Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson)

After her release from prison, Ruby Grayson cradled her six-month-old baby in her arms. A year and a half earlier, the husband she had adored for a decade had personally sent her to jail. Her stepsister, whom she had treated as family, conspired with her childhood friend Morgan Blackwood to fabricate evidence against her. Her own family disowned her, refusing to acknowledge a convict as their daughter. They had trampled on her love, dignity, and honor to secure their own positions.

Now free, Ruby wanted only to raise her child and finalize the divorce—until her ex-husband stood before her, eyes pleading, "Ruby, I was blinded. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved." Her stepsister and family begged for forgiveness, "We know we were wrong. Please forgive us." Even Morgan Blackwood knelt before her, "I did it all to give you a better life. It was just a year in prison—I’ll take care of you!"

Ruby tightened her hold on her daughter, Mira, whispering softly, "Hush, Mira. They’re all bad people."

Without looking back, she walked away, determined to build a new life on her own terms.