Page 132 of My Ruthless Neighbor

Raleigh shrugs off his hand. “If I stop today, I won’t be able to say this again.”

Chris tries to usher him away but he pushes him aside. “You know she had to bring her dog here because her dog sitter wasn’t available. She had to leave Goldie with the guard downstairs so she could prepare all this.”

Chris speaks. “Raleigh.”

“Her prank may be childish but her intentions were pure.” He shakes his head. “You are my idol, dude. But you disappointed me today.”

He moves past me, grabs Hannah’s hand and leaves.

One by one, everyone trickles out, leaving without any word but disapproval in their eyes.

Lifting my fist, I rear it back before punching the wall.

Anguish strikes my heart, as if something is being torn inside me. I’ve felt this anguish before, only difference is this time, I am feeling this way because I made Summer cry.

I pull my bloodied knuckle back and punch the wall over and over again.

“I am sorry,” I mutter an apology for the second time tonight. But it’s not for Amy. It’s for the girl whose heart I broke ruthlessly.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Islip into the oversized pink hello kitty t-shirt and pull on the panties.

Too tired to dry my hair, I walk out of the bathroom and look for Goldie.

He is not in the bedroom nor in the living room.

Frowning, I check the other spare rooms.

My heartbeat steadies when I find him in one of the rooms, curled up in the bed. He is fast asleep. His favorite ball lies beside him.

I lean down and kiss his head. His peaceful face makes me smile but it wobbles.

He was tired when I picked him from the guard. Goldie isn’t trained so he was scared to be with the unknown man and caused trouble.

The guard had locked him in a room. I didn’t like it but I said nothing because it was my fault. I shouldn’t have left him.

So I just freed my baby and wasted no time in leaving.

I cover him with a comforter before exiting the room, pulling the door ajar.

I carry my own comforter from my bedroom and wrap it around me. Settling onto the couch in the living room, I try to distract myself by watching a rom-com movie.

My soul is overflowing with hurt and humiliation. So much so that in the middle of a funny scene, a sob escapes me, tears spilling from my eyes.

I curl into the corner of the couch and lay my head on the armrest as more sobs wrack my body.

The hatred in Archer’s voice keeps ringing in my ears. His cold, almost unrecognizable features when he looked at me bring fresh tears to my eyes, slicing my heart open.

I don’t remember how long I cried. I was so tired, emotionally exhausted that I fell asleep on the couch, clinging to the comforter.

“Summer, I saw that.” Mom calls out. And I quickly wipe my hands and face.

I crunch the sugar with my teeth, loving the sweetness that explodes in my mouth.

Today’s my daddy’s birthday. And I am sitting on the kitchen barstool, my legs dangling, excited to help Mommy bake a cake for him.

She says I am old enough to help her. I agree. I turned six last month. So I am here to bake the best cake in the world for daddy so he won’t get angry tonight.

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