His Ashes, Her Crown

Chapter 1

"Congratulations, Ruby! You've been awarded the full scholarship to Kings College London." My professor smiled at me from across her desk.

I stared at her, my mouth hanging open. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. The program starts in six weeks. They're covering tuition, accommodation, everything. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Six weeks. London. Full scholarship.

I practically ran out of the building. My phone was already in my hand, ready to call Dale. Four years together. Four years of struggling, building, dreaming. And now everything was finally falling into place.

I rushed home, my heart pounding with excitement. Dale would be so proud. We'd talked about me doing my master's abroad before. He'd always said he'd support me no matter what.

But when I unlocked our apartment door, I found Sofia sitting on our couch. She looked perfectly fine, scrolling through her phone. She was Dale's dead best friend's sister, and she'd been around a lot lately. But Dale hadn't mentioned she'd be here today.

"Sofia? What are you doing here? Is Dale home?" I asked, setting my bag down on the console table.

She looked up at me, and her expression suddenly changed. Her face twisted into something ugly and cold.

"Why do you always have to make everything about yourself?" she snapped. "Can't I just sit in peace without you interrogating me?"

I stepped back, confused. "I just asked if Dale was…"

"I heard what you asked!" She stood up, her voice rising. "You think you own this place? You think you own him?"

"Sofia, what's wrong with you? I just got home"

"What's wrong with ME?" She laughed bitterly. "You're what's wrong! Walking around here like you're so perfect, like you're better than everyone else!"

"I never said…"

Her hand shot out before I could finish. The slap landed hard across my face, making my head snap to the side. Pain exploded across my cheek.

"Sofia!" I stumbled backward, my hand flying to my face.

But she wasn't done. She shoved me. Hard. I tried to catch my balance, but my heel caught on the rug. The glass coffee table was right behind me.

I crashed into it with full force.

The sound of shattering glass filled the apartment. Sharp, burning pain exploded across my back and legs. I tried to catch myself, but my hands came down on broken glass. Blood started pooling immediately, from my arm, my leg, my palm.

"Look what you made me do!" Sofia suddenly screamed, her voice changing completely. "Why did you attack me? Why are you so violent?"

I tried to stand, glass cutting into my skin with every movement. "What are you talking about? You pushed me"

The front door burst open. Dale rushed in, his eyes going wide as he took in the scene. Me on the floor, bleeding. Sofia standing over me, her face twisted in fake fear.

"Dale! Thank God you're here!" Sofia ran straight to him, tears suddenly streaming down her face. "She attacked me! I was just sitting here, and she came home and started screaming at me about Ryan! She said I need to get over his death already, that I'm pathetic for still grieving!"

"What? That's a lie!" I protested, trying to stand. Glass fell from my clothes. Blood trickled down my arm. "Dale, she slapped me and pushed me into the table! You have to believe me"

Dale's face hardened as he wrapped his arms around Sofia. "How dare you? After everything she's been through, you'd lie about this? I can see exactly what happened here!"

"But Dale, I just got home! She was already here and she..."

"Stop lying, Ruby! God, I knew you were jealous, but this?" He held Sofia tighter as she sobbed into his chest. "Sofia lost her brother. My best friend. And you're making up stories to make her look bad?"

"I'm not making anything up! This is the third time she's done something like this!" I could feel blood soaking through my jeans now. "Please, just listen to me"

"Get out," Dale said coldly.

"What?"

"You heard me. Get out! I don't want to look at you right now. Go clean yourself up somewhere else. You're upsetting Sofia even more!"

"Dale, I'm bleeding."

"You're an adult, aren't you? Figure it out!" He turned his back on me, focusing entirely on Sofia. "Maybe if you spent less time being jealous and more time being compassionate, we wouldn't be in this situation!"

His words felt like another slap. I stood there, blood dripping onto the floor, surrounded by broken glass.

Sofia looked at me over his shoulder. Just for a second. And she smiled. A small, satisfied smile that Dale couldn't see.

"How can you choose her over me?" I whispered, my voice breaking.

"Just go, Ruby!" Dale shouted. "We'll talk when you're ready to tell the truth. Right now, I need to make sure Sofia is okay."

He guided Sofia toward the bedroom, leaving me standing there. Alone. Bleeding. Surrounded by shattered glass.

I went to the bathroom down the hall to clean my wounds, wrapping toilet paper around my arm to stop the bleeding. My face was already swelling where she'd slapped me. When I came back to our apartment door, I heard sounds that made my stomach turn.

"Oh, Dale... yes..."

"You're so perfect, Sofia. So beautiful."

"What about Ruby?"

"She means nothing to me anymore. You're the only one who understands me."

"Touch me there... please..."

My heart shattered into a million pieces. So this was the truth. Sending me away wasn't about calming Sofia down. It was an excuse to be with her.

I entered quietly, numb to everything but the pain in my chest. I went straight to our bedroom and pulled out my suitcase, throwing in everything I could grab.

Dale appeared in the doorway, his hair disheveled, his shirt unbuttoned.

"What are you doing?"

I didn't look up as I continued packing. "I'm leaving. I'm done with your lies."