Page 79 of In Love with a Ruthless Man

I’m sorry, prince.

“She’s quite the idiot, isn’t she?” The prince let out a hollow laugh, and the empty sound finished it for her, the cracks in her heart turning into fissures.

I’m sorry, prince.

“She’s not an idiot, p-prince.”

And the tears started to fall.

“On t-the contrary, I think s-she’s agenius,to h-have seen the truth about you.”

The prince wiped the tears that tracked down her cheeks. “You’re only saying that because you’re an idiot, too.”

She choked back a teary laugh. “Birds of the same feather, right?”

“I don’t think so. If you two could have met, she’d hate your guts.”

“W-what?”

“She hates all girls who want me.” And again, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, a smile that told her he wished he was the one who had died instead—-

I’m sorry, prince.

Fawn threw herself at the prince. “I’m sorry.” That they were naked, that she was still another man’s girlfriend and this man was more imperfect than anyone else—-

None of it mattered.

All that mattered was to make the prince stophurting.

“I’m s-sorry, prince.” She hugged the prince as tightly as she could. “I’m so sorry for making you talk about this.”

“Idiot.” But the prince’s tone was ragged, and he inhaled deeply, the scent of her hair cleansing him like it was a gift from heaven.

“I’m sorry.” She tried to stop herself from crying, but she couldn’t. “When I asked you about your first love, I r-really expected you to tell me something like your first love w-was a porn star or the widow n-next door because you seemed like that kind of m-man.”

Ah.

His arms went around Fawn—-

His virgin.

His angel.

Hisidiot.

She cried harder as his arms around her tightened.

“You really are an idiot,” he muttered against her hair. “How can you cry this hard for someone who’s been bullying you?”

“I don’t know!” Her words came out a wail, and despite everything he couldn’t stop the smile from touching his lips at the sound of it.

“Should I even continue with the rest of my story?” He was only partly teasing, but he was surprised when she nodded vigorously against his chest.

Raising her head so she could look into his eyes, Fawn said tremulously, “Only because I think you need to finish it.”

Ah.

He pinched her cheeks.

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