THE FORGOTTEN DAD

Chapter 54: Cracks in the Perfect Life

The grand ballroom of New York's most exclusive hotel shimmered with opulence. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the space, casting a golden glow over the glamorous attendees at Langston Beauty's launch event. Ruby, in a custom-designed deep crimson gown, stood at the epicenter of it all. With her immaculate makeup and impeccable posture, she appeared every inch the powerful CEO of Langston Beauty. This event was supposed to solidify her status in the industry, to prove that she was more than just the woman married to Emil Langston.

As the applause quieted, Ruby stepped up to the podium, her smile calculated, the perfect blend of warmth and confidence. She began to introduce the new skincare line, gliding through her speech with ease. Her eyes sparkled under the bright lights as she detailed the benefits of the product, but her mind was already wandering to what the press might ask once her speech was over. They always loved digging into her personal life.

But she wasn't prepared for the very first question that came her way.

"Mrs. Langston, in recent weeks, Mr. Langston has shared pictures of his daughter, Eva, on social media. Yet, you've never been photographed with her. Can you tell us why?"

The room, which had previously buzzed with polite interest, now fell into a tense silence. Ruby's smile faltered ever so slightly. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to keep her composure. Damn them, she thought. Why couldn't they stick to skincare?

She flashed a wider smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "I've always respected Jasmine as Eva's mother, and I believe it's important for her to have space with her daughter. We've maintained a healthy relationship, and I'm grateful that Eva is a part of our lives."

The journalist wasn't done. "But what about the fact that it took four years for Mr. Langston to introduce Eva to the public? Was there a specific reason?"

The lie rolled off Ruby's tongue before she even fully processed the question. "Emil has always been very private when it comes to his family. It was his decision, and I fully support it. We wanted to make sure Eva was raised without too much media attention. Family is very important to us."

Another lie, but what choice did she have? She couldn't very well admit that Eva had only come into their lives recently, the result of a strained, complicated relationship between Emil and Jasmine. The journalist seemed satisfied, nodding as they scribbled down her answer.

As Ruby spoke, she felt the weight of her deceit tightening around her. She could see the faces of the journalists – hungry, eager for more. She hated how they watched her, how they dissected her every word. And then, one final blow came from the back of the room.

"Mrs. Langston, there are rumors that Mr. Langston, Miss Park, and Eva are currently on holiday together in Malaysia. Perhentian Island, to be specific. Can you confirm this?"

Ruby's world stopped. The air felt too thick, her breath too shallow. How could they know? How could this be happening? Her mind raced, trying to come up with an explanation. Emil hadn't told her anything about this. Jasmine and Eva in Malaysia? On holiday with him?

She blinked, feeling the sting of betrayal slowly seeping into her bones.

"I was supposed to join them, actually," Ruby lied smoothly, her voice calm even as her insides churned. "But unfortunately, with the launch of this new skincare line, I had to stay behind. Family comes first, but sometimes business demands our attention."

She raised a hand, signaling the end of the questions. "Thank you, everyone, for your interest in Langston Beauty. We'll wrap up the Q&A here."

The applause was polite, but Ruby barely heard it. She maintained her poised smile, taking a few photos with VIPs and shaking hands with industry leaders, but her mind was a whirlpool of anger and suspicion. The moment the last flash went off and the cameras were lowered, Ruby turned on her heel and stormed into the backstage area.

Her fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone, dialing Emil's number with growing frustration. It rang and rang, then went straight to voicemail.

"Emil," she hissed into the phone, her voice low but deadly. "Call me back. Now."

She hung up, pacing furiously. The thought of Emil being with Jasmine—that woman—and Eva on some idyllic island made her stomach turn. How dare he? How dare he lie to her? After everything she'd sacrificed for him. She had tolerated his emotional distance, even his ridiculous obsession with his daughter. But this? This was unforgivable.

Ruby tried Steven's number next, hoping for some explanation. But just like Emil, Steven didn't answer. It was as if the entire world was conspiring against her.

Her phone buzzed with a new notification. She glanced down, and her blood ran cold. It was an Instagram post from Emil's account. A picture of him and Eva, both in snorkeling gear, smiling brightly at the camera. They looked... happy. Too happy.

And Jasmine had to be there, behind the scenes, lurking just outside the frame. Ruby's pulse quickened with fury, her hands shaking as she scrolled through the comments—fans gushing over how beautiful Eva was, how wonderful Emil looked with his daughter. It was sickening.

Her hand tightened around her phone until her knuckles turned white. If Emil wasn't going to answer her, she'd have to take matters into her own hands.

She dialed another number. This time, Dae Ho.

The call connected after two rings. "Ruby," Dae Ho greeted her with irritation. "What do you want?"

"They're together," Ruby said, skipping the pleasantries, her voice sharp. "Emil, Jasmine, and Eva. They're on holiday together at Perhentian Island. I'm looking at photos right now."

"What?" Dae Ho's voice dropped, disbelief evident.

"Check the internet. The Malaysian media is already covering it," Ruby said, her anger barely contained. "They're practically declaring that Emil and Jasmine are back together. This is your fiancée we're talking about. Or have you completely lost control of her too?"

Dae Ho was silent for a moment, and then his voice turned cold. "This is your problem, Ruby. You're his wife, aren't you? Why can't you control him?"

The words hit Ruby like a slap. "My problem?" she spat. "I reached out to you for help, and you're blaming me? I told you about Jasmine, didn't I? This wouldn't be happening if you hadn't let her slip through your fingers!"

Dae Ho's voice snapped back, filled with venom. "You're useless. This is happening because you can't even keep your own husband in line."

Before Ruby could respond, the line went dead. She stood there, staring at her phone in shock, her heart pounding in her ears. Dae Ho had hung up on her. He had the audacity to blame her for everything, when he was the one who couldn't hold onto Jasmine.

"Damn him," Ruby muttered through clenched teeth. Her chest heaved as she paced the room, the walls closing in around her. She was being backed into a corner, and she hated feeling powerless.

Ruby's mind whirled, a thousand thoughts racing through her head. She needed to act fast, to take control of the situation before it slipped further away. Emil and Jasmine couldn't be allowed to get closer, not now, not ever.

She wouldn't lose him. Not to her.

But as she stood there, shaking with rage, Ruby couldn't ignore the nagging fear creeping into her thoughts. Emil hadn't just lied to her—he had shut her out completely. And that, more than anything, terrified her.