Sweet Subterfuge by Trina Duo

Chapter 282

Ruby gritted her teeth and squeezed the dough hard. Her fingers were pressed into it. She tried her

best to adjust the emotions on her face so she would look natural.

“Actually.” She lowered her head and felt her cheeks burn with a blush.

…

“We weren’t just friends He pursued me for a long time in the past, but Maybe we weren’t just meant to

be. In the end, we didn’t end up together, and I married Cody.”

Larissa surmised Ruby was referring to the guy sitting beside her just now, Kevan’s cousin.

Ruby looked at Larissa, a hint of provocation in her eyes. “You don’t mind it do you?”

Despite that, Larissa’s tone remained gentle. “It’s been a long time, and we’re both married time, so it

brought back memories.”

…

It’s just that I haven’t seen him in a long

Larissa let out a breath and acted generous. “I don’t mind.”

But in reality, a sense of suffocation gripped her chest, and her mood sank. Upon witnessing their initial

interaction, she thought Ruby had feelings for Kevan. Yet, it turned out to be the complete opposite.

‘Ruby Cole Ruby Cole…” Larissa repeated the name in her mind, suddenly recalling how Kevan had

called out the name of the woman who had chosen to sever ties with her own family rather than marry

him. Could it be this Ruby Cole? The more she pondered, the more plausible it seemed. However, the

realization only deepened her distress. She was nothing more than a substitute, after all.

Larissa hastened her movements, eager to complete the pie as swiftly as possible. She didn’t want to

stay in the same room with Ruby, in contrast, Ruby had already completed her pastry task. Hailing from

a middle-class family, she did not come from wealth. Furthermore being an only child meant she was

exempt from household chores. As the young madam of the Rogers family, she was also relieved of

any domestic responsibilities.

“What do I do next?” Ruby asked Larissa.

Larissa looked at the dough and sighed in her heart. Even though she knew the answer, she asked,

“Do you know how to roll out the pie pastry?”

As expected, Larissa shook her head.

“Go and rest. I’ll handle the rest of it.” Larissa gave her a polite smile.

“T-Thank you!” Ruby didn’t insist and quickly left the kitchen after washing her hands.

Larissa completed the fillings and skillfully kneaded the dough. She then proceeded to roll it out,

carefully placing it in the pie pan. Pouring in the flavorful fillings, she adorned the pie with decorative

touches before sliding it into the oven. By the time she finished, darkness had enveloped the outside

world.

Only a handful of cooks remained in the kitchen, diligently preparing the New Year’s dinner. No one

else entered thereafter. Standing at the kitchen door, Larissa could see the light emanating from the

living room. Unable to suppress her thoughts, she wondered about the lively conversation Kevan was

engaged in with the others. Were they all enjoying a delightful exchange? Otherwise, how could he

have forgotten about her?

Suddenly, Larissa realized how absurd she was being. It was only natural for Kevan to be happy in the

presence of the woman he liked. For him to forget about her was to be expected.

As the pie required baking, she had no choice but to wait. After standing for nearly the entire afternoon,

she finally felt the pain in her back She rubbed it, leaned against the door frame, and slowly slid to the

floor.

A profound sadness enveloped her heart as she gazed at the glow in the courtyard. It felt as though

she had been transported back to her days with the Seymours. Hugging her knees tightly, she fought

back the tears from shedding. She couldn’t help but believe that she was simply destined to be

unlucky-destined to never experience true affection in this lifetime.

Ruby gritted her teeth and squeezed the dough hard. Her fingers were pressed into it. She tried her

best to adjust the emotions on her face so she would look natural.

“Actually…” She lowered her head and felt her cheeks burn with a blush.

***

…

“We weren’t just friends He pursued me for a long time in the past, but Maybe we weren’t just meant to

be. In the end, we didn’t end up together, and I married Cody.”

Larissa surmised Ruby was referring to the guy sitting beside her just now, Kevan’s cousin.

Ruby looked at Larissa, a hint of provocation in her eyes. “You don’t mind it do you?”

Despite that, Larissa’s tone remained gentle. “It’s been a long time, and we’re both married. It’s just that

I haven’t seen him in a long time, so it brought back memories.”

Larissa let out a breath and acted generous. “I don’t mind.”

But in reality, a sense of suffocation gripped her chest, and her mood sank. Upon witnessing their initial

interaction, she thought Ruby had feelings for Kevan. Yet, it turned out to be the complete opposite.

…

“Ruby Cole Ruby Cole …” Larissa repeated the name in her mind, suddenly recalling how Kevan had

called out the name of the woman who had chosen to sever ties with her own family rather than marry

him. Could it be this Ruby Cole? The more she pondered, the more plausible it seemed. However, the

realization only deepened her distress. She was nothing more than a substitute, after all.

Larissa hastened her movements, eager to complete the pie as swiftly as possible. She didn’t want to

stay in the same room with Ruby. In contrast, Ruby had already completed her pastry task. Hailing from

a middle-class family, she did not come from wealth. Furthermore, being an only child meant she was

exempt from household chores. As the young madam of the Rogers family, she was also relieved of

any domestic responsibilities.

“What do I do next?” Ruby asked Larissa.

Larissa looked at the dough and sighed in her heart. Even though she knew the answer, she asked,

“Do you know how to roll out the pie pastry?”

As expected, Larissa shook her head.

‘Go and rest. I’ll handle the rest of it.” Larissa gave her a polite smile.

‘T-Thank you!” Ruby didn’t insist and quickly left the kitchen after washing her hands.

Larissa completed the fillings and skillfully kneaded the dough. She then proceeded to roll it out,

carefully placing it in the pie pan. Pouring in the flavorful fillings, she adorned the pie with decorative

touches before sliding it into the oven. By the time she finished, darkness had enveloped the outside

world.

Only a handful of cooks remained in the kitchen, diligently preparing the New Year’s dinner. No one

else entered thereafter. Standing at the kitchen door, Larissa could see the light emanating from the

living room. Unable to suppress her thoughts, she wondered about the lively conversation Kevan was

engaged in with the others. Were they all enjoying a delightful exchange? Otherwise, how could he

have forgotten about her?

Suddenly, Larissa realized how absurd she was being. It was only natural for Kevan to be happy in the

presence of the woman he liked. For him to forget about her was to be expected.

As the pie required baking, she had no choice but to wait. After standing for nearly the entire afternoon,

she finally felt the pain in her back. She rubbed it, leaned against the door frame, and slowly slid to the

floor.

A profound sadness enveloped her heart as she gazed at the glow in the courtyard. It felt as though

she had been transported back to her days with the Seymours, Hugging her knees tightly, she fought

back the tears from shedding. She couldn’t help but believe that she was simply destined to be

unlucky-destined to never experience true affection in this lifetime.