Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 165

Cassian's eyes blazed a furious red, the last threads of his self-control barely holding as he set Mira gently back on the sofa. He shot to his feet, looming over Ruby like a dark storm cloud, his imposing shadow swallowing the light from the room.

"Ruby, do you really think I'm that easy to deal with?" His voice was low, dangerous.

Suddenly, Cassian's hand shot out, gripping Ruby's chin. Her jaw was delicate, her skin smooth under his touch; for a fleeting second, his heart trembled at the contact, but the storm on his face never wavered.

"From now on, you're free to come and go from Northridge Manor. But if you so much as think about running again, I'll use every resource at my disposal to bring you back. And then, I can't promise you'll have any freedom left at all."

His words were icy, measured—each syllable sharp as a needle, pricking straight into Ruby's skull. She opened her mouth, dazed, stumbling back a step as the true meaning of his threat crashed over her.

Cassian wanted to imprison her?

A chill raced down Ruby's spine, her whole body shivering at the realization. Cassian caught the fear flashing in her eyes; some distant part of him ached at her terror, but his face stayed cold and rigid, unyielding.

Rage ignited in Ruby's chest, a burning wildfire she could no longer contain.

Without thinking, she slapped him—hard. The crack echoed through the room, leaving a red mark blooming across his cheek. The light from above etched his features into sharp relief, but Ruby saw nothing of his handsomeness anymore—only the raw, seething hatred in her heart.

"This is kidnapping! It's illegal!" she screamed, her voice hoarse and trembling. Cassian raised a hand, touching his cheek, turning his face away so she couldn't read his expression.

But then, to her shock, he let out a quiet, almost bitter laugh.

He turned to her, his gaze stubborn and wild. "We're married, Ruby. You're the one who keeps trying to leave, over and over again."

His bloodshot eyes pinned her in place, feverish and obsessive, and for a moment Ruby wondered if this man before her was even Cassian at all.

Ruby's cheeks burned with shame and fury. In her eyes, Cassian was nothing but a monster in a gentleman's suit. They were husband and wife in name only—what right did he have to touch her like this?

Her chest heaved with pent-up hurt, but she refused to let herself cry. Instead, she forced a brittle smile.

"So this is what you wanted, Cassian?" she spat, her voice laced with venom. "You're just taking your revenge, aren't you? You think it's humiliating that I might have something with Sylas, so now you want to prove you're still my husband?"

She let out a cold, mocking laugh, her eyes full of contempt. Cassian's brow furrowed as if he wanted to explain, but Ruby cut him off before he could utter a word.

"I'll never forgive you," she snapped, her voice shaking with rage. "And I will do everything—everything—to divorce you."

Her words struck Cassian like a curse, each syllable landing with the weight of a hammer on his heart.