Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 385

She couldn’t quite grasp what had happened. Ruby, who used to be so timid and obedient, had changed completely since getting out of prison.

It wasn’t just that she’d cut ties with the Grayson family—now, she was going even further, hellbent on destroying the Grayson Group.

All Frieda had left now was regret. If she’d known her own daughter would turn out like this, why hadn’t she just smothered Ruby in her crib the day she was born?

Frieda’s hands shook with rage.

“Ruby, do you really think snatching up shares is going to get you anywhere? I still hold ten percent of the Grayson Group. All I have to do is hand my shares over to your father, and everything you’ve done will have been for nothing.”

She let out a cold, dismissive laugh.

At her words, Hanley and Gennifer exchanged glances, barely able to hide the gleam of excitement and triumph in their eyes.

Ruby caught every flicker of emotion on their faces. Her gaze landed on Frieda, and for a fleeting second, there was a trace of pity—so faint, Ruby herself might not have noticed it.

Frieda felt a chill creep over her. The look in Ruby’s eyes was unsettling, as if she were seeing something Frieda didn’t want seen.

Anxious to get away, Frieda tugged at Hanley’s arm. “Let’s go,” she muttered.

Hanley caught her hand in his, folding it inside his own. “Are you serious about what you just said, darling? You’ll give me your shares?”

“Of course!” Frieda nodded emphatically.

“My dear, you truly are my savior. You always have been, right from the start.” Hanley was so moved, he pulled Frieda into a tight embrace.

Hearing such kind words, words she hadn’t heard in years, Frieda felt dizzy, her mind spinning. When was the last time he’d held her like this?

A fragile smile curled at the corner of her mouth, her eyes glinting with a strange light. “You’re my husband. Who else would I help if not you? Giving birth to that ungrateful wretch to sabotage our family—this is my fault, not yours.”

“Wonderful, wonderful!” Hanley beamed. “If you’re willing to help me, I won’t have to keep pretending with that brat anymore.”

His laughter deepened the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes, pride written all over his face.

Gennifer could barely contain her excitement, stealing quick glances at Hanley as their scheme fell into place.

The truth was, they’d known for a long time that the Grayson family would never hand back the shares they’d worked so hard to acquire. Bringing along a swarm of reporters today was just a show—to stir up drama around Ruby, but really to keep their eye on the prize: Frieda’s ten percent.

Back then, they never imagined Frieda’s minority stake would become so crucial after all these years.

Gennifer’s lips curled in a faint smirk, but she dug her nails into her palm, forcing herself to wear a mask of heartbreak and disappointment.

After all, her father had brought home a new son. The family would eventually have to recognize him, and she’d no longer be labeled the illegitimate daughter.

“I don’t have time to watch the three of you put on this little show,” Ruby said coolly, raising her phone so everyone could see the screen—a bright, ticking ten-minute countdown. “If you’re not gone in ten minutes, I’ll have the whole lot of you escorted to the Quinborough Police Station.”

She took a few shaky breaths, trying to clear her mind.

It didn’t matter. So what if Sylas was Cassian’s nephew? Cassian was the real prize—no one in Quinborough could surpass him.

With that thought, the tension eased from her face. After all, she was destined to be the next Mrs. Veyne.

Hanley didn’t dwell on Sylas like Gennifer did, but he hadn’t missed the insult in Sylas’s voice. His face darkened with anger.

On his way out, he shot Ruby a murderous glare.

Ruby arched an eyebrow, her smile taunting.

To her, it was barely more than a glance.

But to one person, it meant so much more.

Sylas stepped protectively in front of Ruby, fixing Hanley with a cold, unflinching stare.

Gone was any hint of the playful rogue—when he faced Hanley, his eyes, so much like Cassian’s, turned dark and dangerous, as if warning that one more glance would be met with a bloody blade.

Hanley shuddered and hurried away, quickening his pace.