"LET HIM GO!! LET HIM GOOOO!!!"
Her hair became disheveled, her dress slipping off her shoulder as she struggled like a madwitch.
"MY BABY!! MY POOR, INNOCENT BABY!!!"
The crowd watched in horrified silence.
Some ghosts and witches exchanged glances, their expressions twisted in disgust and secondhand embarrassment.
"She’s lost it..." someone muttered.
"This is embarrassing."
Levi’s father, still sitting weakly on the ground, rubbed his face in exhaustion.
"Shameless," he mumbled under his breath, but he didn’t even bother trying to stop her.
Meanwhile, Levi himself had completely shut down.
His head hung low, his expression blank.
As the officers forcefully pulled Levi toward the police vehicle, she threw herself onto the ground, grabbing one of their legs, wailing like a banshee.
"TAKE ME INSTEAD!!! PUNISH ME!!! BUT LEAVE MY LEVI ALONE!!!"
Her voice cracked as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"HE’S JUST A CHILD!! HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HE’S DOING!!!"
Karl, who had been watching with great amusement, suddenly snorted.
"Child?" He muttered under his breath "I swear that bastard is older than me."
The officers, visibly exhausted by the scene, gave one final warning.
"Ma’am, if you don’t move, we will arrest you for obstruction of justice."
But Levi’s mother didn’t care.
She grabbed onto the police car’s door, refusing to let go.
"PLEASE!!! I’LL DO ANYTHING!! LET HIM GO!!!"
Levi’s father finally snapped.
For the first time in years, he stood up and slapped her.
Even the officers paused.
She slowly turned, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Her husband, the man who had always let her do whatever she wanted, was now looking at her with nothing but exhaustion.
"Stop this madness." His voice was quiet, but filled with finality. "You’ve humiliated yourself enough."
Levi’s mother opened her mouth then closed it.
Her shoulders trembled.
For the first time, realization hit her.
No matter how much she screamed, cried, or begged—
No one was going to save Levi.
And with that—her body collapsed onto the ground.
She didn’t fight anymore.
She just sobbed, rocking back and forth, her entire world crumbling before her.
"It’s my fault... it’s my fault..."
Tears streamed down her face as she stared blankly at the ground.
"If I had taught him even a little bit about honesty... about sincerity... maybe this wouldn’t have happened. But no... I only taught him how to plot... how to chase after money..."
She let out a hollow, broken laugh. "And now... now he’s been taken away..."
But then Suddenly, Levi raised his head and looked at Ruby, laughing maniacally.
"I WILL BE BACK, RUBY!!!" He shouted, his voice was dark and filled with venom. "I’LL TAKE MY SWEET REVENGE!"
The officers shoved him forward, but he didn’t stop.
"But remember this—" Levi grinned wider, his eyes glinting with something far more sinister than before. "I am just a bottom-level pawn in this whole conspiracy.
You don’t even know who is controlling everything behind the scenes.
The words sent a cold shiver through the crowd.
Even the officers hesitated.
Ruby looked with her Brows furrowed.
And then Julian spoke.
His voice was quiet, yet heavy with emotion.
Julian’s blue eyes locked onto him—not with hatred, but with deep disappointment.
"Before you think about revenge, before you think about destroying everything—" Julian exhaled, shaking his head. "At least look at your parents."
Julian’s voice softened, but his words cut like a knife.
"You were blessed with parents, Levi. A home. A family. But you ruined it with your own hands."
Levi’s breath hitched.
His gaze flickered just for a second toward his father, still sitting on the ground like a broken ghost.
Toward his mother, who had collapsed, muttering to herself.
For the first time, something flickered in his expression. Regret? Guilt? Pain?
Because before anything more could be said the officers shoved him into the old red car.
The door slammed shut. Beside him, Lyra and Celeste sat in silence, their faces pale, their futures uncertain.
And with one final roar of the engine The car drove off into the sky.
A heavy silence hung in the air. Then, slowly, the crowd began to disperse. Whispers and murmurs filled the streets.
"He was just a pawn? Then who’s the real mastermind?"
"Goodness! I can’t believe he turned out to be so vicious."
"And Ruby got a job! She earns so much now. Otherwise, how could she have paid off her debts in such a short time and bought her own house?"
"Yeah! Ever since she stopped drinking, her mind has been so much clearer."
Ruby stood still, her red eyes flickering with thought. Levi’s words weren’t empty threats. Somewhere, someone else was pulling the strings. And she had a feeling this was only the beginning.
And Levi’s mother left with a blank expression, while Levi father walked beside her with the same empty, tired eyes.
Finally, as the crowd dispersed and the tension slowly faded, Julian sighed in deep relief.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ruby, pulling her close.
His breathing was uneven, his body slightly trembling.
And then, in a voice barely above a whisper—
He rested his head against her shoulder, his grip tightening just a little.
Ruby, caught off guard for a moment, felt his warmth, the way he clung to her—not with desperation, but with quiet gratitude.
A soft exhale escaped her lips.
She lifted a hand and gently patted his back.
"Of course," she murmured.
Ruby broke the hug, turning to Angeline with a warm smile.
"Thanks for supporting me, Angel! You’re really an angel."
Angeline chuckled, shaking her head. "Don’t thank me, Ru! I believe in you!"
There was no hesitation in her voice, and Ruby felt a warmth spread in her chest that had nothing to do with anger or adrenaline.
She exchanged a few more words with Angeline, talking briefly about what had happened, the mess, and the ridiculous drama.
After a few minutes, Angeline finally took her leave, heading back to her home with her husbands trailing behind her.
Ruby stepped inside her home with her husbands, feeling a brief moment of relief. However, the moment her foot crossed the threshold, reality hit her hard.
Because another problem was waiting for her.
—To be continued...🪄