Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 65

Cassian let out a cold laugh, his dark eyes flickering. "What do you think?"

Bennett froze, thrown off by the question.

The lady was here—what was he supposed to feel? Mr. Veyne was her husband, after all.

"Tell reception I'm not in."

Cassian tossed a pen worth thousands straight into the trash and picked up another, his face settling into its usual chill.

Bennett, though confused, dutifully relayed the message.

At the front desk, the receptionist hung up and regarded Ruby with a touch more caution. "I'm sorry, Mr. Veyne isn't in the office today."

Ruby's brow furrowed.

In her memory, Cassian was a workaholic. Even after most employees had clocked out, he'd still be holed up in his office until dusk, and once home, he'd disappear into the study until late at night.

Not in the office?

Sure.

She let out a quiet, mocking laugh.

"Well, I hope that's really true. In that case, I'll trouble you to pass this along to him."

Ruby handed over the divorce papers she'd already signed.

"When he's ready to sign, have him contact me so I can come pick it up."

She asked for a sticky note and jotted down a number—Cameron Lockridge's.

She'd left that number at the hospital when she took Mira in; if Cassian decided to check, she didn't want him stumbling onto Mira's existence. That would be a mess.

As for Cameron, she could always explain when she got home.

She put down the pen and walked away, heart heavy and keenly aware of the curious stares trailing her. Keeping her head down, Ruby made her way to the revolving glass doors.

She didn't notice she brushed past someone familiar—Cameron Lockridge.

"Ruby, Mira's fallen asleep. I asked a female colleague from the firm to watch her for a bit. Veyne & Co. called—there's an urgent case, and I need to get to a meeting right away."

Cameron messaged her, apologetic.

Ruby understood and replied, "It's okay, go ahead."

He didn't say anything more.

Ruby was anxious to get back to Mira anyway; she didn't love the idea of a stranger watching her daughter.

Still…

Just before getting in the car, she remembered Cameron heading to Veyne & Co.

And that child...

His jaw clenched, cold fury radiating from him.

Off to the side, Bennett shifted awkwardly, feeling the chill.

Cameron, pinned by Cassian's stare, grew more and more uncomfortable. He glanced at Bennett for help, but Bennett kept his eyes down, pretending to be oblivious.

"I heard you started a private law practice on the side," Cassian said at last, his voice cold and heavy, like ice cracking on a mountaintop.

Cameron blinked, confused.

Hadn't Mr. Veyne always known about that? He'd never objected before.

He looked uncertainly at Cassian, but nodded. "Yes..."

"Then you have nothing to complain about."

Cassian cut him off, tossing a file across the table.

Cameron picked it up, puzzled. But after a quick scan of the final page, his face drained of color.

"Anything you want to say? Planning to pay damages, or call your lawyer?" Cassian asked, his fingers idly drumming the tabletop—a slow, steady rhythm that felt like a ticking clock in Cameron's chest.

Cameron bit his lip, disbelief tightening his voice. "Mr. Veyne... this has to be a mistake. Our firm would never mess up a Veyne & Co. case. There must be—?"