Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 270

Ruby’s brows knit together, clearly caught off guard by the sudden arrival.

What the hell is Cassian doing here?

She avoided his gaze, turning instead to Garrison. “Let’s go.”

Garrison’s lips held their usual, easy smile, as if he couldn’t care less about the brewing storm in front of him.

But Ruby had barely taken a step when Cassian’s hand clamped tightly around her wrist.

She struggled to pull free, but his grip only tightened. Anger flaring, Ruby glared at him and snapped, “Let go!”

Yet the moment her eyes met his, her breath caught in her throat.

His eyes were bottomless, black as ink, swallowing any trace of light. The whites were streaked with red, making him look like a man on the edge—one wrong move and he’d burn the whole world down.

Cassian’s lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. “Ruby, I’m still very much alive.”

“Alive or not, I still want a divorce.”

Ruby turned her face away, trying to shove the recent memory out of her mind.

But the word “divorce” had barely left her lips when his grip on her wrist tightened even more.

Garrison’s smile faded, his gaze locked on Cassian’s hand gripping Ruby’s slender wrist.

He stepped forward, frowning in disapproval, and placed a firm hand on Cassian’s. “You’re hurting her.”

“Since when is this any of your business?”

If Cassian managed to keep his temper civil with Ruby, with Garrison he made no effort to hide his hostility.

Ruby’s patience was spent. She lost all pretense of politeness. “What do you actually want from me?”

“Come home with me.”

Cassian stared straight into her eyes, his own wild with desperation.

He felt like he was losing his mind.

Ever since that kiss, everything had been thrown into chaos. At first, he couldn’t understand how someone like Ruby—a woman with a record, a woman he’d always dismissed—could suddenly have so many people around her. But then he realized he was just like them, unable to look away.

The more he tried to keep his distance, the more obsessed he became. And today, when his bodyguards reported seeing her again, he’d finally lost control.

Cameron Lockridge, Sylas, Victor, Garrison… One after another, they just kept showing up!

Cassian pressed his lips together, his handsome face clouded by a storm of frustration and jealousy.

“She’s a much better fit,” Ruby said with a shrug, pointing carelessly at Gennifer.

Cassian’s face darkened instantly.

Gennifer’s expression shifted too, but she forced herself to look at Cassian, anxiously waiting for his response.

Cassian let out a bitter, incredulous laugh. “Ruby, you know I only see her as a coworker.”

Gennifer’s face went pale, the color draining in an instant.

Ruby stood behind Garrison now, as if she’d chosen her side—and it wasn’t Cassian’s.

Cassian’s heart twisted painfully.

Gennifer, still unwilling to give up, stepped forward and clung to Cassian’s arm. She glared at Ruby and snapped, “There’s nothing going on between Cassian and me. Stop making baseless accusations!”

Ruby said nothing, just smiled at her—long and sharp.

She could see right through Gennifer. Her words said one thing, but her actions screamed for attention, practically begging for someone to get the wrong idea.

It all seemed so clear now.

Looking back, Ruby wondered how she could have been so foolish a year ago. How had she let a few petty dramas break her down, night after night?

She lifted her chin, didn’t say another word, and walked away.

Townsend, who’d watched the whole bizarre scene unfold, hurried after her. Garrison followed too, carrying her bag, looking for all the world like her personal assistant.

If the board at C Collective saw this, they’d never let him live it down.

Bennett had already cleared the arrivals lounge, flexing his financial muscle to give Ruby’s group some privacy. Now only Cassian and a few others remained.

“Cassian?” Gennifer’s voice sounded small, worried.

Cassian stood motionless, hair falling over his eyes, the shadows in his gaze deeper than ever.

A moment later, he pried Gennifer’s fingers off his arm, one by one, his touch as cold as ice.