CHAPTER 433: CHAPTER 433 SOULMARINER LINE

Ruby looked at him for a split second, her tears still falling, before she nodded. With Kaelan’s bloody hand in hers, she followed the officers out, determined to keep him alive.

Behind them, Adrian’s figure melted into the darkness of the mansion, his cold gaze scanning every corner as he and the officers spread out, hunting for Lex.

Adrian didn’t waste time following the others as they swept through the empty halls. While the officers went room to room, calling out and checking corners, he made his way deeper into the mansion until he found the grandest room on the upper floor. The moment he pushed the door open, the heavy scent of perfume still lingered in the air. His eyes landed immediately on the massive portrait of Lex hanging above the fireplace, her sharp features painted in bold strokes, her cold eyes seeming to watch the room itself.

Adrian’s gaze hardened. He stepped further inside, his hands sliding open drawers one by one. Inside were letters, scraps of parchment, and half-burned documents. He scanned each quickly, pocketing anything that looked useful before moving to the desk.

Then his eyes shifted to the wardrobe. The doors hung wide open, and clothes were scattered across the floor. A few dresses lay crumpled, while empty hangers swung slightly as if disturbed in a hurry. Adrian crouched, his hand brushing over the fabric.

"She packed," he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "And fast."

His gaze swept the floor, noting a broken perfume bottle in the corner, droplets still fresh, and a set of muddy footprints leading out to the balcony. Adrian straightened, his mind calm but sharp as a blade. She’s already on the move... but she left in a rush. She’ll make mistakes. And I’ll be there to catch her.

He moved toward the study room, walking straight to the desk. Pulling out each drawer, his fingers finally brushed against a folded slip of paper wedged deep at the back. He unfolded it slowly, his expression tightening as he read.

It was a travel ticket—marked with the seal of the Soulmariner Line, the great ships of the ghost world that carried passengers across the seas. The date was for tonight.

Adrian’s eyes hardened as he traced the name. Lex is running. She thinks she can slip away on the Soulmariner before we close in.

Tucking the ticket into his robe, he strode out into the hall where the officers were still searching. One of them turned to him. "Sir Adrian, anything?"

"Yes," Adrian replied firmly, handing the ticket over. "She’s not here. She packed in a rush and left for the docks. This proves it. She’s boarding the Soulmariner Line."

The officer’s eyes widened, and she immediately barked orders to the witches around her. "Alert the others! Get the cars ready—we head for the docks now!"

As the officers hurried to mobilize, Adrian lingered a moment longer in the hall, glancing back at Lex’s grand portrait on the wall. Her painted eyes seemed to glare at him.

But Adrian’s gaze was colder still.

You tried to hurt my family. I will make sure you spend the rest of your life behind bars.

****

Meanwhile, Kaelan had been rushed straight into the ICU. His body lay pale and still under the harsh white lights while doctors worked quickly around him. The sound of machines and clipped instructions filled the room as they fought to stop the bleeding and stabilize him.

News spread fast. By the time Ruby reached the hospital, his parents were already there. Martha, who was always composed and sharp-tongued, looked almost unrecognizable. Her hands were clasped so tightly in front of her that her knuckles had turned white. She kept staring at the ICU doors, her lips pressed together as though she might break if she spoke.

Loren stood beside her, his usual calm expression strained. He said nothing, only watched the doors that swung open and shut as nurses hurried in and out.

Ruby’s chest tightened at the sight of them. She hadn’t slept, her body felt drained, but she forced herself to sound steady. "He’ll be fine," she said softly, placing a hand over Martha’s cold fingers. "They’re doing everything they can. Kaelan is strong... he won’t give up."

Martha’s lips trembled, and she shook her head slightly before whispering, "He mustn’t... he has to pull through." Her voice cracked in a way Ruby had never heard before.

Ruby squeezed her hand gently, her own throat tight. "He will," she said again, as much for herself as for them. She had to believe it.

The three of them stood side by side in the corridor, staring at the closed ICU doors. None of them spoke. The only sounds were the soft footsteps of nurses, the occasional beep from machines inside, and the weight of their own thoughts as they waited for someone to come out with news.

Not long after, Karl, Milo, and Julian arrived, their steps hurried and faces pale. The moment Ruby saw them, her eyes went straight to Karl. He still looked weak, his skin drained of color, and dark circles rested under his eyes.

"Karl, you need rest!" Ruby said immediately, her voice sharp with worry as she stepped closer to him. "You just came out of treatment—you shouldn’t even be walking around!"

Karl lowered his gaze, shifting uncomfortably, but before he could answer, Julian spoke up, his voice gentle but firm. "We told him, Wife. Both Milo and I tried to stop him." He glanced at Karl with a sigh, then back at Ruby. "But the moment he heard Kaelan was brought here... he rushed straight out of his room and came here without thinking."

Karl’s lips trembled, and his eyes glistened as he finally looked up at Ruby. "I couldn’t stay lying down, Wife... not while Kai is here, fighting for his life. I had to come."

Milo stood beside him, his innocent eyes red from worry, clutching Karl’s arm like he was afraid he’d collapse again. Ruby’s heart ached at the sight of all of them—tired, broken, but still holding to each other.

She exhaled slowly, her hand reaching out to brush Karl’s damp hair back from his forehead. "You’re reckless, Karl," she whispered, her voice softer now, though her eyes still carried that deep concern. "But... I understand."

Karl nodded quickly, wiping at his eyes, his chest tight as he turned his gaze toward the ICU doors. "I just want to see him wake up," he murmured.

To be continued... 🪄