"No right, no wrong"

August 2nd, 2025

At Ruth's villa - 8:01 AM

Ian sat alone in the grand villa's private library, the world quiet around him. The only sound was the soft crash of waves against the cliffs below, a distant, lulling rhythm that filled the silence.

Through the tall, arched window framed by thick velvet curtains, he could see the sea stretching endlessly, gray and shimmering under the overcast sky. His face was expressionless, hollow even, his eyes glazed over as they followed the rolling waves but saw nothing.

The door creaked open from the hallway, and Ruth's sweet voice rang out. "Leo, we need to go to Headquarters."

Ian didn't turn his head.

"What about Ian?" Leo asked, footsteps shuffling hurriedly.

"He's a trusted friend. He can stay here," Ruth replied smoothly, like she was talking about leaving a cousin behind at a resort. "Come on, we need to go."

"Coming," Leo responded. His voice was rushed but light. Then he paused by the library door and peeked inside. "Good to meet you, bro. But I need to hurry."

Ian gave him a shallow nod. "Nice to meet you too." His tone was flat, his spirit vacant.

A moment later, the front door shut. The subtle hum of an engine followed, and then quiet.

Ian continued watching the sea, trying to think, to reason, to breathe.

Then he heard her.

Soft heels clicking against marble.

Ruth.

He heard her before he saw her. She stepped into the library, the energy in the room shifting like a sudden gust of cold air. Ian slightly turned his head, barely looking at her, and exhaled through his nose.

She stood behind him, arms folded, smiling like she hadn't just flipped his life upside down.

"What do you think, baby?" Ruth asked, a giggle dancing on her lips.

Ian didn't smile. He didn't blink. "Honestly? You're fucked up."

There was no venom in his voice. Just a drained truth.

Ruth let out a laugh - soft, musical, delighted. "I know. But it was exciting, wasn't it? The ignorance. The lie. The facade. The thrill of it all. Don't you think?"

She slowly stepped behind him and slipped her arms around his chest from the back, resting her cheek against his neck. Ian didn't react. He stared blankly at the sea.

Ruth pressed a soft kiss against his nape.

"Just accept me, Ian," she whispered, her voice lower now, trembling with something fragile. "We can restart everything. We can go to another country. No one will know us. I'll erase everything for you. For us. We can finally have the life we deserve. Just the two of us."

Another kiss. Warmer. More desperate.

"Do I have to say please to you?" Her breath was shaky.

Ian closed his eyes. "No," he answered quietly.

"Just... I can't."

His voice broke slightly.

She stiffened.

"It's not right," he continued.

Ruth slowly stepped back, letting go of him. Her silence felt heavier than the air. She walked a few paces to the side, and then turned toward him, expression unreadable.

"In this world, Ian," she said quietly, her voice calm and philosophical, "there's no such thing as right or wrong. There's only what people believe. What they convince themselves is truth. Rules, morals, justice - all of it is a human invention. Society writes the script, and everyone just plays along. But what if you don't want to follow that script anymore?"

He looked at her then, really looked at her.

There was a sadness in her eyes that mirrored her madness. A girl who had long stopped seeing reality the way most people did.

"So what?" Ian asked, voice low. "Because the world's broken, we should just abandon our conscience? Pretend like nothing matters? You really believe that?"

Ruth's gaze didn't falter. "I believe people do what they have to do to survive. To feel alive. To feel something."

"Even if that means hurting others?"

She shrugged. "People hurt each other every day under the mask of law and order. Politicians, corporations, even families. What makes my truth any less valid than theirs?"

Ian sighed, rubbing his temples. "You killed someone, Ruth."

Her expression twitched for a split second, then settled.

"I did," she said, her voice soft. "And I'd do it again. If it means protecting us. Protecting you. Just to love you."

"There is no 'us,'" Ian replied. "Not anymore. Maybe not ever."

Silence again. It was sharp.

Ruth turned away from him and walked to the door. "You don't have to forgive me. Or love me. But you can't change what we shared. You felt something once, Ian. I know you did."

She paused at the door.

"This villa is yours too now," she said without turning around. "Everything that's mine, I give to you. My past, my love, my madness. All of it."

And then she looked over her shoulder, her smile faint, fragile, but undeniably real.

"I'll see you later, baby."

She disappeared down the hall, her footsteps fading.

Ian sat in that enormous library, watching the sea again. But this time, the waves weren't calming. They were deafening. Endless.

His heart was a warzone. And the only weapon he had left was choice.