Leaving Karl, Milo, and Adrian behind felt heavier than Ruby expected.
Ever since Karl’s incident, a strange uneasiness had settled in her chest. He was too emotional, too soft-hearted—and too easily swayed. Milo, though sweet, was still a child in many ways, always believing that the world was as kind as he was. And Adrian... well, Adrian could take care of himself, but he was buried under work, and Ruby didn’t want him to feel alone either.
So, with a deep breath, she walked toward the one person she trusted—Angeline.
She knocked gently before stepping inside her cozy home.
Kenji greeted her with a bright smile, handing her a glass of water. Max, munching on dried fruit, nodded in greeting. Ruby thanked them both warmly, glancing around.
"Where’s Angel?" she asked.
"In the washroom," Kenji replied. "She’ll be out in a second."
Just as he finished, Angeline stepped out, drying her hands with a soft towel. Upon seeing Ruby, her expression bloomed into a familiar, calming smile.
"Ru? What a surprise. What brings you here?"
Ruby smiled back but didn’t hide her concern. "I need to ask a favor. I’m going away for business for a few days. I’ll be taking Julian with me."
Angeline raised a brow playfully. "Ah, a little trip with the sweet husband, hmm?"
Ruby chuckled softly but then grew serious. "I’m worried about the ones I’m leaving behind. Karl has been... you know ahat happened. Milo trusts everyone too easily. And Adrian, though responsible, is always caught up in work. I just need someone to glance in once in a while—make sure nothing burns down, no one invites thieves inside, and no one falls into an emotional pit of self-destruction."
Angeline grinned. "Say no more. I’ll keep an eye on all three. I’ll stop by once or twice a day. And if anything seems odd, I’ll be there."
Ruby felt a weight lift from her chest. "Thank you. Truly. You’re the only one I can trust with this."
Angeline gave her a warm pat on the shoulder. "They’ll be safe. Go finish your work and enjoy your little escape."
Ruby let out a deep, relieved breath.
Then Finn came in with a tray of freshly made snacks—crispy fried dumplings and hot spiced tea. He placed them on the low table with a shy smile.
"Hope you like them," he said, avoiding eye contact the way he always did around people.
Ruby smiled gently. "Thank you, Finn. They smell amazing."
He nodded and quickly walked away, cheeks a little red.
Ruby and Angeline sat down and began to nibble on the snacks. The conversation turned light..small stories about village gossip, the weather, and the funny things Milo had said the other day. For a moment, Ruby felt a sense of comfort, as if the weight of responsibility had loosened its grip.
They shared a few laughs, and when the tea cups were empty and the plates half-cleared, Ruby stood up.
"I should head back. Still have packing to do, and I need to prepare Julian."
Angeline stood too, walking her to the door. "Don’t worry about anything here. Just go. And enjoy the journey, Ruby. You deserve it."
Ruby nodded, offering a sincere smile. "Thank you. Really."
And with that, she made her way back home, her heart a little lighter, and her mind already drifting toward tomorrow.
Ruby folded her arms and stared at the three of them sitting on the couch like little schoolboys caught red-handed.
Julian sat quietly, already packed and ready for tomorrow. Karl was sneakily playing with the communicator again, probably watching that stupid fish-jumping game, until Ruby’s sharp voice made him freeze.
He slowly looked up like a guilty cat, gave a sheepish grin, and tucked the phone behind his back as if she hadn’t just seen everything.
Ruby sighed and turned to Milo, who blinked up at her with wide, curious eyes. "Wife, why did you call us?" he asked sweetly, tilting his head.
Her heart almost melted.
Despite everything they’d been through, he still held on to that pure, almost fragile innocence in his gaze. His brown eyes sparkled with honest curiosity, framed by soft lashes. A few light brown freckles dotted his nose, giving him a boyish charm, and his lips were light pink plump and gentle, like he’d just woken from a dream.
She stared for a moment longer than she meant to.
Milo had truly changed. Months ago, he was painfully thin, always tired, his eyes sunken and face pale from malnourishment. But now now, he had a healthy glow. His cheeks were fuller, and thanks to all the warm meals and proper sleep, his face had begun to take on that rare kind of beauty that made people pause.
The kind of beauty that wasn’t perfect or styled, but effortless.
His fluffy, always-messy hair gave him a soft look, the kind that suited oversized hoodies and warm cocoa on rainy mornings. Ruby suddenly imagined him in a hoodie, sleeves falling over his hands, blinking at her while hugging a hot mug.
She snapped out of it and cleared her throat, determined to stay on track.
"I called you three because I’m leaving tomorrow," she said firmly, "and I need you all to follow some important rules while I’m away."
Milo nodded seriously.
Julian smiled, already prepared.
Ruby picked up a notebook from the table. "Let’s begin," she said, "with Rule Number One..."
"Wife, you already told me the rules!" Karl interrupted with a sulky pout, leaning back like he was tired of hearing the same lecture again.
Ruby turned her head slowly, her eyes narrowed with a deep, patient smile that sent a chill down his spine. "Those rules were specially made for you, Karl," she said sweetly. "The new ones are for everyone."
Karl immediately shut up.
Julian bit back a smile and sat up straighter. Milo giggled but quickly covered his mouth when Ruby glanced at him. And Adrian, who was pretending not to care, kept his expression unreadable but Ruby noticed how his head tilted just slightly, and one brow twitched.
Oh, he was listening.
His eyes were on the ceiling, but his ears were fully tuned in.
—To be continued...🪄