Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 391

Ruby watched Violet’s frantic panic with cold detachment, searching herself for a spark of vindictive satisfaction. But there was nothing—just a hollow indifference.

“You really think you and Hanley have been so clever at hiding things?”

Her words dripped with scorn, a mocking lilt that seemed to tighten the string already wound too taut in Violet's mind.

“What… what do you want from me?” Violet stammered, suddenly seeing something terrifying in this woman who, for all her youth, radiated an uncanny menace.

When had Ruby figured it out? Violet and Hanley had been careful, meticulous for years. Everyone else had forgotten—so much time had passed that Violet could stroll the city streets without the slightest disguise, and no one ever batted an eye.

Who would believe that someone who’d officially died over a decade ago could reappear, alive and unscathed?

Violet’s fists clenched so tight her nails bit into her palms, her body trembling despite her efforts to stay composed.

“You’re both in such a hurry to reunite, I suppose, because you just got your hands on Frieda’s shares, right? Now you think you can manipulate The Grayson Group to your hearts’ content, safe and untouchable. And you—Hanley’s not-so-dead mistress—have the nerve to flaunt yourself in public.”

Ruby arched an eyebrow, her words sharper than glass. Violet’s expression soured.

“Ruby, I suggest you watch your mouth.”

The effort it took Violet to steady herself, to keep her voice from shaking, was almost visible.

But she was right—Hanley now held all of Frieda’s shares. No matter how hard Ruby tried to buy more, she could never threaten the ironclad grip Hanley now had as the company’s major shareholder.

Even if everything came to light, what real difference would it make for Violet? The consequences would be negligible.

Buoyed by her reasoning, Violet straightened her back, a trace of arrogance flickering across her face. How ridiculous, she thought, that a few words and some photographs from Frieda’s daughter had actually rattled her.

“So you came here today on purpose. I don’t know when you started having me followed and photographed, but if you try to leak any of this, I’ll have my lawyers on you before you can blink.”

Her chin lifted in defiance, her eyes full of disdain.

Ruby only smiled, as if she’d just heard something genuinely amusing.

“Violet, do you really think that holding most of The Grayson Group’s shares means you’re safe? Let me assure you, The Grayson Group is mine—and every bit of retribution you deserve, you’ll get. All of you.”

Ruby’s lips curled into a faint, cold smile. Her eyes, nearly void of emotion, darkened with a chilling intensity.

Ruby stared at Violet’s self-satisfied smile, then calmly pressed pause on the recorder in her hand.

“So, Ruby, don’t waste your time with pointless struggles. And another thing—your mother couldn’t compete with me, so you shouldn’t think you can interfere with my daughter’s happiness, either.”

Violet stepped forward, locking eyes with Ruby in warning.

Though Ruby was now divorced from the richest man in Quinborough, a man like that—so successful and desirable—could easily tempt her. As a mother, Violet had failed her daughter before, but this time, she intended to stand between her and any threat.

Ruby watched Violet’s bravado, nearly laughing at how seriously she took herself.

“If she really wants him, she’s welcome to try. But just because I let go doesn’t mean she can take what’s mine. That’ll depend on her own ability, won’t it?”

With a lazy motion, Ruby reached to pull the folder from Violet’s grasp—a gesture that, for a split second, made her look astonishingly like Sylas.

But as she tugged, she realized Violet was clutching it with a death grip.

“Hm?”