CHAPTER 437: CHAPTER 437 MEMORY (1)

Karl was the first to erupt, his fist slamming against the armrest of the chair so hard that Milo flinched. His face burned with fury as he nearly leapt to his feet. "How dare you!!" His voice shook with anger, but Julian grabbed his wrist again, struggling to keep him back, though his own face was red with rage.

Adrian’s calm snapped as well, his chair screeching against the floor as he stood. His eyes blazed, his voice low and cutting. "You think you can come into our house and talk about her like that? Do you want me to break your teeth where you sit?"

Milo, innocent and usually soft, looked ready to cry, his cheeks puffed red. He stepped closer to Ruby protectively. "Wife is ours," he said stubbornly, his voice shaking but firm. "Not yours. Never yours."

Ruby finally found her voice, her tone sharp as she looked straight at Fat Louis. "Enough," she said, her eyes dark with anger. "Whatever foolish thoughts you had, you should erase them now."

Fat Louis only lowered his gaze again, mumbling under his breath, "But I really do like you..." His face still glowing with shyness.

That was the final spark. Every one of Ruby’s husbands moved at once, their jealousy and rage written clearly across their faces, and only Ruby’s raised hand kept the room from exploding into chaos.

Ruby’s words were calm but firm, her eyes fixed on Madame Shades. "Look, Madame Shades, I know you’re mature enough to understand. I have no interest in your son. And with his background, I believe he will find someone he truly loves." Her lips curved into a cold smile, but her tone left no room for doubt.

Madame Shades, however, only chuckled as if Ruby’s rejection meant nothing. "I understand," she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "I will give you a week. Maybe my son will lose a few more grams of weight, and you will see him differently. Let’s go, Louis... see you after a week!" She stood gracefully, gathering her robe, and walked out with her son trailing behind. Louis glanced back once, his face still red with shyness, before disappearing through the door.

The silence left behind was suffocating. Ruby was still frozen in shock, her heart pounding from the absurdity of what just happened.

"Wife!!" Karl suddenly exploded, his voice furious, his face red as fire. "You will not marry him! You already have four husbands, FOUR! I don’t want any more husband-in-law!" His hands flailed as if to shake the very thought away, then he swatted Ruby’s hand off his sleeve and stormed toward his room. "Never!" he barked as he went inside.

Milo’s eyes watered, and without a second thought, he chased after Karl. "Wife doesn’t need him!" he spoke as he went towards Karl’s room.

Ruby stood frozen, her mind spinning, when Adrian’s voice broke the silence. His lips curved faintly into a smile, though his eyes gleamed with sharpness. "You handled that well. But... I doubt this was only about marriage. I think they have another motive."

Julian nodded, his tone serious. "I agree with Brother Adi. It felt strange. Why would Louis suddenly want to marry Wife? It doesn’t add up."

Ruby’s jaw clenched, her hands tightening at her sides. "I think my parents’ death has something to do with Madame Shades..." she said quietly, her voice heavy with suppressed anger.

Adrian and Julian fell silent at her words, both exchanging grim looks.

"So approaching you now, and your parents’ death before... it’s connected somehow," Adrian muttered, his eyes narrowing as if tracing unseen threads in the air. "Something is missing in the middle. But why do you think it’s related to her?"

Ruby’s voice shook slightly as she answered. "Because... I remember. My parents worked for her. They died in an accident at her company. But I don’t remember everything clearly, my memories are blurred. The only times I recall details are when something triggers it."

Suddenly, pain stabbed through her head like a blade. Ruby gasped, clutching her temples, her knees giving way as images burst into her vision—blood splattering across walls, screams echoing all around, faces of people she couldn’t place crying out in terror. The ground beneath her seemed to vanish as black dots clouded her sight.

And then, darkness.

"Wife!"

The cry tore through the air, Julian’s voice raw with fear, followed by Adrian’s sharp call. She felt hands grab her shoulders, holding her steady as she slipped further into unconsciousness, their voices echoing around her like fading thunder.

*******

Ruby’s head throbbed as if splitting open, and suddenly the world around her bent and warped like broken glass. She blinked, but when her vision cleared, she was no longer in her house.

She was sitting on a chair in the middle of a chemical plant. The air was thick with a sharp, stinging smell, and the hiss of pressure from massive pipes surrounded her. Each pipe carried glowing liquid gas, toxic and unstable, used in industries to make infused glass and weapons. Workers in robes moved quickly between the pipes, their faces blurred, their voices echoing in her ears.

Beside her stood two familiar yet unfamiliar figures. A gentle witch bent down, patting her head. Ruby couldn’t see her face clearly, but her heart tugged with recognition.

"Please stay here, okay?" the witch said softly.

Ruby’s lips trembled as the word slipped out. "Okay... Mom."

Ruby’s hands clasped tightly in her lap, her eyes darting nervously around the place.

Then it happened.

The alarm blared, shrill and sharp, cutting through the factory. Workers screamed and started running in every direction, panic spreading like fire. Ruby’s eyes widened. She coughed violently, her nose beginning to bleed as the thick chemical haze filled her lungs.

"Dear, please run outside!" Her parents rushed back to her, their faces full of fear. Her father’s grip was strong, his voice urgent.

"No!" Ruby shook her head furiously, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No, let’s run together!"

Her parents exchanged a desperate look. Ruby’s mother whispered, "Please take her outside."

Teen Ruby’s eyes went wide with horror. "No, Mom! Let’s go together!" Her voice cracked, high with panic. She clung to her mother’s robe, sobbing. "Don’t leave me!"

Her father’s face twisted, torn between love and survival. Suddenly, his hand came down hard against her cheek—a slap that made her gasp. "Go!" he roared, scooping her up and carrying her outside despite her kicking and cries.

To be continued... 🪄