The living room was vast, with high ceilings and an impressive spiral staircase that twisted up to the second floor like something out of an old castle. Though the house looked aged, it carried a certain vibe—a strange, almost enchanting mix of elegance and eeriness.
Ruby, Karl, and Adrian settled onto an ornate sofa with carved wooden arms. Karl bit his lip, glancing around curiously, taking in every odd detail of the house with wide eyes.
Suddenly, they heard a mocking voice. "Ohhh~~ who’s here?" Louis’s voice echoed down from the staircase. Moments later, the fat ghost made his way down, his butler Ford trailing behind him without an ounce of expression on his pale face. Louis’s expression soured the moment he recognized them, his chubby face scrunching up in irritation.
"Why are they here...?" he sneered, his eyes narrowing. "And are you finally planning to pay my debt, or are you just here to waste my time? Because I still remember someone saying they’d pay it arrogantly..." His tone was filled with anger and bitterness.
Ruby rose from the sofa with a calm, steady expression, smoothing the robe she wore. She met Louis’s gaze without a hint of fear. "Of course, we’re here to pay," she replied, her tone cool but Clam.
Seeing her now, Louis paused, momentarily stunned. She was dressed in a white robe with a bold red border that highlighted the brightness of her red eyes. Those eyes had an unusual spark in them, almost as if they were glowing, and her pink lips curved into a graceful, confident smile.
Louis’s smirk only widened as he looked them up and down, clearly amused. He didn’t believe for a second that they could actually pay him back—after all, he knew they barely had enough money to buy a decent meal. Lending money to people like them gave him a twisted satisfaction, a way to watch them squirm under the weight of debt. And if they couldn’t pay, he wouldn’t hesitate to make their lives a living nightmare. It was his way of keeping things... entertaining.
"Don’t tell me," he sneered, eyes glinting with mockery, "to pay off my debt, you borrowed from someone else? Oh... God, that’s just too funny..." He let out a sharp, mocking laugh, squeezing his butler’s shoulder as he chuckled. Ford, his expressionless butler, simply stood there, unaffected by his outburst.
Ruby’s jaw tightened, but she kept her calm. The temptation to snap back at him was there, but she knew better. She wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of riling her up.
Ruby sighed, watching Louis laugh.
She noticed Adrian beside her, fists clenched, his jaw tight with barely controlled anger. His glare was intense, as if he were seconds away from launching himself at Louis.
"Hahaha... if you can’t pay the debt, why don’t you beg me to let it go? Go on, kneel for me," Louis taunted, his voice dripping with mockery as he flashed a twisted grin.
"Watch your mouth..." Adrian’s voice came out dark and threatening, each word laced with barely restrained fury. Louis’s eyes widened in shock as Adrian took a step forward, ready to unleash his anger.
"Adrian..." Ruby’s voice was calm yet firm as she reached for his wrist. He stopped, turning to meet her gaze, his intense black eyes locking onto her red ones. She gave him a small, reassuring nod, silently urging him to hold back. Slowly, she pulled him behind her, stepping forward to face Louis herself.
Karl was glaring at Louis, his eyes full of contempt. Ruby didn’t waste another second; she reached into her bag, pulled out the money, and placed it firmly in Louis’s hand. "Take it," she said coldly, giving him one last look before turning back to Karl and Adrian. "Let’s go."
They nodded, ready to leave, but then a soft, distinct voice stopped them. "Who are they, Louis?"
Ruby looked up, following the sound. Descending the stairs was a woman with an air of elegance, her purple hair tied in a neat bun. Her face was mature yet beautiful, her skin pale, with an odd glint in her eyes. She moved slowly, her gaze zeroing in on Ruby with a peculiar smile.
"Miss Ruby," the woman greeted, her voice smooth and unsettling.
Ruby blinked, taken aback. "You... know me?" She recognized this woman from original owner memory—Madame Shades.
She was known to be a witch of mystery, rarely mingling with anyone in town. Once married to three different men who had all mysteriously passed away, Madame Shades was left with no children of her own and had eventually adopted Louis.
Madame Shades’ smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of nostalgia and cunning as she studied Ruby. "Yes... After all, your parents used to work for me. Your mother was a stunning witch—hard to forget. And you... you look so much like her," she said, gesturing to a sofa. "Why don’t you take a sit?"
Madame Shades gave the butler a silent look. Catching her gaze, he gave a brief nod and quietly walked away.
Before Ruby could respond, Louis’s voice broke the silence, loud and petulant. "Mom! They’re poor people! And bad ones, too!" he whined, standing with his hands on his hips, clutching the money she had given him.
He sneered, waving the notes in front of them. "Ha! This is nothing. You might think this is a big deal, but it’s just pocket change for me!" With a mocking grin, he ripped the money in half, scattering the torn pieces on the floor in front of them.
Ruby’s heart sank, watching her hard-earned money flutter to the ground, ripped and disrespected. For a moment, she felt a mix of shock and Anger tightening in her chest. Karl and Adrian stood beside her, both equally stunned, their faces a mixture of disbelief and anger.
Ruby’s fists clenched at her sides as she fought to keep her expression calm. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her break. Instead, she took a deep breath, her voice steady as she looked directly into Louis’s smug face.
"Throw all the money you want," she said softly, her red eyes flashing. "But remember this—you can’t buy respect. Not with any amount of money."
However, everyone was shocked when they heard the sound of a slap.
—To be continued...🪄