Page 182 of In Love with a Ruthless Man

“Do you see you’re suffering for nothing now? So give him up.”

But Fawn refused, and the knife went straight to the middle of her forehead.

Two slashes.

The number 5 lit up on the screen, turning blue.

“You know I’m telling you the truth. His family matters. His friends matter. But you don’t. He had fun with you, maybe he even cared for you, was fond of you, I don’t know how rich fucks like him think. But what I do know is when crunch time came, he dropped you. So I’m going to ask you one more time. Tell me where Beatrice Crichton is.”

And still Fawn whispered, “No.”

“Stupid bitch!”

A raw sound clawed past the prince’s lips when he saw Meredith slap Fawn hard just before grabbing her by the hair, pulling her head back as she furiously carved on Fawn’s chin.

Jagged lines turned into an X.

The number six lit up on the screen, turning blue.

“I don’t know if you’re keeping tabs on your own face, bitch,” Meredith snarled, “but I just need one X or one fucking circle – it doesn’t really matter, the next one will be a fucking tic tac toe, and either way, it means I get to carve a piece of your nose and I’ll have my men fuck you while you bleed to death.”

Laughter mixed with curses and obscene catcalls greeted Meredith’s statement.

“I’m going to rip into that pussy hard.”

“Her asshole’s mine.”

“Do you hear that?” Meredith demanded. “They’re excited about fucking you while—-FUCK!”

Fawn’s cry spilled out of the speakers, a sound of agony that no one in the courtroom would ever forget.

But it was her face—-

It was her face as she peed in her fear—-

The yellowish liquid dripping down her bare legs until it formed a puddle next to her feet—-

Ah God, Fawn.

I’m so damn sorry.

The prince rose clumsily to his feet, reaching for Nick’s shoulder to let his friend know he had to leave. “I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely. “I have to go.” He swung away, not waiting for an answer, not wanting to waste another moment.

He had to go to Fawn—-

The reporters in the crowd began to stand up as well, unable to resist the opportunity to take photos of the naked expression on the prince’s face.

The judge began to pound on her gavel, demanding order.

The video continued to play.

“Oh my God,” someone from the crowd screamed.

The prince was halfway to the door when a chill swept over him, like someone walking on his grave, and he knew—-

He knew.

There was something else he had to see.

---