Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 352

“Mira, I promise, I’ll never let you go through anything like that again.”

Ruby gently rubbed Mira’s back, soothing her until she drifted off to sleep. Outside, even the faintest sounds faded into stillness.

Night deepened, and the whole house was wrapped in silence.

But Ruby lay awake, restless.

Her mind kept circling back to what had happened that morning at the hospital.

She remembered how she’d used just enough force—nothing fatal, just enough to make Gennifer suffer. Death would be far too easy for her; there were still so many scores left unsettled. Yet somehow, Gennifer was claiming she’d been beaten within an inch of her life, hospitalized, and needed a blood transfusion just to survive.

The more Ruby thought about it, the stranger it seemed. She tossed and turned, until finally she got up and flicked on the light.

What nagged at her most was the coincidence: Gennifer was only the Grayson family’s adopted daughter. Ruby had overheard the nurses say she was AB blood type—a rare type, but not unheard of. Still, most people with AB blood had trouble matching with donors. Hanley, however, insisted there would be no problem using his.

No matter how she turned it over in her mind, something didn’t add up.

Ruby frowned, a thought flashing through her mind, but slipping away before she could grasp it.

She sighed, deciding it was better to focus on tomorrow’s plans.

Just as she reached to turn off her phone, a new message popped up.

She didn’t even have to check the name—Sylas had a style all his own.

“Rue! Gennifer’s out of the hospital!”

He sounded almost breathless with excitement, eager to share the news.

Ruby stared at the message, momentarily stunned.

Out of the hospital?

Yesterday she’d been at death’s door, and today she’s been discharged? Had Quinborough’s doctors become miracle workers overnight?

She didn’t reply, but Sylas’s messages came in rapid-fire succession: “I had someone at the hospital check. Turns out Gennifer just had her period, didn’t even need surgery! The Graysons shuffled out of there quick as anything, looking totally embarrassed.”

Ruby couldn’t help but feel a little secondhand embarrassment for them.

But this fit perfectly into her plans. If Gennifer really had been critically ill, sneaking into the Grayson estate to look for her grandmother’s things would have been nearly impossible.

“Thanks.”

She sent the brief reply and was about to turn off the light when her phone buzzed again.

Apparently, that wasn’t enough for Sylas.

“Thanks? Rue, you called me Sylas this afternoon—why so formal now?”

He was clearly in the mood to tease her, and before she could even respond, her phone started to ring.

Ruby glanced at the sleeping Mira, sighed, and slipped out into the hallway to take the call.

He stared at her face, the one he’d thought about every day and night. The knowledge that he’d finally found her filled him with a deep, almost aching sense of contentment.

He brushed his fingertips across the screen, unable to resist bringing it to his lips and kissing her image—even if only through glass.

The night grew darker, and before long, it was morning.

As soon as Ruby stepped out her door, she found Pamela waiting outside—dressed head to toe in makeshift armor, looking like she’d been standing there for ages.

Ruby couldn’t help but smirk. “Pamela, what on earth are you wearing?”

“We’re heading to the Graysons. Gotta be prepared,” Pamela replied, tapping the helmet on her head. In the morning light, its metallic sheen was almost comical.

Ruby laughed, stepping closer to help her take off the gear.

Catching Pamela’s confused look, Ruby explained, “We’re going there in broad daylight, to claim what’s ours. Not to rob the place.”

Pamela scowled. “Well, with people like that, can’t be too careful.”

Ruby nodded, agreeing just to keep the peace—but her hands kept working, removing each absurd layer.

The Graysons were certainly a powerful family, but Pamela’s paranoia was a bit much.

“Oh, but didn’t Gennifer have some sort of life-threatening illness? Are they still at the mansion?” Pamela asked.

Ruby filled her in on what she’d learned the night before, and Pamela laughed so hard, she nearly doubled over.