My five ghostly husbands-Chapter 284 Ignoring Karl

When Ruby stepped back into the house. The place was quiet, unusually so. Shoes lined up neatly by the door, dishes done, and the cushions in place.

She didn’t need to look far—Julian was sitting in the living room, curled up on the edge of the couch with his chin resting on his knees. He looked up the moment he heard the door, but his expression didn’t brighten.

Ruby tilted her head. "What’s with the long face?"

Julian looked away quickly, trying to pretend nothing was wrong. "Nothing. Just thinking."

Ruby raised an eyebrow. That wasn’t his usual gentle, eager tone. Something was off.

"...Brother Karl’s already cleaned the room," he muttered after a pause. "He said he’ll change the sheets. Jett’s gone now, so... I’ll be sleeping with him again."

Ruby blinked. "And that makes you... sad?"

He didn’t answer immediately. His shoulders slouched, fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve.

"It’s not like I don’t like sleeping next to brother Karl," Julian said softly. "He kicks a little in his sleep, but it’s okay."

Then he looked at her, those moss-green eyes filled with soft frustration and longing.

"But I wanted to sleep with you, wife. Just for a little longer. After everything... I missed two years of loving you properly. And I only just started getting a taste of it."

Ruby’s heart ached a little at his words.

He wasn’t being clingy. He wasn’t even demanding.

He was just... honest. In that quiet, gentle Julian way. The one that always held everything in until it spilled out like a sigh.

She walked over, leaned down, and gently ruffled his hair.

"Alright," she said with a little smile. "Just tonight, come sleep in my room again."

Julian’s eyes widened slightly, his lips parting.

The moment the words slipped from Julian’s mouth—"I wanted to sleep with you..."—he regretted it.

His heart thudded wildly, face burning. Why did I say it like that? he thought, inwardly panicking. She’ll think I’m too clingy. Too lovesick...

He was already preparing himself for a soft rejection, maybe a laugh, maybe even one of her teasing smile. But instead—

Ruby reached out and cupped his cheek, her touch warm and grounding.

"And Julian," she said gently, her voice like velvet, "you’re my husband. You can come sleep in my bed anytime."

Julian froze.

His breath hitched softly, and his eyes widened just a bit—not in disbelief, but in the way someone stares at sunlight after a long winter.

He slowly reached for her hand, holding it carefully as if it were something sacred. And without thinking, he pressed a kiss to her finger. His lips brushed the knuckle softly, lingering for a moment before he looked up into her deep, gorgeous red eyes.

"Thank you, wife," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Then he cleared his throat lightly and straightened up, trying to act normal, even though his heart was spinning.

"L-let me make you some tea," he said with a small, bashful smile. "You go and freshen up. I’ll bring it to your room."

Ruby chuckled softly under her breath, watching his flustered retreat toward the kitchen.

If this was the taste of love he missed for two years, then tonight, she’d make sure he remembered it for a lifetime.

**

Karl heard her voice from the hallway and immediately came out of his room, like a puppy catching the scent of home after being lost.

"Wife," he called softly, testing the waters.

Ruby didn’t stop. Didn’t turn. Didn’t even react.

She was still ignoring him.

And it had been two whole days. Two days of her not looking him in the eye, not scolding him, not laughing at his silly antics. Two days of unbearable silence.

Karl’s heart ached. He couldn’t take it anymore.

"Wife..." he said again, this time walking up behind her and gently wrapping his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind like a child seeking comfort.

His voice trembled. "Please don’t be angry anymore, okay? I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I promise. Please..."

Ruby froze.

Then slowly, she reached for his hands and pried them off her waist.

Karl’s chest tightened.

She turned to face him, and the look on her face nearly knocked the breath out of him.

Not rage. Not annoyance. Just... cold.

A tired, distant cold.

"Oh, a mistake?" Ruby said with a small smile—one that didn’t reach her eyes. "And what does that have to do with me?"

Karl blinked, confused. Hurt.

"Why should I be angry?" she asked, voice soft but sharp. "It’s your life, Karl. Your decision. We didn’t matter, right?"

Her words didn’t yell at him. They pierced him.

The cold smile on her lips felt worse than any punishment.

Karl stood frozen as if her words slapped him harder than any hand ever could.

He had thought she might scold him a little, maybe call him stupid and flick his forehead like always. He didn’t expect this version of Ruby. The one who didn’t look mad... but hurt.

Her cold smile was the worst part. It wasn’t cruel. It wasn’t mocking. It was distant. Tired. The kind of smile you wear when you’ve stopped expecting anything from someone.

And it stabbed deeper than any angry shout ever could.

Karl’s arms, once wrapped around her waist, dropped slowly to his sides. His baby-blue eyes blinked, wide and wet, like he couldn’t believe what he’d done until he saw her looking at him like that.

"I-It’s not like that," he stammered, voice trembling. "I—I just wanted to surprise you, wife! I thought if I became a star you’d be proud, and—"

"And so you trusted a complete stranger," Ruby interrupted, her voice quiet but sharp. "You left without telling anyone. Not a note. And you let me, Julian, Adrian, Milo... suffer for day."

Her red eyes glinted, not with anger, but with exhaustion. "You weren’t trying to surprise me, Karl. You were trying to be seen. And in the process, you disappeared."

Karl’s throat tightened. "I didn’t mean to—"

"I know," Ruby said simply.

And that made it worse.

She stepped past him, not pushing, not hurrying. Just walking away with a grace that made him feel small.

—To be continued...🪄

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on fre𝒆web(n)ovel.co(m)