Dylan jerked away from Ruby’s outstretched hand, causing her to stumble forward and nearly lose her balance on her stiletto heels.
“Dylan, please,” she pleaded, her eyes wide with practiced vulnerability. “I made a terrible mistake. Weren’t you crazy about me once?”
Her words only fueled his anger. “You have the nerve to bring up our past? After I gave you everything, and you repeatedly manipulated me?”
Seeing her typical tactics failing, Ruby’s demeanor shifted completely. Her tearful expression hardened into a cold smirk. “That’s rich. You’re judging me for manipulating you, while you’re out here stalking Harper with pathetic mementos? You’re no better than I am.”
“You’ve been following me?” Dylan asked, his voice dangerously low.
Ruby let out a harsh laugh. “How else would I witness this spectacular downfall? The great Dylan Rodriguez, reduced to begging on sidewalks.”
Something snapped inside him. Driven by weeks of humiliation and rejection, Dylan grabbed Ruby’s throat, his fingers tightening reflexively. As his grip constricted, Ruby’s face flushed red, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Rather than fighting back, she simply laughed—a choked, disturbing sound.
“Hurting me…won’t change anything,” she rasped. “You’re the one who destroyed her, not me.”
Her face began to pale, her eyes rolling back slightly. The sight shocked Dylan back to reality, and he released her immediately, stepping away in horror at his own actions. Ruby collapsed to the ground, gulping down air in desperate gasps.
“I’m going public with everything,” Dylan said, his voice shaking. “All the lies you made me believe, all the designs you stole. Everyone will know the truth.”
Ruby’s expression transformed to genuine panic. She scrambled toward him on all fours, clutching at his pant leg. “You can’t,” she begged, desperation cracking her voice. “Please, I wasn’t thinking straight. I’ll do anything.”
Dylan stared down at her hand on his clothing with disgust. “Let go.”
Ruby only tightened her grip, hoping he’d show mercy. He’d always been weak when it came to her tears. Dylan shook her off roughly and walked away without looking back.
Sprawled on the pavement, Ruby watched his retreating figure with growing rage. Why did Harper Coulson get to be loved by two men while she was discarded like garbage? Fueled by hatred, she whispered to herself, “What if Harper disappeared? Would Dylan come back to me then?”
Harper had been holed up in her apartment for two days, afraid Dylan might reappear. Tyler, worried about her cabin fever, suggested they get out for a proper date. She eyed the still-healing cut on his lip with concern. “What if he shows up again?”
Tyler pulled her into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Then I deal with him. You can’t let him make you a prisoner.”
After some hesitation, Harper agreed. They needed some normalcy. Tyler drove them to the upscale mall downtown, but as they approached the entrance, they spotted a familiar figure waiting near the doors. They turned to leave, but Dylan had already seen them and was rushing over. Just as he reached for Harper’s arm, a car swerved violently from the parking area, accelerating directly toward her.