I can't get the things I've witnessed out of my head. I can't stop thinking about the way she gets angry but composed, yet she is a disaster. She has no heart, no conscience. She never even considered that the people she killed have families, that they have lives beyond being mere targets. I canât bear it, I keep imagining how Akio must have begged for his life while Ruby mercilessly took it away.
"Can't sleep?"
Reubenâs voice broke my thoughts. I turned to him and nodded.
"Yeah, today has been exhausting," I admitted. "How was your training?"
"It was really tiring, but at the same time, exhilarating." He stretched his arms before looking at me intently. "Are you familiar with the World's Federation of Technology?" I asked
I met his gaze and nodded. "Who wouldnât be? They are an elite organization composed of the world's governments, billionaire philanthropists, geniuses, and allied technology empires. It was built to capture threats in the world or even eliminate those deemed too dangerous to live." He paused before adding, "A group of heartless bastards, in other words."
"Ruby is one of them," I said firmly.
Reuben exhaled sharply before nodding. "We know. She needed to protect the empire and the people inside it, so she did everything just to be part of those 'heartless bastards.' Many have tried to bring down the empire, a kingdom built by a woman herself , built with her own blood, sweat, and tears. You might think sheâs ruthless, but to those under her, she is their shield. She protects them."
I scoffed. "Only fools would believe that her goal is to protect her employees."
Reuben didn't argue. Maybe he knew I wouldn't listen. Maybe he, too, had his doubts. But I had no time to dwell on it.
"Let's call it a night," I said, standing up and grabbing the keys to my motorcycle.
"Where are you going?" Reuben asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
"Just gonna grab a drink," I lied before heading out.
The ride was fast, the wind biting against my skin, but my mind was already set. I needed to confront her. I needed answers. There were too many questions in my head, too much doubt, too much confusion. And only she could give me the truth.
When I arrived at the place where we had dropped her off earlier, I saw her sitting on the terrace. She was alone, smoking a cigarette and sipping wine, a stark contrast to the monstrous image of her that haunted my thoughts. The house was massive, but there was no one insideâno warmth, no company. Just her.
But something caught my attention.
A figure, lurking in the shadows, camera in hand, taking pictures of her. Someone was watching her.
I clenched my jaw.
If I wanted her to trust me, if I wanted her to believe in my loyalty so I could execute my plan to bring her and her empire downâI had to act.
And so, I made my decision.
I approached the person lurking in the shadows and, without hesitation, beat them up. They barely had time to react before I had them pinned against the ground, my fist landing blow after blow.
"If you ever come back here, I will fucking kill you," I spat, my voice low and filled with unfiltered rage.
The person scrambled to their feet, clutching their bruised face, and hurriedly got into their vehicle before speeding away.
"Are you really going to involve yourself with me?"
The voice was calm yet carried an edge of warning. I turned to see Ruby standing a few steps away, dressed in silk pajamas, her hair tied in a messy bun. If she weren't responsible for my brother's death, I would have been drawn to her no, I would have pursued her. But she was, and I donât date monsters.
"I have too many questions in my head," I muttered. "I canât sleep like this."
She studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable, before gesturing toward the entrance. "Come inside."
"Are you alone?" I asked as I stepped forward.
She shook her head. "Karla is here," she said, making me frown.
"Are you two�" I started, but she cut me off with a sharp look.
"She lives far from here. I can't let her stay alone, not when sheâs my secretary. That makes her an easy target." Her voice was firm, as if daring me to question her further.
I walked inside, and the sheer luxury of the place was overwhelming. Every inch of the house screamed wealth, power, and precision. But what truly caught my eye were the framed photographs on the wall, picture of her with Karla and Akio.
"You can stay here for the night," Ruby spoke, breaking my thoughts. "Itâll be dangerous for you to be on the road this late. But for now, letâs talk."
I scoffed. "Is it really that easy for you to kill people, Ruby? You didnât even flinch."
She met my gaze, her expression cold. "I donât hesitate to kill if the person is a threat to my empire or to the world."
I clenched my fists. "Youâre nothing but a heartless, conscience-less woman."
She smirked slightly, tilting her head. "I know. And Iâm fully aware of it. I was built this way, Sanae."
I inhaled sharply. "What is the 8G Technology that Andrew mentioned?"
For the first time, something flickered in her eyes.
"Itâs the project Akio and I were developing together," she said. "An advanced technology that would change the world. We were in the middle of creating it when he died."
I gritted my teeth. You killed Akio, Ruby. He didn't just died, it's not a suicide. You killed him Ruby.
"What about Chelsea? Brix? Who were they? Did you kill them? Are they among those employees of yours who just⦠disappeared without a trace?"
Her face darkened.
"They were traitors," she said, her voice colder than before. "They tried to exploit the empireâs protected files. They attempted to access the worldâs database. Stop asking me whether I killed them or not. Itâs none of your business."
I narrowed my eyes. "And your enemies?"
"You donât need to be involved in this," she said sharply. "Stay away from my life if you donât want to get tangled in all of this."
She stepped closer, her presence suffocating. "What is your deal? Are you really planning to involve yourself with me? Are you insane, or are you on drugs?" Her voice held irritation, but her face remained eerily blank.
I stared at her, searching for something, anything that resembled the woman Akio once trusted. But all I saw was a leader, a machine built for war, a storm waiting to consume everything in its path. A monster.
"Who protects you?" I asked.
She let out a humorless chuckle. "I have my ways of protecting myself."
"Bullshit," I muttered.
"Ruby," I called her name, stepping even closer, my voice softening. "Let me be by your side. Let me protect you. Let me help you eliminate the threats to the empire. Letâs protect the Sedes Quantum Empire together."
She stared at me, her lips parting slightly in surprise, but I pushed forward.
"This isnât just about you. Itâs about Akio. He worked hard for this empire. It meant everything to him." I grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. "Please, Ruby."
I felt sick saying those words. Every sentence felt like poison on my tongue. But I had to do this, for Akio. For justice. I would do whatever it takes to bring her down. Even if it meant standing right beside her.