Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 70

His voice dripped with scorn, cold and biting.

"So this is what I get for taking you in? I've raised a snake in my own house."

Every trace of emotion vanished from Cassian's face, replaced by an icy, unreadable mask.

Recalling Cassian's earlier contempt for Ruby, Cameron Lockridge couldn't help but knit his brow. He clenched his fists, but kept his voice steady, refusing to back down. "Ms. Grayson is someone anyone would admire."

A sharp smack rang out in the quiet office—Cassian's palm striking the desk.

"Someone to admire, is she? Ruby?" Cassian sneered. "You've got some nerve, Lockridge, thinking you can set your sights on my wife."

His eyes darkened, dangerous. Hand pressed flat on the desk, he looked ready to leap across and snap Cameron's neck.

Cameron kept his gaze lowered, silent. The lack of response only seemed to enrage Cassian further.

Then, something occurred to him.

Ruby had no real friends or family in Quinborough. The only person she kept in contact with was Cameron, a former colleague from the legal world. So how did she suddenly have a child after getting out of prison?

Cassian's mind almost froze. His gaze flicked back to Cameron, not noticing the faint tremor in his own fingers.

"Whose child is it?"

He'd wanted to ask this for a long time.

Cameron didn't answer directly. Instead, his eyes flickered; a slow, proud smile touched his lips, the kind a father wears when thinking of his child. "Mr. Veyne, since you've already done your digging, you must know Ruby wouldn't show up with a child and seek me out for no reason."

"You really expect me to buy that?"

He glared at Cameron, voice like steel. "You want to show me how far your nerve goes? Fine. I'm looking forward to it."

With that, Cassian hurled his coffee mug to the floor. "Get out!"

Cameron rose slowly, pausing at the door to look back one last time.

"Mr. Veyne, your position is beyond anything I could ever reach. But did it ever cross your mind that the wife you take for granted is the woman someone else would give anything for? You dragged her into hell with your own hands. When you wake at night, do you ever regret pushing away the one person who truly loved you?"

He walked out, legs nearly buckling beneath him, a cold sweat gathering as the adrenaline faded.

What the hell had he just done? Stirred up Cassian's wrath and let him believe he was Mira's father.

Cameron rubbed his forehead, trying to steady himself. It was reckless, maybe even foolish. But if Ms. Grayson didn't want Cassian to know the truth about Mira, maybe this was the best way to protect her after all.