She vowed that from then onwards she would treat Ruth's son well as if he were her own.
If down the road she had her own child, she would absolutely not play favorites and treat them both equally.
Once she had gotten Rorita's word on this, Ruth's heart was momentarily relieved.
She knew her own identity in the scheme of things.
The dignified First Lady of Nashaland had no need to make any such promises in front of someone as despicable as her.
But since she had given it, this proved that she would truly do as she said she would.
From now on, her own child would be treated kindly.
Before Madam Quartley carried the child away, Ruth informed her that she would also leave the villa.
This stunned Madam Quartley.
"But this villa is for you, in addition to the sum of money I'm going to give you." she exclaimed.
This was considered as Ruth's compensation.
Ruth lowered her head, her tone anguished as she replied, "I don't need it anymore."
She had already lost the most important person in the world to her, together with the warm moments that they shared as mother and child.
Luxurious mansion, wealth... all of it was meaningless to her now.
"This is yours to take, because it is money that the Quartley Family owe to you in the end." Madam Quartley insisted.
Ruth looked up, her gaze steady on the matriarch. "Madam Quartley, if you really think that the Quartley family has treated me unfairly, then please treat this child well. Put whatever you feel that you owe me all on him."
Madam Quartley responded without further thought, "That goes without saying. He's the descendent of the Quartley Family, we wouldn't treat him shabbily!"
Said child remained fast asleep throughout.
As she thought over the conversation she had with Ruth, Madam Quartley suddenly heaved out a huge sigh, "Rorita, this Ruth isn't like what I thought of her before. She isn't hateful at all, neither is she terrible."
The Ruth of before, in Madam Quartley's heart, was someone who used undesirable means in a bid for power, even going so far as to climb into another man's bed and give her body away.
However, later into their interactions, Madam Quartley came to a slow realization that Ruth wasn't as hateful as she made her out to be.
This was made abundantly clear on that night when she rejected the villa and all offers of money. Madam Quartley was convinced then, that what she had assumed before was wrong.
This woman wasn't a shameless person as she was painted out to be.
"She is a good woman indeed, Madam Quartley." Rorita reaffirmed, "Although she and I didn't spend a long time with each other, still... within the short time that we did, I can clearly feel her kindness and sincerity."
Madam Quartley sighed again. "Since she is a good woman, why did she climb into Zorion's bed at that time? If she hadn't done such a thing, she wouldn't have to go through the agony that she experienced today!"
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