My five ghostly husbands-Chapter 229 Leeches

Before Ruby could speak, the younger ghost cut in, voice far too cheerful.

"Sister-in-law!" Lucien said, stepping closer with a theatrical pout. "Karl’s being so unfair. He won’t let us inside. Can you scold him a little for us? You know how soft his heart is..."

He tilted his head and blinked at her like a lost kitten.

Ruby stared at his face for a long second.

His fake sweetness.

That forced charm.

Everything about it made her want to take one long step back.

Disgusting, she thought calmly But her face didn’t show it. She simply raised an eyebrow.

The front door creaked open from the inside.

Karl stepped out slowly, eyes immediately locking onto his younger brother.

Lucien straightened up with a bright, fake smile, about to speak again until Karl pointed at him sharply.

"Don’t even try to act all lovey-dovey with my wife!" Karl snapped, stepping forward like an angry little lion. "And why are you all here after selling me off like a piece of used furniture, huh?!"

He scoffed loudly. "Hmph! Don’t act smart. You’re here for money, aren’t you? That’s all you’ve ever wanted!"

His voice echoed across the quiet porch.

Behind him, Julian and Milo walked out silently, followed by Adrian..whose eyes immediately narrowed the second he saw Danny standing there.

The cold tension in the air turned sharp.

"Oh my god, baby!" Elira cried dramatically, wiping under her eye like a soap opera actress. "I didn’t have a choice! You know how poor we were..."

Karl stared at her like she had grown three heads. "Oh please! You sold me because you wanted new shoes and shiny teacups!"

"Sister-in-law asks brother not to take it to heart," Lucien said with a fake sad face, holding his hands out. "We didn’t mean it like that..."

"OI!" Karl barked, pointing his finger again, "Don’t talk to my wife!"

Ruby raised an eyebrow, a little amused but also touched.

"She’s not your sister-in-law!" Karl continued. "She’s my everything! You? You’re nothing but a walking disgrace with too much hair gel!"

Lucien blinked, still trying to smile.

"And stop staring at her!!" Karl hissed, now truly fuming. He turned to Ruby and gently pulled her behind him.

But even that didn’t feel safe enough.

He looked around, spotted Adrian and Julian standing quietly like bodyguards and immediately shoved Ruby behind them like a hidden treasure.

"Brother adi! Julian! Guard my wife!" he commanded like a general on a battlefield. "Lucien’s being disgusting again!"

Julian blinked, unsure whether to laugh or listen.

Adrian didn’t move, but the slight tilt of his jaw meant Lucien better stop looking or vanish forever.

Milo peeked around Karl, whispering, "Are we fighting now?"

Karl puffed his chest. "Yes! We’re fighting! Emotionally, mentally, spiritually and if they take one step forward, physically too!"

Danny, who had stayed quiet, finally spoke. "We didn’t come to fight."

Karl squinted. "You didn’t come to visit either! You came to leech!"

Elira stepped forward. "You owe us! We raised you!"

"You sold me!!" Karl snapped, voice cracking mid-sentence, and pointed again. "I was a sale item on your broken shopping list!!"

Lucien tried to pout again. "We were poor..."

Karl gasped loudly. "Then sell yourself next time! I’ll bring the price tag!"

Ruby was behind Julian now, hand on her mouth, trying hard not to laugh. His anger... was real. But the way he shouted, the way he glared like a puffed-up cat..it was all so painfully Karl.

Adrian finally stepped forward, his voice low and sharp. "You’ve said enough."

Danny’s fake smile faded just slightly.

Julian placed his hand on Karl’s shoulder gently, but Karl was still fired up.

"I’ll say it again! Don’t come to our house for money! And don’t look at my wife like you’ve got a chance in heaven! I’ll rip your—"

"Karl," Ruby finally interrupted softly.

He turned quickly. "Yes, wife?"

"Calm down before you explode," she said.

He took a deep breath. "I’m not exploding. I’m passionately protecting your honor."

Milo whispered to Julian, "He’s definitely exploding."

Ruby stepped forward now, no longer behind anyone. Her eyes calm. Her face soft but firm.

"If you came for money," she said to Danny and Elira, "you won’t find it here. Karl doesn’t owe you anything. Not after what you did."

Her voice wasn’t loud. But it hit harder than any of Karl’s shouting.

Danny’s expression darkened.

Elira frowned.

Lucien looked like he was about to cry...again.

Karl stood beside Ruby now, holding her hand tightly like a prize he refused to give up.

"Go home," Ruby said. "Before Karl really explodes."

"Too late," Karl muttered with a sigh.

But then Karl took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and shouted like he was preparing for battle.

"Julian!!"

Julian blinked. "...Yes?"

"Bring me the broom."

Everyone turned to look at Karl.

Even Ruby.

"The... what?" Adrian said flatly.

"The broom!" Karl repeated, pointing toward the house like a king summoning his sword.

Julian, a little confused but used to Karl’s chaos by now, silently walked inside and came back holding a regular wooden broom.

"Here," he said calmly, handing it over like it was a sacred object.

Karl grabbed it with purpose in his eyes.

Everyone stared.

He raised the broom high.

"Out!!" he shouted, swinging it toward his family. "Shoo! Shoo! Get out of here, bad luck spirits!"

Lucien jumped back with a squeak. "What are you doing?!"

"Cleansing the energy!" Karl yelled. "My house, my wife, my peace! Shoo! Off you go!"

He waved the broom like a wild rooster chasing pigeons. "You sold me, you ghosted me, you’re not eating my snacks!"

Elira stumbled back, shocked. "Karl!"

"You had your chance, Mother!" he shouted, still swinging the broom with dramatic footwork. "You lost son access rights the day you put a price tag on me!"

Danny took a step back with narrowed eyes.

Karl spun around once with the broom like a ninja. "You want money? Sweep your own souls!!"

Adrian sighed and looked away.

Milo giggled, whispering, "He’s lost it."

Lucien tried to duck behind Elira. "Stop! Stop! I have soft bones!"

"Get out before I start mopping next!" Karl declared, pointing at the street with the broom like it was a holy sword.

Finally, with a mix of fear, confusion, and second-hand embarrassment, Danny, Elira, and Lucien slowly backed away down the street...muttering to themselves while Karl stood proudly at the porch like a victorious guard.

—To be continued...🪄

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