Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 515

Hanley clearly hadn’t expected this beautiful woman to be so brazenly proud.

He froze, momentarily speechless.

Frieda arched an eyebrow at him, amused by how dumbstruck he looked. She covered her mouth, giggling as she swayed on her feet. “Well then, tell me—why do you think we’re alike?”

“Radiant.”

It took Hanley a long moment to regain his composure, but when he finally answered, his gaze was unwavering, filled with admiration and something that bordered on reverence.

Just that single word, coupled with the brightness in his eyes, made Frieda’s heart skip a beat.

She blinked, surprised at herself, her lashes trembling faintly.

“Gaudy,” she retorted, tossing her hair as she strode away. With a flourish, Frieda climbed into a brand-new luxury sedan—one of the few in the country at a time when cars like this were all but impossible to come by.

Hanley could only stare after her, utterly captivated.

Even after her car disappeared down the street, he stood rooted in place, regret welling up inside him.

But Frieda didn’t know that. All she did was narrow her eyes a little and quietly instruct her driver to find out who that man was.

She hadn’t expected it either—that fleeting spark of curiosity would lead to them crossing paths again and again, until love swept them up in a storm; every anniversary after that, he brought her a single red rose.

“Where have you been these past few days? You haven’t been at the office.”

Frieda was silent for a long time before she finally reached out and closed her hand around the rose.

She looked up, meeting Hanley’s eyes directly, her gaze sharp and searching as she waited for his answer.

But Hanley showed none of the guilt or panic she’d expected. “I found a cheap motel outside the city. After the recent announcement about the company shares, The Grayson Group should’ve changed hands long ago. Things have been tense at work, and everyone’s been giving me the cold shoulder. I didn’t want you to worry, so I told you I’d been staying at the office.”

He dropped his head, looking a little defeated.

Frieda’s eyes softened, just for a moment.

Gennifer spoke up at just the right time. “Mom, you know The Grayson Group technically belongs to my sister now. Dad’s been trying to work things out with her privately, so she hasn’t officially taken over yet. He’s been staying away, and he told me not to mention it to you.”

Frieda pressed her lips together. “Hanley, I’m your wife. We’ve weathered storms together for over twenty years. Do you really think you have to keep something like this from me?”

At her words, both Hanley and Gennifer’s eyes lit up—each catching the other’s glance, barely able to hide their relief.

Hanley didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward and pulled Frieda into a bold embrace. “You’re right, darling. From now on, I’ll tell you everything.”

—

Southgarde Estate.

“Ruby, you won’t believe this,” Hayley whispered, sidling up with a conspiratorial grin.

Ruby was busy feeding Mira warm cereal, but she spared Hayley a glance. “Believe what?”

Ruby only paused for a moment, then handed Mira over to Pamela and disappeared into the bedroom without a word.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Hayley called after her, but Ruby just kept walking, without so much as a backward glance.

Hayley scratched her head, wondering if she’d accidentally said something wrong.

But soon enough, Ruby returned, cradling a thick, illustrated folio in her arms.

“What’s that? You went to fetch this?” Hayley eyed her suspiciously, her curiosity piqued.

“You said you felt shortchanged, right? Well, how about I give you this instead?” Ruby offered her the heavy volume, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.