Ruby stared at her purse, her expression darkening like a gathering storm. Her red eyes sharpened, filled with intense, unreadable emotions, and a chilling silence settled in the room.
Julian, standing just behind her, felt a shiver run down his spine. He swallowed nervously, his mossy-green eyes darting toward her face. There was something terrifying about the way her cold gaze fixed on the purse, the atmosphere growing heavy. The vibe she was giving off was unnervingly dark.
"What’s wrong?" he asked hesitantly, his voice almost trembling.
Ruby’s fingers gripped the edge of the purse tightly as she turned her head slightly toward him. "Someone touched my purse," she said, her voice low but dangerously dark.
Julian blinked, confused, but her words hit like a slap of icy wind.
Ruby’s eyes narrowed further as she inspected the bag more closely. "I put my notes in a certain position. Now, they’re on the other side. And a few of my gems are missing."
Her tone was sharp, as she glanced back at Julian. The controlled anger in her voice made it clear she wasn’t speaking out of confusion, she knew what she was saying.
Julian’s breath caught in his throat as he stepped back slightly, his mind racing. "Gems? Are you sure?" he asked softly.
Ruby’s cold gaze snapped back to him, and Julian instinctively straightened. "Do you think I wouldn’t notice something like that?" she asked, her voice calm but icy.
Julian flinched slightly under her stare. "No, I—"
Ruby exhaled deeply, her expression still dark. She turned back to her purse.
She lifted her eyes and looked at him, She was feeling really angry, the money was earned by her because of her hardwork.
"No one comes into the house... I think someone from our house stole the money," Ruby said, her voice sharp as her red eyes glinted with suspicion.
Julian’s eyes widened in shock. "No, no, wife! Why would anyone here steal from you?" he said quickly, his tone soft and reassuring as he reached out to gently rub her arms, trying to calm her. "We’re family... no one would do that."
Ruby, however, shook her head stubbornly. "No. I’m sure of it," she said firmly. Her mind was already piecing things together, connecting the strange dots she hadn’t paid attention to before.
Karl’s behavior flashed in her mind—his sudden silence, the way he avoided eye contact, how he seemed so docile and unlike his usual talkative self. Karl, who couldn’t hold his tongue for a moment, had been unusually quiet these past few days. His fidgeting, his nervous glances... it all screamed guilt.
Her brows furrowed as she replayed those moments.
Julian noticed her expression shift, his gentle smile faltering slightly. "Wife, you’re thinking too much," he said softly.
Ruby didn’t pay attention to Julian’s words. Instead, her voice echoed through the house as she shouted loudly, "Karl! Karl!"
She grabbed her purse, her movements quick, and stormed out of the room, her expression dark and unreadable.
Hearing the sudden shouts, Milo peeked out of his room, his honey-brown eyes confused. "Wife?" he mumbled softly, stepping further into the hallway to see what was going on.
Meanwhile, Karl had just stepped out of his own room. The moment Ruby’s sharp call hit his ears, his body froze mid-step. His baby-blue eyes widened in shock, his breath catching as a sense of panic rushed through him.
"What now...?" Karl whispered to himself, already feeling uneasy.
With hurried steps, Karl quickly made his way into the living room, unsure of what to expect. But when he got there, his heart dropped.
Ruby was already waiting for him, standing right in the center of the room. Her arms were folded tightly over her chest, and her expression... it made Karl’s stomach twist. She wasn’t shouting or angry outright, her eyes were locked on him, intense and sharp, like she could see straight through him.
Her red eyes seemed darker than usual, and the way she stood there—still, silent—felt far more terrifying than any yelling could have been.
Karl stopped at the entrance to the living room, fidgeting nervously. His lips trembled slightly, and he bit down on them to stop himself from blurting out anything unnecessary. His gaze flickered everywhere but toward her, looking at the floor, the furniture, even Milo, who was now standing in the corner looking equally confused but silent.
"Uh... w-wife?" Karl stammered, his voice small and shaky.
Ruby didn’t move. She didn’t even blink as she stared him down. Behind her, Julian face tense. He looked between Karl and Ruby nervously, his hands clasped together like he didn’t know whether to intervene or not.
Milo, still on the side, opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. Instead, he stood frozen, his honey-brown eyes darting between Karl and Ruby, trying to figure out what was happening.
Finally, Ruby spoke, her voice low but clear enough that it carried through the room. "Karl," she said, her tone calm but heavy in a way that made Karl’s skin crawl. "We need to talk."
Karl swallowed hard, his throat dry. He could feel sweat gathering at the back of his neck. "A-about what?" he asked weakly, though he already had a sinking feeling in his gut.
Ruby raised an eyebrow, her gaze narrowing slightly as if daring him to act innocent. "You know exactly what I’m talking about," she replied simply, and Karl’s heart skipped a beat.
She knows... the thought screamed in his mind, sending a wave of panic through him. He shifted uncomfortably, his hands clenching at his sides.
Julian, standing behind Ruby, let out a small sigh but said nothing. Milo looked like he was holding his breath, his curious eyes glued to Karl.
Karl’s legs felt weak, and his voice wavered as he stuttered, "I-I didn’t... I mean... what do you mean?"
Ruby didn’t answer right away. She tilted her head slightly, her red eyes never leaving his face, watching every twitch and fidget like a hawk observing its prey.
Karl’s shoulders slumped. She knows something, he thought again, guilt written all over his face. He felt like a child caught doing something wrong, and no matter how much he wanted to deny it, he couldn’t escape the way Ruby was looking at him.
—To be continued...🪄