Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 54

The only spare room in the house had always been the storage room, jam-packed with old boxes and forgotten junk.

Frieda shot a sidelong glance at it, discomfort flickering in her eyes, but she still said, "It doesn't matter where you sleep. It's only a few days—you're not made of porcelain."

Ruby's grip tightened on the handle of her suitcase.

Here we go again.

She was the real daughter, after all. Yet, for as long as she could remember, anything Gennifer wanted, she got—no matter how hard Ruby begged to keep it, their mother would yank it away and hand it over without a second thought.

Ruby used to be hurt, confused—she'd clutch her mother's sleeve, pleading, "Why?"

All she ever got in return was a cold look from above.

"If Gennifer wants it, just give it to her. You're the older sister. How did I end up with such a petty child?" her mother would say.

This was how it had always been.

Now, Ruby felt drained, as if her limbs had lost all strength. Not even a trace of the stubbornness that once made her fight back remained.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ruby headed for the storage room.

Gennifer, not seeing the outrage and disbelief she remembered from Ruby's childhood, gave a little shrug, disappointment flickering across her face as she looked away.

But Frieda stared, distracted, at Ruby's retreating figure until the door closed behind her.

"Mom, is Ruby mad at me?" Gennifer asked, her voice sweet but laced with calculation. She instantly put on a look of remorse and snuggled up to Frieda's arm.

At this, Frieda Steele arched an eyebrow and slapped her hand down on the coffee table. "Mad at you? She's just getting bold, that's all!"

Then she softened, stroking Gennifer's hair with all the warmth in the world. "You always think of others first, honey. That's how people take advantage."

"With you here, I'll never be taken advantage of," Gennifer replied with a rehearsed, bashful smile, cuddling closer to her mother.

Her words made Frieda beam with delight.

The laughter of mother and daughter echoed through the living room, filling the air with warmth and ease.

Her mind was filled with memories of her grandmother holding her close, calling her "Rue" in that soft, gentle voice.

In her feverish dreams, she was small and needy, lost in her grandmother's arms, savoring the taste of a long-forgotten piece of candy.

"Grandma… it hurts…" Ruby whimpered, turning her face up, yearning for the warmth of her grandmother's touch to ease the pain.

But no matter how long she waited, darkness was all that came.

She woke—just a dream.

Groggy, Ruby opened her eyes. Her stomach grumbled from the cold draft slipping in through the window she'd cracked open for air.

A wave of heat crashed over her, and before she knew it, she'd slipped back into feverish sleep.

She pressed a shaky hand to her forehead—burning hot.

Weak and exhausted, Ruby stared blankly up at the ceiling.