Aveline
I was sitting on my balcony, thinking about Ruby.
She's not the person I crave.
Not anymore.
She's the Ruby—but not my Ruby.
It's been three days since her mother's funeral.
The only good news? Kai's not bothering me anymore.
But I haven't seen Ruby either.
Mireline went to check on her once—but she wasn't at home.
I want her.
And at the same time, I don't.
I don't even know if I still love her.
Not after what she said:
> "Tell your mom or your sis. Not my business."
She's different.
Not the Ruby I knew.
Not the one who sent me roses and love confessions.
Not the one who stopped a knife with her bare hand.
Not the one who shielded me from gunfire with her body.
Not the one who painted me like I was a muse, kissed me like I was the last,
worried about me, spoiled me,
even when I annoyed her.
She's totally different.
She's not mine.
"God… I don't know what to do anymore,"
I whispered. Tears slipped down. Mireline found me and sat beside me.
"Sis, do you know where Ruby could be?"
"I don't know," she said quietly. "I only remember the last thing you said to her… about Kai."
Chills.
A cold fear coiled inside me.
I wasn't scared of Kai.
I was scared of Ruby.
She's not in her right mind.
She could… she could do anything.
I jumped in the car and told the driver to go straight to Ruby's villa.
Not her family home. Hers.
The butler—he looked like he'd been through hell.
"Where is she?" I asked, heart pounding.
"Madam is in the living area," he said.
I headed there, and Leon met me halfway, guiding me silently.
As I stepped in—
I froze.
Ruby.
She was sitting there.
Hand bleeding.
Room wrecked.
Her energy... unrecognizable.
"Ruby?" I said quietly.
A small "hmm" was all she gave me.
Didn't even glance.
I moved closer, gently took her bleeding hand.
"Idiot," I muttered.
She finally looked up.
Her red eyes, once blazing with fire, now empty. Dim.
"Aveline, why are you here?"
Her voice, cold.
"Because of you," I snapped back.
"Ruby… did you… do something?"
She didn't flinch.
"Yeah," she said.
"He's gone now. I did what I should've done long ago."
And then—
"You don't love me."
"No, Aveline. I don't. Not anymore."
"What about the confessions? The kisses? The portraits?
What about shielding me?
Why'd you take that bullet for me, Ruby?!"
Her jaw clenched. She sighed.
"I used to love you. But not anymore.
The Ruby you loved is dead, Aveline.
I'm no good for you."
"And I'm engaged. To Ema."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
It hurt.
It burned.
I grabbed her face and forced her to look at me.
"Then why am I hurting?!"
"I'm not lying, Aveline."
"Aveline? Just… Aveline? No more my rabbit, my bunny?"
I bit my lip.
No.
I wouldn't let this happen.
"I don't care if I don't like her. I don't like anyone but you.
Ruby… are you going to marry her?"
My voice cracked.
"No," she said.
"Then say one thing—
say you'd marry me."
"If you want to marry me," she said, looking me dead in the eyes,
"You've got two days. After that, it'll be official. I'm off the market."
Two days.
That's all.
"But if you do..." she leaned closer,
"Welcome to my hell.
The person you loved is dead.
I'm worse now, Aveline.
I might kill your inner self."
I looked right back at her and whispered,
"I'm ready for the consequences, Ruby."
Let's see how bad you can get.
I'll change you again.
She smirked.
Scoffed.
"Aveline, marriage isn't a game.
You marry me?
You give me all of you.
No fights. No rebellion.
You follow my rules."
"I'm not afraid, Ruby.
I grew up in a society where girls always sacrifice.
If marrying you means dying alive—
then I'm willing."
"You're bold, Aveline.
Be careful.
Your words might hurt you later."
"Try me, Ruby."
"I'm not the same," she warned.
"I'm someone else now.
You hate me.
And you can't love me back."
I smiled.
I leaned in, kissed her hard.
She held me. Still protective.
Still my Ruby.
Even now.
She kissed me back. Then stopped.
Leaning against the couch, she whispered,
"Let's see after marriage, Aveline."
She dropped me back home.
Now I sit here, asking myself—
Did I make a mistake?
I told Alia.
She looked like I hit her with a truck.
"You did WHAT?"
"I said I'd marry her. Told her I wanted to."
"You didn't tell anyone else?"
"Nope. Just you."
Two days.
But honestly...
I'd already decided.
I'll marry her.
Without her—I'm insecure.
With her—I'm broken.
But either way,
I need her.
Even if I say I don't.
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