Ryder’s POV
Ten minutes had passed since the gavel struck, but I remained frozen in my seat. I ignored the sterile chill of the federal courtroom, the frantic buzzing of the press, and the sheer panic etched onto my father’s legal team’s faces. Victor Vance’s sleazy attempt to bribe the federal judge had imploded, but I couldn't care less.
My entire world had narrowed down to a single point: the stunning woman sitting across the aisle at the plaintiff's table.
Mary.
A brutal wave of longing gripped my chest, setting my veins on fire. After three months of living like a hollowed-out corpse, I was finally seeing her again. She was perfect—breathtakingly elegant, yet lethal.
The tension in the room spiked when Richard Collins stood. His voice echoed with cold authority. "Your Honor,
