Ruby
After that night, the house was heavy. We were planning a small memorial for my mom—someone who wasn't just a mother, but a business queen.
Before her death, when I wasn't talking to Aveline, my father decided something on his own: my engagement.
To Ema.
He said I needed someone—someone to anchor me. To hold my chaos still. I didn't argue.
Maybe I agreed too fast.
Maybe I just wanted to forget Aveline.
I told Ema the truth before anything official.
"I can't marry you," I said.
She only smiled, calm like always. "Then let's stay engaged… until then."
"Until what?" I asked.
She didn't answer.
Maybe she already knew.
Maybe she always knew.
Now, the night's here. The gathering.
The rich faces.
The fake sorrow.
The business masks.
And me?
I'm wearing black. Old money black. My watch glinting like a blade. My heart cold. My promises heavy.
Before I left, I stood by my mom's photo.
"Mom... I'll choose her."
Because I know you're watching.
Even now, you're still the only one who ever truly understood my chaos.
We arrived. Dad, Max, and me.
And my grandparents were coming too.
They were at the funeral. We didn't talk.
But tonight, I'll talk.
Because mom wanted peace.
And because I'm tired of carrying this thunder alone.
My grandma—Hana—is the definition of cold steel:
Sharp eyes. Sharper words.
She walked up to us. Dad and Max bowed with the weight of tradition.
I?
Just a nod. Not even low.
She sighed. "Just like your mother."
"Glad I take after someone, grandma," I murmured, eyes scanning the room.
And then I saw her.
Her.
Aveline.
In blue. Braided hair falling soft.
Looking like the one star I still pray to.
My grandma's voice snapped me back.
"You were engaged?"
"Yes."
"To… a girl?"
"Yeah."
"Are you in your right mind?"
I looked right at Aveline.
"No," I smirked. "But I'm in the right heart."
Look grandma she's the person mom's choose for me
"She's beautiful," grandma muttered. "But she's a girl."
"I'll be her man, her protector, her strength. I'll guard her from the world… even from myself."
She only nodded. Flat, unimpressed.
"You're still my granddaughter. Just don't end up like your mother."
Sharp words. But somehow, less cold than usual.
Later, her dad approached Mr. James—the jerk with the perv son. I was near Ema when I heard it.
"I think your son and my daughter could make a good match."
Fuck. No.
My hands clenched.
Say it, Aveline.
Say it.
I was staring at her and she, hesitating.
Before Mr. James could open his smug mouth again, Aveline stepped forward, voice trembling but sure.
"Dad... I don't want to marry him. I want to marry Ruby."
Silence.
My chest—tight.
I looked at Ema. She nodded. Calm.
"Best of luck," she said.
And just like that, I stepped forward.
Dad raised his eyebrow.
"You sure about this, Ruby?"
"I don't love her. But I want to marry her."
Even I didn't know why it felt so right.
"Yes dad" I nod and directly looking at his eyes.
He turned to Aveline. "She didn't force you, did she?"
"No, uncle. I chose her. With everything I am."
Behind us, I heard Mireline whisper:
"Yes, finally. God."
(Was she behind this? Huh.)
My dad? He just nodded.
After that ma granda she was also watching and listening silently.
We left and later, in the morning at breakfast, Dad asked again.
"Ruby, tell me honestly—what's going on?"
"She wants to marry me. I don't love her. But I'll protect her. That I swear."
"Then promise me something, Ruby."
"Yeah?"
"Protect her. Be there. Even if the world turns on her—you don't."
I swallowed the storm in my throat.
"I promise, Dad."
He smiled faintly.
"Your mother chose well."
He patted my shoulder.
"Marriage ain't about image, Ruby. Give her warmth. She deserves it."
Don't be hard like stone for her ruby I saw the way she said "I wanted to marry her".
I like that fire that strategy that strength to say something like that.
"You know why".... If you tell them you like someone your parents just said for our sake marry the person we choose.
Means kill yourself sacrifice yourself your love and make a relationship with the person you don't even know or like.
You choose her, your mother she also choose her.
Now you had to protect her ruby.
I nodded again.
Then came Adam and Luna.
Their expressions? A walking meme.
"Wait WHAT—Ruby you WHAT?"
Luna deadass: "You don't love her and she doesn't love you and y'all are getting married? Bruhhh."
I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up, movie's just getting started."
Luna: "Nahh this ain't a movie, it's a tragedy turned soft drama with a hint of slow-burn chaos."
Adam?
"You're an idiot."
Luna?
"She's a bigger idiot."
But me?
I don't even know anymore.
Why does this ache feel like hope?
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