Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 533

Sylas fixed Landon with a cold, unblinking stare—there was no mistaking the edge of threat behind it.

But Landon only seemed more at ease, even tugging playfully (and a little provocatively) at the sleeve of Ruby’s jacket. “That kid’s still at the office, isn’t he?”

It took Ruby a moment before she realized he meant Asher.

She had promised to help Asher find his parents as soon as possible, but after bringing him all the way from Stormhaven to Quinborough, she’d ended up leaving him alone most of the time.

Slightly embarrassed, Ruby rubbed at her nose. “Let’s head back to Apex Legal Partners first.”

When the group arrived at the office, Ruby opened her door and immediately spotted Asher sitting obediently at her desk, eyes glued to his schoolbook.

“Miss Ruby, did you finish your work? Can you help me find my mom and dad now?”

The boy’s eyes lit up the moment he saw her.

Ruby, however, just looked pained. She had originally planned to figure out what the Graysons were scheming, and then focus on countering Hanley’s latest public statement, exposing his lies once and for all. That way, Domingo’s family could finally be reunited.

What she hadn’t counted on was the Steele family’s sudden arrival—and the way they’d simply waved a hand and ordered Hanley to deal with the press.

Fanny was the first to notice the tension on Ruby’s face.

She glanced at her, then shifted her attention to Asher, stopping in front of him. The boy was already in middle school, and stood a little taller than she did.

“Asher, we’re back to talk about exactly that. Tell you what, why don’t you let Landon take you out for a bit? That way, we adults can use the office for a while, okay?”

She smiled gently, ruffling his hair.

Asher, always shy and reserved, started to speak but thought better of it. He gathered up his things, awkwardly nodding. “Alright, I’ll wait for you guys.”

Landon, who’d just been volunteered as babysitter, gave an exaggerated sigh. Was this really his biggest fan?

Fanny shot Landon a look of silent pleading, blinking her eyes at him. He was powerless to refuse; considering what they needed to discuss, it wasn’t the right time for him to stay anyway. Still, he pulled a face as he closed the door behind him and left.

Once they were gone, a heavy seriousness settled in the office.

She frowned. The Graysons?

She remembered their last two disruptive visits. They hadn’t left Quinborough after all?

Just the memory of their shameless antics gave Ruby a headache.

“Even if the Graysons say they’ll handle the press, we really have nothing to worry about. The evidence isn’t perfect, but it’s enough to land a serious blow on Hanley—and clear our own names,” Fanny said, finishing her analysis and looking to Ruby for a decision.

“No,” Ruby said quietly, shaking her head.

She remembered her grandmother—always gentle and warm, yet with a gaze that brooked no compromise. When Ruby was a child, her grandmother taught her how to catch snakes: strike once, decisively, and never give your quarry a chance to strike back.

If Violet was still risking it by staying in Quinborough, there had to be something even more important at play.

Ruby didn’t just want to unmask Hanley’s lies. She wanted to make sure Violet and Gennifer fell with him—dragging them all into the abyss together.