Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 276

Gennifer tilted her head up to look at Cassian. The sharp angles of his jawline made her heart flutter, and for a moment, any strange feelings she’d had were swept away.

Across the room, Garrison and Ruby exchanged a glance, then quietly slipped their checks back into their pockets.

Ruby reached for Sarah’s hand. “I want to sponsor this child.”

The director, along with Cassian and Gennifer, immediately turned their attention her way.

Cassian’s brow furrowed. Gennifer looked confused at first, but realization quickly dawned in her eyes. She took the initiative, her voice gentle: “Ruby, you don’t have to feel pressured to sponsor Sarah just because Cassian and I are thinking about adopting her. Sponsorship isn’t the same as adoption, but it still takes commitment—you shouldn’t rush into it.”

Feigning surprise, Gennifer covered her mouth, her face painted with concern, as if she were truly thinking of Ruby’s best interests. But in her eyes, a flicker of barely disguised disdain told the real story.

Ruby shot her a cold, dismissive look, making it clear she didn’t care what Gennifer thought.

The gesture left Gennifer seething, a tight knot of frustration building in her chest.

Her eyes sparkled with calculation as she turned to Cassian, her expression soft and vulnerable. “Cassian…do you agree with Gennifer?”

Cassian’s gaze remained fixed on Ruby. “She’s not wrong.”

“Ruby, sponsoring a child isn’t something you decide on a whim. This isn’t fair to her if you’re just acting on impulse.”

His frown deepened, refusing to let up.

Ruby could hardly believe what she was hearing. She let out a short, exasperated laugh, her patience stretched to the breaking point. “The sponsorship will go through my personal account. It has nothing to do with the Grayson family or the Veyne family. So why do either of you get a say in this?”

She squeezed Sarah’s hand, as if promising her protection.

Sarah had always acted more mature than her age, but she was still just a child. When she realized Ruby actually wanted to help her, her eyes shone with genuine hope. But as Cassian and Gennifer kept shooting her down, that hope dimmed, replaced by a flicker of fear and uncertainty that made Ruby’s heart ache.

A surge of anger rose in Ruby.

Garrison noticed her agitation, his voice calm and reassuring. “Director, please process the sponsorship for this child. You can use my account as well.”

Sarah stiffened and looked up, startled.

To her, the two adults standing in front of her were like giants, blocking out most of the light. But rays of warm sunlight still slipped past their shoulders, casting flecks of gold onto the floor.

She stared up at them in confusion, something fragile and bright stirring in her chest, pushing through the soil of doubt that had always held her back.

Garrison and Ruby stood side by side. Cassian watched, his expression unchanged, but his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched.

Wonderful.

Let the sponsorship go through Ruby and Garrison’s accounts.

They weren’t even divorced yet, and she was already planning to raise a child with another man?

Cassian’s teeth ground together, nearly cracking.

Bennett was already dabbing sweat from his forehead, sensing the tension in the room.

“Will you come back?” Sarah’s voice was barely a whisper, her lips pressed together in worry.

Ruby bent down again so she could hear.

She glanced at Sarah, her gaze softening. Garrison, too, looked at the pair with gentle concern.

“Of course I will.”

Ruby promised, her words solemn. Garrison gave Sarah’s hair a gentle ruffle.

For the first time, Sarah managed a shy, lopsided smile and wrapped her arms around them both.

When she let go, her cheeks were flushed bright red.

Ruby was deeply moved by the little girl’s awkward show of affection, her heart melting.

As she and Garrison walked toward the orphanage gates, Sarah stayed where she was, watching them leave.

People had sponsored Sarah before—but after making the promise, they never came back. The support always faded after a month or two, leaving her alone again.

Sarah shot a cold, sidelong glance at the director, then looked away.

By chance, she lifted her eyes and met the gaze of a man standing not far away, his eyes deep and unblinking.