Ashlyn clung to Carlos's arm, her body pressed against his, a perfect portrait of a falsely accused wife now proven innocent. Carlos, his expression a mixture of relief and a lingering, troubled suspicion, stood firmly by her side.
"Please spare Ashlyn, Your Grace," Carlos pleaded, his voice earnest and directed at his brother. He was already tired of everything happening. He needed this entire, ugly affair to be over. "She has confessed her fault. It was a mistake born of a soft heart, nothing more."
Derek said nothing. He simply stared at Ashlyn, his gaze cold and flat, as if she were a bug he was deciding whether or not to crush. The threat was unspoken but absolute.
