Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 248

“Ma’am, I swear—I was just passing by. I didn’t see anything.”

Nona wrung her hands, eyes darting nervously around the room.

“What are you talking about? There’s nothing to see. She’s just Miss Grayson’s business partner, that’s all,” Pamela replied with her usual breezy candor, never suspecting a thing.

Ruby glanced over as well, her gaze lingering a moment longer than usual. But remembering Nona’s past kindness, she decided the woman simply hadn’t adjusted to the new environment, and let it go without comment.

She gave a small nod, then left to get on with her work.

That entire day, Ruby immersed herself in her studio, working straight through until dusk. Alone and focused, she managed to finish the evening gown just in time.

Crimson and ivory intertwined across the fabric—a collision of passion and purity, both striking and romantic.

Ruby had crafted more gowns than she could count, yet the finished piece still took her breath away.

She packed the dress carefully into her suitcase, then added the recently switched-off camera from the table nearby.

With that, most of her preparations were complete.

Relief eased the tension in her chest, and even the way she stepped through the doors of Northridge Manor felt lighter.

But her sense of ease was not shared by the man brooding on the living room sofa, a dark cloud hanging over him.

Ruby didn’t spare him a glance. She went straight to her room.

Cassian, hearing the sharp click of her bedroom door, shot a look of surprise in that direction. His eyes lingered on the closed door, frustration tightening his chest. Yet his pride wouldn’t allow him to knock, so he retreated to his study and locked himself in.

Tall and cold, he worked there, solitary and silent, until midnight.

Ruby paid no mind to anyone else’s tangled feelings. All she cared about was finishing her part for tomorrow’s gala. That night, she fell asleep beside her baby, not stirring until morning.

A night that seemed eerily calm, while tension simmered beneath the surface.

The gala began in the afternoon, with guest check-ins and ticket verification.

Ruby arrived in Garrison’s car. As the host, he brought her in through a different entrance, sparing her the ordeal of parading in with the other debutantes. She nodded her thanks and slipped away to change.

This was her moment—to dazzle, to silence every whisper of doubt. She had no intention of letting anything go wrong, though she hadn’t expected Garrison’s unexpected kindness.

Her thoughts whirled, but her hands moved swiftly.

Garrison glanced at his gold watch every so often, but never rushed her. Even so, Ruby felt a twinge of guilt for making him wait.

At last, she opened the door.

Crimson and white, danger and innocence, perfectly fused on her figure.

Her delicate frame brought out every nuance of the gown’s beauty. Gone was the uncertainty of youth—Ruby, now a mother, radiated both grace and confidence.

Garrison’s lips parted slightly, his usually steady gaze faltering as he looked away.

Ruby didn’t miss the raw admiration in his eyes. She knew, without a doubt, how stunning she looked.

Cassian’s lips curled into a cold smile, chin lifting imperiously. “The Brown family, is it?”

His voice was ice.

The other socialites scattered, desperate to get out of the line of fire.

The Brown family’s daughter was left standing alone, pale and trembling with regret.

Once, she would have been thrilled for Cassian Veyne to remember her family’s name. But now...

She clenched her jaw, teeth chattering.

“Terminate all Veyne & Co. dealings with the Brown family. Inform our partners to cut ties as well. I don’t care about any losses—end everything. Now.”

Cassian’s icy gaze swept over her, then moved to the cluster of socialites cowering nearby—a clear warning.

Only when he strode away did anyone dare to breathe. His powerful presence lingered, intimidating even as he disappeared down the hall.

The Brown girl collapsed onto the floor, drenched in cold sweat.

It was over.

A careless word, and she’d doomed her family.

Cassian didn’t look back. He headed for the inner ballroom, scanning the crowd without interest—until a delicate, familiar hand slipped around his arm—