My five ghostly husbands
Chapter 245 He was loved back.

Chapter 245: Chapter 245 He was loved back.

His cheeks were pink, his soft hair slightly messy, his brows furrowed deeply as he demanded answers from her.

"Huh?? Tell me!" he shouted again, but there was no real anger.

Only hurt.

Only longing.

And somehow, even now his voice was so gentle, like he was scolding his most precious treasure, not someone he hated.

Julian didn’t stop.

Once the words started pouring out of him, he couldn’t hold them back anymore.

Still gripping Ruby’s head gently, his forehead pressed lightly against hers, he kept rambling, his voice getting softer but faster:

"I was always watching you, you know! Always standing behind you like an idiot while other ghosts kept looking at you! And I kept thinking...maybe today she’ll notice me, maybe today she’ll smile just for me!"

His voice cracked slightly, his hands trembling where they held her.

"But no! You only call me when you need tea or food!" he muttered bitterly. "You don’t even notice when I change my robe to look better! Or when I comb my hair differently! I even tried smiling more because I read somewhere that girls like smiles!"

He sniffled slightly, blinking back heat in his eyes.

Ruby’s chest tightened.

He looked so helpless, so beautifully human, pouring out everything he had hidden inside, afraid she would never see him the way he saw her.

"And I know—" Julian went on in a choked voice, "I know I’m not the smartest or the good-looking, but— I’m trying. I’m trying so hard to be someone worthy to stand beside you! And you—" his voice cracked fully now, trembling, "—you never even looked once—!"

Ruby couldn’t take it anymore.

Before he could say another word—

She leaned in and kissed him.

Softly.

Gently.

Her lips pressed against his trembling ones, stealing the rest of his rambling right out of his mouth.

Julian froze.

The world went completely silent.

No breathing, no heartbeat, no thoughts...only the feeling of her lips, warm and real and so impossibly tender, against his.

His eyes widened, then fluttered shut without meaning to.

Ruby pulled back just a little, her forehead still touching his, her hand moving to cup his warm, flushed cheek.

She whispered, voice barely a breath:

"I noticed you every day, Jules," Ruby whispered, her voice trembling slightly as her fingers brushed the side of his face. "But I didn’t understand my feelings until now."

Julian stood there, absolutely still, his green eyes wide, his breath caught somewhere deep in his chest.

He looked like he couldn’t believe it.

Like maybe he had fallen asleep at the door with the tiffin in his hands and this was all just a beautiful, cruel dream.

Because how?

How could she be kissing him, when every time he had shyly tried to brush her hand, or fix her robe, or touch her, she had never once reacted?

He had tried everything.

Small touches.

Smiles.

Flirting.

Even combing his hair a hundred times a day just so she might notice.

And now—

Now she had kissed him.

His brain simply refused to believe it.

So, thinking it had to be a dream, Julian became bold.

His hands trembled, but he reached up and kissed her again.

Softly.

Desperately.

Ruby let out a soft sound, almost a gasp of surprise and then something inside her broke.

She grabbed him by the waist, pulled him closer, and with one swift motion, pushed him gently against her desk.

Julian gasped softly against her mouth, startled but then Ruby’s hands were in his hair, pulling him into her.

She kissed him deeply this time, tasting the slight sweetness of the chocolate he had eaten earlier, feeling the way he clutched at her robe like he might fall if he let go.

The strands of his soft blue hair brushed against her fingers.

They were silky and cool, like water running through her hands and the feeling sent a strange, aching shiver through her body.

He’s beautiful, she thought wildly, pulling him closer.

And Julian?

He could barely breathe.

His heart was pounding so hard it hurt, his fingers clinging to her desperately, afraid that if he let go, she might disappear.

That this might all turn back into another lonely dream.

But it didn’t.

It was real.

She was kissing him.

She was choosing him.

Julian’s chest was rising and falling quickly, his lips slightly parted, still pink and swollen from the kiss.

He looked at her like she was his whole world, like he couldn’t believe she was real.

His hands trembled as he cupped her face carefully, almost afraid she would shatter if he touched her too hard.

"If I have you by my side..." he breathed, his voice shaky but full of fierce devotion, "I can fight hundreds of rivals. Thousands. I can survive anything."

He pressed his forehead gently against hers, closing his eyes for a moment, breathing her in like she was air.

Then he opened his eyes, shining bright with desperate love, and whispered:

"Tell me, wife... I’m not dreaming, right?"

His voice cracked slightly at the end, like he was still terrified he’d wake up and find himself alone again, just another lonely boy chasing an impossible dream.

Ruby stared at him, her heart squeezing painfully.

How could someone love her so purely, so completely?

She lifted her hand and brushed back the loose blue strands from his forehead, her touch so tender it almost made him cry on the spot.

"No, Jules," she whispered back, her voice trembling too.

"You’re not dreaming."

She leaned closer, kissing his forehead softly.

"You’re mine. You’ve always been mine."

Julian bit his lip hard to keep back the tears burning in his eyes.

But when Ruby smiled at him like that, so full of love and pride—

He broke.

Tears slipped down his cheeks silently as he clutched her tighter, burying his face into her shoulder, his small frame trembling from the overwhelming relief.

Ruby just held him tighter, her hand stroking his hair softly.

No more loneliness. No more doubt. No more silent wishing.

Because now, finally—

He was loved back.

—To be continued...🪄

[ AN: Sorry for the delay; I had network problems.]