Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 443

Ruby lowered her lashes, swallowing the surprise in her eyes.

The silence in the room seemed to settle as a tacit answer.

“Come with me.”

Cassian led the way.

At the back of the restaurant, hidden in a quiet corner, was a secret spiral staircase that wound up to the second floor—private rooms reserved for special arrangements.

Cassian pushed open the door. The subtle scent of sandalwood drifted through the air, soothing and inviting.

Everyone took their seats.

“This is a recording Sylas left before he departed.”

Cassian pulled a voice recorder from his pocket.

Sylas’s conversation with the three witnesses played out slowly.

When the crematorium worker’s voice broke, on the edge of collapse, the expressions around the table shifted.

“Did Hanley threaten their families?” Ruby’s hands tightened in her lap. That was the first possibility that sprang to mind.

“I can’t say for sure, but it’s very likely,” Cassian replied with a shake of his head.

“Mr. Veyne wanted us to hear this recording because…” Fanny’s gaze narrowed, searching Cassian’s face for answers.

“Sylas left it for me before he left. Maybe it’ll help you.”

Ruby stared at the voice recorder, a tangle of emotions twisting inside her.

Sylas had once told her he’d briefly returned to the Cunningham family. But when he left that time, it was without a word. This time, though, there was something unsettlingly final in his departure—something that felt like a farewell.

She doubted he’d come back to Quinborough so easily again.

Sylas had said Cassian owed him a favor. Honestly, Ruby never really bought that; it seemed far more likely they’d struck some kind of deal.

A sour feeling rose in her chest.

“Looking into the two doctors and the nurse shouldn’t be too difficult,” Cassian said, meeting Ruby’s gaze. “They were probably just acting out of self-interest, and it’s unlikely we’ll find anything conclusive. I suspect that nurse never even pulled back the sheet on ‘Violet.’”

His eyes were dark and piercing, as if he could see straight through her.

A shiver ran down Ruby’s spine.

“Yeah,” she murmured.

His gaze flickered, something unsettled flickering beneath the surface. For a moment, an image flashed in his mind—a proud, indomitable old woman, holding her own against his mother and even managing to outshine her.

Cassian shook himself free from the memory.

“It’s up to you. If you don’t want to go, I’ll do everything I can to find Violet myself. As for your deadline with the press, Veyne & Co. can buy you some time—we have ways to stall and control the narrative.”

His voice was low and rough, but each word was carefully measured, radiating an effortless confidence that only made him more compelling.

“Give me a little time to think,” Ruby said softly, eyes lowered.

After the last visit to her grandmother, she’d sworn never to return to that place—too many painful memories.

Cassian didn’t press her. He stood up. “It’s your decision. I’ve reserved this room for the whole day—stay and have lunch here.”

He didn’t linger, and didn’t even try to join Ruby and the others for a meal.

Cassian strode out, the door closing quietly behind him.

Ruby couldn’t help but stare at the door.

“Man, that guy just won’t give up, will he?” Hayley joked, rubbing her chin.