She pressed a hand to her heart, because, God, it hurt.
Leo had lied to her about his innocence.
It had all been one big joke to him.
Harry continued on ruthlessly, obviously not caring that her heart was shattering inside her chest. “He sent you instructions to show up at La Guardia, go to the Randovia Airlines desk, and pick up tickets in his name. But instead of tickets, you found a note telling you to never write to him again.”
She staggered back, because the only way Harry would know all that was if Leo had lied from the beginning. If he pretended not to get her letters, to try and get her in his bed, and sure enough, it had worked. “I…”
“Even then he knew you weren’t good enough for him.” He crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels, giving her the most annoying smirk in the history of annoying smirks. “Why do you think he’s not here to see you off today?”
She didn’t speak.
There was nothing to argue about.
Everything the man said was true.
“You didn’t believe him when he told you he never got your letters, did you?” At her continued silence, he laughed, pressing a hand against his stomach. “Oh, that’s just rich. You fell for that ridiculous lie? You deserve anything you get, then.”
“Go to hell,” she said from between clenched teeth. “And take your precious little prince with you.”
“King,” he corrected her, his laughter dying.
All her luggage was in the car, so all that was left was for her to climb into the backseat, settle in, and leave this whole damn country behind her…
Including its lying, conniving, cold-hearted king.
“Alicia.” Leo said, coming up behind Harry and frowning. “What’s going on here?”
Harry froze, his eyes wide. “My—”
“You…You…” Just the sound of his voice, his lying, treacherous voice, was enough to send a staff of pain piercing through her chest. Breathing hard, she pointed a finger at him and snarled, “Go to hell.”
Leo stared at her, clearly taken aback at her rage. “What’s going on here?”
“I’m finally leaving,” she shot back. “You pompous asshole.”
Leo’s jaw ticked. “We’re back to this now?”
“I’m sorry for this scene.” Harry grabbed her arm roughly, dragging her forcibly toward the car. “She was just leaving, Your Highness.”
Leo growled low in his throat. “Release her,” he commanded, the corners of his mouth pinched tight as he watched Harry follow his orders. “And never grab her like that again, if you value your life at all.”
Harry paled. “But—”
“Leave us.” His jaw ticked again. “Now.”
Harry bowed and walked off without another word, but he still managed to shoot Alicia one last dirty look.
She scowled back at him, rubbing her arm where he’d grabbed her.
“I’m sorry for his behavior toward you,” Leo said softly. He threw a glance at the guards who surrounded them. “Everyone leave us. Except you,” Leo said, pointing at the driver. “You may wait in the car for Ms. Forkes.”
Everyone scrambled to do his bidding, and the whole front porch, yard, and garden cleared out. All that was left were roses, birds, and butterflies. And of course, him. “Scared they’ll hear you talking to a peasant like me?”
He frowned. “What? No. Of course not.”
“Oh, just admit that you don’t want to be seen with me in public, because they’ll know who and what I am, and you can’t be associated with that,” she said drily. “I mean, what if people found out you slept with a girl like me?”