Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 229

A flicker of emotion broke through Ruby’s usually calm expression.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, her gaze shifted to Cassian.

Cassian realized she was waiting for him to continue, and he didn’t bother drawing things out. “Remember I told you Soltria has a port that deals exclusively with overseas shipments?”

“They’re not planning to toss me in the ocean, are they?” An absurd thought flashed through Ruby’s mind.

Cassian said nothing, simply fixed her with an unwavering stare.

Ruby’s breath caught. A chill crept up her spine, icy and relentless.

The fear hit her then, making her teeth chatter. So those people really did want her dead—just like in those movies, where bodies vanish without a trace.

Her fingers tightened around Mira until her knuckles turned white. “You said the driver’s psych evaluation was fake. So a sane person wouldn’t go to such extremes just because he didn’t like me.”

“Who’s behind all this? Do you have any leads?”

Who had she possibly offended?

Ruby bit her lip, her face tense, instinctively hugging Mira a little closer.

Cassian’s mind drifted to the confiscated phones he’d taken from those men earlier.

“Not yet,” he admitted, shaking his head slowly.

Ruby’s heart leapt into her throat.

In Quinborough, if even Cassian found something troublesome, what kind of power was she up against?

“But I’ve already had someone send a warning. For now, you’re safe.” Cassian eyed her pale face, his tone softening in spite of himself.

Ruby shot him a glance, then looked away.

No matter how much she disliked Cassian, she had to admit that in Quinborough, his word was as good as law.

“You met with Victor today.” His words weren’t a question, but a statement.

Ruby wasn’t surprised that he knew her movements. She met his gaze, unflinching.

Their eyes met in the air—hers calm, his fathomless.

“Don’t forget who you are, Mrs. Veyne.” Cassian finally broke the silence.

This time, Ruby didn’t answer. Instead, she rose, Mira in her arms.

She gave Cassian a sidelong glance. “Then Mr. Veyne should remember who he is, too.”

Twice now, Cassian had saved her from disaster. For once, Ruby felt a rare sense of calm in her heart.

She wasn’t the kind to repay kindness with cruelty. She couldn’t bring herself to hurl barbs at Cassian as she once had, though the urge for a little sarcasm remained.

Mira in her arms, Ruby headed back inside.

Why would he suddenly wonder about that?

He cleared his throat, pushing the moment aside.

That had been the scene Ruby walked in on earlier, though in reality, quite some time had passed—Cassian had been playing and soothing Mira for a while, enough that the housekeepers passing by shot each other curious looks.

Cassian glanced down at the child, and for the first time, the icy blue depths of his eyes seemed to melt, warmth flickering through like sunlight on a frozen lake.

Unaware of Cassian’s distraction, Ruby locked her door tightly behind her. Just then, her phone connected.

Her expression grew tense.

“What?!” came a loud, theatrical voice on the other end, brimming with outrage.

A series of sharp thuds followed as someone slammed a desk in frustration.

“Are they blind? They parade around as socialites and can’t even recognize a real designer label when they see one!”

He swore under his breath, sarcasm thick in every word.

Ruby couldn’t help but smile wryly, hurrying to calm him down. “This whole thing is getting out of hand. I don’t want any more rumors spiraling out of control.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll have my brother handle this PR mess personally—just wait!”

“Your…brother?” Ruby’s mind flashed to the rarely-seen head of the Caldwell family. She’d only glimpsed him from a distance once—was he really going to step down from his throne to set the record straight for her?