Beep, beep—
Morgan gave the horn a quick tap.
The car rolled to a stop.
Ruby blinked awake, disoriented, and only then realized they'd arrived at the little lane leading back to the staff dorms.
"Thank you," she murmured.
With trembling arms, she eased herself upright, one hand cradling Mira, the other struggling to push the door open. What should have been a simple motion now felt like an impossible feat—her wrist weighed down as if by chains.
Ruby swayed unsteadily as she made her way into the building.
Morgan removed his mask and cap, his expressive eyes fixed on the woman's fading silhouette. He frowned, concern creasing his brow.
A car that had been trailing them pulled up behind. Morgan's assistant stepped out, having kept a discreet two-car-length distance the whole way.
Stopping by Morgan's window, the assistant bent in a respectful half-bow. "Mr. Blackwood."
Morgan rolled down the window.
"Have someone send her some fever medicine," he rasped, his mind a mess, Ruby's pale, exhausted face haunting him. The tightness in his chest was almost suffocating.
How had his radiant Rue ended up like this?
He drew a shaky breath, pressing a hand to his racing heart.
The assistant nodded and immediately made a call, arranging for a pharmacy delivery.
Ruby, meanwhile, had no time for thoughts of the road behind her. She staggered through the door to her small dorm room, her head spinning. Even so, her first instinct was to change Mira into clean clothes.
Once she'd mixed formula and fed the baby, Ruby sat back on the edge of the bed, Mira nestled in her arms. Her vision flickered, bright and dark by turns.
"Mira, sweetheart… Mommy's so tired… I just need to rest for a minute…"
Her words came out in fragments, her consciousness slipping away like a stone sinking in mud.
A sudden wail broke through the haze—Mira's cry, sharp and urgent.
Ruby jerked awake, startled to realize she'd blacked out.
Knock, knock—
"Miss Grayson, delivery for you."
A steady knock sounded at the door. Ruby realized the noise must have startled Mira.
Rubbing her temples, she dragged herself out of bed and opened the door. A delivery guy stood outside, holding a small bag.
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