Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 259

“And if you don’t leave right now, I’ll call security. When you’re dragged out of here, I wonder if you’ll have any dignity left at your age. Maybe then everyone will see what kind of manners you really have.”

Her voice was icy, every word dripping with mockery.

The moment Ruby finished, Frieda and Elin’s faces flushed with anger, but neither dared take another step.

Part of it was humiliation; Ruby had cut right to the bone. And though the Graysons had fallen from their former glory and were desperate to cling to the Veyne family’s coattails, Frieda and Elin still had their pride. Appearances mattered.

Frieda glared. “You’ve really grown bold, Ruby. Now you’re threatening me?”

Ruby met her gaze, cold and indifferent, not even bothering to reply.

Frieda’s anger nearly choked her, but she forced herself to calm down and pressed on. “I’m here for Gennifer. She’s still recovering in the hospital because of you! I spoke with her on the phone—how could you, as her sister, not visit her even once? Do you have any conscience left?”

Her voice trembled with emotion, and her face, lined with the faint traces of age, twisted in fury.

“Because of me?”

Ruby arched an eyebrow, as if she’d just heard the world’s funniest joke. She even smiled, but her eyes stayed icy cold.

Elin shrank back, uneasy under that gaze, and nudged Frieda with her elbow.

Frieda, thrown off by Ruby’s reaction, scowled. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m laughing at your stupidity,” Ruby replied coolly. “You let yourselves be used as someone else’s weapon. I’m laughing at your ignorance, too—you never bother to ask what really happened. You just barge in and blame me, as if you’re always in the right.”

Her laughter vanished in an instant. The air around her seemed to sharpen, her presence suddenly intimidating.

She didn’t waste another word. Pulling out her phone, she dialed the front desk. “Who let these people in? Come here and escort them out—now.”

The security guard on duty, Fitch Hart, recognized Ruby’s furious tone and snapped to attention. Without waiting for backup, he broke into a jog toward the main house, heart pounding. He’d never heard the lady of the house so angry before. He picked up his pace.

Just as Fitch hurried off, a taxi rolled up to the front gates. The woman inside gave the unfamiliar guard a quick story about her connection to the family and, with a little charm, was waved through.

Fitch arrived at the entrance just in time to see a hand raised high—about to strike Ruby’s pale cheek.

His eyes widened. He lunged forward to stop it.

But Ruby was quicker. She caught Frieda’s wrist mid-air, her grip surprisingly strong—prison hadn’t made her weaker, only tougher.

Frieda’s hand hovered, frozen. She stared daggers at Ruby. “What, are you rebelling now?”

Fitch, drenched in sweat, stepped between them. “Ma’am, you said you were Mrs. Veyne’s mother, so I let you in. And now you’re trying to start a fight?”

Frieda put on her most caring act, while Elin tried to rally Gennifer to their side.

Gennifer smiled faintly, her face still pale. “I was worried about you, so I signed myself out early.”

She turned to Ruby, her gaze full of disapproval. “How could you do this, Ruby? These are our mother and aunt. What if Cassian finds out you had Fitch throw them out?”

Fitch hesitated, glancing at Ruby, then at the three women now huddled together. So this really is her mother? Then why do her mother and aunt treat her like the enemy?

Ruby’s face was expressionless. She didn’t even bother to look at them.

“Fitch, throw them all out. All three.”

She waved him off and, picking up Mira, headed upstairs.

Fitch frowned, confused but loyal. He opened the door and stood in the way. “Please see yourselves out.”

Gennifer’s face went pale, stunned by the lack of courtesy.

“Fitch, you’d better think this through! My mother and aunt called Cassian ahead of time. That makes us guests at Northridge Manor!”