Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 481

Landon spoke in a gentle tone, then got up to help open the car doors for both women.

Ruby steadied a still-dazed Fanny as they climbed out, glancing over her shoulder at Landon, who trailed behind step for step. As expected, she met his pleading gaze.

“All right, come in,” she said with a sigh of resignation.

He’d followed them all the way from Stormhaven to Quinborough, clearly with nowhere else to go. She couldn’t very well leave him stranded on the street.

“I can help!” Landon’s anxiety melted into delight as he eagerly moved forward to assist with Fanny.

The three of them entered Southgarde Estate together. The moment Ruby flicked on the living room lights, they all noticed a figure stretched out on the sofa.

“Garrison?”

The sight of him jolted Fanny out of her stupor. Even Ruby was taken aback.

Their entrance had been anything but quiet. The man on the couch stirred, blinking in the sudden brightness as he adjusted to the light.

When Garrison recognized Ruby, he straightened up, looking a little sheepish. “You’re back?”

“We are. But what are you doing here?”

Ruby helped Fanny settle onto the sofa, her eyes full of confusion as she looked at Garrison.

He didn’t answer right away, instead fixing his gaze on Landon.

“You—”

“Yes?” Landon replied, his brow raised.

Garrison was rarely caught off guard, and Ruby was about to follow his line of sight when he turned back to her with his usual warm smile. “Who’s this?”

“Landon. World-renowned pianist. Currently glued to Rue’s side,” Fanny quipped with a teasing grin, now fully alert.

Landon didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed by the joke. He nodded openly. “That’s right.”

Only, as he looked at Garrison, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

“I see...” Garrison pressed his lips together and looked away. “I’ve had some time on my hands lately, and honestly, it gets lonely. Since you weren’t home, I thought I’d drop by and keep Mira company.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Ruby nodded. She didn’t press the matter, just got up and led the group toward the spare bedrooms. “Pick a room, any room. You’ll have to make do for the night.”

“I’ll take this one,” Landon said quickly, pointing to the room closest to Ruby’s.

“No way. That one’s mine,” Fanny interjected, instantly on guard.

Sure, he was her idol, but the way he kept glancing at Ruby was far too loaded for her liking. No matter how close they’d gotten these past few days, he was still basically a stranger. As Ruby’s friend, she had to stay vigilant.

Landon sensed Fanny’s wariness and didn’t push further. He simply pointed to the next room. “Then I’ll take this one.”

Ruby turned to Garrison. “What about you? Is the last room okay?”

But the night was far from over.

Elsewhere, Cassian arrived in the dead of night, exhausted from the road. He lingered in his car for a moment, torn between Northridge Manor and Veyne & Co. offices. In the end, he steered toward the office. Without her, Northridge Manor was nothing more than an empty house; it held no comfort for him.

As he pulled up outside the office, he spotted a shadowy figure crouched near the entrance.

The figure stood at the sound of his footsteps, stepping into the moonlight. A handsome but troubled face came into view.

“Morgan?”

Cassian stopped short, eyes narrowing as he sized up the man before him.

Morgan reeked faintly of alcohol. He swayed as he straightened, barely managing to stay upright.

He slowly lifted his head, his dark eyes glassy with drink, but Cassian could still make out the simmering bitterness beneath.

“What are you doing here?” Cassian asked, alert, his posture tense as a drawn blade.

Morgan seemed deaf to the question, jaw clenched, muttering through gritted teeth, “Why…”

“Why is it that even after your divorce, she still won’t look at me?!”

Suddenly, as if possessed, Morgan lunged forward and seized Cassian by the collar.