Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 478

“Sabine, you don’t even know Aunt Frieda,” Hattie Steele sighed, standing by the door with a look of exasperation.

At just fifteen, Hattie already had the poised elegance of a young debutante.

“That’s only because Sabine’s never met Aunt Frieda before,” Sabine piped up. “If Mom would just take her, Sabine would get to know her in no time—and Aunt Frieda would love Sabine!”

Sabine’s bright black eyes sparkled as she pouted her rosy lips, looking every bit the picture of a porcelain doll—adorable and winsome.

Hattie glanced at her mother, Pearl.

She was older than Sabine, and she remembered how, back then, their mom would wander the house with a sigh always on her lips. Hattie would try to comfort her, hugging her mom, and sometimes, she’d notice a photo in her mother’s hands—it was always the same, a picture of Pearl with another girl.

That was when Mom would talk, her words tinged with both nostalgia and heartache: she had a sister.

Aunt Frieda had left the Steele family for love, and it was something no one in the family liked to mention.

As the years passed, Mom spoke of her less and less. By the time Sabine was born, she’d stopped mentioning her altogether.

“Mom, didn’t Aunt Frieda leave for good over ten years ago?” Hattie asked quietly. “Why would she suddenly send a wedding dress after all this time? Did… did he treat her badly?”

For all her intelligence, Hattie was still just a child. Her eyes, usually so bright, were now clouded with confusion.

“Maybe she just misses Grandma and Grandpa?” Sabine said, her chin propped in her hands, the picture of innocence.

Pearl stroked her daughters’ hair, but her mind was churning with what Hattie had just said.

Of course. All these years, Frieda had vanished into her new life, even changing her address so thoroughly they’d lost all track of her. Now, suddenly, she reached out.

“I suppose… maybe she’s just homesick?” Pearl said, hesitating.

“But Mom, what if that’s not it?” Hattie pressed, biting her lip. “What if Uncle Hanley is just like Dad? You never really trusted him, did you?”

Pearl’s hand stilled.

Back then, none of them had wanted Frieda to marry Hanley. No matter how charming or attentive he seemed, Pearl always had a sinking feeling—a little voice in her head telling her to keep him away.

Hanley was never going to be a good man.

And her own husband…

Pearl’s hands clenched tightly around the clothes she was folding.

He’d sworn he’d devote his life to her, even promised he’d join the Steele family for her sake. But behind their backs, he’d tried to break into the family safe. If the housekeeper hadn’t stumbled upon it in time, the Steeles could have lost everything.

Thankfully, Pearl had been clear-headed enough to act quickly. She’d divorced him on the spot and sent him packing with nothing but the shirt on his back.

“Sweetheart, are you saying…” Pearl’s voice trailed off, her heart suddenly unsettled.

“Mom, I read a story today where they used an old saying—‘no one comes calling without a reason.’”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify