My five ghostly husbands-Chapter 454 Engagement

Hours passed. The sky outside turned deep red, and soft rain began to fall gently against the windows. Ruby sat on the couch, her phone clutched tightly in her hands, staring blankly at the flashing clock on the wall. Every second stretched like an eternity.

Finally, near midnight, her phone buzzed.

Her eyes widened, and she answered almost instantly. "Adrian!" she breathed, her voice trembling with relief. "Where were you? I called you all day! You didn’t even—"

"Wife, calm down," came Julian’s tired but gentle voice from the other side. "We’re safe. Everything’s fine now."

Ruby let out a shaky sigh, her shoulders dropping as tension drained from her body. "Thank goodness... I was so worried. What happened? Did you find anything?"

Adrian’s voice came next, deep and steady. "We didn’t find the documents we wanted. She must have hidden or burned them long ago. But we’ve already filed a legal complaint. Your aunt can’t claim the property anymore. The officers confirmed she took over your parents’ house illegally."

Ruby sat quietly for a moment, the words sinking in. Her throat tightened. "So... it’s really over?" she whispered.

"Not completely," Adrian replied. "But we’ve started the process. That’s what matters. She’ll have to face court now." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Milo leaned closer to Ruby, listening, and when he saw the tears forming in her eyes, he tugged gently at her sleeve. "Wife?" he whispered.

Ruby smiled softly and wiped her cheeks. "I’m okay, Milo. I’m just... relieved."

From the other side of the line, she could hear Julian’s warm chuckle. "We told you we’d handle it. You just rest, okay? We’ll be back tomorrow morning."

Ruby nodded, though they couldn’t see her. "Alright. Come home soon. You all must be tired."

After they hung up, she sat there for a long while, staring out the window. The rain had stopped, and the red moon peeked faintly through the clouds.

********

The grand hall Madame Shades had booked for Ruby’s engagement was glowing like a dream, and for Karl and Milo, it was a nightmare they could barely stand to look at.

Pink flowers hung from the ceiling like clouds, glass cylinders shimmered overhead, and the long red carpet stretched from the door to the stage where the ceremony would take place. Candles flickered on every table, the smell of perfume heavy in the air. It looked festive and beautiful to everyone else, but to Karl and Milo, it was the scene of a crime.

Karl folded his arms, glaring at the stage. "I can’t believe this. Our wife is supposed to walk on that carpet with him? That round tomato in a robe?!"

Milo, beside him, fidgeted nervously, his small hands twisting in his sleeves. "Brother Karl... maybe we should just wait for Brother Adi and Jules. They’ll come with proof soon, right?" His voice was small and worried.

Karl sighed, brushing his hair back dramatically. "Proof, huh? I don’t care about proof! I care about justice. Look at that face of his—he’s already smiling like he won."

He pointed toward the other end of the hall, where Fat Louis stood proudly in an oversized robe that glittered too much for comfort. Louis was surrounded by witches fawning over him, his smug grin wide enough to make Karl’s stomach churn.

Milo looked down. "Wife doesn’t even like him. Why is this happening..."

Karl’s eyes softened for a moment before they filled again with fiery determination. "That’s why we’re not letting this ceremony happen. I have a plan, Milo. A brilliant one."

Milo blinked. "Plan?"

Karl leaned close, whispering, "You’ll see. Just follow my lead."

Milo’s eyes widened slightly, but after a second of hesitation, he nodded. "Okay... but please, Brother Karl, don’t do something dangerous."

Karl smirked, his voice low. "Dangerous? Me? Never. Just a little fun."

*****

Meanwhile, the villagers kept pouring in. Half the village had already gathered, the air buzzing with excitement and gossip. Everywhere Karl went, someone stopped him.

"Karl!" a witch giggled. "Are you happy? Your wife’s about to marry the richest ghost in town!"

Karl forced a smile that looked more like a threat. "Yeah, thrilled," he muttered under his breath.

Another voice chimed in. "Karl, did Ruby’s taste change? First she had handsome ghosts, and now this one—"

A group of ghosts snickered behind him.

And then came the worst comment of all. "Hey, my cousin’s also fat like you and Louis! Maybe your wife just likes round types!"

Karl spun around instantly, eyes blazing. "Oooo who are you calling fat, huh?! I am not fat! I’m a star, an icon, a masterpiece! I’m on a diet!" he declared proudly, putting his hands on his hips.

Milo blinked at him in confusion. "Brother Karl... what diet?"

Karl coughed. "Uh—spiritual diet. No negativity, no carbs. It’s working perfectly."

The crowd laughed, and Karl puffed his chest like he’d won a battle.

Still, deep inside, he was seething. His wife was supposed to be standing beside him, not Louis.

When Ruby appeared at the entrance, the entire hall fell silent as if the air itself forgot how to move. The chatter stopped, the laughter died, and even the musicians who were testing their instruments froze mid-note. Every gaze turned toward the doorway.

Ruby stood there like she had stepped out of a dream. Her white robe shone with every tiny movement, the fabric glowing under the soft lights. Pearls were sewn delicately along the borders, catching the light and scattering it like dust from the stars. Faint pink embroidery traced the edges, elegant and subtle, making her look like a fairy who had accidentally wandered into the mortal world.

Her long white hair flowed down her back, smooth as silk, brushing lightly against her waist. A few strands framed her face, softening her sharp features. Her red eyes, bright and deep like fresh rubies, carried both grace and danger. The light makeup only made her beauty more striking, and her soft pink lips curved in the faintest, unreadable smile.

Every ghost and witch in the hall stared in awe. Murmurs began to rise like wind through the trees—admiration, disbelief, envy, and wonder all blending together.

"Is that really her?" one whispered. "She looks... unreal."

"Look at her robe! I’ve never seen anything so beautiful," another murmured.

To be continued... 🪄