Page 153 of In Love with a Ruthless Man

It would be so easy, the prince mused, to go there, make a scene, and tell her that he no longer wanted to be with her. Jealousy might have made him unreasonable, but it made him neither blind nor stupid. He had noticed the changes in Bennett, had known the moment the other man started seeing Fawn with eyes that loved.

He had known, but he had pretended, and he had let her and Bennett pretend, too.

Because it wasn’t love that made his world go round, the prince thought,but pretensions.

Slipping away from the organizers, the prince made a subtle motion to his security, commanding to keep everyone away as he made his way towards Bennett and Fawn. Derek Christopoulos caught sight of him, the grim look on his friend’s face telling the prince that he knew where he was going.

Are you really going to dump her here?The question blazed in Derek’s eyes.

The prince’s broad shoulders moved in a careless shrug. He would cross that bridge when he got there.

Turning around the corner, he caught sight of the two entering the room reserved for Bennett’s private use, and the prince’s steps slowed. Selfishness had won, and he gave the couple all the time in the world to air out their differences without him hearing a word.

Don’t give me a reason to make you leave, Fawn.

But as he came to stand outside the room, the thin walls weren’t enough to mask the sound of their voices. Their words reached him so easily—-

“What do you mean you’re leaving after this?” he heard Fawn whisper in a stricken tone.

“I t-tried for y-your sake,” the prince heard Grant stutter. “I k-knew I owed it to you, but I justcan’t.” Grant’s voice broke. “I can’t forget what he did to me—-”

“Who?” Fawn demanded, fear over Grant evident in her tone.

“It d-doesn’t matter,” Grant muttered feverishly. “I j-just thought I should—-”

It was as if fate was mocking the prince, telling him that no matter how much he dragged his feet about this—-

He would never have an eternity with Fawn.

He would never have another month—-

Another week—-

Not even another night.

The prince leaned against the wall, his eyes closing.

I just wanted another day, God.

Just one more fucking day.

But the more he heard from Fawn and Bennett, the more he knew he wouldn’t be able to afford such selfishness.

He heard Fawn whisper, “It’s okay, Grant, it’s okay.” A soothing voice, and he could easily imagine Fawn taking the other guy in her arms, comforting the man who had once done his very best to hurt her.

Idiot.

You are the most lovable idiot in the world.

The prince heard Grant laugh bitterly. “You d-don’t even k-know what’s wrong.”

“But I know you’re hurting, and it’s enough—-”

“Even t-though I a-almost wished you were g-gang raped,” Grant snarled, “the n-night I found out about you and Reid Chalkias?”

The prince’s fists clenched as the silence stretched painfully after Grant’s revelation.

Fawn, Fawn, Fawn.

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