Chapter 246 Ruby’s Talk 

Families like that only knew how to use people. 

They’d drain every last bit of value before cutting them loose. 

That was why Ruby had reached out to Yvette before–hoping she would get close to Eric again. That would’ve given the Martinezes a path forward. 

Yvette should have grabbed it without thinking. But Ruby had her own reasons too. She had never forgotten what happened to Sandy. 

Yvette had always treated Sandy like a disposable tool and never stepped in directly when Alice was involved. 

Now, that same fire had turned around and burned her own son. 

Michael was Ruby’s firstborn. She had built her hopes around him. 

And now, everything was a mess. Social media had exploded. 

With feminist voices leading most discussions, the blame had landed squarely on Michael. People didn’t care about the truth. To them, he was already the bad guy. 

He hadn’t done a thing, but the internet had branded him a cheater. 

False stories were spreading like wildfire. At this point, even figuring out how to start explaining felt impossible. 

“Mom, I’m telling you the truth. There’s nothing going on between me and Yvette,” Michael said. His voice was steady. “I did as you warned me. It’s fine to have fun, but never get involved with someone from a powerful family.” 

Michael had chased plenty of women over the years. 

Most of it was casual, with no strings attached. The only time he came close to crossing the line was when he had a thing for his sister–in–law. 

But Alice was untouchable. She didn’t even give him the time of day. 

He’d tried playing dirty–set her up, targeted her, stirred drama–but nothing worked. 

Once he saw that none of it got through to her, he moved on. 

There were too many beautiful women out there to waste time on someone who didn’t even look his way. 

Ruby nodded slowly. 

“I know you’ve always known how to keep things in check. But this time, you messed up. And you need to fix it.” 

Michael sighed and leaned back. 

THI 

O 

1/3 

Chapter 246 Ruby’s Talk 

“If I just keep quiet, this whole thing will blow over. These scandals always fade” 

“No,” Ruby said sharply, cutting him off. Her hands clenched at her sides, 

“You’re going to take over Nolan Group someday. You’ll be the face of the company. Even a single stain on your name can come back later and ruin everything. And when that happens, no one will save you. 

Michael’s face stiffened. 

This wasn’t the same mother who usually brushed things off. This time, she was serious. 

Ruby walked to the window. Her eyes were cold, and her tone turned even sharper. 

She had planned to use the Martinezes‘ collapse to drive a wedge between Eric and Alice. 

Even if it didn’t break them up, a crack would have been enough. 

But instead of damaging Alice, she ended up dragging her own son into a disaster. 

Michael muttered behind her, still frustrated. 

“Yvette’s insane. What the hell was she thinking, confessing in public like that? Gross.” 

Ruby’s jaw tightened. 

“This isn’t the time to throw blame.” 

She inhaled slowly and then looked back at him. 

“You’re going to the Martinez estate. Go in person. Let them see you. And apologize.” 

Michael blinked. 

“Are you serious?” 

It sounded more like a punishment than a fix. 

Ruby didn’t flinch. 

“Go there and speak honestly. Tell them everything. Ask them to help you clear your name.” 

“The Martinezes always had big egos. If I went, I’d be lucky to leave without getting kicked out.” 

Ruby shook her head. 

“They’re not what they used to be. They’ll ask for terms. That’s fine. Mike, you don’t have a choice. You can’t afford any stains on your record.” 

Michael hesitated. 

“But what if they push too far?” 

After what happened with Yvette, it was clear they’d be out for payback. 

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Chapter 246 Ruby’s Talk 

Ruby grabbed her phone, typed something quickly, and sent him a message. 

“This is the line we won’t cross,” she said, 

“You’ve barely touched the company’s business before. Use this to learn something I believe in your 

Michael read the message and groaned. His face twisted. “Mom, are you seriously not just messing with mc?” 

Ruby let out a breath. 

“This is all we can give. But listen to me–right now, the Martinezes are desperate. If you throw them a bone, they’ll act like you saved their lives. Just go.” 

Michael still felt like it was a trap. 

But Ruby’s voice left no room for argument. He didn’t dare go against her, so he nodded. 

If this didn’t work, they’d come up with another plan later. 

After Irene went public to clear Risa’s name, the topic exploded online. 

The internet moved fast. These days, people were quick to understand. 

Even without an official statement, Alice’s reputation wouldn’t have taken much damage. 

Most people didn’t believe the rumors to begin with. 

Alice didn’t seem like that kind of person. And Risa had always kept a clean image. Nobody believed she had used shady connections to get ahead. 

Still, Irene’s statement helped seal the deal. The truth was out, and people felt good about it. 

But some haters were furious. They had waited for Alice to fall–and now, all they got was silence. 

Alice didn’t even look at the comments. 

She stayed focused on helping Eric with needle therapy, drawing out the poison trapped in his body. 

After she finished massaging his back, his circulation felt stronger. 

His energy flowed better, but that alone wasn’t enough. 

Maybe it was the treatment, or maybe it was the way his mind had settled, but something in him felt lighter. 

This time, the needles worked better than ever. 

Eric suddenly leaned forward/and spat out a mouthful of dark, clotted blood. 

The stench hit the room like a slap. It was sharp, rotten, and impossible to ignore.