Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 236

“Do you know Garrison Cloud?”

It was Cassian who broke the silence first.

The unfamiliar name made Ruby frown. She shot a sideways glance at the man sitting next to her, her tone tinged with suspicion. “No. Never heard of him.”

Cassian’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if trying to detect any hint of dishonesty in her answer.

But Ruby looked genuinely puzzled; there was nothing unusual about her demeanor. Cassian had no choice but to look away, though his mind was clearly still churning.

His deep voice echoed in the quiet car. “Garrison is the CEO of The Vertex Quarter at C Collective. This morning, he posted a statement supporting you on C Collective’s official site.”

With that, he handed her his tablet.

Ruby blinked, clearly taken aback, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing.

She hadn’t expected Townsend to make a move so quickly!

But—who on earth was Garrison?

She scrolled through the comments under the official statement. The newest ones were all standing up for her, but as she kept scrolling, she saw plenty of nasty, spiteful remarks too.

The turning point came at a comment left by a verified account—Garrison himself.

His reply had only been posted half an hour ago—

“C Collective would like to clarify that there is no false information involved. The rumored Mr. Veyne has not made an appearance. Furthermore, we are voluntarily providing Miss Ruby with a dress.”

Beneath his reply was a photo of a contract.

Ruby’s eyes flickered with recognition. It was the partnership agreement she’d signed with C Collective a year ago, when she’d become a stakeholder.

That one line—“We are voluntarily providing Miss Ruby with a dress”—landed with the force of a gavel, sending waves across the internet.

“Garrison Cloud is a totally new name, but his account’s officially verified. And his first public statement is to speak up for Ruby?”

“Oh my God, wasn’t Ruby a lawyer just a year ago? She was investing behind the scenes all along? She really kept this under wraps!”

…

The comments fell into two camps: some were astonished by Ruby’s powerful connections; others were quietly impressed by her foresight.

Cassian’s first reaction, when he heard the news, was no different from these online onlookers.

Now, sitting in the car with Ruby, his gaze couldn’t help drifting back to her.

For a fleeting moment, he wondered if he’d ever truly known her.

“Is it true?” he asked. “Did you invest in C Collective a year ago?”

Ruby didn’t try to hide it. Her lashes fluttered, masking a trace of emotion.

“Yes.” Her reply was clear and steady.

The calm, almost casual way she admitted it caught Cassian off guard. His eyes lingered on the curve of her pale neck.

“Veyne & Co. will launch an emergency PR campaign in light of the new developments.”

“Bennett’s just behind us—he’ll take you back to Veyne & Co. With him there, no one will give you trouble.”

For once, Cassian strung together more than a few words. It should have sounded reassuring, but to Ruby, it only sent a chill down her spine.

In the blink of an eye, she was standing by the roadside.

Cassian rolled down the window. “Ru—”

“Don’t bother,” she cut him off coldly. “If your heart’s with another woman, let’s not pretend otherwise. No need for the charade.”

Her tone was icy, the warmth between them in the car evaporated in an instant.

Cassian froze, mouth half open as if to speak, but the words died before they formed.

He watched her walk away, her sudden coldness stinging more than he cared to admit.

What did she mean, his heart was with someone else? Wasn’t it normal for them to be close? After all, they were husband and wife.

Bennett’s car pulled up quickly, leaving Cassian’s car and their fractured moment far behind.

“Ma’am, let’s head back to the office,” Bennett said respectfully.

Ruby didn’t argue. She climbed in, her face expressionless.

It wasn’t until they pulled up outside Veyne & Co. that Ruby’s brow furrowed.

A crowd had gathered outside the building—faces angry, cameras flashing—like they were all waiting for the main event.