Semua Bab I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis: Bab 211 - Bab 220

We reached the pavement.The glass doors slid shut behind us, sealing off the last of the noise.Fabrizio checked his watch, then added, "I'm only in Skyline until tomorrow. I'd love to hear from you before I go."I nodded. "I'll think it over."He held my gaze a beat longer than necessary.Then, tires screeched against the curb.A black Maybach rolled to a stop half a meter from my boots.The rear door swung open.Ashton stepped out.Black bomber jacket, vintage-wash jeans, dark sunglasses with thin gold frames.His hair was messier than usual, fringe damp against his temples.He moved to my side, one hand slipping into his pocket, the other adjusting his cuff.His eyes, behind the lenses, were fixed on Fabrizio.Cold. Measuring. Not friendly.Ashton didn't remove the sunglasses.He raised his chin slightly and said, "Aren't you going to introduce us?""This is Fabrizio Marchetti," I said. "CEO of Valmont & Cie."Then I looked at Ashton.His mouth didn't move, but I knew what he want

Caroline hesitated, then changed tack. "Could you talk to Ashton? Ask him to go easy on your dad?"I didn't bother hiding the irritation in my voice. "Get to the hospital first. We'll talk if you show up.""Alright, alright. We're on our way."The moment I ended the call, I messaged the precinct and told them to send officers to the hospital immediately.Twenty-five minutes later, they arrived. Caroline, Preston, and Serenna stumbled in looking washed out and twitchy.They pushed the door open.The first thing they saw wasn't me.It was four uniformed cops standing near Cade's bed.Caroline froze. Her knees buckled. She grabbed the doorframe for balance."Mirabelle..." she said through clenched teeth. "You tricked me."I stepped out from behind the officers. "I said I'd consider it. Never said I agreed. And now I've changed my mind."Her mouth worked for a second, then clamped shut.Preston shoved past her. He pointed at my face, already red and loud. "Ungrateful brat. You lied to us!

"You don't get to tell me who she is," he said coldly."Ashton! You can't be serious!" she shrieked. "We're your family. She's no one! You're letting some gold-digging little brat twist you around her finger! You think she's sweet, but she's manipulative. She uses your name like a badge and your money like her own. That design competition? Please. Everyone knows she won it because of you.""Enough!" I wished there was something I could throw at her. "When I entered that competition, no one knew who the hell I was. Not as Ashton's wife. If I wanted to rig it, I'd have needed a name to flash, and I didn't use his. You think I throw Ashton's name around in public? Fine. Name one time. Where? When? Who heard it?"She stared at me, blinking. Her lips twitched like she wanted to come up with something, but all she did was exhale through her nose."You're quick with rumors, but you choke on facts. Don't waste your breath trying to make up stories about me. Go find a comedy club. Might as wel

I reached for him, rolling the condom down over his length.Ashton groaned low in his throat, his body tensing above mine, hips jerking at the contact.His hands braced on either side of my head, his knuckles whitening slightly.He murmured my name, his voice rough with pleasure.I swallowed hard, my eyes flicking up to his face.There was no alcohol clouding my senses this time, no hazy veil to soften the edges.Every sensation was vivid, raw.The memory of that first night in the hotel came rushing back—not just the physicality, but the vulnerability, the reckless thrill of giving myself to someone who made me feel both fearless and fragile all at once.That night, I'd been drunk.Now, I was wide awake, and drowning in feeling.Watching me closely, Ashton pressed inside slowly, inch by torturous inch, letting me stretch and adjust, his jaw clenched tight as he fought for control.I gasped softly, arching into him, my fingers curling into his shoulders.My body softened around him, o

Laurent Global Holdings. Top floor. Private office.The blinds were drawn, the lights dimmed low.Ashton sat behind his desk, hands still, face unreadable.Across from him, Dominic finished his report in a low, careful voice.When Ashton didn't interrupt, didn't frown, Dominic finally exhaled."These need your signature," he said, sliding a folder forward.He listed each document while Ashton flipped through, reviewing, annotating, signing with quick strokes."Anything else?"His voice was flat. The sort of tone that left no room for unnecessary replies.He hadn't wanted to be there.Dominic's call had pulled him out of bed, away from Mirabelle, away from the heat and scent of her skin, the weight of her tucked under his arm, silent and half-asleep.He could still smell her shampoo on his clothes.Ashton flexed his fingers once, then stilled them on the desk.It was pointless to be annoyed now.If he was already here, he might as well get something done.Dominic hesitated."There's on