Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 317

He tried both Ruby’s and his own birthdays, but neither worked. Just as he was about to hand the phone over to Bennett to find someone from IT, a thought struck him. He typed in Mira’s birthday.

The phone unlocked immediately.

Cassian scrolled through Ruby’s emails, making sure no one had sent her anything suspicious. Only then did he lock the screen again.

He couldn’t shake the memory of Ruby’s breakdown. If someone with bad intentions sent her those pictures—they’d shatter her all over again.

His hand paused above the phone. He called out to the nurse who’d just passed by.

She jumped, turning back with a look of panic, eyes brimming with tears.

She’d just witnessed Mrs. Veyne slap Mr. Veyne across the face, and now she was certain he was about to fire her.

Nervous, she was surprised when he pressed the phone into her hand.

“When she falls asleep, put this on the nightstand. Make sure she doesn’t notice.”

A draft from Cassian’s coat swept past her as he left, snapping her out of her daze. “What?”

She stared blankly down at the phone in her hands.

Nothing happened…

Meanwhile, Victor and Fanny had chosen a quiet, tucked-away restaurant with barely any patrons.

“At the hearing—did anyone tell you what to say?” Victor asked, his gaze fixed on Fanny’s face, watching for the smallest flicker of emotion.

Fanny’s reply was calm, almost too calm. “Yes.”

Her honesty caught Victor off guard.

“Tell me everything.”

He sat up straighter.

Fanny didn’t hesitate. She was unusually cooperative.

Though she’d already left her job at the District Court of Quinborough, she’d kept an eye on Victor and Farrar’s case. She’d heard about Victor’s loss in the first trial almost immediately.

Given the evidence presented, losing should have been impossible.

Unless there was more to the story.

She’d been puzzled—until Victor reached out to her. She’d come, no longer bound by the court or its rules.

When Victor finished listening, he brought his fist down on the table. The dishes rattled in their place.

Fanny, by contrast, was composed.

“That’s why you were let go?”

She took a slow sip of tea, neither confirming nor denying.

Victor stood, the food barely touched. He had no intention of lingering.

“I’ll help you,” he said, his tone grave and sincere.

Fanny’s expression barely shifted. “What about Ruby?”

She set down her cup; only then did a hint of emotion flicker across her face.

Victor filled her in on what had happened to Ruby.

When Cassian returned to the CEO’s office, his expression was thunderous.

The team of IT specialists trailing behind him didn’t dare make a sound, each of them sneaking nervous glances at Bennett.

Tension thickened the air in the office. Sweat beaded on Bennett’s brow, but he had no choice but to step forward and report.

“Mr. Veyne, the ‘Aunt’ that Miss Mira mentioned is most likely the housekeeper at Northridge Manor who’s been caring for her.”

He handed over a tablet. The screen showed security footage of the housekeeper, glancing around nervously before a masked figure—face obscured, dressed head to toe—approached her. They talked briefly, and the stranger handed the housekeeper a fat envelope of cash.

Cassian took the tablet, his presence growing even colder. “What about my sister?”

Bennett shook his head. “We don’t have any leads yet.”

Cassian’s gaze hardened on the screen.

A soft crack broke the silence.

It was barely audible, but in the tense hush of the office, it sounded as loud as a gunshot.

Cassian tossed a broken fountain pen into the trash. The gesture was casual, but there was a deadly edge to it.

“Is there any footage of the housekeeper feeding Mira or hurting her?”

Bennett shook his head. “Since Mrs. Veyne returned, all the cameras inside the house have been shut off.”

Cassian pressed his fingers to his temples.

The phone on his desk rang sharply.

He picked up. The receptionist’s voice came through: “Mr. Veyne? There’s a lady here—she says her name is Fanny. She’d like to see you.”