Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 426

The woman’s voice was laced with the unmistakable weariness of age, her raspy tone betraying exhaustion she could no longer conceal.

Ruby lifted a hand, signaling the press to back off, and brought the impromptu interview to a close.

She stood her ground, gaze calm but sharp, occasionally letting her eyes drift across the crowd—lingering just a little longer on Frieda.

These days, it was clear she hadn’t slept well. Her once radiant face had faded to a sallow, drawn pallor, as if she’d aged decades overnight. Even her spirit seemed to have withered away.

The room quieted, tension lingering in the air.

Hanley, though simmering with anger, hadn’t forgotten the real reason for this elaborate funeral.

He shot Ruby a venomous glare, preparing to turn away.

Yet in that final moment, a chill crept over him. Instinct made him glance toward the coldest corner of the room, where Cassian sat, his gaze icy and unblinking.

Those eyes—deep, glacial, and merciless—reminded Hanley of the world’s end, a frozen wasteland that made his blood run cold.

He shuddered involuntarily, ducked his head, and hurried his steps.

Ruby narrowed her eyes, not missing the way Hanley’s expression had changed so abruptly.

Among everyone present, she thought, only Cassian could frighten Hanley like that.

She replayed her earlier conversation with Cassian in her mind, unable to shake a sense of unease.

His recent behavior had grown stranger by the day. First, he’d bought up a large block of Hanley’s shares in The Grayson Group, delivering them to her personally at Southgarde Estate. Now he appeared at Hanley’s funeral in a navy suit she’d never seen him wear before.

None of it made sense.

But Ruby didn’t have time to ponder. The funeral was beginning.

Hanley climbed onto the makeshift stage, microphone in hand.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve organized this belated funeral, after more than a decade, to put to rest the rumors that have been spreading online.”

“I’ve brought in the staff from the crematorium who handled Violet’s remains, as well as the doctor who officially pronounced her dead and the nurse who wheeled her into the morgue.”

As soon as he finished, Gennifer led three people onto the stage, each displaying their professional credentials.

Cameras zoomed in, projecting crystal-clear images on the large screen behind them.

The online audience count soared past half a million, the livestream stuttering under the flood of comments. The first reporter to start streaming stared at his phone, eyes wild with excitement.

He glanced up at Ruby—just as everyone else in the room turned their attention to her.

Everyone here knew the history. Hanley and Ruby had gone public with their feud more than once, and yet, today, Hanley hadn’t stopped Ruby from attending the funeral.

They weren’t fools. It was obvious this whole event was a front for their private war—and Ruby was the target.

Sure enough, Hanley’s anger erupted. “I am outraged by the rumors being spread online, but even more so at the person responsible.”

“After investigating, I’ve learned that the person behind this is none other than my own daughter—Ruby.”

A shocked murmur swept through the hall.

Ruby, under the weight of so many stares, remained perfectly composed.

“As Ruby’s father, I am deeply disappointed. It pains me to have raised a daughter like this.”

Hanley lowered his head, posture slack, his disappointment looking almost rehearsed. “Violet once saved my wife’s life, but her child was left motherless. Out of guilt, my wife brought Gennifer home. Within the Grayson family, we always gave Gennifer more attention, perhaps to make up for what she’d lost. I never imagined Ruby would harbor resentment over this, turning it into hatred toward us and jealousy toward Gennifer. She wanted revenge. Before, she was imprisoned for stealing company secrets from Veyne & Co., and she blamed Gennifer for reporting her. Recently, she even managed to have Gennifer locked up for a few days using underhanded tactics.”