Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 296

Ruby’s eyes flew wide open. Without thinking, she rushed forward, flinging the door open and barreling into the room.

Right in the center of the living room, Gennifer was holding Mira in her arms.

For a moment, Ruby’s heart nearly stopped.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Her voice rang out, sharp with alarm. In a flash, she closed the distance and scooped Mira protectively into her own arms, her eyes trained warily on Gennifer.

But this reaction was exactly what Gennifer had expected.

A sly smile played on her lips. “Sis, what’s got you so worked up?”

“How did you get in here?” Ruby demanded, never taking her eyes off Gennifer as she quickly checked Mira from head to toe.

Only after making sure Mira was unharmed did Ruby’s tense shoulders relax the slightest bit. She shot Gennifer another pointed look.

Suddenly, Gennifer’s expression shifted; her earlier smugness melted into a delicate pout, as if she’d been wronged.

She hurried over to Cassian’s side. “Cassian!”

Cassian glanced at her, though his gaze lingered longer on Ruby.

For once, Ruby didn’t ignore him. Instead, she glared at him with undisguised anger, as if she were staring down an enemy.

Cassian’s brow twitched.

“I don’t care what goes on between you and Gennifer,” Ruby snapped, clenching her fists, “but what gives you the right to let her touch Mira?”

Cassian’s eyes drifted from Mira to Gennifer.

Gennifer quickly put on an innocent face. “You’ve got it all wrong, Ruby! The housekeeper was just heading out to prepare Mira’s supper, and I happened to see her, so I offered to help out. Mira’s so adorable—who wouldn’t want to hold her?”

Her tone was earnest, her eyes wide and bright.

Ruby let out a cold laugh. “What’s the matter, Cassian? Gone bankrupt? Or is Northridge Manor so short-staffed you can’t even afford a second housekeeper? Why would you need your soon-to-be Mrs. Veyne to babysit?”

“Enough,” Cassian said, rubbing his temples, his voice low and commanding.

The force of those two words was enough to silence the room; the air turned thick, every sound swallowed up.

Gennifer started to speak, then thought better of it and fell quiet.

Ruby’s mocking smile only deepened. She met Cassian’s gaze without flinching, her eyes colder and sharper than ever.

Something twisted in Cassian’s chest.

His brow furrowed tighter, a knot of frustration forming.

“Gennifer was just helping with Mira for a little while. There’s no need to be so hostile.”

Ruby’s face went rigid for a moment, but then she recovered, her lips curling in derision.

What if she hadn’t come in time?

Her icy stare fixed on Cassian, the cold in her eyes nearly palpable. Yet despite her fearsome aura, she held Mira close, braced and fierce like a mother eagle defending her chick.

Her stubborn retreat made Cassian’s temples throb; his jaw stayed tight, but the veins bulging at his temples betrayed his frustration.

Once the door was shut, Ruby laid Mira gently on the bed and checked her over again, still uneasy about Gennifer touching her.

A knock sounded at the door.

The housekeeper had come with a bowl of warm cereal for Mira.

Mira was growing fast, already starting to eat solid foods.

Ruby’s tone was icy as she instructed the housekeeper never to leave Mira with anyone else.

The housekeeper, startled by Ruby’s sternness, nodded quickly in agreement.

Ruby let her go without further fuss.

“Mommy?”

As Ruby lifted a spoonful of cereal to Mira’s lips, the little girl looked up at her with bright, smiling eyes and called out.

Ruby froze, joy and surprise flooding her face.

She hadn’t expected Mira to speak so clearly—last time, it had still been “mo-mum.”

The realization stung a little. She’d been so busy lately, she really had neglected Mira.

“I’m here, sweetheart,” she said softly, her voice gentle as she coaxed Mira to eat another spoonful.