Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 238

Gennifer shot a furtive glance at the doorway, then looked up with a hint of distaste at the IV drip above her head.

The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air, making her even more irritable. But as she watched the livestream and saw Ruby’s ashen face, her mood improved considerably.

She deliberately scrolled through her contacts and dialed Ruby’s number.

On the stream, the camera caught Ruby glancing down at her phone.

“Hey, sis. Are you alright?”

Gennifer’s voice was as gentle as ever, but there was a teasing edge, as if she was savoring Ruby’s embarrassment.

Ruby heard the strange greeting and, in that instant, all the confusion in her mind snapped into place.

“This was your doing, wasn’t it?”

She clenched her teeth in silence.

Gennifer, bored, toyed with her perfectly manicured nails. “What did I do? Oh, you mean the part where I had a car accident and Cassian came to look after me?”

She let out a soft, insincere laugh. “Sorry about that, sis. I really didn’t expect that after I called Bennett, Cassian would show up so soon. But I heard you’re trapped at Veyne & Co.? It sounds pretty rowdy over on your end.”

Gennifer’s tone oozed feigned concern and guilt, her false sympathy making Ruby’s stomach churn with revulsion.

“Gennifer? What are you doing out of bed?”

A stern male voice interrupted, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Ruby stiffened.

Cassian.

“You may not be hurt, but the doctor said you’ve had a shock. You need to rest.”

“Cassian... I’m fine, really. Don’t you need to check on Ruby? Weren’t you planning to take her to Veyne & Co. today to help manage the PR issues?”

“I’ll stay with you for a while first.”

...

Their voices drifted over, sounding almost tender. Yet Ruby’s expression turned cold and still, as if she’d turned to stone. Only her hand holding the phone trembled slightly, betraying the life still burning inside her.

She hung up.

Beeep—beeep—

The abrupt dial tone echoed in the air. Only then did Cassian glance at the phone in her hand. “Who were you talking to?”

Gennifer flashed a bright smile. “The office, of course. Since you won’t let me out of bed, I have to call in sick again.”

She stuck her tongue out in a playful gesture, her words laced with mock complaint—though it sounded more like a plea for attention.

Cassian’s gaze flickered. He turned away and poured her a glass of water.

His cool indifference made Gennifer pause, but as the warm glass met her palm, she forced herself to relax. Hadn’t Cassian always been this way?

Still, she couldn’t help but clench her fingers tighter around the glass.

The name echoed in her head. She looked up to see a tall, striking figure by the car window.

What immediately caught the eye was his blond hair, perfectly styled, and the sharp lines of his tailored suit—every inch the image of a refined gentleman.

He turned slightly, the elegant arch of his nose and distinctive brows giving him an unmistakable European air. “French sophistication,” Ruby thought, was the only way to describe him.

The world seemed to freeze for a moment—then the press exploded into a fresh frenzy.

“It really is Garrison! Do you know Ruby personally?”

“You were just in the Capital—how did you end up here in Quinborough?”

“Is Ruby really wearing a C Collective original? Can you confirm your company’s statement?”

Reporters surged forward, nearly trampling each other in their rush to surround Garrison, their excitement far surpassing their earlier aggression toward Ruby.

But Garrison ignored the barrage of questions. At his signal, a team of bodyguards moved in, forcing the crowd back and forming a protective barrier.

He raised his voice above the commotion. “Every statement from C Collective, including my own, is true. I came to Quinborough in person because I wanted to finally meet this invaluable shareholder, someone whose contributions to our company I deeply admire.”

With that, he refused to answer any more questions, his bodyguards forcing the crowd three meters away from the car.

Ruby still felt as if she were dreaming, but Garrison turned to face her.

His features were strikingly foreign—pale skin, piercing blue eyes that seemed to draw you in.

There was no denying he was handsome—almost impossibly so, unforgettable at a single glance.