Kapitel 122: Rebuilding Bonds

"Jack, are you really going to let me sit here starving?" Ruby teased, her smile playful as she waved her menu in the air.

Jack leaned back in his chair, shaking his head with a chuckle. "You've been deciding for twenty minutes, Ruby. Just pick something already!"

The restaurant buzzed with the gentle hum of laughter and conversation, the warm lighting casting a cozy glow across their table. Ruby was in rare form tonight, her humor sharp and infectious. Jack, for once, felt lighter—a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos that usually defined his life.

"You're lucky I agreed to this dinner," Ruby quipped, pointing a finger at him. "You owe me, Jack Hayes. Big time."

Jack smirked. "For what? Tolerating my company?"

"For saving your life," she shot back, narrowing her eyes dramatically. "Remember when you were moping around like the world had ended? I'm the one who dragged you out of that."