Chapter 200: Returning To The Quiet Country Side

"You shouldn’t ever feel that way, Patricia," I said softly, reaching out to stroke her cheek. "You’re just as important to me as anyone else in that house."

She looked up, her soft eyes shining with quiet happiness. I leaned down, bridging the small gap between us, and pressed my lips gently to hers. Patricia let out a quiet, sweet breath against my mouth, her hands resting lightly against my chest as she melted into the kiss.

Clanker!

A loud rack of chips suddenly rattled near the back aisle, followed by a dramatic gasp.

We pulled apart, both of us turning to see Ruby ducking frantically behind a display of beef jerky, holding her phone up like a detective’s spy camera.

When she realized she’d been caught red-handed, she slowly peeked her head over the display, a pout on her face and her hands on her hips.

"Hey!" Ruby whined, marching out from behind the aisle with her lower lip sticking out. "No fair! I come in here to buy sour gummies, and I catch you getting private kisses behind the soda fridge?! I’m the one who gave you DJ privileges for the drive!"

Patricia’s face turned completely crimson, her hands flying over her burning cheeks as she hid behind my shoulder.

I just shook my head with a dry smirk, slinging an arm over Ruby’s shoulder and pulling her in close. "Don’t worry, DJ. You’ll get your turn at the next stop."

"Nope! No way, I am not waiting until the next stop!" Ruby huffed, grabbing my jacket lapels and pulling me down into a fierce, dramatic kiss right there in the middle of aisle three.

When she finally pulled back, breathing a little fast with a triumphantly smug grin, she turned her attention over to Patricia, who was still blushing behind my shoulder.

Ruby’s expression softened completely, her wild energy shifting into something sweet and genuine. She reached out and took Patricia’s hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "And hey—don’t ever feel intimidated by us, okay? You’re a woman who loves him, and so are we. In this crazy house, that makes us equals. We’re in this together, Patricia."

Patricia looked up, blinking back a sudden wave of emotion, and offered a soft, deeply grateful smile as she squeezed Ruby’s hand back.

Just then, the glass doors slid open with a chime, and Chloe walked down the aisle holding a couple of cold iced teas she’d already grabbed from the front display. She raised an eyebrow at the three of us packed into the snack aisle.

"Alright, scene’s over, let’s get moving," Chloe said, rolling her eyes playfully. "I already paid for the drinks. Road’s waiting."

As we all headed toward the exit, the young cashier behind the register—who had been staring wide-eyed with his jaw practically glued to the counter—finally plucked up the courage to speak.

"E-Excuse me!" he blurted out, his hands shaking slightly over the register. "Are you... are you Ruby?! Can I... could I please get a picture with you?!"

Ruby stopped, her face instantly lighting up with that signature superstar warmth. "Of course! But only if you get my family in the photo too!"

She dragged all of us in close—Chloe trying to play it cool while holding her iced tea, Patricia standing right beside me with a bright, shy smile, and Ruby wrapping both arms tightly around my neck, vibrating with pure, energetic happiness.

Click!

The cashier looked at the phone screen, glowing with sheer excitement. "Thank you so much! You guys look amazing together!"

"Enjoy your day!" Ruby beamed, waving like a child as we pushed through the glass doors into the warm afternoon sun.

Back in the SUV, the vibe was completely different. The nervous tension was gone, replaced by a warm, easy rhythm as we pulled back onto the highway, heading straight for the countryside.

The steady hum of the tires against the asphalt became a low rhythm as afternoon bled into dusk, and dusk finally surrendered to a deep, starlit night. Driving took much longer than taking the train, but watching the landscape shift and feeling the quiet warmth inside the SUV made every single extra hour worth it.

By midnight, the car had fallen completely silent. Patricia was curled up softly in the back, while Ruby had slumped sideways in the passenger seat, her head resting near my shoulder. Her usual wild, electric energy was entirely muted, her features soft and completely peaceful in the moonlight. She looked almost angelic, and I couldn’t help the fond smile that tugged at my lips as I glanced over at her.

"She looks so quiet when she’s not scheming," Chloe whispered from behind my seat.

She was the only one still awake, leaning forward in the space between us, her voice a low, warm murmur so as not to wake the others. I caught her eyes in the rearview mirror and smirked, keeping one hand steady on the wheel as the smooth highway gave way to the rougher, winding gravel roads of the countryside.

Slowly, the familiar outline of the rustic farmhouse and the vast, open fields appeared under the night sky. I pulled the SUV into the long driveway, bringing the engine to a low, quiet idle before finally turning off the ignition.

I turned in my seat, softly brushing a stray lock of hair from Ruby’s face before reaching back to gently pat Patricia’s knee.

"Hey, wake up, sleepyheads," I said softly, my voice cutting through the peaceful quiet of the cabin. "We’re here."

We all stretched as we climbed out of the SUV, the fresh, crisp country air instantly washing over us.

Ruby let out a long, dramatic yawn, arching her back as her joints popped. "Ugh, finally! Tell me we’re not sleeping in the back of a truck tonight. Are we still staying at the main estate?"

"Yeah, Sarah already took care of everything," I said, grabbing the first bag from the back. "The whole ranch house is booked for us."

"Ethan?!"

A familiar voice cut through the quiet night. I turned to see Emiliana walking down the porch path carrying a heavy woven laundry basket. The moment her eyes landed on us, her jaw dropped, and the basket slipped right out of her hands, spilling onto the grass.

"Emiliana."

She immediately bolted over, her eyes wide as saucers as she caught sight of Ruby stepping out of the passenger side. She froze a couple of feet away, totally starstruck. She didn’t even dare hug her—she just stood there with her hands over her mouth, completely mesmerized by Ruby’s vibrant energy and stylish outfit.

"Oh my gosh... you look like a literal star," Emiliana gasped softly.

Ruby immediately puffed her chest out, preening under the compliment with a proud, radiant smile. "Well, aren’t you sweet! Thank you, darling!"

Emiliana then looked over at Chloe and Patricia as they stepped out of the SUV, politely dipping her head. "Hello! Welcome!" But I could see the confusion flickering in her eyes as she glanced between them and back at me, silently asking who they were.

Chloe caught the look and glanced over at me with an amused smirk.

"Chloe, Patricia, this is Emiliana," I introduced. "She’s our promising young star out here."

Chloe smiled warmly, stepping forward to shake her hand. "Nice to meet you, Emiliana."

Emiliana blinked, looking back and forth between Chloe, Patricia, and Ruby, her forehead crinkling. "Are... are you all sisters?"

"Nope," I said casually, grabbing another crate of studio gear. "They’re my girlfriends."

Emiliana’s brain practically short-circuited. "Uh?!" she squeaked, her eyes darting between all three of them in total shock. "You... you have three girlfriends?!"

"Yep," I chuckled, shaking my head. "Come on, we need to get all this equipment and luggage inside before it gets any later."

Shaking off her disbelief, Emiliana quickly shook her head and stepped up to the trunk. "I-I can help carry things! Let me help you unload!"