Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 567

Their previous attempts to extend their business into the city had been met with subtle but firm resistance from Cassian. Not wanting to create friction, they had backed off. So why was he making this offer now?

“Cassian, do you have something in mind?” Old Mr. Cunningham asked, his voice trembling with suppressed excitement as he took the phone from Grace.

“I have a project I’d like to partner with the Cunningham family on. It would be an excellent foothold for you in Quinborough,” Cassian said, his gaze unreadable.

“Oh?” The old man’s interest was piqued. He had always felt he owed the boy, and he would have agreed to almost any request. But this was the first time Cassian had called about something other than giving Sylas an assignment. “Of course, we’re interested. Tell me your thoughts.”

“My lawyers will contact you with the details,” Cassian said. “I will help you, but I have one condition.”

“Name it.”

“I want Sylas to be the project lead.”

A stunned silence followed. Old Mr. Cunningham and Grace exchanged another confused look.

“Cassian, did Sylas cause some trouble for you in Quinborough?” Grace asked cautiously. The repeated focus on Sylas was starting to feel less like familial concern and more like something else.

“You can refuse,” Cassian said, his patience wearing thin. If it weren’t for Sylas, he wouldn’t be making this call at all.

“Yes. They specifically requested that Sylas accompany them.”

“I see,” Cassian said, and hung up. If the Steele family had requested his presence, there was no way he could force him to leave. He rubbed his temples, a wave of frustration washing over him. The image of Ruby and Sylas together, their easy intimacy, flashed in his mind—Ruby’s fond glare, Sylas’s whispered words against her neck. The playful banter between them was suffocating him with a jealousy so sharp it was almost painful.

He clenched his fist, forced to confront his own cowardice and desperation. He couldn’t face Ruby directly, so he was resorting to these pathetic, underhanded schemes to drive a wedge between her and Sylas. He was so desperate for a scrap of her attention, an attention that Sylas seemed to have won so effortlessly. Cassian sighed, a long, ragged breath. He had forgotten that the affection he now craved was the very thing he himself had once thrown away.

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