Ruby, however, didn’t move.
She stood there, her red eyes fixed on Julian’s back as he walked away from her.
A heavy, uneasy feeling settled in her chest.
Something isn’t right.
Julian had been acting strange from the moment he woke up. Not just cold but distant, resentful, guarded.
It was as if he believed she had done something terrible.
Like he was angry at her.
But she was going to find them.
Ruby stepped inside the house, closing the door gently behind her. The familiar warmth of home should have comforted her, but now, it felt... different.
She set the bag down on the sofa– it held money, along with her and Julian’s clothes.
Her gaze landed on Milo, who was standing beside Julian, handing him a glass of water. Julian sat stiffly on a chair, his posture tense, his hands loosely gripping the cup. Not once did he look at her.
Ruby’s chest tightened.
Even now, he was avoiding her.
Adrian, standing beside Julian, observed him carefully. His brows knitted together in concern before he reached out, rubbing Julian’s soft blue hair gently, like comforting a child.
"What happened?" Adrian asked, his voice calm, but firm.
Julian’s eyes glistened, emotions welling up. Before anyone could react, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Adrian’s waist.
A quiet, shaky breath left him, but he said nothing.
Ruby’s breath hitched slightly.
Adrian froze for a moment, surprised by the unexpected hug, but then, he sighed softly and rubbed Julian’s back in slow circles.
"Tell us," he urged, his voice gentler than she had ever heard before.
Ruby had never seen Adrian . He was usually sharp, emotionless, not someone who handled emotions with tenderness.
But now, seeing Julian broken, hurting, silent—even Adrian had softened.
Julian, however, just shook his head.
Karl, standing nearby, bit his lip hard, his baby-blue eyes glistening with quiet sadness. His fingers clenched into fists, as though fighting to keep his emotions in check.
"Alright," Adrian finally said, sighing. "Share with us when you’re ready, okay?" His voice was patient, understanding.
He then pulled back and helped Julian to his feet.
"Let’s get you to bed," he added, supporting him. "We’ll wake you up when food is ready."
For the first time since she had come inside, Julian glanced at Ruby.
But his face held no expression.
And then, he turned away.
With Adrian and Milo supporting him, he retreated to his room.
Ruby let out a slow breath, her shoulders slightly sagging. She wanted to follow, to demand answers. But she knew he wouldn’t talk. Not now.
She sighed, ready to head to her own room, but just as she took a step—
She turned, slightly surprised, and saw him standing close.
His plump, pink lips were slightly parted, his long eyelashes casting delicate shadows over his soft features.
His baby-blue eyes flickered toward her and then, softly, he spoke.
Ruby blinked as he held out a glass to her.
She hesitated, then took it. "Thank you," she murmured, tilting her head back and drinking slowly.
Karl’s gaze lingered on her neck, watching the way her throat moved as she swallowed.
His fingers twitched at his sides.
Ruby lowered the glass and handed it back to him, expecting him to leave. But Karl didn’t move. Instead, he looked at her with a frown, his brows drawing together.
"What happened? Why didn’t you both come home last night?" His voice held a mix of confusion and concern.
Ruby let out a slow sigh. "Long story..." she muttered, hoping he’d drop it.
Karl, of course, didn’t. "Then tell me slowly." He placed the glass on the dining table and, before she could react, grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward her room.
"Hey—wait!" Ruby looked up at him in shock, but Karl ignored her protest, shutting the door behind them.
He made her sit on the bed, then stood in front of her, arms crossed, his expression expectant. "Now, talk."
Ruby hesitated. There was nothing to hide, but saying it out loud felt... awkward. "Actually... on set, where I work, everyone decided to go to a bar. I didn’t want to go, but my friends insisted I should."
Karl’s eyes immediately widened. "Did you drink?"
"No!" Ruby sighed, rubbing her forehead. "And that friend who insisted I go to the bar—Celeste. I thought she was cheerful and kind... I trusted her. She gave me juice, and I didn’t realize it was drugged. I started feeling strange, my mind went foggy, and I had to... you know... relieve myself sexually."
Karl stiffened. His mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion. His voice dropped. "So you and Julian..."
His eyes widened in horror. Was that why neither of them had come home? Had they...?
His lips parted, but no words came out for a moment. Then, his cheeks puffed up slightly, and his arms tightened around his chest like a sulking child.
"Stupid wife!" he burst out, his voice a mix of anger and frustration. "Do you have any idea how worried we were? We were scared out of our minds looking for you!"
His brows scrunched together, and his nose wrinkled like a grumpy cat. His lips pouted, but he quickly coughed and tried to cover it up with a scowl.
"Hmph! I-It’s not like I care or anything! But next time, tell me first before you go disappearing all night!"
He turned away with a dramatic huff, his ears slightly red. Definitely not jealous. Nope. Not at all.
Karl didn’t know why his chest felt so tight at the thought of Ruby and Julian spending the night together. His mind kept circling back to it..
His arms tightened around his chest as his brows furrowed deeper. He was also her husband, right? Would she—
No. He shook his head aggressively, his ears burning. This was stupid!
He didn’t like that kind of thing! Who even liked kissing? It must be smelly, gross, and weird. Karl wrinkled his nose, shaking his head as if trying to erase the thoughts clouding his mind.
"At least listen to me carefully," Ruby sighed, feeling mentally exhausted. Without thinking, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward her.
Karl, caught off guard, stumbled forward and before he could react, he fell right onto her lap.
For a moment, there was only silence, his face pressed against the soft skin of her neck. Then, realization struck like a bolt of lightning. His body tensed, his ears turning an embarrassing shade of red.
"W-Wha—?!" Karl’s voice cracked as he jerked his head up, wide eyes staring at her. His hands hovered awkwardly, unsure whether to push himself up or stay frozen.
Ruby, however, looked down at him with the same tired expression, completely unfazed. "Now, are you going to listen properly?" she asked, brushing a stray lock of his dark hair away from his forehead.
Karl felt his brain short-circuit. His heart pounded against his ribs, and for some reason, his skin felt too warm. This was dangerous. Very, very dangerous.
"I—I was already listening!" he stammered, trying to sound grumpy, but his voice came out weak. He averted his gaze, his lips pressing into a thin line.
But Ruby didn’t let him escape so easily. She rested a hand on his head, her fingers idly playing with his hair. "Then why are you so fidgety?"
"Alright, I’m listening!!" Karl said obediently, sitting up straight like a well-trained pet.
Seeing his sudden obedience, Ruby couldn’t help but smile.
"So, I met my friend again because I wanted to see what she was planning. And... she actually arranged for another guy—I mean, ghost—for me. I don’t even know why..."
Before she could finish, Karl practically jumped onto her lap like an angry cat.
"WHAT?!" His baby-blue eyes widened in pure outrage, his whole body tensing like a spring ready to snap. "You actually got intimate with someone else?!"
Ruby’s eyes twitched. Without thinking, she slapped a hand over his mouth, muffling any more nonsense before he made the walls shake with his shouting.
"Shh!" she hissed, giving him a pointed look. "Hear me carefully before you explode like an idiot!"
Karl let out a muffled grumble but stopped struggling, though his glare was still sharp.
Ruby sighed, rubbing her temple. "I somehow managed to escape and locked myself in another room. I solved my issue on my own."
Karl narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Your issue...?"
Ruby ignored his expression and continued. "And when I was leaving, I saw Julian—he was injured. So, I took him to the nearest healer." She crossed her arms, now frowning. "But what was he even doing there in the first place?"
She paused, her frown deepening.
"But the real question is—what was he doing there in the first place?"
—To be continued...🪄