Chapter 503: Chapter 503: So You Knew It All Along (13)
“If a man loves a woman, he would want her to have many children for him, not take contraception!”

“Howard doesn’t care about me at all. If it wasn’t for the deep relationship between our families, and the pressure from our parents, there wouldn’t even be a marriage certificate.”

“Howard would rather kill me than allow me to have his child. All these years, with any woman, pretty or ugly, he’s always been charming. I’ve never seen him be cruel to anyone else. But the first time I did, it was directed at me…”

“…”

Madeleine had too much to drink, but her words became even sharper. Every sentence revolved around Howard Coleman.

Ruby Gregory sat silently by her side, listening to Madeleine’s nonstop complaints. Her fingers gripping the crystal glass so tightly that her knuckles were protruding.

Seemingly thirsty from all the talking, Madeleine picked up her glass and drank the burning alcohol as though it was plain water, tilting her head back and gulping it down.

Ruby stared at Madeleine’s beautifully curved, snow-white neck for a moment, then opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly, “So Madeleine, if you accidentally got pregnant, what would Howard do if he found out?”

Madeleine’s fingers gripping the glass halted momentarily before setting down the heavy crystal glass. She stared at the large screen in front of her for a while before lowering her head and speaking in a somewhat heavy tone, “Howard said that it’s up to me whether I take the pill or not. If I don’t take it and get pregnant, he won’t want the baby. He also said that having an abortion is more harmful than taking contraception and, if I don’t care, then he doesn’t either. And…”

Madeleine paused before continuing, “I almost forgot, he grabbed me and dragged me to the stairs, and told me that even if I got pregnant, I wouldn’t be able to give birth. At any moment, he could push me down the stairs, and the child inside me would turn into a pool of blood…”

After she finished, Madeleine scoffed and laughed, pouring herself another drink, “Ruby, this is called retribution, right?”

Ruby didn’t respond but was shaking uncontrollably.

Madeleine slammed her glass on the marble table, stood up, took Ruby’s hand, and said, “Ruby, let’s go dance in the dance floor outside, and have some fun!”

“Ruby?” Madeleine hiccupped and turned to look at Ruby, only to see her face pale as paper, devoid of any color. Madeleine sobered up a bit, realizing that Ruby’s hand in hers was frighteningly cold, “Ruby, what’s wrong? Why is your hand so cold?”

Ruby shook her head at Madeleine and then nodded before speaking softly, “Madeleine, I’m not feeling well, let’s go home.”

–

Madeleine had drunk too much to drive, so Ruby had to take the wheel.

Ruby took Madeleine back to her usual apartment, but Madeleine, drunk and thinking Ruby was Howard, refused to let go of her hand and let her leave.

Ruby didn’t want to go to Steve Burton’s apartment, fearing she might run into Steve. The West Suburb Villa was too far away, and she didn’t want to go there either. And in the hospital, she didn’t want to share a bed with Lady Gregory, who would always ask about her and Steve’s situation.