"Hey, look at me, love," Lorenzo said, gently holding her shoulders.
Ashley hesitated, then slowly lifted her eyes to meet his soft, steady gaze.
"I need you to stay calm while I handle this, okay?" His voice was firm but calm. It left her feeling powerless. She wasn't used to this. She was used to handling everything on her own. But this man… this man was trying so hard to carry some of that weight for her, and she didn't know how to feel about it.
Across the room, Roseline faced Nicolas, still demanding a lawyer. But he wasn't giving in. He could tell she was guilty from her defensiveness, the way her mask slipped now and then. Still, he needed a confession. Or at least some evidence. He couldn't move forward without it.
"Can you do that for me, sunshine?"
Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat and gave a hesitant nod.
Lorenzo pressed a kiss to her forehead, then walked back to Roseline. She released a weak sigh.
