Adrian, on the other hand, sat quietly in his room, his heart aching despite the blank expression on his face. His clenched fists trembled slightly as he stared at the floor.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
Yes, for others, stealing is considered a bad thing, he thought bitterly. But for me, it was the only way to survive.
His mind wandered to the times when they had nothing—no house, no money, no one to rely on. If you don’t have a home, if you don’t have anything, no one cares about you, he thought darkly. Even if you eat dirt and die, the world just moves on without a second thought.
Adrian leaned back against the wall, his fists slowly loosening as his shoulders slumped. He had done things he wasn’t proud of, but back then, there hadn’t been a choice. It was either survive or starve, and he had chosen survival—for himself and for his brothers.
But now, things were different. They had a roof over their heads, food to eat, and a wife who seemed determined to make things better. Then why does it still feel like I’m fighting the same battle? he wondered, his jaw tightening.
He sighed deeply, opening his eyes and staring at the faint cracks in the ceiling. His heart still hurt, but he didn’t regret what he had done. In his mind, it had always been for them—for their survival. They’ll never understand what it was like back then, he thought, his eyes growing distant. Not really.
But a small voice in the back of his mind whispered, Maybe it’s time to stop carrying it all alone.
Adrian closed his eyes again, pushing the thought away.
The day had been too much—his work had drained all his energy, and the argument with his brothers had left his heart feeling heavy.
His dark eyes, usually sharp and intense, now looked dull and tired. They stared blankly at the floor, as if searching for answers he couldn’t find. His black and grayish hair, slightly messy, fell across his forehead, framing his well-defined face.
His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his jaw was slightly clenched, as if he was trying to keep his emotions in check.
Adrian sighed deeply, his hands resting on his knees, his fingers curling slightly.
His eyelashes lowered, casting soft shadows over his tired eyes. His dark eyes, already dull with exhaustion, now seemed glassy. Slowly, he raised a hand to his cheek, the faint sting from earlier still lingering.
"It hurts..." he muttered softly to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. His fingers brushed against the spot where Julian’s slap had landed, the warmth of his skin contrasting with the cold ache inside him.
While Ruby was transferring the data, the two witches began working on opening her bank account, just as they had promised. Ruby couldn’t help but feel relieved and a little excited at the thought of skipping the long and tedious process herself.
She glanced at the witches now and then as they filled out forms and sorted through documents, their efforts making her task feel less burdensome.
This was a blessing in disguise, considering the bank’s infamous reputation. In this area, opening a bank account was nothing short of a Herculean task. Lines stretched endlessly, and waiting times could last an entire day. If you didn’t make it to the counter before closing, you had no choice but to come back the next day and stand in the same line again—sometimes even earlier to secure your place.
And having a bank account was necessary for nearly everything. Families neede bank accounts to enroll their children in school. Government services required bank statements for almost every procedure. Yet, many people in the area avoided opening accounts because of the hassle, delaying important matters or risking penalties.
Ruby signed another document the taller witch handed her, her hand moving smoothly as she filled out the necessary details. The witch glanced at her with a smile.
"Miss Ruby, this is going smoothly. Once the data is transferred, your account will be ready, and you won’t have to worry about the bank at all," The witch spoke confidently and walked away.
Ruby gave a slight nod, her thoughts drifting as she continued her work. In her past life, she had often helped the government for free whenever they needed her expertise. She had learned one thing from all those experiences—when the time comes, make sure to use your network to its fullest. Every connection, every favor owed, could be turned into an opportunity.
This was precisely why she had agreed to recover their data. It wasn’t just about the task itself but the potential benefits that could come from it. She knew the original owner’s documents, including critical ones like her birth certificate, were missing. Without those, starting her business officially was impossible.
Sure, she could begin her business without registering it, but that came with risks. It would be considered a local, unregistered setup, leaving her vulnerable to theft. Anyone could steal her ideas or designs, and she wouldn’t be able to claim them as her own.
But Ruby wasn’t someone who settled for less. She didn’t just want to start a business—she wanted to secure her copyright and build something meaningful. Something lasting.
Yes, she wanted to create her own brand, something people would remember and associate with quality and uniqueness. For that, she needed everything in place—her documents, her bank account, and her registration. She wasn’t going to let anything stop her from achieving that.
She was deep in thought, her red eyes narrowed and her long white hair fell behind her back and She was sitting on her provided seat with mouse in her hand she was looking at computer.
Her skin is fair and She bite her Pink lips as she looked deep in thought not noticing two pairs of eye looking at her.
—To be continued...🪄