Forbidden Passion

Ruby lay in bed, and only after hearing them leave did she weakly get up and head to the bathroom to take a shower.

Ruby felt feverish and kept sneezing under the showerhead.

Ruby was really sick. The usually warm water felt cold against her body, making her shiver. After struggling to finish her shower, she dried herself with a towel.

In the mirror, Ruby saw her pale cheeks and the increasingly visible bruises on her neck.

Ruby closed her eyes and swallowed with difficulty. Her throat hurt so much that it almost brought tears to her eyes.

Summoning her strength, Ruby finished drying off and put on the clothes beside her.

The weakness from the fever made her dizzy. She sat by the bed for a while before heading downstairs.

The kids weren't home, and the living room was empty. Only Ollie came out of the cat bed and circled around her. She noticed the cat food bowl was empty and refilled it before grabbing her bag and heading out. The breeze outside was cool and comfortable.

Ruby arrived at the Building Three. After hesitating for a moment, she rang the doorbell. Soon, the door unlocked, and she took a deep breath before pushing it open and walking in.noveldrama

Passing through the courtyard, Ruby reached the foyer. A middle-aged man, around fifty, stood at the door. He looked kind and somewhat resembled Elijah.

"Ms. Adams, right? Mr. Ziegler mentioned you'd be coming to cook and clean today. It's still early, so you can start with the cleaning," Trevor Torres said.

Ruby nodded, "Okay, how should I address you?"

"It's Trevor. Mr. Ziegler will need you to take good care of things here. Come in, I'll show you around the villa." Trevor stepped aside to let Ruby in.

Over the past two years, Ruby had endured much hardship, and her previous arrogance and sharpness had been worn away by life. She gave Trevor a polite nod before walking in. Disposable slippers, like those in hotels, were placed at the entrance. She changed into them and followed Trevor as he showed her around the ground floor.

The villa's air conditioning was set low, and Ruby, already feeling unwell, nearly fainted after the tour.

Trevor noticed her condition, "Ms. Adams, are you feeling unwell? You look very pale."

Ruby wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and shook her head, "No, it's probably just too hot outside. I'm fine, Trevor. Let's continue the tour." Trevor led Ruby back to the living room, "You're responsible for cleaning the first floor. Mr. Ziegler has instructed that you are not to go upstairs."

Ruby's heart ached as if it were being squeezed. "Alright, Trevor, I'll start cleaning."

Trevor watched Ruby walk away and then glanced upstairs, meeting a pair of cold, sinister eyes.

"Mr. Ziegler, Ms. Adams is here."

Donovan stood at the top of the stairs, withdrew his disdainful gaze, and turned away. From now on, he intended to make Ruby pay for everything she owed him.

In the laundry room, Ruby shivered involuntarily while washing a rag. She carried a basin of water to the living room and began dusting the cabinets.

Over the past two years, Ruby had taken on all kinds of jobs to support herself and Ethan. Being a housekeeper was one of the better jobs.

Ruby dusted the cabinets efficiently, her illness not affecting her progress. After dusting, she took a rag specifically for the floor and knelt to clean it.

She hadn't been cleaning for long when a pair of black slippers suddenly stepped on her rag. Fortunately, Ruby pulled her hand back quickly, or Donovan would have stepped on it.

Ruby looked up to see Donovan, who had come downstairs at some point, staring at her with a sinister expression, "The daughter of the Adams family, on her knees cleaning my floor. Never thought I'd see the day." Ruby bit her lip and lowered her head.

She knew Donovan would humiliate her; it was something she deserved.

"I'm no longer the darling of the Adams family," Ruby said softly.

Donovan sneered, "Worried about shaming the Adams family? If I had a daughter like you, I'd have disowned her too."

Ruby had been cleaning all morning and was already exhausted. She stubbornly said, "Think whatever you want, Mr. Ziegler. Please move, I need to finishcleaning."

Donovan glanced at Ruby's white shirt, soaked with sweat and clinging to her body, revealing her curves. His eyes flickered.

He yanked Ruby up, gripping her chin with his other hand, "Your shirt is soaked. What are you trying to pull?"

A wave of dizziness hit Ruby, and she struggled, "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Don't play dumb with me," Donovan suddenly leaned in close, and Ruby, frightened, closed her eyes. The next second, she was pushed away.

Donovan's mocking voice echoed in her ears, "Ruby, don't get any ideas. You disgust me."

Ruby fell to the floor, Donovan's words, "You disgust me," ringing in her ears. Her vision went black, and she fainted.

Donovan stood still, watching Ruby lie motionless on the floor. He sneered, "Stop pretending. Are you trying to frame me?"

Ruby remained motionless.

Donovan reminded himself not to be fooled by Ruby, but his feet moved on their own, slowly approaching her.

He nudged her back with his foot. "Get up. Pretending to faint to avoid work?"

Ruby still didn't move.

Donovan lost patience. He crouched in front of Ruby, grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her up, ready to humiliate her, only to see her head lolling weakly. Donovan was startled. Ruby's face was pale, and her forehead was covered in sweat. He touched her forehead with the back of his hand.

Ruby had a fever!

Donovan gritted his teeth and picked Ruby up. He had thought she only looked thin, but she was also light in his arms.

He quickly walked to the sofa and laid Ruby down, "Trevor, call the family doctor."

Trevor nodded quickly, "Yes, Mr. Ziegler."

Donovan stood by the sofa, not looking at Ruby. His heart was filled with hatred and resentment that wouldn't easily dissipate.

After making the call, Trevor saw Donovan standing by the sofa, lost in thought. He said, "Mr. Ziegler, we have fever patches at home. Let's put one on Ms. Adams first." Donovan snapped out of it and walked to a single sofa on the other side, "Trevor, you do it."

Trevor fetched the medical kit, which contained up-to-date supplies. He found a fever patch and applied it to Ruby.

Half an hour later, the family doctor arrived, examined Ruby, and told Donovan, "She is weak and stressed, which has worsened her condition."