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 she thought he 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 do not enough?”
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. “You already know.”
Ah.
You’re such an idiot, Fawn Cornwall.
She shook her head. “I d-don’t.” She didn’t give a damn if she was being an idiot. She wanted, needed, to stay an idiot.
“You’ve been here for four days.”
And yet he hadn’t come.
She said desperately, “Grant said m-my mother banned you—-”
The prince raised a brow. “And you believe that alone could stop me from visiting?”
You already know.
She stammered, “Grant’s p-parents are powerful—-”
The prince’s lip curled. “And I’m not?”
You already know.
And just like that, they were back to square one.
Her heart weeping—-
And the prince not giving a damn.
A crazed laugh escaped her, even as she started to cry—-
“Are you seriously doing this to me now?”
The prince’s face hardened. “There’s nothing I hate more than someone who uses tears to get her way.”
Ah.
She couldn’t stop laughing and crying. Finally, finally. She was able to make the prince show some kind of emotion, but of course it had to be disgust and irritation.
When the laughter and tears didn’t stop, the prince said, “This isn’t going anywhere.”
She watched him walk away.
She wanted to call out to him.
She wanted to tell him she loved him, she loved him so, so much, she loved him forever—-
But she just couldn’t stop laughing.
She couldn’t stop crying.
She had a feeling if she stopped——
The door closed behind the prince.
And still the laughter continued to spill, the tears continued to fall.
Grant burst back into the room, stumbling towards her.
Their eyes met—-
Grant staggered to a stop.
No.
Oh God.
NO.
But he knew no matter how hard he wished, the truth wouldn’t go away.
There was no longer any hope in her eyes.
And she was no longer whole.
“I’m sorry.”
He had failed.
“I’m s-so sorry.”
Grant fell to his knees next to her bed. “I’m s-so sorry.” He took hold of her hands, and his blood ran cold at how hard her body was shaking. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh G-Grant.” And still she laughed, still she cried. “I’m scared. I’m s-scared if I stop—-” She raised terror-crazed eyes to Grant. “I don’t t-think I know how to breathe w-without him, Grant. I r-really don’t think I can, and isn’t t-that crazy?”
More laughter.
More tears.
It was the most painful sound Grant had ever heard in his entire life—-
And so it was, too, for the prince.
Standing outside the room, the sound reached him, flayed him alive, burned him blind, and he slowly stumbled, his strength disappearing at his inability to reach out to the woman he knew he would always, always love.
My Fawn.
My angel.
My love.
But he knew it was better this way, knew that for as long as he believed it was his destiny to be the Prince of Darkness—-
So was it his destiny to love her from a distance.
****
“Thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Ms. Cornwall.”
The young woman on the hospital bed nodded. “Thank you for agreeing with my request, too.”
30-year-old Fredericka Spears took her time studying her star witness. According to her files, Fawn Cornwall was a straight-A student her entire life and had never been cited for a single misdemeanor either in or out of school. She had also been able to split her time effectively between the academic demands of her scholarship, part-time jobs, and all the responsibilities that came with being the girlfriend of politician’s son Grant Bennett.
A good girl in every sense of the word, Fredericka pondered, but all it had taken was one mistake – one that took the form of a six-foot-plus half-Greek playboy infamously known as the Prince of Darkness – and the descent to hell of Fawn’s life had been inevitable.
And yet, here this girl was, face bandaged, body beaten black and blue, but instead of blaming the man who was the reason behind her involvement in Fredericka’s high-profile case—-
Fawn was asking for something that was for that man’s sake.
Clearing her throat, Fredericka said finally, “I’ve spoken with my clients, and they’ve given me their permission to speak with you about your request.”
Fawn unconsciously gripped the edges of her bed covers. “A-and?”
“First of all, I’d like you to know that what you’ve requested has no bearing on my case. Or if it does, then I’m unfortunately certain it’s only going to make things more sensational, and that’s a good thing for my clients.” Fredericka paused. “Which is why...I’d like to speak with you, one woman to another.”
Ah. Fawn’s lips formed a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You’re wondering why I want it this way?”
“If I may be blunt—-”
This time, Fawn’s smile was a bit more genuine. “Will I be able to stop you?”
Fredericka said apologetically, “I’m afraid not, Ms. Cornwall.”
“Then...please feel free.”
This was so hard, Fredericka thought glumly. Serial killers were so much easier to talk to. At least one didn’t have to worry about hurt feelings with them.
Taking a deep breath, she finally decided to say it in one go. “Have you made your request in hopes of making Reid Chalkias take pity and pick up where he left things off with you?” Fredericka had barely finished speaking when her star witness started shaking her head at her.
“No.” At the attorney’s skeptical expression, Fawn
