Game of Love and Deception: The Billionaire's Ex Wife
Chapter 84: It’s perfect

Chapter 84: It’s perfect

"Hey, look at me, love," Lorenzo said, gently holding her shoulders.

Ashley hesitated, then slowly lifted her eyes to meet his soft, steady gaze.

"I need you to stay calm while I handle this, okay?" His voice was firm but calm. It left her feeling powerless. She wasn’t used to this. She was used to handling everything on her own. But this man... this man was trying so hard to carry some of that weight for her, and she didn’t know how to feel about it.

Across the room, Roseline faced Nicolas, still demanding a lawyer. But he wasn’t giving in. He could tell she was guilty from her defensiveness, the way her mask slipped now and then. Still, he needed a confession. Or at least some evidence. He couldn’t move forward without it.

"Can you do that for me, sunshine?"

Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat and gave a hesitant nod.

Lorenzo pressed a kiss to her forehead, then walked back to Roseline. She released a weak sigh.

"Tell me what you need to give us the information we’re seeking, Ms. Matthew," he said, pulling Ashley gently to his side. His voice was calm, but there was a quiet threat beneath it.

A chill washed through Roseline at the way he said her name. She swallowed hard.

"I’m not saying anything until I get a lawyer," she repeated defiantly. "And this woman—she assaulted me."

Lorenzo clenched his jaw. The way she kept referring to Ashley made his blood boil. If she weren’t in custody—and if he didn’t have a deep dislike for hitting women—he might’ve snapped her neck.

Nicolas looked at Lorenzo, torn between doing what was right and what was necessary. He could see Roseline was just playing the victim, trying to buy time. But she still had a right to a lawyer. If he didn’t follow the rules, the whole case could fall apart.

Ashley shouldn’t have attacked her– but he understood. This was hard for her.

Without taking his eyes off Roseline, he spoke.

"Miss Ashley, please step outside. You’re not in the right state of mind to remain here. Ms. Matthew is in custody, and attacking her leaves me with no choice."

Ashley’s gaze snapped to him, her hands trembling. "She knows where my daughter is," she flared. "And she’s lying!"

Roseline coughed, crocodile tears slipping down her cheeks, as if she were the one suffering.

You could always tell the guilty ones, she thought bitterly. They cried the loudest, even when there was no reason to.

"Please... go. The investigation will continue, and I’ll keep you updated," Nicolas said gently.

Ashley’s jaw clenched. Her eyes burned with rage. "Let her get a lawyer... I don’t care. She’s going to tell us where my child is!"

Lorenzo placed a calming hand on her shoulder, his voice low. "Ash, let’s not give her more reason to play the victim. Let me take you home now, okay?"

Though Roseline was already doing that—and it made Lorenzo’s blood boil. He hated seeing Ashley like this. There was so much he wanted to do, but one of them had to stay composed.

"Mister Grey, please escort Miss Ashley outside," Nicolas said again, this time with a pleading look.

Lorenzo gave Roseline one last glance, a look that made her stomach twist in fear, before he gently led Ashley toward the door.

He had no intention of waiting on the slow grind of a legal process. But right now, Ashley’s well-being came first. She was already overwhelmed, and he needed to take care of her before figuring out how to deal with that lying-ass lady.

As they reached the door, Ashley looked back at Roseline, baffled by how someone could lie so effortlessly. If she hadn’t handed Vanessa over with her own hands, she might’ve been tempted to believe her.

It made her sick.

How could a woman be this heartless, even with a child’s life at stake?

Emotions crashed inside her like waves—anger, fear, guilt, helplessness—all tangled so tightly she couldn’t separate them. She hadn’t meant to lose her temper. But standing there, watching that woman spit lies to her face, like it was nothing... it broke something in her.

Lately, she’d been losing her composure more often. And who could blame her? She was trying. Really trying. But she was tired. And with each day, it felt like a part of her was breaking. Dying a little more.

Lorenzo gently squeezed her hand, reminding her he was still there. In the middle of the chaos, his presence was a small comfort. A little calm in the storm. But it mattered. It really did. And for a moment, she wondered how different things would’ve been if he wasn’t there.

That thought alone shook her.

Maybe it was time to let go of some of the anger... and start appreciating him.

When he opened the car door, Ashley didn’t step in. Instead, she turned and wrapped her arms awkwardly around him.

Surprise crossed Lorenzo’s face, but he didn’t ask questions. He just held her—firmly, gently—like he understood everything without needing a single word.

********

A few miles from the station, Lorenzo glanced at her, keeping most of his attention on the road.

She looked lost in thought, her eyes fixed on the blur of the world outside the window.

"Do you want me to take you home and have your car brought to you later? Or should we go get it now?" he asked gently, trying to get her to say something at least.

Ashley leaned her head against the backrest and let out a tired sigh, deepening his concern.

"I don’t want to go home," she said flatly. Her voice was distant, almost hollow.

He felt a flicker of relief. At least she wouldn’t be alone in that estate... yet.

"So... should we get your car then?"

She shook her head. "I don’t want to do that either. Just take me somewhere quiet, please."

Lorenzo’s concerned stare lingered, then he reached over to gently brush his fingers along her cheek, tucking her hair behind her ear.

She tensed slightly, then relaxed.

If he could take her pain, he would. But since he couldn’t, he would do whatever it took to ease it—even a little.

With a quiet sigh, he turned the car around and drove back in the direction they came from. Ashley noticed but said nothing.

After some time, they pulled into a familiar path—one she immediately recognized.

It was the same woods he had taken her to before.

Lorenzo parked and started to open the door for her, but she beat him to it.

"You wanted somewhere quiet," he said when she gave him a questioning look.

Ashley nodded. "It’s perfect."

Guilt stirred in her chest. Even after everything that had happened, he was still trying to make her feel better.

A soft smile graced Lorenzo’s lips when he saw she liked it there. This place had always been his own little escape before she came back into his life. Maybe now... it could be hers too. Or even theirs. At least, that’s what he hoped.

Without asking, he scooped her up into his arms. A startled giggle escaped her lips.

"You know I can still walk, right?" Ashley said, giving his chest a playful slap.

"I know," he replied with a grin. "But I really like carrying you. It reminds me that some humans can feel weightless... which isn’t a bad thing."

She rolled her eyes but didn’t protest. Instead, her arms slid around his neck for support, letting the warmth of his skin chase away the cool breeze drifting through the trees.

She tried to focus only on their quiet surroundings, letting go of the chaos in her world—just for a moment. Her thoughts drifted to the last time they were here... and whether they’d end up on the boat again today.

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