Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 322

“Take me to the address I sent you,” Ruby said.

The cab driver glanced at her in the mirror, surprise flickering across his weathered face. “Miss, you know that’s where all the high-profile folks from Quinborough live, right? What business do you have there?”

He couldn’t help himself—his eyes lingered on Ruby’s reflection, admiring her beauty for the umpteenth time.

Ruby just nodded silently, her hand clenched tight beneath her sleeve.

“We’re here.”

As the car rolled to a stop, she thanked the driver and stepped out.

Ruby paused at the entrance of the upscale apartment building, its luxury unmistakable. The driver’s words echoed in her mind: high-profile folks… Gennifer, maybe?

Gennifer, who’d barely scraped by in college, now living among society’s elite? How had no one questioned her rise? How was it that everything Ruby should’ve had now belonged to her?

Ruby bit her lip and strode forward.

“Excuse me, miss, can I help—?” The security guard stopped her with practiced efficiency. Ruby shot him a cold glance and gave her name.

“Let me in.”

Her voice was icy. The guard hesitated, but the shared last name—Grayson—gave him pause. Sisters?

Knock, knock, knock.

“Who is it?” Gennifer called, barely glancing up from her phone as she unlocked the door.

When no one answered, she finally looked up, irritation creasing her brow—only to freeze in shock.

Ruby stood in the doorway, silent, her eyes fixed on Gennifer. There was a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips, something almost mocking, deeply unsettling.

Gennifer’s heart pounded. She forced a shaky smile. “Ruby? What are you doing here—?”

She didn’t finish. Ruby shoved the door open, stormed in, and yanked Gennifer’s hair without warning.

White-hot pain shot through Gennifer’s scalp, making her knees buckle.

“What the hell are you doing? There are cameras here! Are you insane?!”

“Thank you for the reminder,” Ruby said with a chilling smile.

Gennifer screamed, but Ruby ignored her, dragging her further inside by the hair, her face set and unyielding.

Panic clawed at Gennifer’s throat, shattering her carefully crafted mask of politeness. Desperately, she shouted, “Help! Somebody, please help!”

“Help?” Ruby scoffed, tightening her grip until Gennifer’s face twisted in agony. “What’s wrong, Gennifer? Afraid now?”

A year behind bars had made Ruby stronger, her grip unyielding despite her recent illness. Gennifer had never been roughed up in her life and was no match.

Ruby pressed her down by the back of her neck, forcing her to bow her head.

Those cold eyes flashed with fury. Every time she looked at Gennifer, memories of that day resurfaced—Mira trembling, vomiting on the floor, while Gennifer and the nanny watched, laughing at the child’s pain.

The memory made Ruby’s grip tighter.

Gennifer felt like her neck would snap. She opened her mouth to protest, but Ruby yanked her upright by the hair.

“Cassian will never forgive you if he finds out what you’ve done to me!” Gennifer’s voice shook with terror.

Ruby ignored the threat. Two more sharp slaps landed on Gennifer’s face.

“I warned you, Gennifer. Stay away from me and my child.”

Ruby’s eyes were icy, her voice colder still.

“It wasn’t me! Cassian already looked into it, didn’t he?”

Gennifer cowered on the floor, voice trembling.

“Really? And what exactly did you offer the nanny for her silence?”