Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 13

"Ruby, marriage isn't child's play. Why don't you and your husband talk things through again? Mira's still so little—it'd be a shame for her to grow up without a father." Pamela's tone was gentle but insistent.

But Ruby had already made up her mind. "Pamela, the Quinborough Registry Office is close by, isn't it?"

Pamela hesitated, then pointed down the street. "It's right over there, just a few blocks. But, Ruby, are you sure about this?"

"Maybe you should try talking to your husband one more time?"

Ruby pressed her lips together, silent.

"What's wrong? Is it that he doesn't want the divorce? If there's still a chance—"

Ruby shook her head.

The truth was, she didn't want him to know about any of this.

"He doesn't know, but this time, I'm not asking for his permission."

Cassian, you handed me over to the police yourself all those years ago. All I want now is to leave this marriage and take my daughter with me.

Thinking about it, he probably wanted out of our hollow marriage long ago, just to give Gennifer her rightful place.

"He doesn't know? Are you sure you can get the divorce done?" Pamela's eyes widened in disbelief.

Ruby's lashes cast a shadow across her face as she looked down.

"I drafted the divorce papers a long time ago. He should have signed them back then."

Back then, he'd come home drunk. She'd slipped the divorce agreement in with his company paperwork, hoping he'd sign it without noticing.

For some reason, halfway through, he stopped, grabbing her wrist.

He was so drunk that night, so strong. She couldn't break free; he pulled her into his arms.

The papers scattered across the floor as he pressed his feverish breath to her ear, his body burning with heat.

He whispered, "Ruby, didn't you want to keep me tied to you forever? I'll give you exactly what you want."

She realized what was about to happen.

She tried to break away, but he was so much bigger, easily pinning her down. His hands made quick work of the flimsy dress she wore.

She sobbed beneath him, begging him to stop, her voice breaking.

"Cassian, please, I don't want this…"

That night, he did everything lovers do—except he claimed not to love her.

She doubted he'd ever wanted to share his bed with her—at least not until she tried to leave.

She'd wondered so often: was he punishing her that night, or was he just too drunk to care?

He was exhausted. When he finished signing the last paper, he pressed his fingers to his brow, weariness etched across his face.

Bennett stood nearby, stacking the signed contracts before handing them off to an assistant. Once he'd checked everything, he turned back to his boss.

"Mr. Veyne, the supplies for the sanitation workers in that area have been delivered, just as you instructed."

"The items should have reached them by now."

"And as you requested, the young woman with a child—she'll receive a monthly stipend of a thousand dollars, drawn privately from your account, ongoing for as long as you wish. All arrangements are in place."

"And, regarding your wife's whereabouts since her release—we've already started looking into it. I expect news soon."

"Is there anything else you'd like me to handle?"

Cassian didn't reply, simply waved a hand in dismissal. He picked up another file, attention fixed on the paperwork, as if he hadn't heard a word.

Bennett got the message and quietly left.

He didn't notice the impeccably dressed woman waiting outside the office door.

Gennifer had arrived at just the right time, catching the tail end of the conversation.

She folded her arms with practiced poise, a mocking smile tugging at her lips as she let out a cold, quiet scoff.