CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER 400 WHAT ABOUT HIM?

"Karl... wake up," she murmured, her voice gentle as her hand reached out to pat his cheek. Her fingers were warm against his cool skin, and for a moment, he only stirred faintly, making a soft sound in his sleep. She smiled faintly, amused at how much he resembled a lazy cat refusing to move from a sunny spot.

"Karl," she said again, this time letting her palm rest against his cheek, her thumb brushing lightly along his jawline. His lashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes slowly, blinking up at her in a dazed way as if he wasn’t sure where he was.

"Wife?" he mumbled, his voice low and husky from sleep.

"Yes, we’re home," Ruby replied softly. "Come on, let’s get you inside before you catch a cold."

He gave a small, sleepy smile, still not moving right away, just looking at her with that open, unguarded expression he never showed anyone else beside his family. For a moment, Ruby’s heart tightened. She reached up, gently tucking a stray lock of his hair behind his ear, and said quietly, "You worked hard today."

Karl’s lips curved in a faint grin, his voice barely above a whisper. "It’s easier to work hard... when I know you’re there."

Ruby felt the corners of her mouth lift despite herself. She leaned in slightly, close enough for her forehead to brush against his for a brief moment before she whispered, "Let’s go inside."

Finally, he let out a small sigh, unbuckling his seatbelt, and Ruby stepped out to meet him on his side of the car. She guided him toward the door, her hand resting at his back, feeling the weight of his tired steps until they reached the warm light of home.

***

"Brotheeeerrr Karl!!!" Milo’s voice broke as he rushed forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Karl’s, the moment they stepped into the house. His body trembled as he clung to him like he never wanted to let go.

Karl blinked in surprise.

"Hey, what’s with that face, huh?" he asked, forcing a light chuckle even though he already knew the reason.

Milo’s lips wobbled. "You’re leaving..." His voice cracked, and he buried his face into Karl’s neck. "If you’re gone, at home... it’ll just be me and Julian all day. It’ll be so quiet. I don’t like it."

Karl’s heart softened instantly. He hugged Milo tightly, resting his chin on top of his head. "I’ll still call every day. Morning, night, even during lunch break if I can. And when I come back..." he pulled back just enough to give Milo a reassuring smile, "we’ll do all the fun things we missed, okay?"

Milo sniffled. "Promise?"

"Promise." Karl hooked his pinky with Milo’s, sealing it like they used to when they were kids.

From the side, Julian stood quietly, his arms crossed, but the corners of his eyes were faintly red. He kept his gaze low, like he didn’t want anyone to notice. Karl caught it anyway.

"Jules," Karl called softly.

Julian looked up, managing a small smile. "It’s fine. I’m just... not used to the idea of you not being here. We’ve... always been together." His voice lowered at the end, almost as if he didn’t want it to sound too emotional.

Karl’s smile turned gentler. He reached over, ruffling Julian’s hair in that same big-brother way he always did. "You’re gonna be fine. You’ve got Wife here, and Milo. And I’ll still call you too. Every. Single. Day."

Julian gave a small huff, pretending to be annoyed, but his lips curved slightly. "You’d better. Or I’ll come drag you back myself."

Ruby, who had been quietly watching from the doorway, felt her chest grow warm. She stepped closer, her voice soft. "Karl, they’ll miss you, but they’re proud of you too. We all are."

Karl grinned as he joked, though his eyes shimmered faintly. "Don’t make me cry now, Wife. I just finished my makeup in the car."

That made Milo let out a weak laugh, and Julian shook his head. But the heaviness in the room didn’t completely disappear—it lingered, because they all knew it wasn’t going to be the same without Karl in the house.

That night, the dining table looked like a celebration feast—steam rising from bowls, the rich aroma of roasted vegetables and spiced stew filling the air. Everything was Karl’s favourite. He didn’t even bother hiding the huge grin on his face as he sat down.

Ruby slid into her seat across from him, watching the way his eyes lit up at every dish. "I’ll buy you a personal phone," she said casually, picking up her chopsticks.

Karl froze mid-reach for a bread roll, then broke into an even bigger grin. "I knew you’d buy me one," he declared with all the confidence in the world.

Everyone at the table chuckled, even Adrian, who usually kept his amusement to himself.

Ruby raised an eyebrow, amused by his certainty. "Of course I will. But don’t get too happy just yet—knowing you’ll be busy at the shoot all day, you won’t have time to play your Fat Fish Frenzy game."

Karl’s smile dropped instantly. He slumped in his chair and made a dramatic face of pure betrayal. "Wife, why would you say that at dinner? Now the stew tastes bitter."

Julian snorted. "It’s because you are bitter."

Karl gasped loudly, clutching his chest. "Wow. My own brother? You used to love watching me play that game."

Everyone chuckled.

Later that night, after everyone had retired to their rooms, the house grew still. Karl had been so exhausted from the day’s excitement that he barely managed to change into his nightclothes before collapsing on his bed.

His breathing soon steadied, lashes resting gently against his cheeks, the faintest trace of a smile still on his lips—as if even in dreams, he was happy. Julian stood quietly beside the bed, looking down at his sleeping brother.

For a long moment, he just watched, feeling a strange heaviness in his chest.

Milo was already good at painting, and it wasn’t long before he became well-known in the art world for his work—each piece vivid and full of life.

Karl... Karl had walked into the world of acting and seemed to belong there immediately, his charm shining as brightly as the lights on set.

Even Adrian, with his calm precision, had a mind that Ruby herself praised for handling numbers and accounts with ease.

But what about him? Julian’s gaze lingered on his own hands, his fingers curling slightly.

To be continued... 🪄