Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 661

"Cassian, it's me. It's Ruby..."

Monica recalled the doctor's instructions, clearing her throat and shifting her tone.

Cassian, who had been momentarily dazed, found his vision clouding completely.

"Ruby...?"

He stared blankly at the woman in front of him. She felt like a mirage, impossible to see clearly.

What was wrong with him?

Cassian fought to maintain his grip on reality. He tried to stand up straight, reaching out for the wall, but a soft hand grabbed his arm.

"Lean on me, Cassian."

"Ruby?"

Cassian stared intently at the silhouette. He couldn't make out her features, but she said she was Ruby.

Was it really her? Or was he dreaming?

Cassian swayed, his fingers pressing into the woman's wrist.

Delicate and soft...

Ruby...

Seeing Cassian slowly losing his mind, Monica felt a surge of triumph. The doctor hadn't lied; the aphrodisiac was incredibly potent.

"You... Didn't you divorce me? You don't want me anymore."

His voice was hoarse, thick with a heartbreaking vulnerability.

Monica paused, momentarily stunned by this rare display of weakness. Then, she reached out to tug at his collar. "It's me. I came back."

"Really?"

"Really."

As soon as the words left her lips, Monica was overwhelmed by the heavy, masculine scent of tobacco and cedar.

Cassian pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace, holding her as if he was terrified she would vanish.

"It's really you... It's really you..."

He murmured, pain and love warring in his voice.

"It's really me. I'm back, Cassian." Monica gazed up at him with feigned devotion, her eyes burning with raw heat and anticipation. "Now, you can do whatever you want to me."

The next second, Cassian finally loosened his grip, only to reach for her again. This time, he held her so tightly it felt as though he wanted to merge their very souls.

"Then stay with me forever, okay? We'll raise Mira together. We'll be the happiest family in the world."

Monica froze at his words. A moment later, she felt something warm and wet drop onto her neck.

She reached up to touch it, then raised her eyes, realizing Cassian's face was wet with tears.

He was... crying?

She had slipped him a heavily dosed drug, yet holding the woman he desperately loved, his only desire was for her to stay by his side?

A suffocating wave of jealousy gripped Monica's chest, twisting until she gritted her teeth in sheer agony.

She grabbed Cassian's hand and pressed it against her bare thigh. "Cassian, I won't just stay with you. I'll also..."

The man's gaze shifted.

He suddenly sat up. His vision was still blurred, but he stumbled backward, putting distance between them.

"Who are you?"

Cassian's voice trembled.

What had he just done?

Monica had been ready to savor her victory. She never expected him to snap out of it.

Wait!

She peered closely into Cassian's eyes. They were still glazed and unfocused.

That meant he hadn't sobered up at all. How had he realized she wasn't Ruby?

The seductive smile on Monica's lips fractured. "What do you mean? It's me, Ruby. Cassian, I'm Ruby..."

She reached out, trying to pull him back.

If she failed tonight...

Monica bit her lip, filled with a desperate, reckless resolve.

Ruby never smelled this suffocatingly sweet.

This woman was absolutely not Ruby!