Page 176 of My Ruthless Neighbor

“I’m sorry.” He starts and I screw my eyes shut. I feel my heart breaking apart. He is apologizing because he admits he was seeing that woman, isn’t he? “I’m sorry for making you suffer.”

A sob breaks free. I feel his fingers wiping my tears as they slide down my cheeks.

“Look at me, Summer.” I shake my head as my fists hit his chest. He takes my hit silently. I crumble before him. He watches me fall apart. Then his arms wrap around my shoulder, pulling me to him.

“Shh…” He rocks me in his embrace. When I realize that I am taking solace from the man who hurt me, I struggle to be released. He tightens his hold and brings his mouth to my ear. “You’re the only one I want, baby.”

I push him with all my might this time. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. I am speaking the truth like I did that day. That was in fact a business dinner.” He takes his phone out, taps a few times then holds it for me to take.

When I don’t take it, he takes my hand and closes my fingers around it. Wiping the tears, I reluctantly glance at the screen. Then frown. I lift it to get a closer look.

It’s a group picture. The woman from the article is present alongside three more people who are captured with Archer.

“They are the founding members of a dating app. The name isn’t finalized because the app’s still in its initial stage. They wanted to hire KIM Advertising.” He pushes a hand in his pocket. “You must be thinking why I personally met them when I could’ve sent Hannah or Raleigh.”

He is spot on. I nod slowly.

“I went because they’re my college friends. Over the years, I never attended a single reunion party. Half of them are already married and I didn’t go to their weddings. But when they mentioned they needed my help in their business, I decided to go.” He stares at me then. “So you see, Summer. It was merely a business dinner.”

“Why did the gossip columns post only your pictures with her?”

“Because she was the first one to show up among the group and the paparazzi captured that moment and presented those pictures like we were on a date.”

I sniffle. “Then why did you apologize?” His apology made me think the worse.

“I apologized because my actions somehow hinted that I was seeing other women when I am not.”

“You’re not?” A tear rolls down as I look up at him.

He closes the distance between us and wipes the tear with the pad of his thumb. “Remember the interview when you lied about us being childhood sweethearts?”

My cheeks heat. “How can I forget?”

“Since that day, you imprinted yourself on my mind. I was so occupied by your thoughts that there was no place for any other woman.”

My mouth falls open. Does he mean, like me, he hasn’t been with anyone else since our very first meeting?

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”

Flushing red, I say, “I wasn’t supposed to say it out loud.”

“But you did.” The corner of his mouth tilts up and I find myself falling in love with him all over again. Archer and his small smiles. I can never get enough of them.

He sobers up then. “I’m not going to see other women. And you won’t see other men. And that includes dancing. If I catch someone touching what’s mine, there’ll be hell to pay.”

Stroking his chest, I try to calm him down but he jerks me to him. “Now that we cleared your misunderstanding, I want to hear you say it.”

“Say what?”

“That you are mine.”

“I’m yours.” This time when he kisses me, I close my eyes and allow myself to live in the moment. Because I have a new hope. A hope which makes me believe that maybe just maybe I can make Archer fall in love with me. And that little hope trumps the despair I was feeling at the thought of losing him.

In the end, my heart finally wins and my brain loses the tug-of-war of love.

Chapter Thirty-Six

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