Chapter 379
“Why are you doing this?” she choked out. Her voice was small and shaking. “I understand Roman is too far gone to think rationally, but you… I loved you, Reese.” She pressed her hand to her chest like she could hold herself together. “I loved you more than anyone. Why would you hurt me like this? What did I ever do to you? You said you had a vendetta–what is it? What offense did I commit that made you break my heart this way p>
I laughed. Full, loud, unbothered. “Offense? Penny, you’re asking the wrong question. You should be asking which offense I’m referring
to p>
She frowned, confused, trembling.
I smiled cruelly. “You mentioned ‘ heart ‘ earlier. Cute. But you don’t have one of those p>
“I do,” she snapped, tears spilling faster. “I love you. You’ve always known that. You’ve always had my heart. ”
“And that,” I said, stepping closer, “is the reason you sold your sister to the wolves? Because you believed I was in love with her? That’s why you betrayed Dahlia p>
She gasped–a sharp, broken sound. The flowers slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a soft thud. Her entire body shook.
I nodded slowly. “Shocking, isn’t it? You never expected me to find out how deep your obsession runs. ”
Her lips quivered. “Reese… how did you know p>
“That you knew your sister was being mistreated and yet you kept quiet?” I supplied. “That she begged you for help and you turned your
back? You advised her to endure it all p>
Her hand flew to her mouth.
“That you still defend Senator White and his son even after that man raped Dahlia repeatedly? ”
I stepped forward. She stepped back.
“Does Roman know?” she whispered, horrified.
I tilted my head. “It’s a shame. Dahlia loved you more than you deserved. And still, even after everything you did, your biggest concern is whether Roman knows? Not your guilt? Not your sister? Just whether your ex– best friend might know what type of animal you are. ”
She swallowed hard. “Dahlia stole you from me,” she said.
Just that. No shame. No apology.
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Chapter 379
I breathed out a cold laugh. “Of course. There it is. The truth at last. So that’s what it was all about p>
“Dahlia betrayed me. She tried to take you away from me.” She insisted.
“You’re stupid if you believe that.” I scoffed. “You lied to Roman all these years. You made him believe you knew nothing while you were the one working behind the scenes, Penelope. You offered a helping hand to the men who murdered your twin p>
Her face was hard as stone. “You’re mine. I saw you first. I loved you first. Dahlia had no right. First, she stole my best friend and she married him. Then she tried to steal the man I love. What did she think was going to happen? That I’d sit around and watch it happen?
Never p>
I was disgusted hearing her say those words. How can one be this evil?
I leaned in, lowering my voice. “I never want to see you again, Penelope. Because if I do… I’ll tell Roman exactly who gave the maid the substance she put into Dahlia’s drink that morning. And he’ll figure out very quickly who caused the pain that led Dahlia to that car p>
Her eyes blew wide. “Reese p>
“And I’m sure you wouldn’t want your dear old friend Roman to discover you were taking orders from his father. That will make him kill
you. ”
That broke her. Then she lunged at me.
Or tried to.
I stepped back, effortless, letting her stumble forward uselessly.
“You bastard p>
“Don’t touch me, Penelope. ” I said quietly. “You disgust me. And bear in mind that the only reason I’m keeping this away from Roman is because he’s in a better place now. And I do not want to ruin his happiness. If I see you around him or his fiancée, you’ll regret ever knowing me. This is a warning p>
She trembled, tears dripping off her chin like rain. “I’m the only one who will ever love you this way, Reese. I’d rather die than see you with someone else,” she whispered. “You’ll come back to me. You will beg for my love. ”
I stared at her for a long moment. At the broken girl standing in the wreckage she created. At the monster she’d grown into all by herself.
“I don’t need love, Penelope,” I said. “Even if I did, it would never be yours. Your love will kill me p>
Then I turned and walked away–leaving her sobbing in the cold, hollow silence of the courtroom.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.