Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess novel Chapter 539

Ruby strolled into the hotel lobby, clueless about which room Lauren might have vanished into. After a fruitless search, she flopped into an armchair in the lounge, pulling her hat low over her anxious face. Desperate for any clue, she sat there, eyes darting to every entrance.

Two agonizing hours passed with no sign of Lauren, and Ruby's anxiety skyrocketed. Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, Lauren finally emerged, her face plastered with a smug grin as if she'd just pulled off the heist of the century.

Scanning the crowd, Ruby saw no one with Lauren—not even a shadow of another woman, let alone a man. Confusion gnawed at her. Was Lauren not here to meet a lover after all?

Frustration mounting, Ruby stomped out, eyes locked on Lauren. Distracted, she collided with someone.

"Oops, sorry!" Ruby blurted, glancing up only to find herself face-to-face with Josefina. Of all the gin joints in all the towns...

Josefina's eyes flicked from Ruby to the hotel and back, arching an eyebrow in silent inquiry.

"Get your mind out of the gutter!" Ruby snapped, bristling.

Josefina crossed her arms, radiating the same haughty air that used to cling to Ruby like a second skin. How the tables had turned.

"I haven't assumed a thing," Josefina cooed, "but if the shoe fits... You don't look dressed for a date. Unless it's not you playing the field... could it be your mother?"

Ruby's heart sank; Josefina's guess hit too close to home.

"Hit the nail on the head, have I? Lauren's here?" Josefina pressed, her smugness swelling.

"Shut it! Don't you dare!" Ruby snapped back, fury and mortification warring within her.

"If you want to find Billy, go on a little treasure hunt yourself," Josefina taunted.

"You admit it then! You lured Billy away, didn't you? If it weren't for your meddling, he'd never have left Westwood!"

Josefina's laughter was cold and hollow. "Oh, Ruby, are you still clinging to such high hopes for Billy? You know him better than anyone—better than me, surely."

Rooted to the spot, Ruby's spirit crumbled.

She knew exactly what Billy was capable of.

"Why can't you just let me be, Josefina? Why keep hounding me?" Ruby's voice cracked, a mix of despair and plea. "Does it really bring you joy, watching us suffer like this?"