Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 351

By the time Ruby reached Southgarde Estate, the windows glowed with welcoming light. But as soon as she stepped through the front door, the first thing she saw was Pamela's anxious face.

"Ruby!" Pamela cried, relief flooding her voice as she hurried over and grasped Ruby’s hand, looking her up and down as if to make sure she was truly all right. "Where did you go? Are you okay?"

Ruby’s mind flashed back to the memory of being hauled, half-conscious and unwilling, to the hospital—not long ago at all. A chill flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a gentle smile.

"I'm so sorry for worrying you," she said softly. "I'm fine, really. Where’s Mira?"

She glanced inside, but the little girl’s familiar, sweet face was nowhere to be seen.

Pamela scratched her head. "Mira was acting a little strange today. She cried and fussed nonstop, and I started to worry you were in trouble—like mothers and daughters have some secret connection, right? But just a little while ago, she quieted down after her bottle and fell asleep without another peep."

"See for yourself—she’s out like a light."

Pamela led Ruby to the bedroom, where Mira lay sleeping, her long dark lashes casting soft shadows across her cheeks.

Seeing her daughter so peaceful, Ruby finally felt the knot in her chest begin to loosen.

She tiptoed over to switch off the lamp. "Let’s talk in the kitchen," she whispered.

When Pamela learned Ruby hadn’t eaten dinner, she immediately tied on her apron and bustled off to cook. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of hot, comforting food. Ruby poured a drink for Pamela, then sat down, her tone serious.

"Pamela, I might need you to come with me to the Grayson family house tomorrow."

Pamela didn’t even look up as she spooned food onto Ruby’s plate. "Of course," she said, then paused, suddenly realizing. "Wait—the Grayson family? Aren’t they the ones you decided to break away from?"

She’d heard all about Ruby’s family from the very beginning. Frankly, she had never liked the Graysons. Who could blame her? Favoring an adopted daughter, neglecting their own flesh and blood, and always siding with outsiders when it mattered most. Pamela, who’d grown up in the country, simply couldn’t wrap her head around the way rich folks did things.

Ruby gave her a brief account of what had happened—how she’d been dragged to the hospital against her will, forced to donate blood for Gennifer.

Pamela’s fork clattered loudly against the table. "Have they lost their minds?" she exploded, jumping to her feet and rolling up her sleeves like she was ready to start a fight. "They made you give blood to her? And when you refused, they tied you down?"

"And that Gennifer—she’s just the adopted one, isn’t she? Your mother dotes on her, your father protects her... Who’s their real daughter anyway?"

Pamela thumped her own chest, trying to calm herself down.

Ruby couldn’t help but laugh, despite it all. Pamela was angrier than she was.

She shook her head, cutting Pamela off. "I know you mean well, but I’m still married. That’s not something I can think about right now."

Pamela huffed, clearly annoyed. "Your husband’s not worth a damn anyway." With that, she disappeared into the kitchen to wash up, leaving Ruby standing there, rubbing her forehead in awkward silence.

Eventually, Ruby slipped back to the bedroom. At some point, Mira had woken up, her big round eyes watching Ruby from under the covers.

Ruby scooped her daughter up, holding her close. Mira nestled into her mother’s shoulder, mumbling, "Mommy, bad sister... dream..."

Mira was still so little—she couldn’t string together a whole sentence, just a few broken words. But even that much made Ruby’s heart clench.

Bad sister. She must mean Gennifer.

Ruby remembered Pamela’s earlier words—how Mira had sensed something was wrong before finally calming down. Could there really be something to that mother-daughter connection?

She gazed at the warm bundle in her arms, her heart melting.

"Mira, Mommy loves you," she whispered.