Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 114

Ruby couldn't help but let out a small, awkward laugh, embarrassment flickering across her face. "I'm just staying at an inn nearby. Besides, the kid's still young—it's really up to them in the end."

"Oh…"

The woman's response was a disappointed little sigh.

Suddenly, a lazy, clear male voice drifted over from behind them.

"So you're really that worried your son won't find a wife?"

Instinctively, Ruby turned toward the sound. The woman, however, didn't even look back—she just let out a dry cough, rolled her eyes, and snapped in a tone that spoke of long familiarity, "Why, you little brat, did you come all the way to Quinborough just to annoy me every day?"

He just shrugged. "That's the fifth time this month you've tried to set your son up with someone."

With a third person joining in, Ruby felt all the more like an outsider. She was just about to excuse herself when a tall shadow suddenly fell over her.

"Well, I have to say, this is the best match you've tried so far."

The young man stood with his hands in his pockets, unruly hair falling over his brows, but everything about him radiated the effortless confidence of someone accustomed to privilege.

Ruby frowned when she heard that, her instincts urging her to leave.

"I'll let you two talk. I'm going to take the kid for a walk."

She looked up, forcing a polite smile.

The warmth in her voice caught the man's attention, and he glanced down at her with casual indifference. But the moment his eyes landed on her, he froze.

Sylas Cunningham found himself staring at the woman just a step away, shock flashing in his eyes.

His gaze traced every line of Ruby's face, searching for confirmation in features that were achingly familiar. The recognition hit him like a jolt.

Linda, the woman beside him, was the first to notice something was off with her "distant cousin." She shot him a wary, bewildered look. "What's with you? Step on a nail or something?"

But Sylas didn't seem to hear her. Ignoring all sense of propriety, he reached out and grabbed Ruby by the wrist, as if afraid she'd slip away.

"It's you?"

Feeling his grip tighten around her arm, Ruby's frown deepened. She looked up at him, annoyance flickering in her eyes.

He was trying desperately to suppress the tempest of emotion raging inside him.

But as soon as Ruby met those deep, searching eyes, her irritation dissolved. It was as if something in her heart had been pried open. Startled, she took a step back, putting some distance between them.

Did the sun just rise in the west? Mr. Cunningham actually apologized?

"So… you two know each other?" she blurted out.

After all, just a couple of weeks ago, her husband had brought this VIP home and told her to pose as his "distant cousin" for a while, to help keep his identity under wraps.

She'd heard all about the Cunningham family's reputation in The Capital—Sylas never gave anyone the time of day, always looking down his nose at everyone. This was the first time she'd seen him act like this.

Ruby, for her part, didn't look particularly fazed—just a little puzzled. But the man in front of her seemed to hang on her every word, his gaze locked with hers and waiting.

Ruby shook her head. "I don't know him."

And just like that, the light in the man's eyes went out.

Linda was even more taken aback now.

Suddenly, a wild thought struck her.

Rumor had it the Cunninghams' heir in The Capital had once lost the love of his life—could it be…