Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 419

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“Is this seat for you?”

Cassian looked up, his eyes dark and unreadable, the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips as he fixed his gaze on Bennett.

“Yes, sir!” Bennett answered at once, head bowed, voice resolute.

Cassian scoffed under his breath.

Without another word, Bennett spun on his heel and all but sprinted out of the office.

A few minutes later, he ended a phone call, the forced smile on his face bordering on a grimace. He stretched his cheeks, as if trying to loosen the tightness, then knocked again and entered the office. “Mr. Veyne, I’ve already spoken with the Cunningham family.”

Cassian gave the faintest nod. “Good. Now get in touch with Hanley. I’ll be attending Violet’s funeral in a few days.”

A flicker of confusion crossed Bennett’s face, but after the lesson he’d just received, he knew better than to ask questions. He simply nodded and left to make the arrangements.

Once Bennett closed the door, the office was plunged into silence.

Cassian leaned back, glancing up just in time to catch the clouds gathering on the horizon. The weather was grim, the sky weighed down by thick, gray clouds.

Ruby would probably be there too.

He lowered his gaze, letting his long lashes cast shadows over the turmoil in his eyes—hidden, unspoken, impossible to share.

A faint snap shattered the hush.

Feeling a chill against his fingertips, Cassian realized he’d just snapped his pen clean in half. Ink bled across the crisp white paper, blossoming into meaningless, ghostly shapes.

His thoughts drifted, unbidden, to the divorce agreement he’d signed with Ruby. Her handwriting had been swift and elegant, every stroke confident and sure. He, on the other hand, had hesitated for ages before finally scrawling his name with a heavy heart.

Ruby, are you really this heartless? Was it true, what you said—that every trace of love between us has vanished?

Cassian’s hands clenched. He refused to believe it. He wanted to fight for her—wanted her to look back, just once more.

Even the air at the top of this tower felt heavy, pressing down on his already troubled heart.

……

Two days passed in a blur. Early that morning, Ruby stood before her closet, finally settling on a striking fuchsia dress—short, bold, impossible to miss.