Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 301

She had booked a private hospital room on purpose, and now, in the quiet, empty space, it was just her and Mira.

Apart from the deafening thud of her own heartbeat, the only sound was the steady drip of the IV beside Mira’s bed.

Ruby pulled up a chair and sat next to her daughter, trying not to make a sound. Her gaze lingered on Mira’s tightly shut eyes and the gray pallor that had replaced her once-soft, rosy skin. Guilt crashed over her, and tears began to fall before she could stop them.

Turning away, Ruby wiped her face, but her nose stayed red and raw.

She could have joined Victor and Mr. Blake for the meeting online. There was no real reason she needed to leave Mira alone at home.

She bit down hard on her tongue, letting the sharp pain flood her nerves—anything to keep from collapsing under the weight of her sorrow.

“Miss Gennifer, could you come out and fill out some forms?”

The door cracked open just enough for the nurse to peek in, her voice gentle and careful.

Ruby nodded to her, then hesitated, stealing a few more glances at Mira before leaning over to plant a kiss on her smooth forehead. Only then did she quietly slip out.

“Mira Grayson’s condition is stable. You brought her in early, so things didn’t get complicated,” the nurse reassured her, voice soft and soothing, though she didn’t quite meet Ruby’s eyes.

Only just now had she learned that the woman in front of her was married to the CEO of Veyne & Co.—no wonder she carried herself with such poise and presence. The nurse silently resolved to be extra respectful.

Despite her turmoil, Ruby managed a strained smile and murmured thanks, which made the nurse’s heart flutter with relief.

With the nurse’s help, Ruby quickly completed the admission paperwork for Mira.

She walked back toward the room, flipping through the latest test results as she went, following the familiar hallways from memory.

Passing by the restroom, she paused, then went in.

The mirror above the sink reflected a pale, drawn face—her own, almost unrecognizable.

Ruby stared at her bloodless features, her mind stuck on the reassuring news she’d just received about Mira. She fought to steady her breathing, but her chest still heaved, refusing to calm.

She splashed cold water onto her face, letting the chill sink deep and soothe her raw nerves. Gradually, the ringing in her ears faded, and she became aware of the sounds around her again.

Frowning slightly, she noticed in the mirror that someone was standing behind her—a woman, unusually tall and broad-shouldered.

Ruby assumed she was blocking the sink and moved to one side, but the figure behind her shifted as well, shadowing her every move.

A sliver of unease crept over her. She pretended to adjust her hair, glancing at the reflection, but her eyes kept drifting, unable to settle.

Suddenly, her gaze locked with the stranger’s reaching hand in the mirror.

There was something unnatural about those eyes—an electric jolt seemed to run straight through Ruby, making her whole body shudder.

But her voice echoed into the hallway with no answer.

Puzzled, the nurse scratched her head and returned to Mira’s bedside.

She checked Mira’s temperature—thankfully, the fever had broken.

“Mama…” Mira’s voice was hoarse, but determined as she called out for Ruby, refusing to be soothed until her mother appeared.

The nurse’s heart twisted with worry. She called to a colleague, “Can you help me find this patient’s family? Check the restrooms and keep an eye out.”

The second nurse nodded and hurried off.

But after scouring the hospital floor, there was still no sign of Ruby. It was as if she’d vanished into thin air.

Mira’s cries only grew louder, her distress mounting with every minute.

Desperate, the nurse wiped sweat from her brow and dialed the emergency contact on file: Cassian.

“Mr. Veyne, could you come to the hospital, please?” she said breathlessly, quickly explaining the situation.

There was a pause on the other end, followed by muffled voices—someone murmured, “Let’s take a break,” and the room fell silent. Then Cassian’s low, commanding voice came through, edged with urgency: “Which room?”