CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 382 OFFER

Knowing that Ruby and Karl had started talking again, everyone at home finally sighed in relief. It was like the gloomy shadow hanging over the house disappeared. Because honestly... without Karl’s nonstop chatter, silly jokes, and dramatic complaints, the house had felt way too silent. Even Milo said the air felt heavier, and Julian admitted dinner was boring without Karl asking twenty questions about dessert.

Now that Karl was back to his usual self — bouncing around, poking everyone, and humming songs no one knew — the house felt alive again.

A week later...

Karl’s poster with the kids was finally launched.

And boom!

It became a hit.

The moment the posters were hung on large billboards around the marketplace and city walls, people actually stopped just to stare.

"WIFE!" Karl screamed the moment he saw the billboard on the corner of market Alley. "THAT’S ME!!! I’M FAMOUS!!!"

From that day, he walked with his chest puffed out, signing fake autographs for strangers and asking Milo to practice fake interviews with him.

He was grinning all day long, pointing at himself whenever they passed by the billboard, dragging everyone outside to see it — even when they already saw it ten times.

Ruby pretended to be annoyed, but she was secretly smiling behind her cup every time she saw how happy he looked.

Meanwhile...

Adrian’s journey with Ruby also started taking a new shape.

Ever since he joined her office, things between them became different — not in a sudden or awkward way, but naturally. From polite small talk to casual, comfortable conversation.

Now he talked with Ruby without hesitation. He’d ask questions, share thoughts, even joke sometimes.

Ruby had noticed the change too.

Adrian would glance at her during a breaks, and Ruby would hand him his tiffin before he even asked. Sometimes they’d sit together at lunch, quietly talking about ideas, weather, or even the color of the office walls.

Their rhythm was soft and easy.

There was no pressure, no tension — just something warm that slowly built between them, like a quiet friendship... and maybe the beginning of something more.

But neither of them said anything yet.

For now, they were just enjoying how easy it was to be around each other.

Ruby had started making her game again. What was lost was lost and she had cried enough. Now it was time to rebuild.

This time, she wasn’t just creating for practice or testing. She was working on her real debut game. A project with heart and purpose. If the game succeeded, she already had a clear plan. With all the knowledge she carried from her previous life, she would slowly begin improving technology in this world — especially phones.

She had noticed how rare and limited they were, how only a handful of extremely wealthy people could afford them. Regular people, including most of her workers, didn’t even have access to simple digital tools. So one day, if her game became a hit, she would launch her own brand. Her vision was clear. Start with what she knew best. Prove her abilities. Then build the tools people needed most.

That afternoon, while sitting in her office going through updates from her staff, she received a letter — thick envelope, sealed in gold. At first she assumed it was another offer to collaborate, something she had grown used to declining lately.

But when she opened it, her brows lifted slightly in surprise. It was from a very large production studio. Prestigious, well-known, and known for producing some of the most successful films of the year.

What caught her attention even more was the mention of a role... for Karl.

Apparently, they were offering Karl a character role in an upcoming fantasy drama — if and only if Ruby agreed to join the production team. And the recommendation had come from Director Sylvia herself.

A small smile tugged at Ruby’s lips.

Of course. She understood it now. Sylvia had become incredibly influential since her last film, a work many were calling the start of a "new era" in cinema. With Ruby’s editing and production support on that film, she had gained her own recognition in the industry, though she never truly cared for the attention. Since then, countless invitations had poured in — directors, producers, studios — all hoping to work with her.

She had turned them all down.

She wasn’t interested in chasing fame. Her focus had shifted toward her company, her home, her game, her family. But this letter was different. This wasn’t for money or success.

This was for Karl.

And maybe, just maybe, she wanted to say yes.

After placing the letter gently into her drawer, Ruby leaned back in her chair for a moment, staring at the closed drawer in thought. Then, without wasting more time, she turned to her office computer. If she was even considering joining a production again—especially for Karl—she needed to research everything properly.

She opened the browser and began typing keywords into the search bar. Soul Entertainment Production studio

Since Soulstream was one of the biggest entertainment platforms in the world—linked with film, digital dramas, and immersive experiences—there were hundreds of blog posts, forum entries, and articles associated with it. Many reviews, updates, and fan theories flooded her screen. Some were messy, some were insightful.

But one blog caught her eye. It was sleek, updated recently, and featured insider content from production teams. She clicked the link.

It led to a homepage styled like a glossy magazine.

And then... as if timed perfectly, a pop-up loaded on the screen.

Ruby’s lips twitched into a smirk.

Front and center was a sharp, painfully gorgeous face. Tousled golden hair, intense electric-blue eyes that stared like they knew they were beautiful, and a smirk that practically dripped arrogance even through the screen.

Kaelan.

He was on the featured poster, dressed in silver robes lined with blue, looking like a divine warrior prince. The title read: "God of Ruin: A Soulstream Original, Releasing Soon."

"Of course," Ruby muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing slightly in amusement. "He’s famous."

Now it made sense. The charm. The drama. The overconfidence.

She leaned back in her chair, tapping the armrest lightly as the pop-up faded and the website returned. So that ghost who crashed into her car wasn’t just some annoying flirt hiding from trouble.

He was Soulstream’s golden boy. One of their leads.

And she’d told him she didn’t even know who he was.

No wonder he’d looked so personally offended.

Ruby chuckled softly and shook her head. "Tch. What a narcissist."

But even she had to admit... that guy looked good.

To be continued... 🪄