The Billionaire Husband They Humiliated

Chapter 002

Isaac gave Alex and Ruby a cool smile and walked away without a word.

All night, he kept thinking about the money. How much could be in that account? He had been told it was too large for the bank to discuss over the phone. Even now, the thought made his pulse race.

He finally drifted off, only to be pulled back into the familiar sound of his mother-in-law's voice.

“Don't pretend you can't hear me, Isaac!”

Earlier, Alex had sneered at the idea of Ruby paying him anything at all.

“Fine. Give the hired help a little pocket money,” she had said.

For once, the insult hadn't bothered him. He had walked straight up to Ruby.

“If Vanguard Group still needs funding,” he'd said, “I might be able to help.”

Ruby had burst out laughing.

“You? Do you even have a hundred dollars to your name? I'm trying to raise hundreds of thousands, Isaac. Don't make me laugh.”

Alex, wearing a short black lace dress, had joined in. “If you can get Ruby that kind of money, I'll call you Daddy.”

Isaac had looked at her. “You might want to remember that promise.”

“Oh, please,” Ruby had said, rolling her eyes. “Get out of my way.”

Now, early the next morning, someone slapped him awake.

“I told you to get up!” his mother-in-law shouted. “Ruby needs a ride to work. Move it! You should be grateful she's even letting you take her.”

Isaac blinked at her, still half asleep.

“Are you deaf as well as useless?” she demanded.

She was in her forties, still striking, and freshly showered. The scent of her perfume hung in the air. Isaac was so surprised by the request that he stared for a moment. Ruby normally refused to be seen with him, let alone ride to work with him.

Ruby appeared in a tailored suit. “Are you doing this on purpose? Do you not want to take me?”

“Of course I do.”

Isaac changed quickly and wheeled out the motor scooter he had recently bought.

Ruby wasn't pleased. She was already late for a meeting, and Vanguard Group's finances were a disaster. She had spent days searching for an investor. Worse, Alex had borrowed her car that morning, leaving her no other convenient way to get to the office.

“Can you go any faster?” Ruby snapped as they pulled away. “If I'm late, you'll regret it.”

Isaac accelerated.

“Not that fast!”

The motor scooter rattled beneath them. Terrified she might fall off, Ruby reluctantly wrapped both arms around his waist.

Isaac stiffened. After two and a half years of marriage, this was the closest she had ever willingly come to him. His ears warmed, and he twisted the throttle a little farther.

At the entrance to Vanguard Group, a gleaming black luxury sedan pulled up. A well-dressed man stepped out and approached them.

Christopher Hartnett frowned. “Ruby, who's this guy? He looks homeless.”

Ruby climbed off the scooter. “That's Isaac. He's basically a servant at my house.”

When Ruby had married Isaac, everyone in Oakridge City had talked about it. Why would a beautiful and successful woman marry a penniless nobody?

“So this is the famous loser.” Christopher laughed. “He really does look pathetic.”

He took off his coat and draped it over Ruby's shoulders. “It's cold out. You shouldn't be riding around on that thing. Here, I've got something for you.”

He brought out a beautifully finished gift box.

Inside lay a pair of dazzling crystal-studded designer heels.

Isaac recognized them—or rather, recognized what they were supposed to be. When the Thornton family still controlled a substantial fashion business, he had met designers and attended private launches. The shoes were a copy of the Elysian Slingback, an almost impossible-to-find limited-edition design that had sold out on its release day.

Owning a genuine pair required more than money. It required connections.

And Christopher's pair was fake.

“Ruby, I wanted to buy you the real thing,” Christopher said. “But they're incredibly hard to get, so I picked up a replica for now. I promise I'll find you an authentic pair within a month.”

“These are lovely,” Ruby replied, accepting the box. “You don't need to spend that kind of money. Besides, I have enough to worry about with the company.”

Christopher nodded, relieved. Acquiring the real shoes might have cost him most of his fortune.

Before anyone could react, Isaac took the box and dropped it into a trash can.

Ruby stared at him.

“If you want those shoes, I'll get them for you,” he said. “I'm your husband. You shouldn't have to wear knockoffs someone else gives you.”

He took Ruby's hand and started toward the building.

“Isaac! What the hell is wrong with you?” she hissed. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound?”

If they hadn't been standing in front of her office, she would have made a scene. Instead, she tried to pull away. Isaac didn't release her hand.

Christopher's face reddened.

“Who do you think you are?” he roared. “You're nothing but the Pugh family's lapdog! Do you even know what those shoes cost? You couldn't pay me back if I sold everything you own!”

Isaac turned around.

“I'm Ruby's husband. Stay away from her.”

Christopher bristled, but Isaac wasn't finished.

“I can take care of my own wife. She doesn't need you trying to impress her. And if she wants the Elysian Slingback, she'll have a genuine pair. She won't be wearing your cheap imitation.”