Page 202 of Fiery Romance

I know he hears my entrance, but he doesn’t turn to acknowledge me. His brother, on the other hand, whirls around and gives me a look so disapproving that I shudder.

Cody Bolton might not have a military background, but he’s just as intimidating as his brother.

I glance away and see Genevieve smiling at me. She nods and mouths, ‘Remember our agreement’.

I release a nervous exhale, following the clerk to the front of the room where I face the judge. She peers through her glasses at me and speaks in a cool, even tone.

I’m so nervous, I can barely hear what she says. It’s not until the judge pauses and glances expectantly at me that I realize it’s my turn to speak.

I grip the stand with both hands, trying to hide how much I’m trembling.

Please don’t mess this up.

“Your honor,” my voice booms, “I’m here to reveal the truth and the whole truth about Clay Bolton.”

A tense silence falls on the court.

No one moves.

No one speaks.

“On this day, exactly three months ago, Mr. Clay Bolton entered my salon and committed blackmail.”

Gasps erupt from the few people in the court.

The judge quirks an eyebrow.

Genevieve chuckles in glee.

From the corner of my eye, I see Clay gritting his teeth. He’s still not looking at me but, somehow, I can tell that he’s on edge, every molecule in his body holding still.

The dark circles under his eyes speak of nights as sleepless as mine. His gaunt cheeks hint at a shared misery.

One I inflicted.

I squeeze the desk even tighter, lean toward the mike and say, “Mr. Bolton held my heart hostage and didn’t give me a choice in the matter.”

The judge’s face crumples with confusion.

Genevieve’s laughter chokes in her throat.

Clay’s eyes… oh I feel them on me. They’re probing, searching.

I keep my focus on the judge. “This man is guilty of stealing my heart and refusing to return it. After what he’s done, I can’t live without him and I believe this deserves the highest of penalties.”

“What the…” Genevieve slams to her feet. Her voice is a deranged shriek. “What do you think you’re doing? That’s not what we agreed!”

“Order in the court.” The judge bangs her gavel. Her brown eyes slice into me. “Miss Hayes, do you realize you are here as a witness on behalf of Mrs. Vanderweih?”

“Yes, I do.”

“This is not a game.”

“I am completely serious.” I swallow nervously. “My testimony is valid to this case.”

She gestures for me to continue.

“Even when Mr. Bolton and I did not see eye-to-eye, I respected him for one thing—his love for his children. I have seen first-hand the lengths he would go to protect Regan and Abe. I’ve seen him sacrifice to keep them happy. I’ve seen him be strict even when it hurts him. He is a good father. He is a good man. And anyone who says otherwise is deranged.”

---