Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 148

"Afraid to look at me?" The man gave a soft, ambiguous chuckle.

Ruby pursed her lips, refusing to take the bait.

Cassian studied her pale, delicate face, then sighed. "Good morning, Ruby."

His tone was as calm as ever, as if they were just an ordinary married couple sharing a typical morning.

Ruby paused, her fork and knife hovering above her plate. She shot Cassian a sideways glance, as if to ask what game he was playing.

Cassian, unfazed, settled himself in the seat across from her as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ruby frowned, watching him intently.

She didn't touch her food right away, her eyes fixed on him with a cold, unblinking stare.

Cassian lifted a hand, flagging down a servant. "Make me the same breakfast as my wife, please."

The servant glanced at the simple spread on the table, hesitating with a look of mild confusion before Cassian's steely gaze sent him scurrying to the kitchen.

"What are you trying to pull?"

Ruby's patience had clearly run out; her voice was clipped, direct.

Cassian, graceful as ever, simply polished his utensils, lips barely moving as he finally murmured, "No talking at the table."

Because the breakfast was so simple, it wasn't long before the servant returned with another artfully arranged plate.

Cassian accepted it and began eating, one neat bite at a time.

It was as if all the odd behavior—sitting with her, ordering the same meal—had been for nothing more than sharing breakfast.

Ruby gave a derisive little laugh and turned her attention back to her food, no longer interested in pressing him for answers.

Living in Northridge Manor meant she no longer had to worry about steep rent every month, but she hadn't forgotten what Cassian had given her yesterday—her grandmother's keepsake.

Ten million dollars. She was determined to pay him back.

Once the divorce was finalized, she and Cassian would be nothing but strangers. She didn't want to owe him a thing. Besides, she needed to find somewhere safe to live as soon as possible.

Northridge was only ever meant to be a temporary stop.

Ruby finished her breakfast in a matter of minutes, tidied up her dishes, and stood to leave.

The sound caught Cassian's attention; he raised an eyebrow, glancing up at her.

Just as Ruby turned to go, Cassian's voice stopped her. "Ruby."

He called her name softly.

His tone was gentle, with an undertone she couldn't quite name.

A shiver ran down Ruby's arms, goosebumps prickling her skin.

A strange sense of dread crept into her chest. She didn't slow down—if anything, she picked up the pace.

Cassian broke from his composed facade, striding after her and catching her by the wrist.

Ruby froze, glaring at him with fury.

Cassian faltered beneath her angry glare, the impulsiveness draining out of him like cold water dousing a flame.

He opened his mouth, then lowered his eyes, his voice muffled. "Where are you going? Let me have someone drive you."

He'd opened a hidden file on his computer—a folder filled with photos and videos of Ruby's life after she got out of prison.

He'd had Bennett collect them for him.

That investigation had revealed everything.

The sanitation worker splashed by a passing car—that was her. The desperate mother begging at Veyne Private Medical Center—that was her, too. And so many other moments...

A wave of bitterness burned in Cassian's chest.

Regret. Guilt.

If only he'd found her sooner, would she have been spared all that suffering?

A year ago, before her prison sentence, he'd resented and dismissed her. But as Mrs. Veyne and a top attorney in Quinborough, she'd still managed to live with dignity—even if she wasn't swimming in luxury.

But in just one year, she'd gone from privileged socialite to inmate—fallen all the way to rock bottom. How had she accepted it all with such calm?

Cassian's brow furrowed, his gaze fixed in the direction Ruby had gone.

Ruby, who are you, really?

Pressing a hand to his racing heart, he realized, for the first time, that he'd never truly known her. Now, disturbingly, he was starting to feel things he'd never expected—for the woman he'd once ignored, even despised.

What was this?

He tossed and turned, unable to make sense of it.

Just before dawn, whether out of guilt or something more selfish, he'd called the estate department and pressured them to process Ruby's grandmother's inheritance as quickly as possible.