Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 266

“All right, let’s eat first.”

Victor couldn’t help but smile as the tension at the table seemed to melt away. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Ruby again, the smile growing softer.

This was the Ruby he remembered—gentle, yet unyielding. There was a new edge to her now, sharper than the stoic Ms. Grayson of the past. That, oddly enough, reassured him.

The meal was lively, conversation flowing easily. When it finally wound down, Ruby was the first to excuse herself. “If anything comes up, just call me. Let me know when the court date’s set.”

She handed her number to Ramsey before she left.

Victor didn’t try to stop her. He simply nodded. The meal had already run long, and there was a pile of work waiting for him at the lab.

As Victor took a few steps toward the exit, Ruby waved him off with a quick gesture—no need to walk her out.

He didn’t look away until she’d vanished down the street.

Ramsey stood there a while, watching the spot where Ruby had disappeared. “She’s even more impressive than I imagined. Ms. Grayson is a remarkable woman.”

Victor shrugged, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “She won’t let you down.”

Their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them.

Ruby, oblivious to the exchange, was already settled into a cab, lost in thought.

Her day had been a blur of minor crises, leaving her frazzled—and it wasn’t until she’d seen Gennifer that she remembered: Why had her design drafts ended up in Gennifer’s hands?

The question surfaced, and Ruby’s brow furrowed. This was no small matter.

She’d never taken those sketches out of her studio. So who had leaked them?

Her expression hardened. At this point, the studio was only used for her private commissions. Only Pamela and Nona had access.

Which meant the culprit could only be one of them.

Ruby pressed her lips into a thin line.

Her first instinct wasn’t to investigate, but to avoid the truth. She didn’t want to face the possibility that either woman was involved.

Pamela had stepped in to help her and Mira during their darkest days. Nona, too, had been under her protection—she’d made sacrifices to help Ruby escape when things were at their worst.

How could either of them betray her?

Ruby’s fists clenched in her lap, but reason prevailed. She sent a message to both Pamela and Nona, asking one to pick up fabric and the other to gather supplies, attaching lists and saying she’d come by to check inventory in the evening.

“Could you drop me off about three blocks ahead?” Ruby told the driver.

He nodded, and soon the studio’s locked front door came into view.

She tried the handle—locked. Good. Neither of them was there.

Ruby slotted her key into the lock and stepped inside.

A cheerful voice cut through her thoughts.

Pamela and Nona had come back together.

Ruby quickly turned off her laptop, careful to keep her expression neutral. She didn’t miss the flicker of panic in Nona’s eyes when she saw Ruby.

“Mrs. Grayson, I didn’t expect you back so soon! Weren’t you coming this evening?” Pamela’s eyes lit up.

Ruby smiled, but her gaze settled on Nona. “How are you settling in here, Nona?”

The sudden question made Nona flinch, a trace of anxiety passing over her face before she masked it.

Why was Ruby asking her this? Did she know?

But Ruby caught it all.

“F-fine. Everything’s fine,” Nona stammered.

Sensing the strain in the air, Pamela tried to lighten the mood. “Hey, no need to be so serious! She’s just worried you’re not used to the place, that’s all. Relax!”

Pamela gave Nona a friendly slap on the shoulder.

Then she offered to help Nona with her things. Nona tried to refuse, but Pamela’s warmth was impossible to resist.