Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 283

Victor’s gaze lingered on Ruby, his lashes trembling ever so slightly.

He couldn’t help but wonder—had Ruby been through so much that she could face all this with such calm?

Victor’s hand, resting at his side, curled into a fist.

Of everyone at the table, Ramsey was the only one besides Ruby who seemed relaxed. He dropped heavily into his chair, grabbed a handful of cold appetizers, and stuffed them in his mouth. “No point getting worked up right now. Let’s eat first.”

Ruby’s lips curved in a faint smile, and she nodded for them to sit.

The meal passed in reasonably good spirits, though an awkward chill lingered between Victor and Garrison—they were just too unfamiliar with each other, and it showed.

“I’ll walk you out.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

As soon as Ruby set her fork down, both Victor and Garrison rose, speaking at the same time.

Their voices overlapped, and for a moment, both glanced at each other in surprise.

Ruby’s gaze flicked over them. “No need. I’ve got some things to handle. You two go ahead and finish.”

She barely hesitated before heading straight for her studio.

Her desk was still cluttered with the latest designs she’d been preparing.

Now that her real identity was out, the first thing she needed to do was present her work. She just hadn’t expected things to get so messy so quickly.

Rubbing her temples, Ruby let out a slow sigh.

But her hand soon fell away, eyes sharpening as her computer screen glowed before her.

At the top, bold headlines screamed across the page—an online post accusing her of appearing in court without legal credentials.

Ruby’s gaze swept over the words, her eyes narrowing at the venomous language the media had chosen.

She had only accompanied Victor to court; the room had been packed with people, and it was obvious she hadn’t spoken a word. Ramsey was Victor’s defense attorney.

Still, she couldn’t help but imagine the worst.

Gennifer must have bribed most of the witnesses, or pressured them into silence from higher up. Otherwise, there was no way so many people would be so convinced after all this time.

Ruby tapped her fingers lightly on the desk, her face giving nothing away. The barrage of insults popping up on her screen might as well have been directed at someone else.

After everything she’d been through, the greatest thing she’d gained was her own resilience.

She lowered her gaze, knuckles whitening as she clenched her hands.

Then, lifting her head, she stared back at the computer—her eyes suddenly alight with a strange, fierce glow.

The truth was right there, just waiting for the chance to come out.

But right now, what mattered more was this: how could she turn this online onslaught to her own advantage?