Page 56 of Ruthless Regret

She got a chance to move on and make something of her life. I got nothing but my obsession with revenge to keep me sane.

For the first time since being released, the familiar anger that usually accompanies my thoughts about our differences doesn’t appear. Instead, I just feel …sad.

Peter unbuckles his seatbelt and glances at me. “Stay here.”

“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”

I track him as he crosses the road and pushes the doorbell, the fingers of one hand tapping restlessly against my knee. I glance around the neighborhood, taking in the clean sidewalks, the window boxes full of flowers, the trees dotted along the sidewalk. Everything looks so … perfect.

So fucking normal.

The door opens, and I catch a quick glimpse of dark hair. I don’t know if it’s Ashley or one of her housemates. After ten seconds or so, the door opens wider, and Peter steps inside.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ASHLEY

My heart skips a beat.

What’s Zain’s lawyer doing here?

“What do you want? You have nothing to say that I’m interested in hearing.”

“Let me assure you, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”

“Ash, who is it?” Scott’s voice comes from behind me.

“I didn’t realize you had company,” Peter says smoothly, his voice formal and clipped.

There is nothing in his voice to suggest that he’s surprised by Scott’s presence, and I don’t know why my cheeks heat up. I’m doing nothing wrong, but I know how it must look. It’s barely seven-thirty, and there’s a man … myex-boyfriend … standing behind me, while I’m in nothing but my pajamas and robe.

“Please leave. I have nothing to say to you.”

His palms hits the door before I can close it, and he takes a step forward. “Given the fact that your attacker remains at large, I really do think you should listen to me.”

That makes me pause. “Has he been found?”

“Attacker? Ash, who the hell is this man?”

I sigh, closing my eyes briefly, then move to the side. “Come in, then. Make it quick. I have things to do today.”

He gives a small incline of his head and walks inside. I close the door. “Go straight ahead, through to the kitchen.”

“Ashley.” Scott touches my arm. “Whois this?”

I hesitate for a second. How am I supposed to explain any of this? “His name is Peter Longeaton. He’s a lawyer.”

“A lawyer? Why do you need a lawyer?”

“He’s notmylawyer. He?—”

“I have a legal matter to discuss with Mrs. Ryder.”

“Mrs. Ryder?” Scott jumps on the name. “I think you might have the wrong person. Ashley’s last name is Truman.”

“It’s actually Trumont, or was.” Peter turns to face me once he enters the kitchen. “And there’s no mistake, I definitely have the right person.”

Scott blinks, his confusion clear. “Ash, what’s he talking about? And what did he mean about an attacker?”

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