Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 281

Summoning every ounce of courage, she clung to Cassian’s arm, her tone playful and coaxing.

Cassian’s deep, unreadable gaze lingered on her face for a long moment before he finally looked away.

“Let’s go home.”

His voice was so soft it seemed to dissolve into the air itself.

Gennifer heard the chill in his words, but when she realized he wouldn’t press the matter further, she finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Victor really did ask the driver to pull over at a restaurant.

“All right, I’ve decided—let’s have a little celebratory dinner.”

The usual tension in his face eased, a faint smile flickering at the corners of his mouth—his own awkward attempt at comforting Ruby.

Seeing her again after a year, he could tell she’d grown quieter, her sharp edges softened, but today’s silence made it clear she was feeling low.

Through the car window, Ruby recognized the restaurant immediately. Back when she was still at Veyne & Co., she’d driven past it countless times, always wanting to try it but never getting the chance.

She glanced at Victor, unable to tell if this was pure coincidence.

Ramsey was first out of the car, pulling the door wide open and waiting for Ruby to follow.

He’d just handed the evidence over to the judge, and with victory almost certain, his mind was finally at ease.

But—

His gaze lingered on Ruby, recalling the little incident outside the courthouse earlier.

Ramsey lowered his eyes for a moment, then broke into his usual boisterous grin. “After a day like this, I’m starving! If Mr. Hargrove’s buying, I say we make the most of it.”

Ruby hesitated for a moment. Her mood had drained her appetite, but she didn’t want to ruin the evening for everyone else.

She nodded and stepped out of the car—only to lock eyes, as she entered, with a familiar, striking pair of blue eyes.

Come to think of it, Quinborough wasn’t that big; and, as luck would have it, Garrison was here too.

Ruby glanced around and saw there really weren’t any open seats.

Victor opened his mouth, clearly about to decline, but Garrison was quicker, saying, “The food here is great, and every place in town is crowded tonight. Why not stay and make do with what we have?”

He smiled with a warmth that was effortless, his mature charm as smooth and unobtrusive as silk.

Victor’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

Garrison was perfectly courteous, every gesture polished—yet Victor couldn’t shake an unexplainable feeling of resistance.

“Thank you,” Ruby interjected, smoothing over the tension.

Garrison smiled, signaling a server to tidy up the table, but his gaze flickered to Victor before drifting away as if nothing had happened.

Ruby had barely taken her seat when her phone rang—Townsend’s name flashed on the screen. He sounded breathless with excitement.

“Ruby! Quick, check online! You’re trending again!”