Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 175

Cassian sat at his desk, his demeanor cool as ever, but he listened patiently as Gennifer chattered on, answering her endless questions with a quiet steadiness.

That patience lasted—until Gennifer mentioned Ruby.

His hand stilled over the stack of files, eyes lifting from the paperwork. For once, he didn't have an easy answer ready. Instead, a flicker of hesitation crossed his face, and in his mind appeared the image of Ruby: striking, poised, and quietly resilient.

She reminded him of a wildflower growing from a craggy cliff, battered by rain but rooted fiercely in stone—impossible to ignore now that she'd taken hold in his heart.

Cassian pressed his lips together, lashes trembling almost imperceptibly. Meeting Gennifer's hopeful gaze, he turned away and replied in a cool, even tone, "Of course, it's always been you. All of Ruby's past achievements? She owed them to you, didn't she?"

He forced a small, natural-looking smile, though it barely concealed the strain behind it.

Gennifer's eyes sparkled. She ducked her head, face flushed, and leaned across his desk like a bashful schoolgirl.

From the hallway, Ruby caught sight of them—Cassian smiling affectionately, Gennifer blushing like a teenager. Her heart lurched.

She'd thought herself numb to it by now, but the scene felt like a scab being ripped open all over again.

Getting used to pain didn't mean you stopped feeling it.

Ruby pressed a hand to her chest. The light slanting through the door's crack was harsh, making her vision blur.

Why did she ever fall for Cassian?

The man who flirted with her adoptive sister behind closed doors.

The husband who belittled her until she felt worthless.

The man she'd once dreamed of marrying, the man she'd loved with everything she had.

What gave him the right?

He was even willing to deny everything she'd done for Veyne & Co. just to appease Gennifer!

Anger shook her whole body.

She couldn't stand to watch another moment. Just as she turned to leave, her coat button brushed the oak door, making a soft, betraying sound.

"Who's there?"

Cassian's expression sharpened instantly, his voice edged with suspicion.

Gennifer glanced over, following his gaze.

Ruby stood in the doorway, dressed in a plain nightgown, a trace of heartbreak still lingering on her face.

Cassian faltered.

With a measured glance at the pair, Ruby's expression never wavered—serene, unbothered. But Cassian felt a sudden, dizzying sense of loss, as if something vital was slipping away.

Ever since Ruby's release, he'd sensed a widening gulf between them. Staring into her calm, distant eyes, the realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

Ruby… doesn't love me anymore?

Cassian's lashes trembled. He'd always scoffed at the idea of Ruby moving on. Now, faced with her indifference, he felt an unfamiliar terror gnawing at him.

"You're my wife," he said, voice low and urgent, eyes fixed on hers.

The word "wife" was heavy as a stone, and Gennifer flinched beside him, jealousy twisting her features. She knew she had no right to intervene, but her hands balled into fists anyway.

"Sis, don't get the wrong idea," Gennifer said, forcing a gentle, understanding smile. "We were only talking about work. Cassian's been so stressed at the office lately—you should be the one to support him, as his wife."

Ruby didn't even spare her a glance.

"A wife in name only," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper—fragile as mist, vanishing into the air.

And just like that, she turned and disappeared into the darkness, her resolve swallowed up by the night.