Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 300

Ruby cradled Mira’s frail body, feeling her own heart twist with worry. Mira’s eyes had lost their focus, and her tiny frame trembled uncontrollably in Ruby’s arms.

Gennifer, meanwhile, wore an expression of wounded surprise. “Ruby, I’ve felt terrible about what happened yesterday. And after you were finally cleared of those accusations, I came by to apologize—and maybe to celebrate a little. But you weren’t here, so when I saw Mira all alone in her room, I just thought I’d keep her company for a while...”

Standing up with Mira still pressed protectively to her chest, Ruby looked down at the child’s pale face and felt panic claw at her.

“You call this ‘keeping her company’? She’s so exhausted she can barely move!” Ruby’s glare was ice-cold.

“I didn’t mean—”

A sharp slap rang through the room.

Gennifer’s eyes flew wide as a burning pain exploded across her cheek. She clapped a hand to her face, her voice rising with disbelief. “Did you just hit me?!”

Ruby didn’t even spare her a glance. Clutching Mira, she fumbled for her phone and dialed emergency services. “Hello, yes—this is an emergency, please send an ambulance to Northridge Manor, now—”

Only after the dispatcher assured her that help was on the way did Ruby pause for breath.

Moments ago, she had been the picture of composure—a flawless statue of calm. Now, she was like a vengeful spirit, radiating a cold, terrifying fury.

“Gennifer, I have told you again and again, you are not allowed inside Northridge Manor without permission. Yesterday at least Cassian was here. But today? Who let you in?”

Her voice was raw and wild, hair falling loose across her face, her expression on the verge of hysteria.

Gennifer swallowed hard, as if an invisible hand were tightening around her throat. They had fought, openly and in secret, for years, but she had never seen Ruby like this.

Ruby’s eyes snapped to the housekeeper, her gaze sharp as a blade. “This is how you look after Mira? Gennifer says Mira was alone when she found her—where were you? What were you doing?”

The housekeeper’s voice was barely a whisper, her gaze darting away. “I was hired by Mr. Veyne. I can’t be everywhere at once...”

Another slap, even sharper than the last.

The housekeeper’s head snapped to the side, a red handprint blooming on her cheek.

Ruby balanced Mira with one arm, her other hand still frozen midair from the blow. Her voice was ice-cold. “If anything happens to Mira, I will do whatever it takes to see you prosecuted. Do you understand me?”

The words echoed through the room, heavy with menace.

Only then did the housekeeper begin to panic, fumbling with her hands and casting desperate glances at Gennifer—who responded with a warning glare.

Regret twisted inside her.

Suddenly, Mira’s grip on her hand slackened.

Ruby’s heart lurched. “Mira—she’s—”

“It’s all right,” the nurse assured her gently. “We’ve checked her over. It looks like someone gave her a dangerous amount of salt, which caused severe dehydration and vomiting. Even an adult would struggle with that. It’s not surprising she’s passed out.”

As she set up an IV, the nurse added, “She’s just a child—she shouldn’t be given any salt at all.”

Ruby felt lightheaded, her mind reeling.

She’d only ever prepared formula and baby cereal for Mira—who would have given her salt on purpose? And the bruises—was it the housekeeper, or Gennifer?

Her heart pounded with rage. She wanted nothing more than to drag both women in front of her and demand answers.

The ambulance sped Mira to Veyne Private Medical Center, where a team rushed her to a waiting bed.

Ruby never left her side, refusing to relax until the doctors had finished their examination and Mira was finally, mercifully, safe.