CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 415

Kaelan’s voice carried that easy composure he always seemed to wear. "Good. Almost finished with shooting. But I heard from Karl—you’re building a complex building now?" His tone was curious, with that edge of confidence that made it sound less like a question and more like he already knew.

Ruby exhaled slowly, her lips curving into a small smile despite herself. "Yeah... it’s still in progress. The workers are setting the framework right now." She hesitated, then added lightly, "If you want, you can come and see it sometime."

There was a brief pause on the line, the sound of distant voices behind Kaelan fading as if he’d stepped away. Then his reply came, low and certain. "Maybe I will."

Ruby’s smile lingered as she glanced back at the rising walls of her building, the faint heat of his voice staying with her long after the call ended.

****

Ruby came home with Adrian that evening, her arms full as she pushed the door open. The scent of dinner lingering faintly in the air told her Julian had been around the kitchen, though it wasn’t finished yet. She kicked her shoes off by the door and called out softly, her voice carrying through the quiet house.

"Jules!!"

A moment later, Julian appeared from the hallway, his hair a little tousled and his expression lighting up as soon as he saw her. "Wife," he greeted warmly, his smile soft. Then his eyes drifted to the large bag she was holding. He tilted his head curiously. "What’s this, wife?"

Ruby shifted the bag onto the table with a small grunt, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Oh! Thick blankets for winter! It’s getting colder every night, and I thought it’d be nice if everyone had something warm." She looked at him with a little smile.

Julian’s eyes softened, and he stepped closer, nodding his head slowly as his lips curved upward. "Oh... that’s great, wife. Night is getting colder..." His gaze lingered on her face, then the bag of blankets, then back to her again. His smile deepened, almost tender, his eyes shining with quiet affection as if he wasn’t really talking about the blankets at all.

Ruby felt his stare and let out a little laugh, shaking her head. "Don’t just stand there smiling at me like that. Help me put them away before milo claims all the thick ones for himself."

Julian chuckled, reaching out to take the bag from her hands, his fingers brushing hers gently. "Alright," he said softly, but the warmth in his voice betrayed how much he cherished even these small moments with her.

After that, the front door creaked open again and Milo stepped inside, his cheeks rosy from the evening chill, a bag slung over his shoulder so full of paints and brushes it looked like it might burst. His eyes sparkled the moment he saw them, and without hesitation he ran forward.

"Jules..." Milo’s voice was soft but full of warmth as he threw his arms around Julian, hugging him tightly. Julian laughed quietly, steadying the bag on Milo’s back with one hand while ruffling his hair with the other.

"You’re back, little artist," Julian said fondly, his chuckle low and gentle.

Milo turned next to Adrian, hugging him with the same affection. Adrian, who had been leaning casually against the table, couldn’t stop the way his face lit up, a rare, genuine smile breaking through his calm demeanor. He patted Milo’s shoulder, his eyes softening.

"Here comes our clingy baby," Adrian teased with a quiet chuckle.

Milo pulled back, his lips jutting into a playful pout, though his eyes were still glowing with happiness. "I’m not clingy... I just missed you all," he said, dropping his bag on the floor with a thud as if to prove how much more important family was than supplies.

Ruby, watching from across the room, pressed a hand to her chest, her lips curving into a smile as she took in the scene and the warmth of it.

Dinner was quiet that night, the kind of peaceful silence that came when everyone was too tired to chatter but still content to share the same table.

Ruby glanced around at her husbands...Adrian cutting everything into neat, careful bites, Milo humming happily between mouthfuls, and Julian sitting a little straighter than usual, as if gathering the courage to speak.

Halfway through the meal, Julian finally set his spoon down and cleared his throat. "I... wanted to say something." His voice was gentle, but it made everyone pause. Ruby turned her head to him, her brows lifting in quiet curiosity.

Julian’s fingers played with the edge of his bowl as he spoke. "Healer William came by yesterday when everyone was out. He brought herbs... and he asked me to prepare medicine for Milo." A small smile touched his lips, though a flicker of nervousness lingered in his eyes. "He showed me how to do it, step by step. I wrote everything down."

Milo’s spoon froze mid-air, his mouth dropping open before breaking into a huge smile. "Really?? Jules, that’s amazing!" He leaned forward eagerly. "Did you really make medicine for me?"

Julian chuckled softly, nodding. "Not yet—I still have to finish preparing it, but Healer William trusted me to try. He said I should bring it to him once I’m done so he can check if it’s right."

Adrian’s lips curved into a rare approving smile. "That’s good, Jules. Learning something useful like that—it suits you."

Ruby’s eyes softened as she reached across the table, brushing her fingers against Julian’s hand in quiet pride. "I’m glad Healer William trusted you. I’m even more glad you trusted yourself."

Julian lowered his head, cheeks warming at their praise, but in his heart, the heaviness he had been carrying for weeks eased just a little.

He shifted a little in his seat, his eyes lowering to his bowl as his fingers tapped nervously against the wooden table. His voice came softer this time, carrying a trace of worry.

"But... I hope I didn’t mess up," he admitted, glancing quickly at Milo before looking back down. "Healer William worked really hard to gather those herbs for you, Milo. I don’t want to waste them."

To be continued... 🪄