Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 38

This was the first time in years that anyone had dared to shout insults at him, fully aware of who he was.

But, to be fair, this time the fault truly lay on their side.

"We sincerely apologize for the trouble we've caused your child," Bennett said, doing his best to sound conciliatory. "We're prepared to offer appropriate compensation."

"That won't be necessary."

Ruby's cold voice cut him off before he could finish.

Bennett faltered, caught off guard. Before he could recover, Ruby's voice rang out again—sharper this time: "Just tell Mr. Veyne to stop throwing his weight around. Ordinary lives matter too!"

Her words landed like a slap. Bennett broke out in a cold sweat, sneaking a glance at Cassian to gauge his reaction.

To his surprise, Cassian wasn't angry. If anything, his face was clouded with something like confusion—almost a wistful daze.

That voice…

Cassian's mind flashed back to a video he'd happened to see once. The case had shaken all of Quinborough, and there she was—Ruby—standing in the courtroom as the defense attorney, unwavering and fierce.

It was a side of Ruby he'd never expected: striking and unyielding, like a lone pine atop a windswept cliff. Her integrity razor-sharp, her presence commanding enough that a single slap of her hand on the table had sent the opposing counsel into a panic.

Now, the woman's biting warning on the phone overlapped in his mind with that same steel-edged Ruby.

The familiarity was so intense that, for the first time in years, Cassian's calm composure cracked.

His pupils tightened as he stared, unblinking, at the phone in Bennett's hand.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be hanging up now."

Her voice had steadied, blending with the sound of heavy rain in the background.

The feeling of déjà vu faded a little, and Cassian managed to pull himself back to reality. He was startled by the thoughts that had crept in.

He really must be losing his mind.

The woman on the other end was a mother now, caring for her child. Yet he'd somehow started to connect her with Ruby—the Ruby who'd only just gotten out of prison.

Cassian rubbed his brow, his head pounding.

If she didn't want compensation, so be it. He wasn't in the business of forcing charity on those who refused it.

He waved a hand for Bennett to hang up. But before Bennett could even offer a polite farewell, the call ended abruptly with a sharp beep.

Bennett's lips twisted with frustration.

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