Ruby kept crying the whole night, trying to decipher her situation.

Was Tom abusive with Sienna, too?

She felt as if she could go crazy if she kept thinking about it. Tom never treated her sister well, but this kind of physical abuse must be behind closed doors because Sienna never let it show in her actions or on her face.

Sienna never complained about his abuse. At the start of their marriage, they were pretty close. But later, when she successfully lured him to her, he started insulting Sienna.

She was an eyewitness when she started living with them.

Teaming up with Tom and Lara, she used to make fun of her sister. She destroyed her family and her home.

"No!" She bolted up in panic. Her face was wet with tears, "He never loved her. He loved me. Hunter offered me a contract marriage. For him, I was only his contract wife. Nothing else. It was good that I took a divorce and moved to Sienna’s place."

This rebirth shit was taking a toll on her mental health.

Sleep claimed her before she realized it. The alarm rang once, twice, then went silent. She kept sleeping like a dead person until she felt fingers digging into her shoulders, shaking her awake.

Before she could open her eyes, a sharp slap struck her cheek.

"Wake up!" Someone roared in her ear. She got up lazily with swollen eyes and found Lara standing in the doorway with a wicked smile on her lips.

Tom was standing there in fury. His bloodshot eyes were aimed at her.

"Tom?" She placed her hand on her stinging cheek.

He placed one knee on the mattress and held her hair tightly, "Didn’t I ask you to prepare breakfast?" He demanded coldly.

Numbness crept through her body.

This...

She had seen this.

The only difference was that she stood in the doorway where Lara was. And on the bed was Sienna, who had once been beaten by her husband because she couldn’t prepare a meal for them.

Now she remembered.

Why did she forget the physical abuse? It was always there.

Another slap made her numbness go away.

"Get up!" Tom dragged her out of the bed, "Go and make breakfast. Or I’ll lock you outside the house with no clothes."

She was horrified by the warning.

"S...sure..." She quickly headed to the bathroom.

"Don’t take long!" Tom called after her.

Ruby did what she was asked. Within five minutes, she was standing in the kitchen preparing omelettes and thinking about her life.

The maid, whom she met on the first day in this house, was doing the dishes. She smirked when she saw Ruby flipping the eggs while Tom was chatting with Lara in the living room.

Ruby decided to ignore her. There were other things that crowded her mind. In her first life, Tom helped her get into movies.

After doing a few side roles, she started getting recognition in the film industry.

What will I do if I don’t earn?

She placed the breakfast on the dining table and came back to the kitchen. Tom didn’t even offer her to join them.

Resting her back against the kitchen counter, Ruby kept thinking about her future. Her husband wasn’t ready to spend on her. His changed attitude meant no significant roles for her in movies.

Sienna had already taken the family business under her name. Ruby was left with nothing.

"No. Think, Ruby. Think hard. You can’t depend on Tom. He is showering his attention and money on a random chick. You need your old life back. And for that, you need proper planning."

Ruby kept thinking, and then at last her face lit up.

"Yes!" She snapped her fingers.

"Ruby!" Tom’s booming voice made the smile vanish from her face, "Where is coffee?"

She quickly straightened and then switched on the coffee machine, "In a minute, Darling." She cooed.

After all, she was Ruby Mason. She couldn’t give up that easily.

***

A long breath slipped from Sienna’s lips as she stood on the gates of her father’s company:

Mason Traders.

Goodness. I know nothing about business.

Shaking her head, she fixed her posture, raised her chin up, and then pushed open the doors. The small reception area was buzzing with people... or maybe with employees.

Most of them were busy chatting with each other. The main reception spot was empty.

"Hello. Where is the receptionist?" She asked loudly, but no one gave her a response.

Fine! I’ll find my way.

She started climbing the stairs to the first floor to reach her father’s office.

Father’s office? Nah! Now, it’s mine.

She reminded herself with a smile and took a sigh of relief when she found a peon outside the door. The man was wearing a blue uniform and was sitting on the stool.

"Can you please open the door?" She asked him. He dragged himself up and then gave her a once-over.

"And why should I do that?" He folded his arms on his chest.

Sienna gave him a tight-lipped smile and then pushed open the door herself. Fortunately, it wasn’t locked, "Because I’m the owner," She went inside without a backward glance.

She didn’t want to communicate with anyone from the staff. First, she needed to see what kind of mess she was getting into.

The office was messy and full of all types of files, and Sienna didn’t know where to start. When she heard her phone beeping, she reached inside her pants pocket and took out her phone.

The message was from Lina.

"Hey, lady boss. How is the office?"

She typed back the message, "I need your help, Li. Please come. I don’t know where to start."

"Okay. Don’t worry. I’ll be there. Just talk to some of the employees," After reading her message, Sienna placed the phone on the office desk and called the peon inside.

"Umm, Peter," She read his name badge with a sweet grin, "Is there anyone in the office who I can talk to?"

Instead of answering her, Peter looked around him as if he were deaf.

"Hey, Peter," Sienna clicked her fingers before his face, "I’m asking you something. Anyone who is in charge here in the absence of Mr. George?"

Peter still didn’t answer.

Sienna squeezed her lips and nodded at him, "You know what, Peter?" She took him by surprise by fixing the collar of his shirt, "I don’t like firing people. But if they are useless to me then..." She raised her shoulder with a pout, "Then I wouldn’t have any choice... You see?"

Poor Peter gulped hard and then moved toward the door. Sienna frowned when he closed it. For a brief moment, she was uncertain, not knowing what to expect.

"Your father..." Peter moved closer and whispered, "He instructed us... not to follow your orders..." He then straightened, "I don’t want to lose my job, but according to your father, you are not fit to run a company."

Heat rushed to her face due to the humiliation she felt.

Oh, Papa. I never thought you’d sink this low.