Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 518

He closed the door with practiced efficiency, not a single movement wasted.

Hayley stood staring at the door as it swung shut, her lips pressed tight in concern.

Forget it. If anything seems off, I’ll just warn Ruby as soon as I can.

With a long, weary sigh, she stepped into the night and climbed into her car.

…

Inside the hospital room, the atmosphere slowly settled. At last, Frieda let herself lean back against Hanley’s chest, feeling safe for the first time all day.

“I’ve arranged for someone to drive you home first,” Hanley murmured, gently stroking her hair with rare tenderness. “I’ll come back to the house later tonight and get some rest myself.”

Frieda, though well into middle age, found her heart fluttering at his touch. When Hanley had courted her in their youth, he’d prided himself on being a true gentleman—always careful, always reserved, never crossing a line. Even after they married, he kept his distance, maintaining a respectful but cool formality. This kind of intimacy was almost unheard of between them.

She found herself a little dazed, swept up by the unexpected warmth of his hand in her hair.

“Oh, right. I heard from Gennifer that Ruby’s coming to the house tomorrow,” Hanley said quietly, glancing down to gauge Frieda’s reaction.

It was obvious Gennifer’s pleading had worked. Frieda didn’t protest as much as before, though her tone still carried a hint of reluctance.

She looked up at Hanley, frowning. “Wasn’t it just at Violet’s funeral that you and Ruby were the subject of all sorts of rumors? Didn’t you insist she clear things up for you, to give you an answer you could accept? Now you want her back at the house, and Gennifer’s hoping we’ll patch things up with her. Doesn’t that make all your earlier efforts pointless?”

Hanley sighed, his hand still gently stroking her hair, as if this small compromise cost him dearly. “It was Gennifer who invited her, out of worry for your health. No matter what’s gone on between me and Ruby, I have to think of you and the kids. As for the rest… Let’s wait until you’ve recovered. We can put those issues aside for now. Ruby’s still my daughter by blood. As her father, I owe her some guidance—whether she listens or not.”

His words took Frieda by surprise, and it showed in her eyes. “So we’re really letting Ruby come back to the Grayson family?”

Something stirred inside her—a flicker of feeling she hadn’t expected.

Hanley put on a show of helplessness, but his nod was firm. “She’s made mistakes, yes, but blood ties can’t be broken. I can’t just leave her out there on her own forever. She may be difficult, but she’s still your daughter—and mine.”

His voice was soft, his gaze meeting Frieda’s and lingering there, a subtle thread of connection weaving them together.

Frieda felt overwhelmed, almost dizzy with confusion. Was this all a dream? Was her illness making her hallucinate?

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify