Ruby St. Clair's POV

"For a woman who just asks her husband for a divorce you kind of look miserable, Ruby St. Clair."

I looked up from the food I was cooking to see my twin sister studying me from the kitchen counter. Was she standing next to me for quite some time now? I didn't even notice her come here in the kitchen. I looked away from her querying eyes. "I don't know what you mean, Em. And for the record, I'm anything but miserable to tell you the truth I am beyond happy that we're finally in the process of divorcing."

"Yeah, I can tell," Emerald said sarcastically. "I hate to break this news to you but I had enough of your cooking since you came back a week ago you've been feeding me if not burnt—tasteless food. My poor stomach has its limit."

My eyes widened at her accusation. "I don't do such things."

Emerald smiled apologetically in my direction. "Sorry to inform you this, sis. But since you came back here with your luggage and swollen eyes you're never been the same."

"I'm sorry," I said, fighting back the moisture in my eyes. I could see that my vision was starting to blur again with unwanted tears. "Just a few more days and I will look for my apartment and I will leave you in peace. I'm sure the last thing you want is to babysit your divorced twin sister."

She had the nerve to roll her eyes at me. "Oh, stop being dramatic. This house is big enough for the two of us. Heck, do you think I will complain now about sharing my house with you when we shared mom's womb for nine months?"

Despite the tears, I've been fighting off. I couldn't help but smile at her reasoning. "Since when did you develop that tart tongue of yours? I don't remember you being this sarcastic in the past."

She gave me an irritated look. "Since I was forced to be in the company of a certain Khalil Al-Farsi on a few occasions, Ruby."

"Why you can't get along with him? He's a nice person." I commented, remembering the few occasions I had the chance to talk to him.

"He's anything but nice, sis," Emerald replied in an irritated tone. "If you claim that he's nice then maybe we are talking to a different person here." I was about to reply when she added. "Enough of that man or it will ruin my day early this morning. Let's talk about your status instead."

I looked away from her knowing gaze. "There's nothing to talk about."

"I beg to disagree." My twin sister contradicted, tucked her hands in the middle of her chest. "Why don't you hear your husband's explanation first before making a harsh decision? I'm sure he has a valid reason why he chooses to team up with Granddad. Jesus, you even shut Daniel in your life. I'm not saying that they don't have a fault in this mess but can you hear them out first?"

I threw an acid glare in her direction. "Are you taking up their side then?"

Emerald raised her hands slightly upward. "Chill, I'm on your side. I know you must feel betrayed when you heard them talking about how they manipulate you like a puppet but you need to be logical here and hear their side of the story."

"Em..."

"I know this is hard for you as of now I am not rushing you to take your time but please sooner or later hear them out before deciding to shut Roman and Granddad out of your life forever."

I was silent for a moment. When I left Roman's apartment last week I immediately went to Emerald's penthouse since I have nowhere else to go. My initial thought was to run away again from New York and travel elsewhere but I don't have the energy to do that at the moment. Thankfully, Emerald welcomed me with open arms.

While sitting in the living room, I cried in front of her like a baby as I told her what had happened I accidentally overheard Roman and grandfather's conversation on how they plotted to tie me to Roman and play me for a fool.

I was always grateful to have a sister like her. She just listened to me silently as I poured out my heart's content and realized how much I loved that man but betrayed me in the most hurtful way I could think of. Now I was nursing my broken heart. This was one of the reasons I hated having a relationship it would always end in a disaster even after marriage.

"I don't know..." I forced myself out of my reverie.

"Wait," Emerald had said. "There's someone on the door."

My heart pounded loudly in my chest. Is it Roman? I asked myself silently. Part of me was still hoping that it would be him despite convincing myself to hate him.

After a moment my twin emerged from the living room. She was holding an envelope and placed it on the kitchen counter. "Your hus—I mean, Roman's private secretary personally brought that to my doorstep. I think she mistook me for you she informed me that her boss went back to Spain yesterday and he wants to inform you that he didn't sign the divorce paper you sent to him."

"What?" I was slightly annoyed by the news.

Emerald shrugged nonchalantly. "She also informed me that if want a divorce you need to bring these papers to Roman personally. You need to fly to Spain since you guys married in Spain the divorce must be done in that country."

I stared in horror at my twin sister. I couldn't believe my ears. There's no way I would do such a thing. I will not go back to Spain. "No way!"

"That's your soon-to-be ex's condition for this amicable divorce, Ruby."

I bit my bottom lip. "But..."

She grinned knowingly in my direction. "If you don't have feelings for him as you claim repeatedly then I'm sure you don't have the trouble if you see him again. Just a few minutes to suffer in his company while he signs a few pages of those divorce papers. Then again maybe you're scared because whatever feelings you have for him might be stirred once again upon seeing him."

I averted her gaze and murmur. "I don't know what are you talking about, Miss-Know-It-All. And since we did you become love expert."

"Since I saw my sisters getting married and getting a divorce in the same year," Emerald announced cheerfully. "A intend to not have the same fate as you and Sapphire."

"I'm happy that we provide references for you in the future," I told her dryly.

She grinned at me merrily. "Yup, thanks for that. Now that you seem okay. I will leave you alone in peace so you can plan your next move. I will just go shopping I want to invite you but I'm sure you will just turn down the offer." She paused for a moment. I couldn't help but smile, she knew me well. "Mind if I borrow your cashmere grey scarf you wore the other day? I think it will go well with my outfit."

"No!" I immediately blurted out but as soon as I said that I regretted how I sounded with my twin sister.

But she didn't mind my refusal when she gave me a smug smile on her face. "I see. I guess that scarf is pretty sentimental to you I couldn't help but wonder why."

I cursed myself silently. "I'm sorry, Em if I sounded harsh. You can wear it if you want to wait I'll just get it."

"There's no need, sis." Emerald had the nerve to smirk in my direction. "I am just testing my theory. I guess I was right."

I shook my head. "You are not making any sense."

"I word of advice, dear sister." My twin had announced brightly. "Book a flight to Spain and fix this lovebug of yours."

I was about to answer when she left me all alone standing in her state-of-the-art kitchen. Before I could recover from my shock she already left for her shopping expedition. My gaze landed on the envelope on the countertops. Do I need to fly to Spain if I want a divorce? Can I face him again after just a week of our separation?

As I mulled for my next move, Emerald's door sounded again. I debated if I wanted to answer her door but despite my reservation, my feet slowly went to the living room to see who might be Emerald's visitor.

I was surprised when I saw my grandfather in the doorway. He had this sad smile on his leathery face. "Can we talk, lassie?"

Talking to him was the last thing I wanted for now. I stepped aside so he could come in. I was about to send him away but then I realized I could not do that since this was Emerald's home, not mine. "There's nothing to talk about."

"I believe there is," My grandfather contradicted lightly. "Before you shut me out of your life forever please hear me out, lass."

I faced him with the same amount of hatred I felt for Roman at the moment. I tucked my hands in the middle of my chest as I moved on the floor-to-ceiling glass window. "I heard everything, granddad. There's nothing you could say that would change my mind."

"It's probably true." He reflected, taking a seat on the white leather sofa of Emerald. "I am aware that the method I use was a bit sly but I will tell you this: I did not regret scheming with Roman so you will stay married with him. You must be aware of my desire that the four of you should start to settle down by now, correct?"

I scowled at him openly. "You don't have business in meddling with our lives. We should live our lives the way we want it without you interfering, gran."

He was silent for a moment before staring straight into my eyes. "You are probably right. But I think it's my job to take care of you since the passing of your parents. You and Emerald were just eighteen when they suddenly died."

Suddenly, we just hit a forbidden topic. I always hated talking about my parents and since we're in this subject we might as well talk about this information I've been keeping from my family ever since. I dropped my hands to my side and stared at him. "I heard them, you know."

A frown mark on my grandfather's forehead. "What do you mean?"

I swallowed hard, looking at Daniel's curious expression. "The night mom and dad died. I heard them fighting in the library. Dad was accusing Mom of having an affair which Mom denied fiercely they were shouting at the top of their lungs that night. I heard Dad threatened to kill Mom and her lover if he ever caught them."

Pain crossed my grandfather's eyes. "Why I didn't know any of this?"

"Because there's a party outside, that's why. I think I was looking for Emerald that time when I accidentally overhear their conversation." I recalled painfully that night my parents died. "When I heard Dad threaten to kill Mom I barge inside and have a row with Dad. He told me to stay out of it so was mom. I was mad at Dad that night how dare he make threats to Mom like that? She was his wife!"

"Your father is a very jealous man, Ruby."

"Still he has no right whatsoever to make threats to Mom," I informed him passionately. "He has no evidence in the first place only accusation."

Daniel took a deep breath. "What happened after you entered the library?"

"Dad stormed out of the library but mom's still followed him despite my protest. She told me that she would 'talk' to Dad and that he was just angry. I lost interest in the party that night that's why I retired to bed early it never occurred to me that they left the estate altogether. I just heard of it when Emerald went to my room a few hours later sobbing saying Mom and Dad had a tragic car accident."

"Ruby..."

I couldn't help the tears in my eyes right now as I remember those painful memories of my past. "You see, gran. It was my fault Mom and Dad died. If I hadn't butt into their fight that night if I stayed silent maybe they won't leave the estate in the Hamptons maybe they're still alive today."

In a few steps, my grandfather was instantly in my side and enveloped me with a tight hug. "It wasn't your fault your parents died. It was an accident. Accident. You are not to blame for that! My sweet child..."

I just sobbed on my grandfather's shoulder. The nightmare I'd been keeping on me was finally out in the open.

"Is this the reason why you are so against marriage?" Daniel asked gently, tapping my back gently.

"Partly," I said between hiccups. "I've been avoiding having a relationship since that fateful night but I don't know what madness had hit me and agree to the sham marriage Roman Vasquez offered me while I was in Spain."

"Maybe you like him, lass."

I went out of my grandfather's embrace. "But this is the reason why I don't want to get married. What if the man I married would turn out to be like my father?"

Daniel smiled softly in my direction. "I know that Spanish boy isn't like your father, Ruby. Before I scheme to help him get you back in his arms I did a background check on him. He's a good man."

"You're serious about this marrying us off, do you?" I asked my grandfather infuriatingly. "What will get from this?"

He shrugged casually. "I was right when I thought that the four of you were still haunted by your parents' death. If you and your sister could just move on from that dark episode of our lives and find happiness on your own then I can meet your parents and grandma in the afterlife with head held up high."

"Why did you start with me?" I asked inquisitively. "I mean, why I am first on the list?"

"It was just an accident that you decided to come home you are already married to Roman. I thought it was easier since you already have your husband who's willing to work with me so he could win you back."

"After me, who is next in line?"

My devious grandfather smiled slyly in my direction. "I am thinking of expanding the St. Clair Diamonds outside America. I am thinking of opening a new store in Greece."

I clicked my tongue as I raised an eyebrow in his direction. My sisters had to be very careful in dealing with Granddad it seems that he's already a few steps ahead of us. "So it's settled then who is your next target? But need I remind you that Roman and I were now in the process of divorce?"

"Your choice." He said simply. "But I want you to remember that he's a good man and he only agrees with my plan thinking I could help him get you back. Divorce him if you want. I promise I won't interfere in your life again but can you promise to keep this from your sister? About my plans for the rest of them?"

"Do you think I will keep this from them?"

He shook his head. "I am not sure but I am hoping."

"I will think about it, gran," I informed him tautly. "Need I remind you that I still haven't forgiven you fully yet? I'm still mad."

"I know. Stay married or divorce him it doesn't matter to me. All I want is for you to be truly happy and stop thinking that it's your fault that your parents died."

The real question: can I? I asked myself silently.

Now all I could do was pack my things and fly to Spain to sort out this mess. Once again I would be back on the place where all this was started.