RUBY
Yeah. I left.
Straight to my mom's grave. I always visit her every Sunday.
Jet engines screaming, cigarette lit, rage curled up in my ribs like a sleeping animal.
But what am I mad at?
Is it her—Aveline—because she stood in front of me while I held a gun?
Or is it me…
Because I let her get that close?
I don't even know.
But when I go back—
I'll fix this.
I'll teach her how to use a gun.
She's reckless. Too soft. Shows her identity like it's a damn badge.
I'm not afraid of exposure.
I'm afraid of my world touching her.
---
Two days. No texts. No calls.
She didn't reach out either.
Two days turn into four.
Her competition's in one.
I'm free now, just had to meet that bastard Kim Da Hyun.
He came in flanked by guards. Guns. The usual.
Me? Calm. Unimpressed.
He grinned. "Mafia king playing house, huh?"
I sat down. Eyes sharp.
"Get to the point, Da Hyun."
He shrugged, smirking like a dog.
"Don't want your little hot wife hurt, Ruby. But if I did… it'd be fun, no?"
"Watch your tongue before I remove it," I muttered.
He leaned closer. "Hand me the throne. I won't touch your girl. That's a promise."
I smiled, slow and lethal.
"I don't need your promises. I take care of mine."
Then I stood.
"You ever even look at Aveline again… I'll make sure your whole bloodline begs for mercy."
---
I returned on the jet, tired as hell. Landed back at my villa.
"Don't tell Aveline I'm home," I told Mr. Han.
He nodded.
I went upstairs. She was sleeping—peaceful, open, soft.
The guard around her heart completely dropped.
I placed a black rose on her nightstand.
Let her freak out in the morning.
I kissed her temple.
And left.
---
Back to the family villa. Max was waiting.
"It's been too long, sis," he said, hugging me.
"Dad misses you. Mom too."
"Yeah… I know."
Dreams of her. This cursed villa. Cage made of velvet.
"You should come back—with your wife," Max added.
"Maybe," I said. "How's school?"
"Three more months. Then I'm yours full time."
"Good. I need backup."
Later that night, I curled up in my childhood bed.
Every memory tasted like blood and regret.
---
Next Morning.
Dad.
Old, still stylish. Mafia royalty.
"You look like her today," he said.
I lit a cigarette.
"She'd hate that. She hated blood."
"She hated the business. Not you."
"Would she even recognize me?"
"She'd tell you: Let yourself be loved."
"Is this about Aveline?"
He nodded.
"You look at her like a starving man looks at mercy… and push her away."
"She deserves peace. I can't give that."
"She's not asking for peace. She's asking for you.
Even your mother… she stayed. Because love—real love—is the only war worth losing."
"I don't want to bury her."
He gripped my shoulder.
"Then don't. Protect her, but don't erase her.
You are the daughter of this cursed empire…
But even queens are allowed to kneel for love."
"I don't know how to be soft."
He smiled.
"Then start with her. She's your soft.
Your mother was mine."
"...Would she be proud of me?"
"No.
She'd slap you for hurting that girl.
Then she'd hold you, and whisper:
Go to her. Before the world takes her from you too."
---
Competition Day.
I showed up with Max. Brought flowers—black ones, of course. I'm not romantic.
She didn't know I was there.
She won of course she won.
I went backstageand then… I saw it.
Aveline. Laughing.
With Andrew.
That Andrew.
Ex-business partner.
Now? A walking corpse.
He hugged her.
She smiled.
That was all it took.
The roses hit the floor. I turned and walked out.
Didn't say a word.
She saw me. For a second.
Max tried to stop me.
Didn't work.
---
Two hours later. Club.
Max's phone buzzing. My head spinning.
I wasn't even drunk. Just… burning.
"Pick up the fucking phone, Max."
It was Aveline.
Her voice? Tight. Mad. Scared.
"Uhh, Aveline, yeah. She's with me… usual club. Come pick her up before she eats someone."
I glared.
He hung up.
"Thanks, Max," Aveline said when she arrived.
She hadn't even changed out of her competition dress.
She looked… unreal.
Max: "She's sober. Don't let her kill me."
He pinched my arm. I slapped him. He dodged. Trained well.
"Fuck off, Max. Or I'll rearrange your teeth."
"See? Fully lucid Ruby," he whispered to Aveline.
Then he ran.
---
She looked at me.
Eyes furious. Lips trembling.
"Let's go, Ruby?" she asked.
"Don't you fucking touch me," I growled.
She still grabbed my arm.
"Don't you dare, Aveline. You touched the man I hate the most."
Her eyes dimmed, full of fury and shame.
"I'm sorry…"
I scoffed. Silent.
Two men looked at her on our way out.
I memorized their faces.
They'd regret that.
She sit in backseat with me.
Silent ride. Coiled rage.
---
Two Days Later.
"Ruby… please talk to me. I'm tired of walking on eggshells."
I brushed past her. No eye contact.
Disappeared into my study.
---
That Night.
She was waiting.
I emerged—blood still drying on my gloves.
A box in my hand.
Black. Wooden. Silent.
I placed it on the table.
"Open it."
"...Ruby, what—?"she asked she's counfused.
"Open. It." I whisper in venomous voice.
She did.
Two human hearts.
Still warm.
She gasped.
I peeled off my gloves.
"They stared at you. Undressed you with their eyes."
"You KILLED them?! Ruby, that's—"
She asked her voice trembling scared.
BAM.
Fist slammed the table.
"You think I'll let anyone even breathe near you?"
Silence.
"I've killed for less. But you...
You don't get it."
"They speak your name—I rip tongues.
They imagine touching you—I burn cities."
"You're not just my wife.
You are the reason I haven't destroyed this world yet."
She was trembling.
But didn't move.
Just whispered.
> "If I'm the reason you destroy everything…
Then let me be the one who saves you too."
---
That voice—
It wrecked me.
I didn't move.
Couldn't.
Her arms circled my waist. Warm. Stupid. Brave.
I didn't deserve her.
Still.
I turned—
And whispered against her lips:
> "Then don't ever leave.
Not even if the whole world burns."