Chapter 4. Like Mother Like Son

RUBY

"Goodness, gracious! Can't you even manage to zip up a dress properly? What a disappointment you are!" Mrs. Daniels exclaimed, her tone dripping with disdain.

Here I was, at one of the branches of the renowned Great Daniels' Elegantè, shopping for my wedding gown with my mother-in-law, who happened to be relentlessly mean and brutally honest with her words. She couldn't resist making hurtful comments about my appearance, constantly expressing her embarrassment that I, of all women, was the one "handpicked" for her precious son as if I were some mere object.

She hadn't given me a chance to select any dresses myself; she simply imposed her preferences on me, not bothering to consider my feelings. It had been an exhausting experience.

The attendant handed me the gown, and as I gazed at its length and intricate details, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. It was undeniably beautiful, but its revealing nature didn't align with my taste.

"Mom, I don't like this," I expressed, hoping she would listen to me just this once and not choose this particular dress. However, my hopes were swiftly shattered.

"Oh, please, spare me the 'mummy' bullshit! My genes don't produce creatures like you. And when did I ever permit you to make any choices here?! Just get into the changing room and get it over with!" she snapped at me, scowling.

At that moment, I solidified my feelings toward the woman – utter hatred.

It came as no surprise that Toby had inherited her traits. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, after all. They both acted like insufferable snobs and judgmental fools. Like mother, like son.

I quickly obeyed her command and rushed into the changing room. After seven minutes of struggling with the zipper, I conceded defeat and emerged from the changing room with it undone.

Her eyes scrutinized me like a hawk before she finally spoke, her words hanging in the air.

"Okay, I like this one," she said with a smile, while internally I couldn't help but grumble.

My taste in fashion was vastly different from Mrs. Daniels', but who could argue with Clara Daniels, the renowned world-class model and fashionista? She purchased the dress and handed it over to one of her maids.

Oh, did I forget to mention it? Mrs. Daniels went everywhere accompanied by two maids and three bodyguards, behaving as if she were royalty. They would bow and address her as "madam" as if she were Queen Elizabeth herself.

What nincompoops!

We settled comfortably in the luxurious car, elegantly parked outside Daniels' Elegantè, and the chauffeur started the smooth engine.

"Make sure you look your best for the dinner that will take place on the evening of your wedding day. All of my esteemed guests will be present, and I don't want you looking like one of my maids," Mrs. Daniels instructed sternly, while I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

She was so controlling.

I nodded in response.

"It is disrespectful to nod, Ruby. You should speak when spoken to!" she commanded.

"Okay, ma'am, I'll be well-dressed," I replied.

"Make sure your makeup is heavy as well. I can call my top-class makeup artist if you can't find a good and prominent one. Don't appear with your ordinary face. Also, be prepared to speak with the press. I'll send some scripts to your email. Go through them carefully. Your responses must align with Toby's. We don't want those news-hungry bloggers spreading nonsense about us. We have big ambitions ahead, and any misstep can ruin everything. There must be no slip-ups. It could cause chaos not only for us but especially for your father. I'm sure you wouldn't want to create problems for him."

"Yes, ma'am. I promise to behave accordingly," I said, even though I was already tired of her incessant nagging. If she gave one more instruction or command, I might just jump out of the moving vehicle. I wasn't joking. She was that infuriating.

***

TOBY

"I am so sorry, baby. You should know that I don't have a say in all of this. It's all Dad's doing, you know how he is," I said, trying to cajole Yasmin.

Ever since the news of Toby Daniels from the Daniels' Conglomerates marrying Ruby Coker from the Coker Hospitals was published in the papers, Yasmin must have come across the viral articles, as they were carried by all the blogs. For the past two days, she had been refusing to talk to me. She didn't answer my calls and even ignored me when we bumped into each other in public. This behavior was so unlike her. We've had issues before, but it was usually me giving her the attitude, not the other way around.

Her whole attitude towards me felt foreign. She was hardly ever angry with me. She always treated me delicately, never wanting to lose me. She did everything and anything to make me happy and always tried to please me. That's why I had to go to her house to explain myself the best way I could.

"Toby, it's unfair! It's so unfair! Do you know the crap that's been circulating on the blogs about me too? We were public with our relationship in a way, and I'm an actress. Bloggers always look for ways to ridicule us, and you gave them that. I'm a laughingstock right now. I can't even step out of my house without reporters shoving cameras in my face. Take a look for yourself!" She shoved her phone into my hands.

I hadn't been keeping up with news about her, so I honestly had no idea. I looked at her phone and saw more news about the actress, Yasmin Blake.

"Toby Daniels Dumps Broke Yasmin Blake to Marry into a Rich Family."

"The Daniels Refused to Let Their Only Son Marry Yasmin Blake." Well, at least, this particular headline was partly true.

"Yasmin Blake Loses Billionaire Boyfriend to Ruby Coker." These bloggers can be so harsh.

"I'm so sorry, Yasmin! I'm going to tell our PR to sue those bloggers and bring the articles down for you," I soothed, trying to calm her down.

"Bring down what almost the whole country, if not the world, has read? Toby, you hurt me, you did! How can they even have you married to that Ruby? The same Ruby I didn't like at all in high school? That same person?" Yasmin said, already doing that fake sobbing thing she does.

We both attended Daniels College, the school for wealthy kids. Since Yasmin's dad paid for her expenses, she was able to attend the best schools. We were just friends back in school. She was the less affluent one among us, and she didn't want to be bullied, so she put on a mean persona and somehow became friends with me. She was a beautiful girl, so she succeeded. Guys liked her for her beauty, confidence, and sexiness, while girls wanted to hang around her because she hung out with me.

Reflecting on the past now, I realized that Yasmin and I go way back, so I truly feel her pain. "You should know that I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Do I look like I want to get married? You know I didn't like Ruby back then either. Why would I choose anyone else over you? No, why would I even pick that 'person' over my amazing Yasmin? Baby, I am sorry," I pleaded.

This was the very first time I was apologizing to her for anything. Even when I was the one who did something wrong, she would still say sorry. When I cheated, she was the one begging. I guess she deserved it this one time.

"That's it. Now that you're getting married to her, I get left out. I've been sticking with you through thick and thin all these years, and one idiot comes along to take you away from me. That person who's nowhere near as good as me in anything," Yasmin spat angrily.

"Forget about Ruby, baby. She means nothing to me. I'll never acknowledge her as my wife. You should know that you are the only woman who holds a special place in my heart. That marriage means nothing; we'll still be together after the unnecessary celebration," I promised.

"You mean you want to make me a mistress?! No... no way! I don't want to end up like my mom!" she flared up.

"You won't end up like her. You know I'll never abandon you. You know I'll never do that for any reason. You're the only woman I've ever felt anything for, and you know that," I said sincerely, even though I was already tired of the whole emotional scenario. So, I decided to just get it over with the best way I knew.

I grabbed her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space between us, and then I kissed her lips, nibbling and teasing her lower lip. She responded immediately. Yasmin could never resist my charms, but then she abruptly stopped me.

"I have a request to make," she began seductively. She did that sometimes, taking control of me during a heated moment and making requests. Most times, she asked for ridiculously large sums of money, which I never wasted any time giving her.

"I need an invitation to your wedding and the dinner night. I should put that woman in her place. Or don't you want me there?" she said, teasingly kissing the corner of my lips.

An invitation? That's all?

"I'll have it sent to you tomorrow morning," I replied, my voice husky but barely audible. She heard it anyway.

"Good! I love you, baby," she slurred as we resumed kissing.

And just like that, I knew that I was completely forgiven.