Chapter 224: Her Pardon

Bianca's POV

I could see Marcus glaring at his father so intently that if looks could kill, he'd be dead instantly.

Leon did not move a muscle. "You are a liar, Marcus. I loved you, and perhaps I loved you a little too much. That is the only reason you got away with your reckless behavior for so long. But you crossed the line when you laid your hands on Bianca."

"Why?" Marcus yelled, a tear rolling down his hollow cheek. "Because you want her for yourself? You've always taken everything I had! You took my company, you took my money, and now you took my wife!"

Leon scoffed. "Are you delusional? It is you who has always tried to take everything I have. I gave you that company, so I can take it before you run it to the ground. You tried to ruin everything I built simply because you carry the Steele name. How dare you sit there and think I am jealous of a failure like you?"

"Gentlemen, please," Marcus's lawyer interrupted, holding up his hands. "We are not here to quarrel about personal history. Mr. Steele, Marcus is my client, and I am pleading with you to look at the bigger picture. If there is a chance this can be handled as a private family matter, it would protect Steele International from a public scandal that could wipe millions off your market cap."

Leon stood up from the table. "That is enough. If you think you can blackmail me by using my company stock, you are more stupid than I thought. Marcus will pay for his crimes in prison, and that is final."

Leon turned to leave, but before he could take a step,

Marcus threw himself out of his chair and knelt on the floor.

"Please!" Marcus cried out. "Father, please! I know I've wronged you. I know I've done terrible things, but you know I will not survive prison! You know what they do in there. They are going to prey on me. They will tear me apart. If you want to kill me, just kill me right here and now! Please, don't send me to prison!"

He crawled forward on his knees, reaching out until his hands grabbed the bottom of my trousers.

"Bianca, please," Marcus sobbed, clutching my pant leg like a child. "I am begging you. If you ever loved me, if you ever cared for me even once during our marriage, please forgive me. I beg of you."

I stared down at him, my stomach churning at the sight of my former husband on his knees, crying on the floor.

"You know I loved you, Marcus," I replied, holding back tears. "You know I did. But that doesn't mean you get to keep hurting me without consequences."

"I was angry, Bianca! I was hurting and I wasn't myself," Marcus pleaded, his hands trembling against my leg. "I was taking pills, mixing things with alcohol, and it messed with my head. But I am ready to change now, okay? I talked to the doctor at the holding facility. I will go to rehab and I will go to daily therapy. I will do whatever you ask. I will never lay a hand on you again. You work with my father now, you are practically part of the family, I will be a better man for you, for him, for everyone. I swear."

"You will not be a better man for me, Marcus," I said, pulling my leg back so his hands dropped to the floor. "We are over. And as for your father, my business contract with him will end in a few months, and then you will never have to see me again. I will be out of your family's life for good."

Marcus shook his head frantically. "That is not what I want! I've grown to cherish you, Bianca. Even if you don't want to be with me, I understand that. But please, give me one chance to get clean. Don't make me go to a prison cell. I beg you."

I looked down at his sunken eyes, then looked over at the defense attorney. "Do you promise to check into a medical facility today?"

"Like hell he promises!" Leon cut in and pointed down at Marcus. "Don't you see what he is doing, Bianca? He is a liar. He will say anything, swear on anything, just to get you to drop the charges today, and the minute he is free, he will go right back to what he was!"

"This is my choice to make, Leon," I said, standing up to meet his eyes. "I am the victim here. I can choose to alter the complaint."

"He tried to force himself on you in an elevator!" Leon shouted, stepping toward me.

"And he didn't succeed!" I shot back.

"Because I arrived in time!" Leon said and stared at me in disbelief. "Have you lost your mind? What kind of guilt has he put into your head?"

"I don't have a heart of stone, Leon," I said. "I know you are capable of doing anything to punish your enemies, but I am not like you. Look at him, he is pathetic. He wouldn't last a week in a general prison population, and you know it. If medical rehab can fix him, then that is better than locking him in a cage."

Leon stared at me in frustration. "You have lost your mind, haven't you?"

"Maybe I have," I replied, holding his gaze. "Or maybe I am finally making my own decisions without you telling me what to think."

Marcus looked up from the floor, his face covered in tears. "Thank you, Bianca. Father, please don't stop her. I will work for the company for free. I'll give up my cars. I'll stop the parties and the gambling. I will be a better person, I swear to God."

I turned away from both of them and looked directly at the defense attorney and Arthur.

"I am officially withdrawing my statement for the criminal trial," I said clearly. "Under one condition. He must get admitted to a rehabilitation facility for a minimum of one full year. If he steps foot outside that clinic, or if he ever comes within five hundred yards of me, I will file a permanent restraining order and reinstate every single felony charge."

I looked down at Marcus one last time. "This is my final pardon to you, Marcus. Do not make me regret it."

Without waiting for Leon to argue, and without looking back at the lawyers, I picked up my bag, turned on my heel and walked off.