Chapter 3 Ruby's Chip

• Hale's dark eyes were still void of emotion, his jawline clenched and unreadable. Ruby couldn't tell if Hale remembered her holding this stuffed bunny when she got lost.
• But it didn't matter if he forgot.
• She turned around with her back facing Hale. Her expression was serious and stern as she loudly declared, "Big Brother, if you can't remember, just look at my back. Dean Mama said, if you don't believe me, I can show you my back."
• Hale's breath caught at these words. His fingertips trembled as he reached to pull back Ruby's shirt.
• Ruby was unaware of his reaction. "Dean Mama also said that if you don't believe me even after seeing my back, you can do a DNA test," Ruby continued in a childlike voice.
• "But, Big Brother, what is a DNA test? I asked those sisters at the orphanage, and they said it involves needles and hurts a lot.
• "Ruby doesn't want needles, but Dean Mama said that only with the test can I have a brother. I want a brother, and I'm not afraid of needles."
• Ellen's eyes flashed with panic. She never expected this little beggar to actually be Ruby.
• She tightly gripped the sides of her princess dress with both hands hanging from her sides.
• When Hale saw the red love-shaped birthmark on Ruby's back, he could barely contain his joy and excitement.
• Hearing Ruby's soft, innocent words made his heart ache and fill with tenderness.
• He couldn't help but pick Ruby up and say, "I believe you are my sister. I won't let you take a test."
• "Really?" Ruby looked at Hale with surprise. Her big eyes shone brightly, making her even more endearing.
• "It's really." Hale nodded firmly and reached out to pinch her cheek.
• Her warm, soft, and smooth cheek felt silky. The touch caused his heart to melt.
• "My big brother is the best!" Ruby wrapped her little arms around Hale's neck enthusiastically.
• Hale, who usually showed no emotion, couldn't help but smile gently. He carried Ruby upstairs and instructed the butler, "Uncle Alfred, prepare a room for Miss Ruby."
• "Yes, Mr. Hale." Alfred responded happily.
• Watching Hale carry Ruby upstairs, Ellen lost all interest in her birthday party and rushed back to her room.
• Ida quickly followed her inside.
• Ellen sat silently on the sofa in her bedroom. Her face was gloomy and stayed muted.
• Ida asked cautiously, "Miss Ellen, are you alright?"
• Ellen smiled faintly and reassured her, "Don't worry, Ida. I'm fine. I was impulsive earlier; it won't happen again."
• Ida sighed in relief. She feared that Ellen had stayed too long in the Sutherland household. She had developed genuine feelings for her brothers and forgotten their mission.
• "Miss Ellen, now that Ruby is back, what should we do?" Ida asked.
• "What's the rush?" Ellen glanced at her and asked, "So what if she's back? She's just a four-year-old girl. Do you think she can change anything?
• "I got rid of her once; I can do it again. This time, she'll never come back!"
• Hale carried Ruby to his bedroom.
• The servant trailing behind him was astonished. No one but the maid, Eva Roffe, had ever entered Hale's room. Not even Ellen had the privilege.
• It seemed like the household's dynamics were about to change.
• Hale personally washed Ruby's face until it was clean, then filled the bath tub with water for her.
• After he summoned Eva to bathe Ruby, he left the bathroom.
• Outside, Hale called his assistant and ordered, "Go to the children's store and bring back all sizes of clothes for a four-year-old girl."
• Ruby relaxed comfortably in the bathtub. Her whole body was unwinding, and sleep overtook her.
• She had traveled from an orphanage on the outskirts, rode buses, and walked all the way to the Sutherlands, exhausting her body completely.
• When Eva carried the sleeping Ruby out of the bathroom, Hale saw her dozing sweetly in Eva's arms.
• Her fair, chubby little face was rosy. Her long lashes cast delicate shadows on her face, making her look adorably soft and softening anyone's heart upon seeing her.
• "Mr. Hale, where will Miss Ruby sleep tonight?" Eva asked Hale in a low voice.
• "She'll sleep in my room; I'll sleep in the study," Hale replied, pointing to his bed.
• "Eva, please make a bed on the floor in my room for tonight. Hale gently looked at Ruby, concerned that she might not be accustomed to it and wake up scared in the middle of the night.
• "It's no trouble at all; I'm happy Miss Ruby is back," Eva said quickly.
• She was genuinely happy. Eva had taken care of Hale since his birth and had long considered the Sutherlands her family, treating him as her own child.
• His parents lost their lives in a tragic car accident after Ruby went missing. She hadn't seen such a soft expression on Hale's face.
• …
• Ruby woke up in the middle of the night. She heard the breathing sound in the room. The little girl crawled to the edge of the bed and saw Eva sleeping soundly on the floor.
• She crawled back, hugged her stuffed bunny, and reached inside it to pull out an old brick-like phone.
• Skillfully turning it on, lines of code flashed on the screen.
• A satisfied smile appeared on her chubby face. It seemed the chip she stuck behind her brother's ear today was already transmitting information to him!
• While developing her time-travel machine, she also created a chip to store all the information she had found about the Sutherlands.
• This chip, when placed on a specific spot on someone's body, would transmit its data into their brain in the form of dreams.
• She didn't anticipate that a single dream would lead Hale to sever ties with Ellen, but it had planted the seed of doubt. Hale would naturally become more cautious against her.