Married To a Stranger

Chapter 30

Ruby's response should have struck a nerve, but instead it left Julian momentarily stunned.

He did a double take. You can actually understand this.

Ruby opened her mouth to answer, but another voice cut in.

Actually, I think she can. Julian turned sharply. You two know each other.

The man shifted, then offered a shy smile. I was one of Professor Miller's graduate students at Hudson University.

He said, last year, while I was still there, the professor brought her in to work on a few projects with us.

Ruby studied him for a second, then it clicked.

Chris.

Chris Weber nodded, a little sheepish. She was the only undergrad Professor Miller ever brought on.

She's a ridiculously fast reader and has already worked with these basic frameworks.

Julian's expression didn't soften. If anything, his irritation deepened.

So, he scoffed. This is basic framework material. What's the big deal? If she's really that capable, why doesn't she solve the core technical issue?

Chris stiffened. That's a pretty big ask.

If you don't have what it takes, stay in your lane.

Julian snapped. He turned and stalked off. Without another word, Chris exhaled slowly and looked back at Ruby.

We haven't cracked the cortex yet. He said quietly. He hasn't slept in days. Short fuse, but...

He's not a bad guy. Try not to take it personally.

Ruby just shrugged. She hadn't come to the Knight Group to make enemies. Anyway, after Chris pointed her toward the research library, she headed there without hesitation.

The Knight Group's library occupied the sixth floor. In truth, it was less a library and more a private knowledge vault.

Accessible only to employees. Floor-to-ceiling shelves stretched in every direction, housing material from nearly every industry imaginable.

Some of the research stored here was so advanced that it had never been released to the public.

Ruby felt a thrill of excitement. If the answers she needed existed anywhere, they would be here.

Meanwhile, Owen was plowing through paperwork when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Matilda, reminding him to have lunch with Ruby, followed by a very specific instruction.

Send me a picture of you two together.

Owen's brow furrowed. He was halfway through typing an excuse about an emergency meeting.

When a new text dropped.

Would make my day.

He stared at the screen and exhaled slowly. Then he called Leo.

Have two lunches sent up.

Sure, sir, Leo said.

Owen then sent a message to Ruby, asking her to come upstairs for lunch.

But even after the food was laid out on the table, she still hadn't replied.

He stood up. Where is she?

Leo checked his tablet.

Found her. She's in the library.

Owen took the elevator down to the sixth floor. He walked slowly between the tall rows of bookshelves and spotted her.

And then someone else.

Carter stood a short distance away. His gaze fixed on her.

Owen's jaw tightened.

Ruby was completely absorbed. The library was a gold mine, dense with current, high-level technical data.

She hadn't even noticed her phone vibrating repeatedly in her pocket.

She reached for another book, and she collided with someone.

Sorry.

The word died in her throat.

Carter stood before her. His expression twisted with anger and something dangerously close to longing.

So, he said coldly, are you sucking up to the old lady this hard just to get close to Owen?

Ruby's eyes turned icy.

That's none of your business.

Carter let out a harsh laugh.

Owen doesn't care about women. Don't think you can use your looks to hook him. He's not shallow.

His lips curled.

Didn't he dump you into some useless department just to get rid of you?

Ruby sneered.

So when you spent all that time chasing me in college, was that you not being shallow?

Carter fell silent.

Ruby studied him. He'd once been her only friend in college, the only one she trusted.

She'd even seriously considered a future with him.

When he'd promised her a surprise at graduation, she'd wondered, just for a moment.

If that was the moment.

And now his behavior was just cruel.

She exhaled slowly.

Carter, can't we just go our separate ways?

No.

His eyes reddened instantly.

I know you hate me for proposing to Isabel, but I had no choice.

There are things to consider in marriages between families like ours. I tried to make it work for you.

His voice hardened.

My mother even agreed to let me be with anyone I wanted. But your background...

He sneered.

An illegitimate daughter. If I married you, I'd be a joke in New York society.

Ruby studied him quietly.

Once, she believed her background defined her worth.

But after leaving the Anderson family, she'd learned the truth.

Identity wasn't inherited. It was claimed.

She looked at him.

Well.

In that case, thank you for not marrying me.

With that, she tried to leave, but Carter blocked her path.

I heard Julian gave you a hard time in R&D, he said quickly.

I can move you to Team Two. I'm in charge there. I'll put you with good people, real mentors. You're smart, Ruby, you'll learn fast.

You won't have to scramble just to survive anymore.

Ruby cut his rambling short.

And what's your condition?

You divorce him, Carter said immediately.

And be with me.

The thought of her belonging to another man was eating him alive.

She didn't even pause.

You're not worth it.

Something in Carter snapped.

Why? he barked.

Are you in love with that useless husband of yours?

I could scare him off with money alone. He dumped you in a heartbeat. How could he possibly compare to me?

He grabbed Ruby's wrist and slammed her back against the bookshelf.

His eyes were bloodshot.

Are all women so sentimental, attached to a man after one night?

If that's what sways you, then let's see who is better.

Him or me.

He lunged, invading her space with a menacing glare.

At the far end of the aisle, Owen stood perfectly still.

He'd heard everything.

And just as he moved to intervene, Ruby acted.

Ruby drove her knee upward with a sharp impact.

He doubled over with a strangled groan.

Before he could recover, Ruby slapped him hard across the face.

The sharp c***k echoed in the silent library.

She looked down at him with pure disgust.

I was trying to spare your pride, she said coldly.

But since you insisted, let me be clear.

My husband is taller than you, better-looking, and far more capable than you could ever dream of.

With that, she turned and froze.

Owen stood at the end of the aisle, just as stunned as she was.

Behind her, Carter's voice rose hoarse with rage.

I'll make your life a nightmare here, and your husband won't do a single thing about it.

As his threat faded into the quiet, a calm male voice cut through the silence.

Don't be so sure about that.

Several heads whipped around at the sound of the voice.

It was Julian Rhodes.

His expression was carved from pure irritation, the dark circles under his eyes making him look even more severe.

He clearly hadn't slept, and he was in no mood for nonsense.

Carter stiffened.

Are you her husband or—

Of course not, Julian replied with a sharp smirk.

If her husband were half a man, he'd have already torn you apart for cornering her like this.

Rather than standing around doing nothing.

Carter was momentarily speechless.

He winced as he pushed himself upright.

Shooting Julian a venomous glare.

I'm transferring her to Team Two.

No.

Julian said flatly.

You don't get to decide who's on my team.

Carter frowned.

She's just some nepotism hire, aren't you the one who hates people with connections?

Julian let out a short laugh.

That's rich coming from you.

She's a junior employee. You're leading Team Two with a bachelor's degree.

His eyes hardened.

If anyone's a nepotism case here, it's you.

Carter had no immediate comeback.

He inhaled slowly, then changed tactics.

Dr. N will be joining my team in a few days, he said carefully.

He's your idol, right, Julian? Stay out of this.

And I'll get you an introduction.

Julian went still.

Anyone in the new energy field revered Dr. N.

Julian had read the papers obsessively, each one a master class in brilliance.

He'd pulled every string he had to secure a meeting.

And now Carter was dangling it like bait.

For a brief moment, Julian hesitated, then his jaw set.

No, thanks, he told Carter. I don't need you to get me an introduction.

With that, he turned to Ruby.

Stop making a scene and come with me.

Ruby glanced toward where Owen had been standing earlier.

But he was gone. She let out a quiet breath of relief. Good—if he'd witnessed her outburst, she might never recover from the embarrassment.

She followed Julian out.

You just cost me my chance to meet Dr N, Julian snapped once they were out of earshot.

Ruby smiled faintly.

There'll be other chances.

He shot her a look.

You're an undergrad. Couldn't you keep your head down and do your work? Why go looking for trouble? You're making enemies. You really shouldn't be crossing—

Ruby didn't argue. Chris had been right; Julian's attitude was awful, but underneath it, he wasn't a bad person.

Back in the library, Carter stood perfectly still. His expression was dark, unreadable, his fists clenched until his knuckles went white.

One day, Ruby would come back to him, crying, begging. He forced himself to breathe.

When the pain in his body finally dulled, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

You're having dinner with Dr N tomorrow afternoon, right? he asked quietly.

He paused, then said, take me with you.

Meanwhile, Ruby and Julian returned to R and D Team One.

That was when Ruby's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and froze.

Oh, just great, she muttered.

Julian sighed heavily.

What? Now?

I think I just made another enemy, she said, rubbing the back of her neck.

Julian shook his head and walked off.

You're on your own this time. I've had enough of you for one day.