My five ghostly husbands
Chapter 70 Why was it always him?

Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Why was it always him?

"Why?" Julian’s voice was low, barely a whisper, and hoarse as he looked at her. His dark eyes held a depth of pain that he couldn’t put into words. The more he stared at her, the more the ache in his chest deepened, like an invisible weight pressing on his heart. His hands trembled slightly, clenched into fists at his sides, as if holding back emotions he wasn’t ready to face.

’It doesn’t hurt that much... no, it doesn’t hurt that much,’ he murmured to himself, as if repeating it enough times would make it true. But deep down, he knew it wasn’t. Since his wife had changed, he could feel it—she wasn’t the same witch he had known. Her warmth, her gaze, the way she looked at him... it was all different now. And it scared him.

He wasn’t the kind of ghost who trusted easily, but with her, he had let down his guard. Now, it felt like she was slipping through his fingers, and he didn’t know how to stop it.

"Why?" he asked again, his voice breaking slightly.

She sighed, looking both tired and determined. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Why? Isn’t this what you all want?" Her voice was calm but firm, though seeing Julian’s state made her feel uneasy. "I’m not just talking about you, Julian. Karl and Adrian too. You can all be free after divorcing me. There’s no reason to stay with me just because of a paper. We only have one life, Julian. We shouldn’t spend it in regret."

Her words were like daggers, slicing through the air, cutting him deeper than he thought possible. She took a small step back, as if physically distancing herself from him would make it easier to say the rest.

"And if you’re wondering why I’m not divorcing Milo," she added, her voice becoming a bit gentler, "it’s because he wants to stay with me. He likes me. But you three... you’re not the same. Especially Adrian and Karl, who don’t seem to feel the same way about me."

Before Julian could respond, Karl’s voice broke through, panicked and raw. "Are you abandoning us, stupid wife?!" he stepped forward, desperation written all over his face. "I’m telling you, I’m not going anywhere! I... I don’t have a home...."

His hands shook as he ran them through his hair, his voice trembling. "I don’t have any skills to survive on my own. You know that. You... you can’t just leave me like this..."

The room was heavy with tension, their emotions swirling like a storm. Julian clenched his jaw, his mind racing. He wanted to say something, to stop this, but the words wouldn’t come. His heart, already fragile, threatened to shatter completely.

"I am not asking you to leave the house, nor am I abandoning you," Ruby said, her voice soft but firm.

Adrian scoffed and stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "So what? If you divorce, our lives are basically over," he said, his voice low and filled with frustration. "No one will want us, and we’ll be seen as outcasts." He shook his head, his face hard with anger. "What freedom are you talking about? It’s ridiculous the way you’re thinking." He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling sharply. "We didn’t get any freedom. We’re just trapped in a cage of society’s pressure." His voice dropped, a hint of bitterness in it. "Even if we wanted to do something, we’d just be seen as useless." His eyes darkened as he looked at Ruby, anger and resentment clearly written on his face.

"At least listen to me carefully," Ruby said, looking straight into Adrian’s eyes. Adrian felt the strength in her gaze, something deep and unshakable. It was an intensity he didn’t expect from someone who’d always been around alcohol. Her eyes weren’t the eyes of someone weak or lost—they were powerful.

"I’m not abandoning you right now or divorcing you," Ruby continued, her voice firm yet kind. "I know the pressure from society, so I’ve planned something. To outsiders, we’re still husband and wife, but inside, we’re just roommates. I’ll help you all become independent. I’ll arrange for you to study and make sure you can live on your own, become capable. I’m not that heartless."

Karl’s face suddenly bloomed into a wide smile, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Really?" he asked, his voice full of disbelief and joy. Ruby nodded, and Karl nearly jumped out of his shoes.

"Yayyy!!" he yelled, throwing his arms up like he had just hit the jackpot. He started dancing wildly, with no sense of rhythm but so much excitement. Without warning, he grabbed Adrian and pulled him into the chaos, swaying him around like they were at a party.

Karl spun and twirled like a dizzy top, while Adrian awkwardly tried to push him away.

Julian, on the other hand, stood frozen, his face blank as he watched Karl’s carefree antics.

He looked at Ruby one last time, but there was no warmth in his gaze. Without saying a word, he turned and walked away, slamming the door behind him with a loud bang. The sound echoed through the house, leaving a heavy silence in the air.

"Brother Julian..." Milo called out, running after him and knocking softly on the door. His voice was filled with concern, but there was no response.

Inside, Julian sat on the floor near the bed, his knees pulled tightly to his chest. His arms wrapped around them as though holding himself together. His eyes were wet, tears streaming silently down his face, and his gaze was unfocused, fixed somewhere to his left but seeing nothing.

His body started trembling, a slight shiver that he couldn’t stop.

Why?

Why was it always him?

Was he not good enough? Not likable enough? His cousin Levi’s cruel words echoed in his mind, haunting him even after all these years. "You’re boring, Julian. No one can stand you for long. Everyone will grow tired of you."

Was Levi right? Was he truly so unworthy that even life itself seemed to turn against him?

God had taken everything from him! Everything he loved, everything he hoped for.

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms as hot tears fell faster. His breath came in short, uneven gasps as anger and sorrow mixed in his chest.

He hated God.

He hated God with every fiber of his being.

Why?

Why was it always him?

"Please, God! What did I do to deserve this? Why do you hate me so much?"

—To be continued...🪄