For the Camera

10. A Waste of Talent.

RUBY.

I meticulously went through the papers Toby had thrown at me the day before. We had a magazine show to attend, and he had given me these papers to familiarize myself with the potential questions that could be asked. He wanted our stories to align.

Meanwhile, the male makeup artist continued his work, diligently concealing the acne on my face. It had come as a shock to Toby when I stood up to him the previous day. He probably believed I would never find the courage to assert myself, just like in the past. Well, he was wrong. While I may lack self-confidence and often allow others to walk all over me, I couldn't stand by and let him continue doing so.

Toby entered my room with a smile, playing the role of a loving husband. I rolled my eyes in response. "Benjamin, make sure my wife looks exceptionally beautiful. I keep reminding her to be cautious with her acne. I don't understand why everyone adores my wife's face so much. We'll get rid of those blemishes soon," Toby joked, eliciting laughter from the makeup artist and the designers in the room. I simply stared at him, wishing I could smash a bottle over his head.

If only these people weren't so easily swayed by celebrities. Why did they believe all the drama he put on? But well, they were oblivious to our private lives, and Toby was a masterful liar. He gave away nothing, and they all saw him as some sort of saint.

Bending down to my level since I was seated in a chair, Toby said, "My poor baby, you're beautiful just the way you are, okay?" He sweetly kissed my right hand. I remained unfazed by his act, while the others in the room cooed in adoration.

Oh, please! He's only doing this because his father would disown him, not because he cares for me, people!

This guy should have pursued an acting career. What a waste of his remarkable talent. His pretence skills were top-notch, and I despised how effortlessly he made acting appear. As he left the room, his pleasant cologne lingered, seemingly stuck in my nostrils. Suddenly, I could breathe again. It took immense self-restraint not to rise to my feet and shout, "Stop pretending, you imbecile!" right in his face.

"You're so lucky to be Toby Daniels' wife, ma'am. He's so nice, romantic, and cute. I would do anything to be in your shoes," one of the stylists dreamily commented, to which I simply rolled my eyes.

I was tempted to respond with, "You can have him, he's all yours," but instead, I forced out the words, "I know, right? He's the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Inwardly, I cringed at my response. Did I want to partake in this charade? He didn't even come close to being the best thing that happened to me. But, of course, we had to fake it. This facade was primarily for the benefit of my family. Ugh! I despised every moment of this!

After the makeup artist finished perfecting my look, the hairstylist worked their magic on my hair. The fashion designer and stylist adorned me in a stunning long cocktail dress that I adored. It hugged my body flawlessly, and the waist trainer I wore underneath made my tummy appear flat. As I gazed at myself in the mirror, I couldn't believe the transformation. Instead of the ordinary, unattractive Ruby, I saw a glamorous A-list model staring back at me.

Well, A-list indeed, with this body and face.

Honestly, I didn't even look this dolled up on my wedding day, no exaggeration. Benjamin skillfully concealed every blemish on my face and ensured that I appeared radiantly beautiful, albeit a bit older. The wonders of makeup. If only it could also hide the pain.

My hair was elegantly coiled and cascaded freely over my shoulders and onto the side of my breasts. The sleeveless gown, bluer than the sky, accentuated my figure. The silver heels hugged my feet perfectly, adding grace to my overall look.

We entered the beautiful Rolls-Royce, and the driver smoothly transported us to our destination. During the car ride, Toby struck up a conversation with me. "You mean a threat?" my inner voice taunted, as it always did.

"Baby, I know there's a voice inside you tempting you to reveal the truth and jeopardize me and my family. But for the sake of your sanity and your own family, you better resist that urge. If you make a slip-up that you're not supposed to, you'll have your life squeezed by me, my family, and even yours. I'm sure you wouldn't want that, would you?" he whispered into my ear, smiling all the while. We probably appeared romantic to the driver, who frequently glanced at us through the rear-view mirror.

I briskly nodded in response to his question, silently praying for him to just leave me alone. I didn't want to engage in any confrontation with him, especially not in public. Otherwise, I might end up slapping him, truly!

Just as I was about to snap at him, he finally released his grip on my hands and moved away from me. Thank goodness. Just stay the hell away from me like that, you i***t.

Upon arriving at the show, reporters attempted to gain our attention but were swiftly pushed aside by security. Seated gracefully on a beautiful couch, I tried to exude poise while the incessant camera clicking filled the air. The show host sat opposite us, and Toby scooted closer, draping his arm around my neck and placing his other hand on my lap, portraying the image of a newlywed couple.

"ACTION!!!" the show director shouted, and the noise subsided as the stunning show host began her introduction. The camera focused on her, capturing the unfolding spectacle.