Reborn In Flames: The Heiress' Revenge Novel by Amos House

“Cassie, look at me?” Julia Cortez grabbed Cassie Murphy by the hair, yanking her off the ground and forcing her to meet her gare.

Cassie was like a hollow shell of her former self-skin and bones dressed in nothing but a torn, filthy hospital gown even in the dead of winter. She was so out of it that Julia’s actions didn’t even seem to register with her.

Julia was clearly unsatisfied. After all these six long years, she had finally reduced Cassie to a helpless, broken mess. And she was just eating it up, craving the sight of Cassie’s face all twisted up in despair.

“Don’t you want to see your grandpa before going to hell?” Julia asked with a malicious smile.

The mention of her grandpa seemed to spark some emotion in Cassie’s eyes.

Julia’s face lit up with excitement and triumph. She gripped Cassie’s hair tightly and dragged her like a limp rag doll toward a curtain. With a swift pull, she yanked it open.

There lay Heston Murphy, Cassie’s grandpa, all frail and covered in tubes, lookin’ like he was just a breath away from kicking the bucket. Though he seemed alert, he couldn’t speak or even move a muscle. Tears welled up in his eyes as they met Cassie’s wom face.

“Grandpa Cassie gasped in shock, her hands trembling.

Three years ago, she’d cut ties with her grandpa to marry that snake, Simon Lowell. Little did she know, Simon was already tangled up with her cousin Julia. The whole reason he married Cassie was to get his greedy mitts on her shares of the Murphy Group.

On their wedding night, Simon tricked her into signing over hershares and then threw her straight into a m**al institution. From that point on, she became nothing but a punching bag for Julia, having to endure that woman’s relentless torment for three long agonizing years.

Heston had always been as healthy and sharp as a tack, and Cassie had figured that no one could ever lay a hand on him. But there he was, lying there all frail and covered in tubes, and it just tore her heart clean out to see him that way.

“What the hell did you do to my grandpa Cassie cried out, her heart squeezing tight as tears poured down her face. “Aw, not much. Just been dosing him with a slow-acting poison regularly. That old fool really loves you, you know? Even though he knew it was poison, he still took it, just for you,” Julia said with a wicked grin that made Cassie’s skin crawl.

Julia, you sna**ch*at enough for your sorry hide? Grandpa raised you with so much care. How could you do this to him?” Cassie hollered, and a fire started burning inside her.

She raised her hand, ready to lay Julia out, but her body was just too weak and she ended up just stumbling backwards as Julia slapped her hard across the face.

“You calling me ungrateful? If Heston hadn’t refused to lend my dad some money back then, would my dad have gotten beat to death by the loan sharks? Would I end up being an orphan?” Julia spat back, the yertom dripping from every word.

“Your family fell apart because your dad was a no-good gambling addict. Grandpa was always bailing him out, time and time again Cassie retorted.

“Shut you trap!” Julia screamed, slapping Cassie right across the face again.

Heston watched in anxious anger as his beloved granddaughter was being bullied, struggling against the restraints holding him back

Julia grinned wickedly and yanked Cassie by the hair, pulling her right in front of Heston. “Feeling sorry for her now? What if I told you that six years ago, Cassie wasn’t really assaulted and those disgusting photos were all just a setup?

“Back then, no matter how hard she tried to explain, you never believed her. You pushed her right into Simon’s and my hands. Look at where she is now-all thanks to you.”

Heston’s eyes widened in shock. This was more brutal than death itself.

Cassie turned, her face a mix of disbelief and horror. “What are you talking about?”

“Seriously? You’re still that clueless? I planned the photo incident six years ago. Ols, tell you a secret. Simon never loved you. All those sweet words and caring moments were part of my scheme. He only ever felt disgust for you.” Julia’s tone dripped with sarcas

“No way! You’re lying!” Cassie’s heart sank. She had always believed Simon had changed later. At least, he’d really cared for her when she was at her lowest, How could it all have been part of some twisted plot?

Julia’s s**c glee peaked. “Cassie, remember what Louisa used to say? She warned you about me, but you were so gullible and trusted me. Do you know what her last words were before she died? She begged me to spare you

“What did you just say? Louisa… she’s dead? Cassie’s breath hitched. Louisa Todd had been the Murphy family’s butler and had taken care of Ca**ic since childhood.

“Yeah. She was planning to spill everything to Heston. Could I let her live? Only dead mouths keep secrets,” Julia sneered. Julia Cortez Cassie’s heart shattered.

Louisa had warned her countless times about Julia’s devious nature, urging her to stay away. But Cassie had always dismissed those warnings, even getting angry at Louisa for being overprotective,

Then suddenly, Louisa had disappeared. Julia had said she went back home, and like a fool, Cassie had believed her. Only now did she know Louisa was killed by Julia.

“And about your pathetic parents…” Julia continued, relishing the miserable looks of the once noble Cassie. “Did you really think that car accident was just a coincidence?”

Cassie’s tears instantly stopped. Julia’s words struck her like a lightning bolt. A month after the scandal broke about her so- called assault, her parents had died tragically in a car crash.

Julia erupted in laughter. “Your parents were just as clueless as you. They figured out I was behind those photos but didn’t. even call the cops. Instead, they phoned me to confront me. I played the innocent victim, spun a s**b story about being threatened, and they actually bought it! As soon as I hung up, I messed with their car.”

Julia! You her.

You’re a monster!” Cassie erupted, her bloodied and bruised hands gripping Julia’s arm tightly as hate surged within

After three years of hell in the asylum, she’d thought Julia’s cruelty had hit rock bottom. But it was just the tip of the iceberg. Cassie wanted nothing more than to rip Julia apart, but she felt completely powerless now.

“Let’s be real, Ca**ic. It’s your fault. Louisa and your parents are dead because of you. Julia kicked at Cassie’s frail arm. viciously, and with a sickening c**ck, it broke.

Pain washed over Cassie, a horrific scream escaping her lips.

Julia stepped back, wiping her arm where Cassie had grabbed her with a tissue, her face twisted in disgust. “If you had trusted Louisa from the start or acted a little less like a helpless mess, your parents wouldn’t have kept my secret from you. And let’s just say you had listened to Heston and not married Simon-my plan wouldn’t have worked”

Just then, the machines by the hospital bed started beeping wildly. Panic surged through Cassie as she ignored her broken anm, scrambled to her feet, and stumbled over.

Heston, overwhelmed by the brutal truth, began to twitch violently. Cassie cried out in de Grandpa… hold on! I’m

calling the doctor right now!

Then she turned to plead with Julia, desperation etched across her face. Her dignity was long gone, and Heston was the only family she had left in this world. She’d do anything to save him, no matter the cost.

But before she could speak up, icy, sticky liquid poured down over her head. Her heart raced. “Is this… gasoline? Looks Julia’s planning to burn me alive’

She didn’t fear death, after three years of torment, it almost felt like a release. But the thought of her grandfather dying because of her was unbearable.

Trembling, Cassie begged, Julia, I’d do anything. Please, just let my grandpa go.

Julia walked out of the ward with an unsettling calm, casting a mocking glance back at Cassie. “Still dreaming, Cassie? All T want is for you to suffer endlessly. You won’t get any peace, not even after you’re gone. Tomorrow, you’ll be splashed across every major headline-Wealthy Heiress Goes Mad for Love, Escapes Asylum, and Burns Grandfather Alive! Quite the story. don’t you think?”

Cassie spiraled into despair. So this is why Julia brought me here from the asylum? She wants to make me the murderer of my grandpa

Julia smirked, adding. “Oh, and Marcus is downstairs. Who would’ve thought that arrogant fool would fall for someone like you? He practically handed over half his family’s fortune just for you. But having him alive after you’re gone is too risky for us. So since he’s so smitten, I’ll let him join you in hell.

The mention of Marcus Anderson made Cassie freeze. She didn’t know him well, and since he had once tried to take over the Murphy Group, she’d always had a bad impression of him.

“Cassie, don’t be so naïve ever again, Julia scoffed. With a crazed grin, she flicked open a lighter, staring at the flickering flame with twisted excitement before tossing it into the room

With a deafening boom, the gasoline-soaked room erupted into a hellish firestorm. Flames seared Cassie’s skin, piercing her with pain. Heston in the bed was quickly engulfed by the flames, and Cassie felt her heart shatter as she watched him suffer in the inferno.

“You and Simon will both pay for this, even if I have to come back from the grave! Her anguished scream shattered the hospital’s stillness.

Moments later, Marcus burst through the door, desperately calling Cassie’s name as he rushed to her, wrapping his arms around her as she writhed in agony.

‘Get out! You’ll be burned alive! Just run! Cassie screamed in her mind, unable to bear the thought of anyone else dying because of her.

But Marcus held on tight. Just before the darkness overtook her, she faintly heard him whisper, “never leave you alone again