Ruby

Gems of Destiny

When curator Alice Montgomery inherits the arched gateways of the Whitford Estate, she expects nothing more than dusty heirlooms and faded portraits. Instead, tucked within an ornate jewelry chest, she discovers the legendary “Ruby of Aveline”—a blood-red gemstone whispered to bestow both fortune and misfortune upon its bearer. As Alice gently lifts the gem into the sunlight, its surface seems to ripple like a living flame, igniting questions about the origins of her family’s wealth and the promise hidden in its fire.

Shadows of Desire

Drawn by whispers of the ruby’s curse, Alice travels to the remote village of St. Aveline on the Cornish coast, where storm-wracked cliffs cradle ancient ruins. There she finds the brooding historian Lucas Hawthorne, whose research into medieval talismans has cost him his academic standing. Together they sift through crumbling manuscripts and moonlit crypts, unearthing a secret brotherhood sworn to protect the gem—and willing to kill to keep its power concealed. With every clue revealed, the line between ally and enemy blurs, and Alice realizes that her own reflection may hide darker impulses than she ever suspected.

Heart of Fire

Amid rolling fog and lantern-lit corridors, passion flares between Alice and Lucas as fiercely as the ruby’s inner glow. Late-night confessions beneath gnarled oaks lay bare Lucas’s wounds of betrayal, while Alice uncovers a buried love letter sealed with the gem’s image. As their bond deepens, so too does the stone’s grip on their fates—tempting Alice to harness its promise of renewal even as it threatens to consume her soul.

A Legacy Rekindled

In a breathtaking denouement atop the storm-lashed battlements of Whitford Tower, Alice must decide whether to embrace the ruby’s flame or cast it back into shadow. Can she master the power bound within the heart of the gem, or will its brilliance burn away everything she holds dear? Ruby is a spellbinding tale of legacy, temptation, and the fierce courage required to shape one’s own destiny. Author’s description.