Semua Bab I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis: Bab 161 - Bab 170

I glanced at him. "My what?""Wedding," Ashton said."We're already married," I said automatically."Contractually," he murmured. "Not exactly what I meant."Yvaine stood. "Excuse me, I'm going to the ladies'.""Need me to come with?" I asked."Nah." She smiled at Ashton. "You've got company."I followed her with my eyes.She didn't look upset, but she took a wide detour to avoid walking past Cassian's table."You're quiet," Ashton said."I'm watching the fallout of a terrible snap decision.""Yours or hers?"I turned to face him properly.His tie was still perfect.He hadn't loosened it.His posture hadn't changed since we sat down—spine straight, hands resting lightly on the tablecloth, eyes impossible to read.Only his thumb moved, tracing a slow line along the side of his wine glass."Why are you asking me about weddings?" I asked."We're here, aren't we? Such an occasion naturally brings that topic to mind. Seemed reasonable to check what you like."I blinked at him. "Are you try

Cassian blinked. "Me?"He actually pointed to himself, as if Ashton had mistaken him for someone else."I wasn't even here when they started fighting. I have no clue what was said. What the hell am I apologizing for?"Ashton looked at me. "You yelled at Mirabelle. I heard you."Cassian scoffed. He stared at Ashton like he'd lost his mind."You're joking, right? I barely said three words. That's 'yelling' now?" He swung his hand toward me. "Her tone was worse than mine. Did she apologize to me? No. But I'm the one out of line?"Ashton shrugged. "Didn't hear her."Then he glanced at Emmett, who nodded. "I didn't either."Cassian looked between the two of them like they'd grown matching horns.His face went red from the neck up."You've got to be kidding me. Selective fucking hearing? You hear me loud and clear but nothing from her? All right. Fine. You want an apology? Here it is—" He snapped his head towards me. "Sorry. Happy now?"He looked like he wanted to put his fist through somet

Gwendolyn was already waiting by the door.Her voice shot out before I even hit the last step. "Mirabelle! Come in, come in. It's freezing out here."Technically, she was my mother-in-law. Kind of.I didn't like her much, but she hadn't done anything outrageous yet, and I wasn't about to start a war over a hunch.Plus, she was probably still traumatized from how much she'd spent the last time we met."I've cleaned Ashton's old room for you to stay the night." She beamed at me.I gave her a vague smile and mumbled something noncommittal, pretending I hadn't heard.The staff had strung up a few lights in the sitting room.There were balloons, cake boxes stacked on the sideboard, and a faint smell of polish and vanilla.Once everything was set, I texted Ashton: [I'm at the Laurent estate. Come for dinner tonight.]He called before I even put the phone down."Where are you?" His voice was low and tight.I could hear the drag of his breathing, like he was trying not to snap."Gwendolyn inv

Edouard let out a wheeze and sat upright.His hands shook as he hauled himself up with that polished black cane."Where do you get off talking like that?" he barked. "What do you mean, your house, your food? LGH and this villa were built off my back."Ashton gave a short laugh.He looked down at Edouard like he was some washed-up street performer shouting in the park."You've got quite the imagination. Without me, LGH would have collapsed two years ago. This place would have been repossessed. You'd be out on your arse. The only reason you're sitting here with heating and a functioning liver is me. You think your pension covered those hospital bills? You'd be dead by now."Edouard slammed his cane against the marble twice."You listen to yourself. What kind of lunatic talks to their grandfather like this? Do you even see me as family?""No," Ashton said plainly. "You're just another parasite. You all are. I don't owe you anything. And if I hear you've stirred up more trouble, you won't

"This is good," he said.That was enough to unclench the tight pull behind my ribs.Then he held out his wrist. "Put it on for me?""Sure."He yanked off the one he'd been wearing and chucked it over the dashboard.I pinched the new strap between my fingers and fastened it slowly, adjusting the clasp so it sat flat against his skin.His skin was fair.The strap was matte black.The contrast was sharp.My hand paused just a second longer than it needed to.He turned his wrist.The second hand ticked forward with a clean, crisp rhythm."I like it," he delivered his verdict."Good."My stomach growled, loud enough to interrupt us both.I looked away, embarrassed. "Bit hungry. Let's eat. I know a place with decent seafood. You'll like it."He nodded. "Alright."We pulled away from the Laurent estate and headed downhill, tires tracing the edge of the winding road.I insisted on driving. Told him he didn't know the way.Which was technically true, but mostly I just didn't want him gripping