Page 31 of My Ruthless Neighbor

What a jerk! What man leaves his wife alone on their first wedding anniversary?

“But I am glad, you know.” River says, making me pause.

“What?”

“I don’t have to watch him pretend to love me.”

WHAT? Did she just tell me that her husband doesn’t love her but instead pretends to do so? What kind of fuckery is this? One second she was reminiscing, talking about him being her dream. And the next, she is revealing that he doesn’t love her. I am concerned.

She shakes her head, then regards me with her cursory gaze. “What happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“You were crying. I saw your red-rimmed eyes. I wasn’t the only one hiding inside the women’s restroom. You were having a bad day too.”

I swiftly retract my hand and plaster a fake smile. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. Tell me, what’s wrong?”

My chest twists when I think of the puppy. I tell her everything. How I found him outside my apartment building and how he disappeared when I returned with the cardboard box. I also tell her about the negative thoughts that were torturing me.

“I am a terrible person. I should’ve taken him upstairs with me.”

“It’s not your fault. Stop being hard on yourself.” River wraps her arm around my shoulder.

“What if something happened to him?” I shudder.

“Thinking about such things will only hurt you. I’ll inform my bodyguards and have them scan your neighborhood first thing in the morning, okay? We’ll find him.” She reassures.

My lips part. “You have bodyguards?”

“Security. My husband’s orders.” She mumbles.

“O-kay. Can’t they do that now while we are dining?”

“They won’t leave my side.” She grimaces.

I frown in confusion. “But you drove us here. I never saw anyone.”

She clears her throat and motions toward my right. I turn my head. First, I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. There are people wining and dining. But then I see it. Two men dressed in black suits lurking in the corner of the entrance.

I whip my eyes to her.

She nods solemnly. “There are two more.” She points at her side.

“Holy shit,” I whisper when I see them.

“Yeah.”

“It’s okay. Tomorrow works.” I jerk a nod.

She gives me an apologetic look. “I would’ve asked them to go now but they only follow my husband’s order—”

I shake my head, stopping her. “Hey, I appreciate it.” I squeeze her hand.

She smiles too. The heaviness forgotten. Maybe not completely but it’s put aside as the waiter returns with our dessert. We keep chatting for another hour or so before my phone starts ringing. And reality comes crashing down.

“Who is it?” River asks.

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