The Sway and Slide of Love

Adela added, "Besides, today's just a casual tea party. So let's not talk about such serious topics."

"Then, can we schedule another time to meet?" Ruth quickly suggested, pulling out her phone. "Can I get your number, please?"

Adela frowned, about to refuse, when someone else chimed in, "Hey, we're about to take a photo. What are you two whispering about? You there, you're too tall. You'll block the shot. Move to the back."

The "you there" was, of course, referring to Ruth.

Ruth felt her smile stiffen, but the others were already urging her, so she had no choice but to get up and move to the back.

The group photo was quickly taken.

Ruth soon realized that her face was mostly blocked by the person next to her, and her expression looked awkward in the picture. But of course, no one cared.

Adela didn't even give her a chance to add her as a contact. As soon as the photo was taken, she left without a word. One by one, the others also filed out.

All the words Ruth had carefully prepared over the past few days had gone to waste. When she walked out of the café, she found her husband, Ricky Massey, already waiting for her.

"How did it go? Did you see Mrs. Armstrong? Did you talk to her?"

The thin, unimposing man hurried over, dutifully opening the car door for Ruth as he spoke.

Ruth rolled her eyes and said, "As if! Do you even know who was at the gathering today? They wouldn't even spare me a glance!"

"Oh. Then, what should we do now? If we don't figure something out soon, the factory is done for." Ricky frowned, then added, "Can't you think of another way?"noveldrama

Ruth immediately felt a surge of

anger rising in her, and she exploded in rage. "What other way? You're the man here! Isn't this supposed to be your job? How can you be so

avel

useless? If you weren't such a spineless failure, they wouldn't have treated me like that today!"

She thought she had already come to terms with this life.

Two years ago, when her parents arranged her marriage, she knew all she could hope for in this lifetime was stability and predictability.

Ricky was as ordinary as they came-he was both average in looks and

personality. His family had once been comfortably well-off, but things had steadily gone downhill under his lackluster leadership.

She had accepted it all. But the moment she saw Noelle today, something inside her shifted.

She had recognized the person who had spoken to Noelle so

respectfully: After all, just a few days ago, Ruth had been smiling and flattering that same person, just to get an invitation to Adela's gathering.

And yet, that same person, who had barely acknowledged her, was

practically groveling in front of

Noelle. So, how could Ruth possibly stomach that? She had always

hated Noelle. From the moment she returned to Coppersville, she had hated her.

At first, it was because of Sandra. Later, it was because of Maxwell.

And now? Now, it was purely because of Noelle's damn luck. Why did she get to stay by Hendrix's side? Was it just because of her face?

Ruth clenched her teeth even tighter at the thought.

Ricky, however, patted her hand gently. "There, there. It's okay. I'll figure something out. Just don't get too worked up—it's not good for the baby."