Page 176 of In Love with a Ruthless Man

Ah.Fawn’s lips formed a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You’re wondering why I want it this way?”

“If I may be blunt—-”

This time, Fawn’s smile was a bit more genuine. “Will I be able to stop you?”

Fredericka said apologetically, “I’m afraid not, Ms. Cornwall.”

“Then...please feel free.”

This was so hard,Fredericka thought glumly.Serial killers were so much easier to talk to.At least one didn’t have to worry about hurt feelings with them.

Taking a deep breath, she finally decided to say it in one go. “Have you made your request in hopes of making Reid Chalkias take pity and pick up where he left things off with you?” Fredericka had barely finished speaking when her star witness started shaking her head at her.

“No.” At the attorney’s skeptical expression, Fawn insisted, “It’s really not.”

“You may be honest with me—-”

“Oh, Attorney, I am.” A soft, painful laugh spilled out of her, and Fawn thought absently,Here we go again.Not wanting to sink into hysterics, she cleared her throat several times, working to get herself under control. “And I mean it when I say I don’t need his pity.”

Seeing that Fawn really did mean it, Fredericka blurted out, “Then what is this for?”

“Love,” Fawn answered simply. “I know you don’t believe me.” Another shaky laugh escaped her, and her grip on the covers tightened. “I know the world won’t believe me, and God knows even the prince doesn’t believe me, but I know.” She touched herheart. “I knowhere.” Her voice turned into a whisper. “I know he loves me, and I feel...I feel this is the only hope I have left of making him realize that I’m s-strong enough to love him back.”

Fredericka slowly settled back on her chair. “You win.” And it wasn’t as if there had been any other alternative, the moment she saw the emotions in Fawn’s eyes. After everything this woman had gone through, the least she could do was give Fawn a fighting chance for her own happy-ever-after.

When Fawn smiled in relief and start to thank her, Fredericka felt honor-bound to warn her uneasily, “But are you sure you don’t want to watch it first?”

The smile faded. “No.”

“It’s not a happy video.”

The girl touched her bandaged face, saying humorously, “I know.”

Fredericka cringed. “Sorry.”Shit, shit, shit, this was why she was better off interrogating serial killers.

“It’s okay,” Fawn hastened to assure the older woman. “I really don’t mind.”

Fredericka shook her head, muttering, “I just really think you should watch it first. Your doctor informed me that trauma’s made you forget most of the ordeal, which I suppose is a good thing, but—-”

“It is a good thing,” Fawn said quietly, “and I want it—-” Fawn’s voice faltered.

Her heart started to squeeze.

Why, why, why did her heart keep hurting every time shealmostremembered what happened?

Could she have perhaps...fallen in love with her abductor in a matter of hours? Could she have done something so shameful that it would break her heart to remember?

“Ms. Cornwall?” Fredericka asked worriedly, noting the younger woman’s sudden pallor.

The pain disappeared.

Fawn forced a smile. “Just please...please do your best to make sure he c-comes, and that’s enough.”

WHEN A SLIGHT COMMOTIONerupted behind Nick and Jason Christakos, the twins turned around simultaneously in time to see Reid Chalkias enter the courtroom.

Dressed in a crisp black suit and his rather famous green eyes covered by dark glasses, the prince walked straight to the front, taking a seat on the first row beside his friends.

“Thanks for coming,” Nick murmured under his breath, shaking hands with Reid.

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