Page 97 of My Bossy Billionaire Attorney

Michael, his lips set in a grim line, brandishes the knife for all to see. Then he opens his mouth—

“Esteemed members of the jury, what you see unfolding here is the accusation of an innocent person for a crime she did not commit, but, in fact, she is a victim of a deliberate framing. The revelations I am about to share will unmask the true perpetrator and those who colluded to cover up the facts surrounding this crime.”Top of Form

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“Miss Richmond, how do you feel now that you have been exonerated?”

“Miss Richmond, did it shock you to find out that it was your friend who killed your ex-fiancé?”

“What do you plan to do now?”

They bombard me with questions as Michael flanks me on one side and Peter on the other, and we walk down the steps in front of the courthouse. The tears I shed after being found not guilty have all dried up after Michael handed me a handkerchief, saying that the reporters outside would want pictures.

We ignore them and their flashing cameras and manage to get into the car waiting for us. Peter takes the front seat while Michael and I sit in the back.

The first thing I do when the door closes is throw my arms around his neck and kiss him. I do it for gratitude and also because I have missed him terribly. He kisses me in return, and we block out the rest of the world, clinging to each other.

“Thank you,” I say, whispering when we break the kiss.

He kisses me again “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have kept everything a secret from you, and I know it hurt when you heard I had left the country, even more, when you saw me with Alice.”

I bite my lip. “It did. But I was also surprised to find out that she had help from Elaine Rogers. I knew the woman was desperate, but so desperate that she was willing to say the wounds were caused by the knife they found in my home?”

Her excuse was that the knife blades were too similar to tell the difference.

“And how you got her to tell you where the knife was? That was smart.”

I kiss him smartly on the mouth for that.

Michael turns a light shade of red. “Praise me too much, and I might start tooting my own horn.”

I roll my eyes. “Haven’t you always done that?”

“Yup,” he laughs.

“I will act like nothing is going on back there,” Peter says. “But you should know that I am in full support.”

Oops. I had forgotten we had an audience.

“Ah,” I rub my head, “I was excited,” I try to explain. “That is what happens when you find out that you aren’t going to prison.”

Peter laughs. “Sure. Michael has already confessed that he has feelings for you, and you…” he tsks, “this is one of the few things you cannot hide from me, sis.”

“Good,” I turn up my nose, trying to save face. “I wasn’t trying to hide anything. I only thought you’d be embarrassed seeing your best friend and sister kissing,” I say.

Michael is the one who chuckles. “Why is that good?”

“Because I’m not going to hide what I feel for you.”

“That’s good, then. Because I don’t want to hide the way I feel either. I want everyone to know how much I want you,” his eyes sparkle with something naughty and very attractive, and he doesn’t take them off me, “and how terrible the past weeks have been, pretending that I don’t need to see you every day.”

I purse my lips. “You sure did a good job of pretending. I really hated you.”

“You did?”

I nod. “Yup. You can ask Peter. I told him that I should have never trusted you because you walked away so you wouldn’t have to add me to your non-existent streak of losses.”

His hand touches my cheek. I lean into the warmth, reveling in the intimacy that I’ve missed so much.

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