Page 173 of In Love with a Ruthless Man

Finally, the prince reached for his glasses, slowly, gracefully pulling them away from his beautiful face—-

Ah.

She saw his eyes.

And knew.

Fawn quickly turned her back. “I’m tired.” Her voice was thin and pinched, like someone unable to breathe. And itwashard, oxygen unable to find a way to get past the tears.

Behind her, the prince said softly, “I warned Bennett this would happen, but he didn’t believe me.”

She didn’t speak, only squeezing her eyes shut.

You’re such an idiot, Fawn Cornwall.

“But now that I’m here – may I ask...if you’re alright?”

She raised her arm, giving him a thumbs-up in the air without turning back.

The prince chuckled.

It was a husky, sexy sound, a familiar sound, and her heart continued to weep.

Four days. It had taken him four days to visit.

You’re such an idiot, Fawn Cornwall.

This was the part where her other self would usually come to drive her crazy, playing the devil’s advocate, but this time it remained hurtfully silent, almost as if everything in her wanted Fawn to finallyhearwhat the prince had done his best to tell her all along.

She heard the sound of his chair scraping against the floor, and her heart jumped.

No.

She heard the unmistakable sound of the prince coming to his feet—-

“You’re really going?” Her voice came out thin, low, and dull.

“Yes.”

Her heart shriveled.

You’re such an idiot, Fawn Cornwall.

She had always known he was cruel.

So why, why dear God, why did it still surprise her that he could be cruel to her?

Because shethoughthe loved her?

She could no longer help it, pushing herself up as she turned around to face him, asking brokenly, “Why?” Her voice shook. “Why is nothing I donotenough?”

The prince’s beautiful face remained blank.

“Just tell me—-”

The prince’s sigh cut her off. “You know why, Fawn.” His voice was viciously gentle in its politeness, someone who was being cruel to be kind. “Youalreadyknow.”

Ah.

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