Game of Love and Deception: The Billionaire's Ex Wife
Chapter 58: Just hold still for me

Chapter 58: Just hold still for me

Ashley choked on her saliva and began coughing uncontrollably.

"Are you okay? Breathe. Breath, sunshine. Breathe!" Lorenzo chanted , looking alarmed.

He handed her a bottle of water from the compartment and gently rubbed her back as she sipped.

"I’m fine now," Ashley replied after a moment, still taking deep breaths.

Lorenzo waited another minute for her to be completely stable before he spoke.

"I’m sorry for that, okay? Now close your eyes. Calmly. Please."

How could he switch between so many personalities in a blink? Ashley thought. This man would be the death of her.

With a resigned sigh, she obeyed.

She heard him open something, then felt his hand approach her neck.

Wait—no. It couldn’t be what she was thinking.

Ashley’s eyes flew open just in time to catch Lorenzo about to clasp the $20 million Marie Antoinette necklace around her neck.

"What are you doing?" she asked, leaning away slightly.

"I want you to keep this for me," Lorenzo said casually.

"No, I can’t accept that," Ashley objected. "You can’t just throw expensive gifts at me like that. Are you trying to buy me?"

"You’re not some furniture, Ashley. I can’t possibly buy you," he replied with a frown. "I just want you to keep this... as my girlfriend," he added, looking straight at her.

"No, this..." Ashley gestured between them. "This is a fake relationship, Lorenzo." She reminded him, her voice firm.

But she bit her tongue the moment she saw the flicker of hurt in Lorenzo’s eyes—though he tried to hide it.

Why was he even hurt? It was his idea. How could he forget so soon?

"I know," Lorenzo said quietly. "I haven’t forgotten that we’re together because you need my help finding your daughter, and I need you to get my mom off my neck... which makes this just a transaction. I haven’t forgotten any of that. But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t remind me every second of the day."

Ashley opened her mouth to say something, but Lorenzo gently stopped her.

"You don’t have to say anything else, love. Just hold still for me. Please."

Ashley swallowed hard, guilt tightening in her chest. No, she wasn’t supposed to be feeling like this. He should be the one feeling guilty—for forcing her into this arrangement in the first place.

Her heart raced with both anger and something else she didn’t want to name as his trembling fingers brushed against her skin, fastening the necklace. The proximity made her shudder.

Lorenzo didn’t say another word to her as he started the car. The silence sat heavy between them, and Ashley turned to the window, watching the road blur by.

Her fingers slowly lifted to the pendant resting just above her chest. It looked pretty on her, and she couldn’t help but like it already.

Her mind replayed the scene in the bathroom. Her hand trembled slightly at the memory of Kayla’s slap and Christian’s raised fist. Anger bubbled inside her all over again.

"Are you okay?" Lorenzo’s voice suddenly brought her back. He took her hand gently, his other hand still on the wheel.

Ashley turned to him, forced a smile, and gave a small nod.

"I’m sorry I raised my voice at you, okay? You didn’t deserve that," Lorenzo said, his tone soft.

Ashley blinked, stunned. Just like that? No defensiveness? No turning it around on her?

The way he simply acknowledged she didn’t deserve his anger made her heart stutter. With Christian, she’d always been the one to apologize, even when she wasn’t wrong. Having Lorenzo casually apologize to her now—like it wasn’t a big deal—especially after being taught that women should naturally be the peace seekers in any relationship, stirred a foreign emotion in her.

She felt seen. Respected.

Their eyes briefly met and Lorenzo’s earlier words echoed in her mind: "Do that or I’ll kiss those pretty, smart lips of yours."

Ashley bit the inside of her cheek, wondering if he’d meant it. And if he had... what would it feel like to kiss him again?

But almost immediately, a voice inside reminded her that she hated him, eliciting an internal groan from her. She hated that she had to remind herself every damn time just to stay in control. She was supposed to be naturally in control.

She stole another glance at Lorenzo as he drove—the way the veins on his arms popped as he gripped the steering wheel like he owned the road, the hint of a tattoo disappearing beneath the sleeve of his shirt. He was one sexy sight to behold.

Ashley’s mind drifted back to those memories—him driving her around town in his mom’s car, the wind in her hair, laughter filling the space between them. She’d loved those moments more than she ever let on.

A small smile ghosted across her lips.

She inhaled quietly, a sudden urge swelling in her chest to finally ask why he’d left. But she bit it back. If he thought it mattered, he’d bring it up. Wouldn’t he?

But what if he never does?

Ashley chewed the corner of her lip at the thought. Maybe it was better to let the past stay buried. In eight months, this madness would be over—and they’d finally go their separate ways. Forever.

She could only hope she’d survive him until then.

Lorenzo noticed that she was lost in thought but chose not to pry. She could be really stubborn, and he found that very cute.

Spending most of the day with Ashley made him realize just how much he’d hate to be parted from her. It had been easier to stay away when he didn’t know where she was or what was going on in her life—but now that he did, the thought of ever letting her go gnawed at him.

Even now, he hated that he was about to drop her off at her place instead of his. A part of him regretted not including a clause in the contract that said they had to live together.

He needed to fix that somehow. And more importantly, he needed an excuse to spend just a little more time with her today.