Chapter 42 I’ll Break the World for You

Ruby

I was smoking and chilling at my villa, enjoying my peace—until Luna decided to ruin it. I groaned, picked up her call anyway.

"What now, Luna? I'm peacefully chilling here."

"Ruby Daniel Sun, you jerk—just hear me out before you throw your tantrum!"

She sounded serious. Like serious-serious. I sat up straight.

"I think someone's bullying Aveline."

...Wait, what?

My eyebrows twitched. A wave of pure rage flooded my chest. I was dead calm—but it was the kind of calm you feel right before a storm wrecks a city.

I was this close to grabbing my damn gun and pulling up on the whole university, but Luna stopped me like she could read my next move.

"Ruby, don't you dare do anything. No scenes. Please."

I sighed sharply. "Okay. Fine. I won't... for now. But I need to talk to Aveline. Right now."

Hung up. Grabbed my keys. Stepped on the gas.

Within minutes, I was standing in front of her villa. The door opened.

"Hello, dear." Her mom smiled.

"Hello, Auntie," I greeted with forced calm. "Where's Aveline... or Mireline? I really need to talk to them."

"They're upstairs."

I didn't wait another second. I knew where to go. Straight to Aveline's room.

Or, well... Mireline's room. That's where she usually hides.

First thing I saw: Aveline. Pale. Quiet. Wearing full sleeves. Sitting close to Mireline.

"Aveline…" I walked closer and dropped to my knees. "Tell me. Is someone bullying you?"

No response.

"Aveline, I'm asking you—is someone bullying you?! Goddamn it, at least say something! Where the fuck is your boyfriend?! He should be protecting you!"

Still no reply.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"…It's nothing," she whispered.

Her voice was too soft. Too broken. And that broke me.

I gently cupped her face and noticed it—bruises. Small ones. But real. And not just on her face. I rolled up her sleeves and—

Bruises. All over her arms.

I stood up immediately, fury twisting in my gut, ready to go full mafia—but she back-hugged me. Held me tightly.

"This is my fault," I whispered. "I let you live the life you wanted, gave you space, and I wasn't there when you needed me. I promised to protect you. But I left you to feel this pain—with that motherfucking Kai."

How did I ever trust him? How did I let you go?

Her hands reached up and gently touched my cheeks.

"This isn't your fault, Ruby," she whispered.

"I didn't want to bother you."

"You never bothered me, Aveline. Don't you ever think that again. And now—this is my problem. And I'm fixing it. You rest. Tomorrow, we end this."

I turned to leave. The last words I heard?

"Don't you dare kill anyone."

No promises, Rabbit.

—

I was driving like hell. Dialed up Adam and Luna.

"Find out who the hell did this. Who's been bullying Aveline."

"Got it, boss," they both said together.

Good.

—

Next Morning:

Luna and Adam were with me. She handed me a tablet with all the info. Files. Photos. Names.

"Are you sure it's these guys? Look at that one—fish face. That one's got frog face energy."

"I'm serious, Ruby." Luna narrowed her eyes.

"Hmm. Let's go."

"Go where?" Adam asked.

"To teach a lesson."

"ADAM!" Luna snapped.

—

We arrived at the university. No need for permission. I stormed into Aveline's classroom and slammed the door open.

The lecture froze. Silence.

"Aveline. Alia. Come with me."

I walked up, grabbed Aveline's wrist, and pulled her with me. Alia followed quietly.

Luna and Adam were already on the rooftop with the two guys. The bullies. Perfect.

"Aveline," I asked calmly, "are these the ones?"

She looked shocked—frozen by the chaos, the pressure.

Alia spoke instead.

"Yes, Ruby. These are the ones."

Good.

I pulled out my belt. "Now it's my turn to bully them."

"How. Dare. You."

"How dare you touch her? Do you know who she has with her? Who's standing behind her?"

I didn't wait.

The first guy? Punched. Kicked. Swollen face.

Second? Lip bleeding. Couldn't move.

Still not enough.

But then… Aveline grabbed my wrist. She was shaking. Probably terrified. Of me.

Adam and Luna nodded—I didn't need to stay. They'd finish it.

I walked off with Aveline. She hugged me, still crying.

"Hey, I'm sorry," I whispered. "I shouldn't have done that in front of you."

"You idiot… are you crazy? That was scary." She was crying harder now.

"What if you get in trouble? What if…"

"No one's gonna hurt you again. I promise."

"You better keep it."

"I will. Are you okay now?"

She just nodded against my shoulder. And I wondered—where the hell was Kai? He was supposed to protect her.

When she needed him the most… he wasn't there.

Lunatic.

Right now, all I could think was:

I'm holding a fragile little rabbit with tear-filled eyes, and I never want to see her like this again.

"Okay, okay. Stop crying. Let's go get something sweet."

We ended up at a cozy café. She was eating ice cream.

I was eating the view.

That's when I promised myself:

No one will ever touch her again. Threaten her again. Not while I'm breathing.

I'm gonna protect her—

Not because she's a woman.

But because she's my woman.

"…Not yet."

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