Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 188

"Ruby?"

Cassian's deep voice rumbled in her ear.

Ruby blinked, startled, and looked up to meet his gaze. His eyes held a mixture of concern for Gennifer and a suspicion that cut straight through her.

"Maybe… it was just an accident…" Gennifer hurriedly interjected, her voice trembling, as if desperate to shield Ruby from blame.

Tears still streaked Gennifer's delicate face, making her look even more pitiable.

"I didn't do it."

"It wasn't her."

Ruby and Sylas spoke at the same time.

Cassian's eyes darkened for a moment, and a dangerous glint flashed across his face as their voices overlapped.

"What are you, a mind reader?" His tone was cutting, showing Sylas no mercy.

Ruby instinctively shrank back, as if Cassian and Gennifer were wild animals she needed to escape. Sylas stepped in front of her protectively, shielding her from Cassian's icy stare.

Gennifer's quiet sobs echoed in the background, fueling Cassian's irritation until his chest felt tight, like something was clawing at him from the inside.

He looked down at Gennifer's ankle—an angry red mark had already swollen badly, despite only a few minutes having passed.

Such an injury...

Cassian's gaze flickered, landing unsteadily on Ruby. He opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it and swallowed his words.

Ruby's expression turned to stone.

She stared at Cassian, her eyes unreadable, then abruptly stepped forward.

"Open the door. I'm leaving."

She brushed past Gennifer and stopped in front of Bennett.

Bennett looked as if he wished he could disappear, glancing helplessly at Cassian for guidance.

Ruby's words made Cassian snap his head up, whatever he'd been about to say dying on his lips.

Gennifer bit her lip so hard she tasted blood.

Inside the office, Cassian could only feel the growing ache in his chest.

Frustration mounting, he sat for a moment before springing up and slamming his fist into the wall. The sharp pain shot through his arm, making his whole hand tingle.

He forced himself back into his chair, rifling through the paperwork Gennifer had brought, but the words blurred together, meaningless.

With a harsh snap, he shut the folder and shoved his hand into his pocket, striding over to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

From up here, people looked like ants, and even the cars racing down the street seemed no bigger than moths.

But all he could see was Ruby—Ruby laughing with someone else, climbing into Victor's car, or maybe Sylas's.

Cassian clenched his jaw so tightly he thought his teeth might break. His mind was consumed by the image of Ruby's cold, defiant face.

Fury surged up inside him. He shoved the files aside and grabbed his phone, calling Bennett, who was escorting Gennifer to the hospital.

"Have you arrived? Which department are you at?"