All Chapters of Ruthless Hearts: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

“How is he?” I asked in a low voice. My eyes were on Dean who sat slumped in the hard plastic chair.“Stable for now,” Dean said, rubbing his temples. “The doctors are putting him under watch.”“I brought you some food,” I said, setting a bag down beside him.Dean gave me a faint smile as he reached for my hand.“How are you?” He asked as he pulled me down to sit beside him.“I’m okay. I should be asking how you’re holding up. You’ve been here for hours”“I’m… fine.” He sighed “I’m… Lani? Will you ever forgive me? For the sins of my family”“I’m not mad at you, Dean.” I placed my hand gently on his shoulder, my lips tugging into a small, deliberate smile. “But I don’t think I can ever bring myself to forgive him for what he did to my family.”Dean lifted his eyes to mine, weary but understanding. “I understand your anger.”“And Evelyn,” I added, my voice sharp though my hand stayed steady on him. “I’ll make sure she rots in jail for the rest of her life. I know it’ll hurt people, but

At this point in my life, I’d been on TV so many times. Which would make one thing that I’d gotten used to it, but it was never easy. The stage lights were merciless. They poured down in molten sheets, blinding and hot against my skin, making it impossible to tell where the cameras ended and the people began. The studio was packed, but all I could hear was the hum of wires, the static crackle in the microphones, and the pounding of my heart in my chest.I adjusted the mic clipped to my jacket, fingers trembling just slightly. I’d told myself I wouldn’t let them see me shake, but adrenaline had a way of making liars out of the strongest people.The anchor leaned forward, smiling in that polished way anchors do when they know they’re about to sink their teeth into something juicy.“So, Miss Grey,” he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “For years, RedWave has operated under anonymity, with only your work and your company’s results speaking for themselves. And now, you’ve stepped f

His lips were still on mine when the world disappeared.It wasn’t careful, it wasn’t tentative. It was a collision— the kind of kiss that felt like years of silence and longing had finally snapped, like a dam breaking open. Dean’s hands framed my face, strong but trembling, his breath uneven against my skin.For a heartbeat, I froze. I felt shock, panic and then disbelief course through me. I’d spent so long hating him, mistrusting him, convincing myself he was just like Evelyn. And yet, here I was, kissing him back with a desperation that tasted like fire and salt.When I finally broke away, my chest was heaving, my lips swollen.“What are you doing?” I breathed, though my voice betrayed me. It came out like a whisper meant for no one but him.His eyes searched mine, dark and unflinching, but I saw the storm in them. “What I should’ve done the first time I met you.”That undid me. Because I remembered that first time, remembered how I hated the way he looked at me— like he could see

“Be honest,” Dean leaned forward on his elbows with his chin resting against his knuckles, and his eyes glinting. “What’s your guilty pleasure TV show?”I snorted into my wine. “Seriously? That’s your first question for me on our big, dramatic ‘first public date’?”“Yes.” He grinned, shameless. “And don’t you dare say something respectable, like documentaries. I want the truth.”I tried to fight the smile tugging at my lips. “Fine. It’s Love Is Blind. I watch it religiously.”Dean blinked, then burst out laughing, loud enough that a couple at the next table looked over. “Love Is Blind? You’re kidding me.”“I’m not.” I took another sip, trying to look dignified. “I love it. It’s a social experiment.”“It’s trash,” he countered, still laughing.“It’s entertaining trash,” I shot back. “And don’t pretend you’ve never watched it.”“Never.” He smirked, leaning back in his chair. “But now I’m tempted, just to picture you yelling at the screen.”“I don’t yell,” I lied. “I make… passionate com

2 MONTHS LATER“Lani Grey! Is it true you falsified your identity to enter the Caldwell family?”“Are you using this trial as a publicity stunt for RedWave?”“Do you really think you can win against one of the most powerful families in the country?”The courthouse buzzed like a hive when I walked in. Reporters swarmed the steps, shouting my name, cameras flashing. Beside me, my lawyer— Margot Rowe, sharp in her navy suit— kept her hand light on my elbow as if reminding me to keep my head high. Dean walked at my other side, his presence steadying me in ways I still didn’t want to admit out loud.The Caldwells had arrived earlier. I had seen the footage already circulating online— Evelyn had stepped out of a police car in a pristine cream suit, flanked by her attorneys and the police. She’d been in custody since the shooting. Mason trailed behind her with his jaw tight. She looked untouchable. Like a queen striding into her throne room.But this wasn’t her throne anymore.This was my ba