The Devil's Sweetheart

182

Ruth woke up early in the morning, had her breakfast, and went back to her room. She refused to see any visitors, especially her husband and daughter. Leaning her head on the wall, Ruth closed her eyes, thinking of her friend. ''Are you alive? I wish to see you once, William.'' She knows this is her end. Never will she be able to step out of this prison. She wondered why Lisa and Francis chose to hide her identity. Had they exposed her, it would be nothing but a death sentence. Why didn't they expose?

In between her thoughts, the prison officer rapped the iron bars creating a rhythm with his staff. ''A visitor for you.''

''Tell them I am not interested,'' Coarsely, Ruth told him. She is tired of hearing her husband's emotional drama and her daughter's cries.

''It's not your husband and daughter this time.'' The officer curtly added. ''Come on. I will drag you by force even If I have to.''

Grumbling to herself, Ruth rose to her feet with the support of the wall. Old age perils, she mused bitterly. The officer secured the shackles on her arms for safety. Ruth followed the prison officer and walked along with him. He led her into a private room and then closed the door from outside.

Her eyes went wide in surprise, seeing the frame sitting on the chair. Lisa? Why is he here? ''Why did you come here?'' Ruth demanded.

''To check if you have increased your weight.'' Ruth could feel the amusement dancing in his eyes.

''I don't have time for your jokes.'' Ruth turned to the door, pulled it forcefully, but it wouldn't open.

''Don't waste your energy.'' Laziness laced to the edge of his tone. ''Come, and sit. The door opens on my command.''

Just like last time, she was helpless again. Rosalie sat on the opposite chair. ''Look, Lisa, I am not sure why you have come. But I have nothing to give you.''

''I know..'' Lisa agreed crisply. ''But I have something to give you.'' He unlocked his mobile and showcased a picture in front of her eyes. ''Can you recognize him?''

Ruth stared at the picture for a couple of seconds. The eyes look familiar. A good-looking young man, other than that, she hadn't seen him anywhere. Ruth shook her head in response. ''Who is this?''

''Arsen Lennox, your son.''

''What!'' Ruth tried to grab the mobile, but Lisa locked it spontaneously.

''My son is alive..it can't be..he died in the fire accident.'' Ruth tried to feed her brain of the truth. She remembered Lisa talked something secret about her son when Jennie was under the barrel. Ruth speculated he wanted to distract her from saving Jennie. Lisa had a point at that time, but why would he lie now? ''I don't understand.''

''Your husband's mistress and son turned up on the night fire accident happened. A fight occurred between your son and husband before the house caught in the fire. I don't need to tell the rest of the story.''

''My son did it,'' Rosalie concluded. Tears rolled down her cheeks. His son hated his father because of the torture he used to impose on her.

''For your information, your son has been searching for you ever since the accident happened. You have been staring at the closed door for too long. You have missed the opened window.''

Ruth couldn't hold the heartbreak any longer. Was her life full of revenge a lie? 'Your son is searching for you.' The words prickled her heart. Was her revenge the price she paid to lose his son? Had she investigated the fire accident instead of the revenge, would she have found Enger, and lived happily? So this is the reason Lisa did not expose her identity. Her son will know where she is. He might have killed her rather than throwing her into this prison.