My broken redemption

Chapter5

The first night in Kevin Laurent's penthouse was unnervingly quiet.

Ruby Monroe stood in the middle of the living room, suitcase still at her side by the couch, and listened.

Nothing.

No footsteps.

No sound of traffic from the distant city.

No life.

For a room situated above one of the most vibrant cities in the world, the silence was almost uncanny.

She wrapped her arms around herself and exhaled slowly.

"Get a hold of yourself, Ruby," she mumbled under her breath.

It was just a penthouse.

A very cold, very luxurious penthouse.

Not haunted.

Not cursed.

Just new.

But something about it just felt... Off.

As though it was watching her.

Ruby shook her head, and with a small huff, began to drag her suitcase down the hallway that Kevin had previously directed her to.

"Guest room is down this hall," he'd said with his infuriating calm. "Everything you need is already set up."

Of course it was. Men like Kevin Laurent didn't leave things to chance.

The guest room was a testament to that. Beautiful, with dim lights and a king-size bed.

It even had a wardrobe full of clothes in her size.

Ruby paused when she saw the clothing.

"He really thought of everything..." she whispered, fingers brushing against a soft silk dress hanging neatly inside.

It was her size, just like the one he'd 'picked out' for her earlier that day.

That was enough to send a shiver down her spine. Kevin didn't just think of things. He calculated them. Everything.

Closing the wardrobe, Ruby sank onto the edge of the bed. Her phone buzzed in her hand. The social media world had erupted. Her screen was flooded with headlines.

"Disgraced Laurent Heir Announces Surprise Engagement"

"Who is Ruby Monroe?"

"Mystery Woman Captures Kevin Laurent"

A dry laugh escaped Ruby's lips. "Mystery woman," she scoffed.

"If only they knew."

She wasn't a mystery. She was desperate. Her thumb hovered over her messages.

No new texts, no missed calls. No sign of her old life from Georgia.

Not from her ex.

Not from her half-sister. Good.

She didn't want anything tethering her to Georgia.

That was chapter closed, or so it was supposed to be.

A knock at the door startled her. "Come in," she called. Kevin entered, dressed in a simple black shirt and slacks, still impeccably put-together.

He scanned the room quickly before his eyes landed on her. "You should unpack."

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "And that's why you came all the way over here?"

Kevin ignored her tone. "You'll need to get comfortable."

She leaned back, her shoulders slumping slightly. "That might take a while."

He studied her, his expression unreadable. "You handled the press well earlier."

Ruby shrugged. "I've planned enough weddings to put on a convincing performance of happiness."

A shadow passed over his face. "Is that what this is to you? Just another act?"

Ruby met his gaze. "Isn't it?"

Silence stretched between them, and Kevin, after a moment, turned toward the window to gaze out at the sprawling city lights.

Ruby watched him closely.

There was something about him that didn't make sense. He was nothing like the other rich men she'd encountered; no flirting, no charming, no desperate attempt to win her over.

It was as if he genuinely didn't care if she liked him or not, which made him more fascinating than she cared to admit.

"You didn't tell me everything," she said abruptly.

Kevin didn't turn. "What do you mean?"

"About your family." He stiffened. "Your brothers obviously hate you."

"Not new news."

"And your father..."

Kevin finally turned, his face unreadable again. "My father is... Complicated."

Ruby let out a soft laugh. "That's one word for it." He walked closer, his gaze steady. "You don't need to understand my family."

"I'm marrying into it."

"For six months."

She crossed her arms. "Still counts." His eyes met hers again. "For your own sake," he said, his voice low, "don't get too involved." The warning, not the advice, sent a shiver down her spine.

Before she could respond, Kevin stepped back. "I have work to do."

Ruby frowned. "At midnight?" He didn't reply, turning and leaving the room. The door clicked shut behind him. Ruby stared at the empty space where he had stood. "Yeah," she murmured, "definitely not suspicious at all."

Hours later, sleep was still elusive. The oppressive silence in the penthouse had returned, making Ruby restless.

She tossed and turned for what felt like ages before sitting up. "Okay, this is getting ridiculous."

She got out of bed and stepped out into the hallway, where the lights were dim and shadows danced.

A cold draft seemed to permeate the air, and Ruby hugged herself as she padded toward the kitchen, hoping a glass of water might help her relax, or at least distract her.

But as she passed the living room- she stopped. A strange feeling, like walking into an invisible wall, washed over her. Her heart began to race. "What...?" she whispered, looking around. Everything seemed to be exactly as it had been, but somehow it wasn't. A chill snaked up her spine.

Then, she heard it. A sound. Faint, almost inaudible, like a whisper.

Ruby froze. "Hello?" Nothing. Her heart pounded against her ribs. "Kevin?" Still nothing. The whisper came again, faint, unintelligible, like someone talking from a great distance.

Ruby took a cautious step forward. "Is someone there?" Nothing. "You're imagining things," she muttered to herself, but the gnawing certainty that she wasn't settled deep within her stomach.

Then her attention was caught by a door at the end of the hall. It was slightly ajar. "I thought all the rooms were closed..." Ruby mumbled, and walked slowly toward it, each step feeling heavier than the last. The air grew colder, and the whispering, though still indistinct, seemed to grow slightly louder.

Finally, Ruby stood before the door. Her hand trembled as she reached for it. A primal instinct screamed at her to turn and flee, but curiosity, a force stronger than fear, took over. Slowly, she pushed the door open.

Darkness. Absolute, utter darkness. Cautiously, Ruby stepped inside. "Hello?" she called out, but no answer came. She reached for the light switch on the wall. Her fingers brushed against it, and then she flipped it on.

The light flickered on, and Ruby gasped. The room was empty. Completely and utterly empty. No furniture, no decorations, no pictures on the walls. Nothing. Just bare, white walls. "That's... Weird," she said aloud, frowning. Why would a penthouse like this have an empty room? The whispering had stopped. The silence returned. "See? Nothing."

She turned to leave the room when her eyes met her own reflection in the glass window across the hall. For a split second, there was someone behind her.

A woman. Long, dark hair, pale skin, utterly still. Ruby shrieked and spun around, but the room was empty.

Her breath came in ragged gasps.

"No..." she whispered, backing away slowly. "That wasn't real. It couldn't have been."

Her phone buzzed in her hand. Ruby flinched. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she looked down at the screen. Unknown number. A text message. Her fingers shook slightly as she opened it.

You shouldn't be here.

Ruby's blood turned to ice. A second text arrived immediately, shorter, and far more terrifying.

He didn't save her.

Ruby's breath caught.

Her? Who was her?

Then, the lights in the room flickered violently. Once. Twice. And then went out, plunging her into total darkness.

And in the silence, a whisper, clear as day, echoed right behind her.

"Run."