Aveline
I shook my head like it could erase the guilt swelling inside my chest.
"I—I got a call," I muttered, voice cracking. "It said someone needed help—" a lie, so fragile, I could feel it tremble on my tongue. But she came. She always came. Somehow, some way, Ruby found me. She protected me, held me like a prayer she couldn't lose, and yet here I was, lying straight to her face.
I stared at her as the words slipped out like blood. "Your mistress, Ruby. I found out about that."
She exhaled hard, the kind of sigh that shakes the walls. Her voice snapped like thunder. "About my what, fucking mistress shit, Aveline Sun?"
I flinched. Her words cut deeper than I was ready for. My eyes shut tight, bracing for more. But I had to say it.
I dug for strength, anything, and screamed, "You're fucking cheating on me, Ruby! They sent me pictures! You and some baby girl! That's why I went to the warehouse! I thought—I thought—" My voice broke. "I thought I lost you."
It spilled like gasoline. Raw. Desperate. My biggest mistake.
Her anger hit like a wave. She grabbed my arm roughly, her grip hard enough to bruise, and my eyes welled with tears. "Don't, Ruby," I whispered, voice shaking.
She stared at me with something beyond fury. Betrayal. Pain. She reached into the drawer, pulled out her gun, and placed it gently in my hand. Her own hand hovered over the barrel, guiding the gun's head to her chest.
"Shoot me, Aveline," she said, dead serious. "If you don't believe me, shoot. Right now."
The muzzle of the gun was aimed at her heart. My heart stopped.
"I can't," I sobbed, shaking. "I fucking can't."
The gun fell from my hands, clattering to the floor like shattered trust.
She looked at me like I was the one who broke her. "You don't believe me," she said, voice flat, staring through me.
Then she walked away. No explanation. No defense. Just slammed the door behind her, and it echoed through my bones.
That silence was worse than screaming.
I stood there, broken, shaking, alone.
I packed my bag. Called Mireline.
"Sis," I sobbed as soon as she picked up. My voice was so wrecked, she instantly panicked.
"Aveline? What happened? Baby, what's wrong?"
"I'm coming to you. I can't stay here."
"Tell me what's going on," she pleaded.
I exhaled like it would make things better. "Ruby and I... We fought. A huge one. I can't go to Mom and Dad like this. It'll only make everything worse."
She sighed, voice soft now. "Come to me, baby. Just come. Safely."
I ended the call and continued packing. Tears fell onto the fabric of my clothes, blurring everything.
An hour passed. Then the door opened.
Ruby walked in. Her knuckles were bleeding. Like she'd been punching walls... or people.
She didn't look at me. Didn't ask a single question.
She just headed straight to the bathroom.
I went downstairs. Leon, our loyal boy, whined when he saw my suitcase. I kneeled and kissed his head.
"Sorry, baby. I have to go."
Mr. Han appeared at the stairs. "Madam, please..."
I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I can't."
As I reached for the front door, I heard her voice from behind me—cold, commanding.
"Aveline Sun. If you leave now, I won't come after you. I won't apologize. If you want to go, go."
I didn't look back. My voice broke as I whispered, "As you please, Ruby."
And I left.
---
I was abroad. Mireline had welcomed me with open arms, like a safe harbor in a storm. Her fingers ran through my hair as I lay with my head on her lap, tears still drying in the corners of my eyes.
I told her everything. All of it.
"I want a divorce," I whispered.
Her hands froze. "What did you just say?"
"I fucking want a divorce, Mireline. She's cheating. It's been two days. Not a single call."
"What if it was a misunderstanding?"
"And what if it wasn't?" I barked back.
She stared at me for a long moment. "God, Aveline, you're still so immature sometimes."
"Excuse me?"
"She was mad, yes. But you went to a warehouse alone, unarmed. You risked your life. What if she hadn't come in time? What then?"
"She almost slapped me," I said quietly.
Mireline went silent.
---
Day four.
They came.
Four black SUVs. All matte black. Armed guards. Ruby wasn't alone. Of course not.
She walked through Mireline's front door like she owned the world. Her aura screamed danger and desperation.
She stopped in front of me, eyes locked on mine. "You're coming with me. No arguments."
Luna and Adam were behind her, silent, packing my bags while I protested, cried, begged. Useless.
"Mireline," Ruby said, voice cracking, "I'm sorry for storming in like this, but I need your sister. I can't live without her. She's my fucking weakness."
Mireline stood at the door, frozen. Shocked.
I stepped back. "Ruby, don't."
She didn't listen.
She scooped me into her arms like I weighed nothing, like I still belonged to her, and carried me gently to her car.
She placed me down slowly in the leather seat. Doors closed. Engines revved.
We were heading to the airport. Her jet, no doubt, already waiting.
That's when I noticed it.
Her face.
Bruised.
Not like a fight. Not something she gave, but something she received.
A slap.
Someone had slapped Ruby Sun.
But she didn't flinch. Didn't explain.
And she didn't say a single word the whole way back.
Just held my hand.
Like she was afraid to let go ever again.