Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 241

Jeers and snide comments mixed with smug after-the-fact “I told you so”s filled the screen. Ruby scrolled through them with a single glance, her expression turning cold.

She was about to message Garrison to let him know she’d handle things herself, but before she could even type, his message popped up first: “I’ll make a statement to clarify. Don’t worry.”

Ruby’s eyes lingered on the screen, and after a moment, her resolve hardened.

“No need. I’ll handle it myself this time.”

Six words, direct and decisive, hitting the mark with a certain finality.

On the other end, Garrison’s hand stilled on his phone as he stared at the name “Ruby” in his contacts. Her delicate yet resilient face flashed through his mind, sending a ripple through his chest.

He’d heard countless people praise her talent and beauty, but what truly stuck with him was the quiet force she carried in every movement. She was humble but strong—rare qualities at her age and all the more precious for it.

“Ruby, are you even listening? Do you want me to ask my brother—well, the CEO—to help you put out a statement? But this time, there’s a catch. You’ll owe me another design draft. The more, the better, of course.”

Townsend set his phone down and glanced at the still-silent call screen, his brow furrowing in mock annoyance. But as he spoke, a hint of excitement crept into his voice.

Ruby replied gently, “I already have a plan to take care of this.”

Townsend let out a disappointed sigh, but perked up immediately. “Oh? And what’s your plan?”

Ruby idly ran a finger over her nails, the gesture calm and unhurried, but when she lifted her gaze, her eyes flashed with determination. “If people are so desperate to dig up dirt on me, the best thing I can do is come out in the open and prove my innocence.”

She gave a cold little laugh, her attention drifting to a drafted post already pulled up on her phone.

But as her finger hovered over the “Post” button, she hesitated. After a moment, she saved the statement as a draft instead.

“Stay out of this,” she instructed at last, a final word before hanging up, leaving Townsend to grumble his agreement.

Ruby hailed a cab, frowning as she pulled up the most sensational and widely shared article on her phone.

When she came across several high-resolution photos, her eyes narrowed.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips. So the rumors about her and Mr. Cloud weren’t just empty talk—there was “evidence” now, in full color.

Ruby squinted at the pictures of herself and Garrison dining together and entering a hotel. Anger simmered in her chest.

Judging by the angles, she tried to recall anyone who could’ve been responsible, but came up empty. She prided herself on her quick instincts, yet if someone had been following her, she hadn’t noticed a thing. Whoever it was, they came prepared.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, her expression grave.

What unsettled her even more were her suspicions about the photographer. Was it a shameless tabloid reporter desperate for clicks, or had someone paid them to deliberately ruin her?

The thought made her stomach twist, especially when she remembered being kidnapped just days earlier. As she edited her lengthy statement for her account, her fingers tensed around her phone.

She picked up her pace, but Cassian’s voice stopped her in her tracks—

“Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

The abrupt question caught Ruby completely off guard.

She stopped, turning to meet his glare with a puzzled look.

Cassian’s expression was dark, his whole presence radiating a chill that felt like standing before a glacier—cracked, broken, and unbearably cold.

Ruby shivered at the thought. Was Cassian… broken?

But the next moment, irritation flared in her chest.

She was running herself ragged, and now Cassian wanted to interrogate her the moment she walked in? What right did he have?

She shook her head, forcing herself to focus, and met his eyes with a cold retort: “What exactly do you think I need to explain?”

Her question sliced through the air, instantly plunging their already fragile truce back into frost.

“We’re not divorced yet, Ruby. Or did you forget I exist?”