Chapter 215 I Don't Need Love Reese The sound of the slap reached me before the sting did. A clean, sharp crack that echoed off the wooden walls of the empty courtroom. I let my head turn with it, more out of politeness than pain. I just wanted her to have her moment. To make it seem like something… out of a movie. It wasn’t like I didn’t see it coming. Penelope was predictable that way—reactive, emotional, always performing even when her whole world was catching fire. I straightened slowly, rubbing my jaw with two fingers. “There it is,” I murmured. “I was wondering when you’d get around to that.” Her chest heaved. Her face was blotched red, her eyes wet and wild—equal parts shock and heartbreak. “How can you do this to me?” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Why would you do this to me, Reese? Why?” I exhaled softly. “Penny,” I said, lifting a brow, “you just asked me two questions at once. Which one am I supposed to answer first?” The shocked look she gave me almost made me laugh. Mouth parted, eyes huge like she couldn’t decide whether to scream, sob, or scratch my face off. “Why?” she breathed again. “Why are you doing this?” “Fine,” I said. “We’ll start there.” I rocked back on my heels, hands sliding casually into my pockets. She looked like she’d been gutted while I looked like I was waiting for a taxi. “Roman has his vendetta,” I said. “And I have mine. You messed with Savannah. You messed with Roman. And you honestly thought you were going to walk away from that? You think my brother was going to just let things go just because you cry pretty in courtrooms?” I tilted my head. “You’re not stupid, Penelope. Selfish, yes. Delusional, absolutely. But not stupid.” That made her laugh—loud and bitter and too high-pitched. She pressed a hand to her forehead and shook her head like she was hearing the world’s funniest joke for the first time. “Wait,” she said through her laughter, “Roman dragged you into this because I told that girl’s family what he was too much of a coward to tell them? That’s why you’re here?” She wheezed, wiping her eyes. “You’re both insane. Actually insane.” I shrugged. “Call it whatever you want. But deep down, you know he won this round. And let me give you a little advice—don’t mess with Savannah again. Ever. Because if you do… even I don’t know what Roman’s going to do next. Resurrecting your ex was just him warming up.” The laughter died instantly. Her face went blank with fear. “I hate you,” she whispered. “I hate you so much, Reese.” “No,” I said calmly, leaning closer, “you don’t. You love me. It's unhealthy. And that’s the problem. I could still have you if I wanted to.” Her hand flew up—fast. But mine was faster. I caught her wrist mid-air and held it effortlessly. She froze, breath hitching. “Playtime’s over, Penelope,” I said quietly. “You only get one chance.” “Let me go!” she hissed, twisting her arm. I tightened my grip just enough to remind her who she was dealing with. “Listen to me carefully. If you ever—even in passing—think about harming my brother, his fiancée, her family, my family, or any of my siblings, I will find you. I will hunt you like there’s a price on your head, Penelope. I will find you and I will not spare you. You know that. So don’t test me.” She glared at me, silent, furious, helpless. I released her wrist and picked up the bouquet I’d brought with me earlier—the flowers that would have been the excuse. I placed them firmly into her arms. “For you,” I said lightly. “A congratulatory gift. That was one hell of a performance. At least everyone here now knows what a lawyer looks like when she's in ecstasy.” She didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just stared at me with eyes full of heat and hatred and something deeper—something ugly. “Goodbye, Penelope,” I said. “I sincerely hope this is the last time I ever have to look at you.” I took a few steps back. She clutched the flowers so tightly her knuckles turned white. Then the tears came. At first just one. Then another. Then the flood. They streamed down her face, soaking her collar, dripping onto her shirt in fat, wet circles. She looked pathetic. “Don’t cry,” I said, sighing. “Don’t tell me you already miss me?” Her sobs grew louder. Echoing. Swallowing the room whole. I glanced around the courtroom. “There’s no one here, you know. No audience. But we’ve never tried this particular roleplay before…” I grinned. “Come on, Penny. One last time? You love excitement.” “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?!” I laughed. Full, loud, unbothered. “Offense? Penny, you’re asking the wrong question. You should be asking which offense I’m referring to.” She frowned, confused, trembling. I smiled cruelly. “You mentioned ‘heart’ earlier. Cute. But you don’t have one of those.” “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?” 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—” “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?” 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.I breathed out a cold laugh. “Of course. There it is. The truth at last. So that's what it was all about.” “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.” 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!” 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.” Her eyes blew wide. “Reese—” “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!” “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.” 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.” Then I turned and walked away—leaving her sobbing in the cold, hollow silence of the courtroom.