Chapter 868
The servant's panicked scream startled Ruby.
She suddenly felt like the pill was stuck in her throat.
It was bitter and choking.
Ruby began to cough violently, spilling water from the cup in her hand all over the bed and herself, making a mess.
"Watch out!"
Kenneth jumped up in shock, hurriedly kneeling by the bed to pat her back, then turned to angrily scold the maid.
"What's the matter with you? Why are you freaking out? Miracalia is a place of law. I don't believe Jackson can just go around killing and burning here! Get out, I'll be right down..."
Kenneth was furious, intending to say he'd go down and check things out.
But before he could finish, a cold, icy voice sounded from outside the bedroom.
"Seems like the one who wants to kill and burn in Miracalia is Ruby!"
As the voice fell, Jackson's tall, imposing figure appeared at the door.
The two bodyguards following Jackson immediately grabbed the maid blocking the door and dragged her out.
The maid was so scared that her legs went weak, not daring to make a sound as she was taken away.
Jackson led the way, with Terry behind him, stepping into the bedroom without any courtesy.
Kenneth's face twisted in anger, especially since Ruby was still wearing a thin nightgown, now soaked and disheveled from the spilled water.
Jackson barging in with his men showed a complete lack of respect.
"Jackson! This is the Castillo family, our marital bedroom. What do you think you're doing? Have you no manners or etiquette?"
Kenneth stepped forward, his expression extremely angry.
He had been in a position of power for years and considered himself Jackson's elder, so he had some authority.
However, Jackson didn't care at all.
Jackson's expression grew colder, his gaze sharp.
"You should ask Ruby about manners and etiquette. Ask her why she went to my house and made my grandmother faint. What was she thinking?"
Kenneth had just gone out to handle Anouk's situation. When he left, Ruby was resting in bed, and when he returned, Ruby was back.
He didn't know Ruby had gone out, so he frowned.
"Made your grandmother faint? How is that possible?"
He turned to look at Ruby, who had picked up a nearby cashmere blanket and draped it over herself, getting out of bed.
Her face was pale as she explained.
"Mr. Frane, you misunderstood. I went to the Frane Mansion because, as a mother, I was desperate and worried sick about my missing daughter, whom I raised and loved dearly. Everyone says Mrs. Frane is the most charitable and compassionate person, so I wanted to ask her for help. I didn't know she was unaware of Lilian's situation. I truly didn't mean to cause any harm. I'm sorry."
She looked at Jackson with concern and continued.
"How is Mrs. Frane? I wanted to go to the hospital with her, but... Mr. Frane, I was about to faint myself and had to come back to take my medication and rest."
Kenneth understood the situation after hearing her explanation.
He immediately put his arm around Ruby, letting the weak Ruby lean on him, and said to Jackson.
"This was Ruby's mistake. She was just worried about her child. If Lyra wakes up, Ruby and I will go visit her and apologize."
Jackson sneered, "How is it that your biological daughter is lying in the hospital, life or death unknown, yet you're running around for the imposter who harmed her? In Seaspring Valley City, Ronan accidentally made Oberon faint, and now Ruby has accidentally made my grandmother ill. Truly a heartless father-daughter duo."
Ruby looked innocent and anxious, explaining.
"How can you say that? We are very worried about Lilian. We go to the hospital every day to watch over her. It's you who won't let us see Lilian. As for Lyra fainting, I truly didn't expect it. Miracalia has been in an uproar these days, I thought she knew everything..."
Jackson didn't want to hear Ruby's excuses. He coldly interrupted her.
"I'm not here to ask for reasons or listen to your excuses. Making my grandmother ill comes with consequences!"
His tone was icy and chilling, making Kenneth and Ruby's expressions change, feeling a bad premonition.
"What do you want? Are you planning to harm us?"
Kenneth suppressed the cold feeling rising in his heart and said in a deep voice.
He didn't believe Jackson would dare to do anything to them.
Even if the Frane family held a high status in Miracalia, he wasn't a nobody.
Would Jackson dare to bring people in and beat them in broad daylight?
Jackson didn't even look at Kenneth, who was putting on a brave front. He just looked at Ruby with a mocking smile.
"You were quite bold when you barged into the Frane Mansion. Now you're acting like a coward."
Ruby frowned, not feeling guilty at all, and replied.
"Mr. Frane, you misunderstood. I admit I was thoughtless, but I didn't mean to make Mrs. Frane faint."
She repeatedly defended herself and sincerely said.
"Mr. Frane, I can go apologize, or whatever consequence you think I should face, if it's proven to be my fault, I'll bear the consequences. There's no need to make such a fuss."
Jackson sneered and said, "Since you're prepared to face the consequences, that's good."
Ruby felt his words had a deeper meaning, and a bad feeling grew in her heart.
She was about to say she'd cover Lyra's medical expenses and hire any expert needed.
Her phone rang at that moment, and Jackson, who had been cold-faced, raised an eyebrow at the sound.
"Answer the phone."
Ruby looked at Jackson, meeting his meaningful gaze, her eyes flickered, feeling inexplicably anxious.
She took out her phone and saw it was her most trusted assistant, Delphine Waverly, calling.
Ruby looked at Jackson again, but he didn't look at her. He walked to the nearby sofa and sat down, crossing his legs in a relaxed manner.
Feeling Ruby's urgent and apprehensive gaze, Jackson brushed off the crease on his suit pants, then looked up at Ruby, making a gesture for her to proceed.
Ruby felt increasingly that this call was bad news.
Kenneth, seeing her hesitate to answer the phone, thought she was scared by Jackson's provocation.
He supported her, comforting her.
"Who's calling? It's okay, answer it. Don't worry, I'm here, no one can harm you."
"Okay."
Ruby nodded at him before sliding her finger to answer the call.
"Delphine, what's going on?"
"Ms. Lawson, there's a problem with Terrence Wheeler. Out of nowhere, he decided to back out of the kidney donation!"
Delphine's panicked voice came through the phone, and Ruby's expression immediately changed. Her lips turned pale, and her body wavered slightly.
She looked at Jackson again in fear, gripping her phone so tightly her wrist trembled.
"Did he say why?"
"No, he just called and said he changed his mind and won't donate anymore. He wants to void the agreement we signed. I'm on my way to his house now. Don't worry, I'll try to talk to him. How can he do this? You saved his family's life!"
Delphine's voice was filled with urgency, and the sound of car horns could be heard in the background.
Delphine said she would try to persuade Terrence, but Ruby knew it was useless.
This had to be Jackson's doing, a lesson from him.
Ruby steadied her voice and said into the phone.
"Alright, talk to him when you see him. I have something to deal with here, I'll hang up now."
Ruby ended the call, took a deep breath, and then looked at Jackson with red-rimmed eyes.
"Mr. Frane, is this the price you want me to pay? For a minor mistake, Mrs. Frane was just a bit startled, and you want me to pay with a life?!"
She was in disbelief, her hands and feet cold.
Only now did she realize what a terrifying and ruthless person she had provoked.
Ruby's questioning didn't make Jackson feel the slightest bit guilty.
His expression was indifferent.
"A small punishment to serve as a warning. My grandmother is precious, far more than your worthless life. You overestimate yourself. If anything happens to my grandmother, I'll make sure the entire Lawson family pays."
Ruby felt a chill rise from the depths of her heart, spreading through her entire body.
She felt like she had provoked a devil.
She had only wanted to make Lyra sick, to hinder Jackson.
She never expected Jackson to be so ruthless, retaliating over such a small matter without giving any room for explanation.
Too extreme, too cruel.
"You!"
Ruby was both anxious and angry, her face turning gray and her vision darkening.
"What happened? What did the call say?"
Kenneth hadn't heard the phone conversation. Seeing Ruby's distressed expression, he quickly supported her and asked.
Ruby looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes, her voice trembling.
"Honey, Terrence backed out, too. My surgery next month can't happen."
Ruby's words left Kenneth stunned for a moment before he erupted in anger.
He quickly helped the shaky Ruby to sit on the bed, then stormed over to Jackson, furious.
"What did you do? How did you make Terrence change his mind? Do you know my wife was in perfect health? She donated a kidney to save Lilian's biological mother. Now her remaining kidney is failing, and she has kidney failure. Without a timely transplant, her life is at risk!"
Jackson raised an eyebrow with a slight smile. "That serious? Her life is at risk? She seems quite lively to me."
Ruby's lips trembled, and Kenneth shouted in anger.
"Jackson, my wife did this for Lilian's biological mother. Even if you disrespect her in other ways, you shouldn't attack her like this. Now, over a minor issue, you want to cut off her lifeline. If Lilian wakes up, people will call her ungrateful!"
Kenneth was nearly jumping with rage, and Jackson's expression turned cold and grim.
"Your wife? Lilian's biological mother? Don't forget, Lilian's biological mother was your first wife, and Lilian is your biological daughter!"
Kenneth's biased terms revealed his true feelings and priorities.
Kenneth's face stiffened, but before he could respond, Terry muttered.
"Oberon was sharp in many ways, but he sure was blind in choosing a son-in-law. Some people just aren't human."
Kenneth didn't want to hear this. His chest heaved, and his face fell.
Ruby quickly stood up, holding Kenneth's arm, and said to Terry.
"Kenneth and I got together years after Ophelia's passing. Despite everything, he stayed to help manage the Kelly Group's business. He deserves credit for that. You don't know anything, so you have no right to speak."
She then turned to Kenneth.
"Honey, the truth will prevail. We don't need to get angry over such baseless, dark thoughts."
Kenneth's expression softened slightly, but Jackson clapped his hands, looking at Ruby with a mocking smile.
"Mrs. Castillo, you can twist the truth all you want. Do you believe it yourself?"
Terry chimed in, "Mr. Frane, I've heard that when someone's heart is rotten, their liver, lungs, and kidneys follow. Maybe Ms. Kelly's early death was because she got a bad kidney from her. Mrs. Castillo, are you sure your kidney failure isn't karma for all the evil you've done?"
Terry looked at Jackson, "Mr. Frane, would such a selfish, venomous woman like her really donate a kidney willingly?"
Ruby's heart tightened, and she clenched her fists.
She lowered her eyes, hiding the shame and hatred in them.
Indeed, she hadn't willingly donated her kidney back then. Who would selflessly give up an organ?
It was out of necessity.
When Ophelia was diagnosed with kidney failure, Oberon and Flora were the first to get tested.
Ruby's father, Ronan, eager to please Oberon, took their whole family to get tested and even encouraged Kelly Group employees to do the same.
Oberon promised a great reward.
Many people wanted to be Oberon's savior and got tested.
Ruby thought the test was just a formality, but out of all those people, only her kidney matched Ophelia's.
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