Page 37 of My Ruthless Neighbor

It’s their first New Year as a couple and to celebrate it, they embarked on a road trip.

In the beginning, they were in a fake relationship but they ended up falling in love.

I initially refused to talk to either of them since the wedding day in Hawaii. On that day, my trust was shattered. The pain so blinding shot through me when I learned about their fake engagement.

I was deceived. By two of my closest friends. I was mad. But more than that, I was disappointed in them. The betrayal cut me deep because they knew. They knew about my aversion to lies and liars. They were aware I was going to get hurt but they still did it.

I didn’t want to understand. I didn’t want to listen to their reasonings. So I shut them out. I ignored both of their attempts to reach out to me. They sent text messages when their phone calls went unanswered. They even began to flood my emails to make me respond.

While Hannah and Raleigh knew about my dislike for lies, they didn’t know the reason. The realization dawned on me after a few days and I began feeling guilty for not allowing them to explain their actions.

Another couple of days flew by. While the sting was gone, the memories of their lies throughout the week in Hawaii were embedded inside of me.

The choice of whether to give them a chance or not was snatched from me when Hannah sought me out. And I was grateful for that. Hannah and I are close. It was clear from her sad eyes that this rift between us was affecting her as much as it did me.

If it weren’t for Raleigh’s last-minute intervention, I would’ve walked out on years of my friendship with them. Watching them both misty-eyed, ripped my fucking wounds. My anger was forgotten and I embraced them and accepted their sincere apology.

Chucking the towel into the laundry basket, I pull on gray sweatpants before heading to my bed.

As I lay on my back, the words escape me. The ones I always say before my eyes fall shut every night. The words that often linger long after I’ve fallen asleep. The words that would never cover my emotions. The words that destroy the slightest bit of happiness I might have felt throughout the day. Because those words serve as a reminder of my deeds.

“Forgive me, Amy.”

???

My eyes pop open. A vein throbs in my forehead. Glancing at the illuminating digits on my nightstand indicates it’s three in the morning. I managed to get two hours of sleep tonight.

Fortunately, it wasn’t the nightmare that woke me up. It was the pulsating rhythm of the music from next door.

This is a four-bedroom, 4.5 baths apartment. The master bedroom falls in the corner that is quite far from the wall I share with my neighbor. And still, the music manages to travel through the wide space and reach me.

This is heights.

Getting off the bed, I quickly throw on a white t-shirt over my sweats and stride out of the bedroom.

With a hand, I push the hair back off my forehead as I cross through the living room and reach the front door.

I think it’s about time I introduced myself to my loud neighbor.

Chapter Ten

“Ilook silly.” River giggles as we stand in front of a huge floor-length mirror in the living room.

I grin at our reflection. She is in a sexy red dress. And I am wearing a sparkly golden dress. “We look hot.”

She pauses, her eyes meeting mine through the mirror for a moment. Then she bursts out laughing.

Tilting my chin up, I arch a brow. “You don’t like my hair?”

River rolls her lips between her teeth as she watches me tuck the short bright red strands of my wig behind my ear. While doing so, I accidentally pull it, making it slide off my head.

She snorts and begins laughing again.

“Don’t laugh!”

She laughs hard, clutching her sides.

“Stop right this second or I’ll snatch your wig.” I make a move to go for it and she takes a step back, almost stumbling.

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