Ruby ca out of the bath calm and colder than before. Her hair was wrapped in a towel, her face clean but her eyes hard. They all gathered in the living room. Karl paced at the window. Milo sat small and quiet. Julian rubbed his hands together nervously. Adrian was already settled with his notebook.
"Wife, what do you want to say?" Adrian asked, watching her closely. Sothing about Ruby had changed. Her face looked colder, her eyes glowed with a intense heat, and the air around her felt sharper.
Ruby sat down, folded her hands, and told them everything. She spoke slowly at first, then the words ca faster: the chemical plant, the alarms, her mother on the roof, the second blast, the butler pushing her father inside, the n dragging her away, the injection. She described the sll of the pipes, the masks handed out, Mada Shades smiling while everyone scread. She told them about the flash of mory where Mada Shades watched and did nothing, and the cold thought that the woman had not only let people die but had made sure Ruby could not rember everything by making her depend on alcohol.
When she finished, the room fell very quiet.
Milo’s face crumpled and he began to sob. "They were so kind to ," he cried. "They never laughed at . Mom and Dad... they were good to ." He buried his head in Karl’s sleeve.
Karl’s hands clenched until his knuckles went white. "They will not get away with this," he said through his teeth. "Not after what they did to my wife’s parents."
Julian leaned forward, his voice low. "We must be careful. We can’t rush and make mistakes." He looked at Adrian. "What do you think? How do we even start?"
Adrian put his notebook down and stood slowly. He looked tired, but his eyes were the clearest in the room. "We are not just angry. We are going to do sothing about it," he said. "We need a plan, step by step, calm and smart. I have a plan." Everyone leaned in.
Adrian cleared his throat. "First, safety. Not a long list..be cautious. Do not go alone. Tell no one needless details. Keep phones charged. Have people ready to move at a mont’s notice. If Mada Shades makes a move, we call the officers. We do not confront her in public without proof."
Ruby nodded. Julian reached over and took her hand.
"Second, evidence," Adrian went on. "Mada Shades used contracts and the plant records. Those contracts are the key. If we can get copies of the old contracts, the logs from the plant, payrolls, worker complaints—anything that shows she knew the plant was dangerous or that people died because of it—we can show a pattern. We will need witnesses: forr employees, families who lost people, anyone who saw the incident at the plant. Karl, Milo, you two can talk to people quietly. People trust you naturally. Ask them to co forward. Take notes."
Karl’s voice was small but fierce. "I’ll do it. I’ll bring them. I’ll talk to everyone."
Milo wiped his eyes and nodded.
"Third," Adrian said, "Kaelan’s parents, Martha and Loren. Their influence helped trace Karl’s call. Maybe we ask them for help so they can look for hidden records and follow the money. Ask them to help find files Lex tried to hide, off-books ledgers, secret bank transfers."
Ruby’s fingers tightened around Julian’s. "I’ll talk to them. I’ll ask everything." Her voice barely shook.
"Fourth, legal and public steps," Adrian continued. "We give all evidence to a trusted officer and a lawyer. If we go public too early, Lex can disappear, bribe, or destroy records. We gather proof, the lawyer prepares docunts, the officers set out arrest warrants. Once everything is ready, we expose her publicly—the press, the papers, Civil Services. Make sure the ssage is simple: proof first, then public."
Julian frowned. "And if they try to move the files or flee?"
"Plan B," Adrian said. "If they move, we freeze assets. The officers can put holds on bank accounts and place imdiate watches on docks and transit. We already have one lead: Lex tried to leave. We will keep the docks blocked and the Soulmariner on hold until we are done. If she fights, the officers will arrest her. If she hides in town, we have the officers ready."
Karl’s voice cracked. "I’ll never let her touch wife again. I’ll guard her with my life."
Adrian’s voice stayed steady. "Good. But we must be smarter than anger. Everyone has a role."
He nad duties and responsibilities.
Julian: keep an eye on everything and make sure everyone is safe.
Karl and Milo: find witnesses, collect statents, keep a list of nas and tis. Talk to workers who left the plant, neighbors, anyone who was at the site the day of the explosion. Be kind, do not scare them.
Adrian: coordinate with Civil Services, handle the legal side, collect docunts from the mansion, search for ticket stubs and ledgers. Arrange a lawyer to draft affidavits.
Ruby listened, every muscle tight. Then she nodded once, small and sharp. "Yes. Do it."
Milo sniffed. "I will find the people with Karl." He looked determined.
Karl wiped his face. "I’ll make them talk. I won’t let them hide."
Ruby stood slowly and looked at each of them. "We do this together. We don’t break the law. We do it clean. We get proof. We make sure Mada Shades cannot hide."
Adrian’s lips were thin. "Exactly. Smart and steady. We will make them show the truth."
Karl stepped forward and put both hands on Ruby’s shoulders, his voice raw. "I promise, wife. We’ll bring them to justice. We’ll make them pay the legal way."
Ruby gave him a smile and felt so proud of her husband. She could not think straight, but Adrian’s plan was foolproof.
Adrian looked at Ruby. "And to learn what Mada Shades actually wants, we can use the offer she has made. If she expects Ruby to accept a marriage arrangent with Louis, that gives us a chance to watch closely, see who helps her, what papers she shows, who signs what. It is risky, but it could reveal her plan."
To be continued... 🪄
Reviews
All reviews (0)