Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 530

Both of them finally turned to look back.

The old woman hurried forward a couple of steps. “Sweetheart, did you visit your grandmother’s grave recently?”

She couldn’t hold the question in any longer—it had been weighing on her heart.

The Steeles’ people stationed in Stormhaven had reported that fresh flowers had appeared by the headstone. She’d thought it was Frieda, come to her senses at last, finally going to seek forgiveness from her mother.

But seeing Ruby today, she couldn’t help but wonder if it had been someone else.

The sudden mention of her late grandmother felt like a heavy stone dropped onto Ruby’s chest, making it hard to breathe. She bit her lip and lowered her gaze.

“Yes,” she managed, “Grandma’s grave is in Stormhaven—it’s quite a distance from Quinborough. I had some business there, so I stopped by to pay my respects…”

The old woman faltered, and Sylas was quick to steady her. The old man, leaning on his cane, stood perfectly still. But if one looked closer, they’d see his fingers clenching the carved lion’s head so tightly it seemed he might collapse if he let go.

Thinking of her elder sister, the old woman’s eyes filled with tears.

She whispered, “Back then, she was so worried about Frieda that she insisted on coming to Quinborough. In the end, she settled in Stormhaven, heartbroken and disappointed. I never imagined that would be the last time we saw each other. Now, she’s gone, and we’re left worlds apart.”

Her voice was soft and distant, as if her grief had made time slow down.

“Mom, you’re getting older. Aunt was at that age, too—no one can escape it,” Pearl said gently, stepping forward to rub her mother’s back, trying to comfort her.

The old woman swayed, barely steadying herself with the arm Ruby offered. She lowered her head, her silver hair covering her eyes, the sorrow in her posture unmistakable.

The old man watched, heart aching, hand half-lifted but then withdrawing. He shot Ruby a look, silently asking her to help console the old lady.

Ruby understood, though she hardly needed the cue. She turned her hand and softly held the old woman’s palm, rubbing her fingers gently. “If you’d like, when I finish up with things here, perhaps I could invite you to Stormhaven. We could visit Grandma together.”

The old woman looked up slowly, meeting Ruby’s sincere gaze. She nodded, squeezing Ruby’s hand, blinking hard to keep her tears at bay.

“Good girl.”

She patted Ruby’s hand, then glanced at Pearl. “You’re both right. She’s gone now—I shouldn’t let myself be overwhelmed by grief.”

She sighed.

“Ruby, now that you know who we are, there’s no need to keep calling me ‘ma’am’—it sounds so formal,” she said, her tone warm and affectionate, though her eyes still shimmered with unshed tears.

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