The Ugly Female Ghost Has 5 Handsome Husbands?
Chapter 5
Since returning to the island, Violeta rarely goes anywhere without Sterling following close behind. He watches over her constantly, making sure she’s cared for, which leaves everyone else wondering what really happened while they were away.
“Lettie, come have dinner!” Sterling calls, setting the table with Lucien, Okeana, Aurelius, and Alarika.
Violeta steps out of her house without hesitation.
“Try this. I added something new.” Sterling places a piece of chicken into her bowl.
“No, thanks. I’m not hungry.” She declines politely, though the dish clearly doesn’t appeal to her.
“You should eat more. You’re too thin,” Sterling insists.
The words fall heavily. The table goes silent.
Violeta still wears her mask, which makes her appear as an unattractive, overweight woman. Sterling’s comment contradicts everything they see. Across the table, Lucien notices the brief flicker of tension on Sterling’s face, and something clicks into place.
The fox family is known for its keen perception. After a moment’s thought, Lucien reaches a quiet conclusion: Violeta has been hiding her true face.
Embarrassed, Violeta abruptly rises and hurries away.
Later, after a shower, a knock sounds at the door. Without thinking, she opens the door—forgetting her mask.
She stumbles forward and freezes.
Lucien stands inches away, his features striking and impossibly composed. For a brief second, neither of them speaks.
He is also deeply surprised. The rumored “ugly ghost” is, in truth, a soft, delicate beauty.
“D-Do you want to come in?” Violeta asks, her voice cautious.
“Yeah… sure.” He hesitates, then steps inside. Don’t be swayed by appearances, he reminds himself.
“So, what do you want to know?” she asks.
“I just want to know what happened between you and Sterling.”
She frowns faintly. “Nothing important. I helped him find his grandmother.”
“And you got into trouble?” Lucien asks.
Violeta blinks, surprised. “How did you know?”
“Sterling came back covered in bruises. There was clearly a fight.” He pauses, then adds more gently, “You don’t have to carry everything alone. You can talk to me. I’m your husband—you can trust me.”
She hesitates.
For so long, she has lived in isolation, avoided and misunderstood. No one has ever tried to step closer.
“I ran into the Midnight Court,” she says quietly. “We fought.”
Lucien’s gaze sharpens. “The Midnight Court? Why would they target you?”
“We’ve never gotten along.” She tries to sound indifferent, but the anger in her eyes betrays her.
Understanding settles over him.
“You’ve been kind to all of us since we arrived,” he says slowly. “Behaving nothing like the rumors. So… they were the ones who ruined your reputation?”
Violeta exhales, the tension in her shoulders loosening. There is no point hiding anymore. She tells him everything, including how the Midnight Court committed crimes and left her to bear the blame.
“So everything people believe about you… it was them?”
“What choice did I have?” she says softly. “I have no family, no allies. Fighting them would only get me killed. Staying hidden was the only way to survive.”
He had been sent by the Clan Leader to investigate her, but now, hearing her story, he feels an unexpected heaviness in his chest. She is just a girl. She should be surrounded by family and friends, not hiding away from danger and hatred.
“Lettie…” She looks up, startled by the name. “Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to contend with it alone. We’re on your side.”
Warmth slowly spreads through her chest, unfamiliar but real.
“Thank you, Lucien.”
“It’s late.” He rises and walks toward the door, pausing briefly. “Good night, Lettie.”
“Good night.”