✔️ ILLICIT DESIRES | 18 +

Chapter 44

THREE WEEKS LATER

RITA

Today, I appear in court again.

But this time I want to lose the case in order to save the man I love. I wait for him. I want to see him. I want to see that he is all right.

As he finally enters the courtroom, I get up from my seat, looking at him longingly. Now that he is standing in front of me, I realize how much I have missed him.

I try to hide my smile and happiness by biting my lip in order not to squeal like a fan girl, who has seen her crush.

Though, it's very hard for me to stay put. I want to run to him. I want to hug him. I want to kiss him.

I feel proud of myself for being able to protect him. He stands here now — in flesh and blood — and is all right.

However, I feel a pang in my heart as I see the way he looks at me. He is mad at me. And if looks could kill, I would be dead by the man I'd die for.

But I understand his anger, he is mad at me for reporting him. He feels betrayed, but if I am in the same situation again, I will report him again. I have done it for his own good.

And he can hate me as long as he is safe. I am actually relieved my plan worked out. Alessi didn't both of them while they were in police custody.

Additionally, he looks better. He still has bruises on his face, but I can see they are healing well. His broken arm is in a plaster cast, but I am sure it will heal with time.

I have kept him save. I smile absently — reminding the night I was drunk, where he said protects his family at all costs. And he protected me against Alessi and his brother.

He sees me like his family. And he is my family. He is my baby's family. Now I am going to save and shelter him like he has done for me.

I will give him all the power he needs to protect us against Alessi. I am ready to sacrifice my position in society to make him invincible.

My sadness and yearning turn into anger as Antonio and his brother enter the courtroom.

I huff and am about to walk towards him to kick him in his dick again, using Nicolai as an excuse, when the judge walks in.

Sighing, I stay put. I don't want to cause a scene and get the trial postponed again. I want my man to be free.

"Mr. Jackson? Would you like to start?" the judge asks Mr. Jackson.

"Actually, Mrs. Volkov wants to do the opening speech by herself," he says to the judge.

"All right," the judge says, nodding his head before looking at me, "please, Mrs. Volkov." I get up from my seat and take a deep breath before I step in front of the judge.

"Good afternoon, your Honor. My name is Rita Volkov, and I am here to tell you and everyone in the courtroom what really happened after my husband's tragic death," I say and lick my dry lips — here we go.

"I got married on March 21st and it ended in a nightmare. My husband and I said goodbye to the guests and retired to our room, where I have lost the love of my life." I hear Roman huff as I end my sentence.

"I claimed in my testimony that the mansion was attacked by armed men, my husband was killed and I was captured before the attackers blew up the entire mansion to cover up what really happened." I sum up the truth.

Then, I tell them a tale. "Your Honor, my testimony is inaccurate, I made up this story because I am sick in my head."

"Please expound me." The judge nods with a frown.