Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 482

Only then did Cassian realize Morgan’s eyes were shot through with a wild, blood-red glare, the color spreading like tangled branches, growing and twisting across his irises.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!”

Without hesitation, Cassian drove his boot straight into Morgan’s chest—clean, swift, not a hint of mercy.

The movement was sharp and decisive, almost cinematic in its brutality.

Morgan, unsteady from too much whiskey and never expecting Cassian to attack, crashed to the floor. Something in his chest gave a sickening crack.

Pain radiated through his limbs, and the resentment and jealousy in Morgan’s eyes only deepened.

He tried to push himself up, but his bones felt splintered, useless. After several futile attempts, he slumped back, defeated, sprawled on the cold floor.

“You went to see her, didn’t you?”

Cassian’s expression darkened, as if a sudden realization had struck him. He crouched down in front of Morgan, grabbing a fistful of his shirt.

“What business is it of yours? You’re already divorced.”

Morgan lifted his head, a manic grin twisting across his face.

Cassian stared at Morgan’s deranged smile, his own brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

He stood tall, casting a long, heavy shadow that fell right over Morgan, swallowing him up completely.

Every vein in Morgan’s body seemed to thrum with indignation, his blood roaring with refusal.

Why?

He’d spent years clawing his way up, and still The Blackwood Group was forced to live in the shadow of Veyne & Co. Cassian had thrown Ruby into prison with his own hands, yet she still spoke to him—while Morgan, the man who claimed to love her, was pushed away without a second thought.

How was Cassian any better than him?

“What makes you so much better than me?” Morgan’s voice was raw, like something clawing its way up from the depths.

“Because you’re underhanded. And what happened last year—don’t think for a second you’re not involved. Neither Ruby nor I will ever let you off the hook.”

Cassian’s eyes were sharp as blades, the coldness piercing right through Morgan.

Morgan, dazed and shaken, suddenly flinched at Cassian’s words.

He glared up. “How do you—how dare you accuse me?”

Cassian let out a low, icy laugh. The air between them felt like it froze solid.

“You were the one who gained the most. I trust Ruby, and that makes it impossible not to suspect you.”

His gaze was relentless, glacial.

Morgan let out a laugh, as if Cassian had just uttered something absurd. “You trust her?”

Morgan trembled but stubbornly lifted his head, obsession and pride burning in his eyes. “So what? I won. The Blackwood Group is now the second-largest company in Quinborough. Ruby’s out of prison. You’re divorced. Even if that child of hers is yours, she’ll never let you be a father. If she wants, she could become Mrs. Blackwood tomorrow! So she spent a year in prison—so what?”

Cassian’s chest was tight with fury, Morgan’s words scraping at his nerves.

He lost control. His fist crashed into Morgan’s face, connecting squarely with his nose.

Morgan’s head snapped to the side, blood gushing from his nostrils.

For a moment, Morgan looked dazed. He reached up, fingertips coming away sticky and red.

“You hit me? What right do you have to hit me?”

His eyes blazed crimson with rage.

“Cassian, what makes you a saint now? If you loved her, if you trusted her, then with your power as CEO of Veyne & Co., how could you have let her go to prison?”

The words struck Cassian right in the heart.

His whole body shuddered. His nails dug into his palm.

It was true.

All along, the one who’d failed her most—the one who’d left her to suffer alone—was himself.