ruby Grant, don’t think I don’t know.
You’ve been to prison!”
The man’s voice, low and close to her ear, was not loud, but it struck Ruby’s mind like a bolt of lightning.
Her entire body went rigid.
“What… what did you say?”
“You’ve been to prison.
You have a record.
I had someone check.
So, Ruby Grant, I’m just asking you to film a little thank-you video.
What’s with the act?
An ex-con trying to play all high and mighty?
Ptooey!
Fucking jinx.”
“My child is crying, let me go, or I’ll call the police…”
“Ha, call the police?
You dare threaten me?”
“If you don’t want me to have you and your brat thrown out of here, you’ll get in there and record it for me right fucking now!”
Vince tightened his grip on her long hair, dragging her into a small adjacent room.
Then, the door slammed shut with a BANG!