Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 506

Her tone was laced with doubt, but there was already a shadow of worry in her eyes.

“What do you mean…?” Hayley was still a bit confused, but when she caught the serious looks on the others’ faces, her heart dropped. Suddenly, everything clicked. “Ruby, are you planning to just grit your teeth and see what they’re after before making your move?”

“Exactly.”

Ruby smiled; gone was the cold, bitter smile from earlier. Now, her expression had softened, warmth and kindness in her eyes.

“These past few days, I’ve kept my whereabouts a secret. Hanley must be thinking, in his arrogance, that I’ve run out of options and have no cards left to play. If nothing changes, and I can’t come up with a perfect explanation soon, the Grayson Group’s reputation will completely collapse, and I’ll be in an even tougher spot. That’s exactly what Hanley wants,” Ruby explained calmly, then suddenly changed tack. “But then, out of nowhere, he sends Gennifer to offer me an olive branch. That move is too suspicious to ignore. He must be plotting something far more complicated.”

“This plan—it’s bigger than just ruining me or propping up the Grayson Group. I have to stay absolutely vigilant.”

Ruby’s words left the room in heavy silence.

If that was true…

The three women exchanged glances, each seeing the gravity in the others’ eyes.

“Do you want us to go with you to Grayson Manor tomorrow?” Fanny asked, still uneasy.

“No need. Even if I wanted you there, they’d never agree. Besides, with so many people watching today, they won’t dare try anything while I’m at the mansion.”

Ruby gave their hands a reassuring squeeze, signaling they shouldn’t worry.

But despite her words, neither Fanny nor Hayley could really relax.

For a moment, the tense atmosphere in the company pressed down on them all.

Asher shrank further into the corner, doing his best to stay invisible.

“We could go with her.”

Suddenly, an elderly voice cut through the silence.

The three women turned to see who had spoken.

Sylas had entered, leading three older people in behind him.

“I’m so sorry, we should have knocked,” Pearl said first, offering Ruby a gentle, apologetic smile, though her gaze lingered a moment too long on Ruby’s face.

“If Sylas brought you, it’s fine,” Ruby replied politely. She wasn’t sure who these people were, but she stepped forward to help them anyway.

Both the old man and the old woman reached out at the same time, each wanting Ruby’s support.

But…

The old woman looked down at her own hands—and at the old man’s—both as gnarled and withered as ancient vines.

A long sigh escaped her lips.

She’d always prided herself on being sharp and resilient, living through experiences most could only imagine. At her age, she shouldn’t have any regrets. Yet here was her granddaughter, right in front of her, and even though it was their first meeting, she couldn’t help but feel the bittersweet tug of time’s passage.

“Good girl,” the old woman murmured, gently patting Ruby’s hand as she settled the two elders into seats across from her desk.

The old man, for once, didn’t try to tease his wife. He gave Ruby a serious look and nodded. “Thank you, dear.”

Ruby was a little flustered by their gratitude. “It was nothing—really, you don’t need to thank me.”

Pearl had followed them in at a steady pace, her eyes never leaving Ruby.

Frieda had always been unruly and headstrong; who would have thought she’d raise such a clever, composed daughter?

“Ruby, do you know who we are?”