Clash between Julian and Ruby.

Ruby recoiled, the weight of his words crashing down on her like a tidal wave. Her jaw hung slack, disbelief painting her face in stark colors. She couldn't understand why Julian was reacting like this.

What had caused this sudden shift? What had happened to the man who always believed her, who readily defended her against all accusations?

"What do you mean?" she finally croaked.

"I made the mistake of trusting you blindly, Ruby. Never questioned you, never doubted you. And you exploited that trust, twisting it like a weapon." The words were laced with venom, each syllable dripping with the realization of her cunning manipulation.

"I'm the same Ruby you knew," she protested.