Chapter 3
Edward spat out my name, his voice laced with pure hatred.
The whole hall went dead silent.
Cathy was sprawled on the floor, her eyes wide with disbelief as she craned her neck to look up at the stairs.
Every eye in the room was fixed on my door.
I knew there was no way out.
I took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and made my way down the stairs, step by step.
Edward's eyes were locked on me, red with fury, like he was ready to rip me to shreds.
The guards beside him gripped their sword hilts, looking ready to kill.
I stepped forward and dipped a curtsy before him. "I, Ruby Sinclair, greet Your Highness."
It was as if we were nothing more than strangers meeting for the first time.
Edward was pissed off by how cool I acted.
He stormed over and grabbed my wrist, his grip like iron. "Ruby, you've got some guts. What am I to you? Some goods to be traded? Five hundred gold coins, and you traded me away like I was nothing?"
His voice shook with a mix of hurt and rage he couldn't hide.
I lifted my chin and stared straight into his eyes. "Now that you've reclaimed your title, Your Highness, you should know there's a world of difference between us.
"I'm a gold-digging girl, after all. Better to cash out early than wait around for you to toss me aside. If you ask me, it's a pretty sweet deal."
"A sweet deal?" Edward scoffed. He yanked me into his arms and slammed his mouth onto mine, the kiss hard and punishing.
Sharp pain shot through my lips, and the taste of blood spread in my mouth.
I fought to break free, but his grip was unyielding, locking me tight in his embrace.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Cathy's eyes were wide, like she'd seen a ghost.
After what felt like forever, Edward finally let go of me.
He was breathing hard, his forehead pressed against mine, his eyes wild and possessive.
"Ruby, you think you can ditch me? Dream on!" he snarled. He tore the jade pendant from his waist and forced it into my hand.
The jade felt smooth and delicate, but it seared my palm, making my hand tremble.
"I won't let you trade me away," Edward said. "I'd give you the whole world. Just... don't abandon me."
That last line came out as a humble plea, his voice trembling with desperation.
The almighty crown prince now looked like a scared kid, terrified of being abandoned.
I clutched the jade pendant, and my heart gave a little shiver.
But I knew I couldn't let myself go soft.
If I did, there'd be no coming back for me.
I glared at him and then flung the jade pendant right back at his chest. "Your Highness, this thing is way too valuable for me. If you really want to give me something, five hundred gold coins will do."
Edward froze, caught completely off guard.
He stared at the jade pendant clutched in his hand, and then looked up at my icy, emotionless face.
The spark in his eyes shattered, bit by bit.
"Well. Perfect," he muttered, bitterness lacing his words. "You really are something else, Ruby."
He took two steps back, a bitter, defeated smile flickering across his face. "You want money, huh? Fine. I'll give you all you want.
"Someone. Empty out my treasury. Haul it all over to her—every last coin. I want her to see exactly what I'm worth."
With that, he turned and walked away, his figure determined yet desolate, a lonely sadness clinging to his retreating back.
Cathy slumped to the floor, watching the whole thing, totally stunned.
Comments scrolled by before her eyes at lightning speed.
[Holy shit. This isn't how it's supposed to go. Wasn't the crown prince supposed to be head over heels for Cathy?]
[Who the hell is Ruby? She wasn't even in the original story.]
[Cathy, you idiot. You got played. Ruby's the real protagonist here.]
Cathy whipped her head around to glare at me, her eyes burning with venom and jealousy. "Ruby, how dare you mess with me!"
I ran my fingers through my hair, totally unfazed. "Cathy, you begged for it yourself. So, what—now you suddenly don't want it anymore?"