‘It’s .’ Ashton’s voice reached first. A second later, he appeared on the staircase landing.
Yvaine was close behind him, sounding flustered. ‘I told you you can’t just barge in!’
I looked up at his familiar face. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I’m here to take my wife ho.’ He scooped up into his arms.
I was already in my pyjamas. Embarrassed, I pushed against his chest. ‘Let go! My friend’s right here. What do you think you’re doing?’
Ashton turned his head.
Yvaine was standing a few paces away, arms crossed. She looked at . ‘Just say the word, Mira. I’ve got pepper spray.’
‘You’re going to let her spray ?’ Ashton asked.
‘I...’ I shook my head. ‘No.’
‘Then let’s go ho.’
‘I don’t want to go ho. Put down.’
‘I’m not putting you down unless you agree to co ho with .’ Without waiting for a reply, Ashton simply carried downstairs.
As we passed Yvaine, she caught my eye. I shook my head faintly.
She shook hers in return. ‘You’re hopeless.’
Then she called after Ashton’s retreating back, ‘If you ever hurt Mirabelle, Ashton, I’ll find her a better man who can actually appreciate her! You’re replaceable, you know!’
‘You won’t get the chance,’ Ashton replied coolly.
Downstairs, he bundled into the passenger seat of his car, fastened my seatbelt, then rounded the bonnet and slid into the driver’s seat, starting the engine without delay.
Thank god he’d driven himself. If his chauffeur had seen like this, I would have died of embarrassnt.
I turned in the passenger seat to look at him. ‘I already told you, I’m staying with Yvaine for a few days. And barging into soone’s house this late at night doesn’t exactly leave a good impression, you know.’
I was about to say more when Ashton cut off. ‘I don’t care what kind of impression I make on her. I only care about having my wife beside when I go to sleep.’
‘Do you really need that?’ I asked, my voice heavy with sarcasm.
‘You are my wife,’ he said, turning his head just enough to pin with a firm, unyielding look.
There was a ti when those words would have made my heart swell with joy. Now, hearing him call his wife just felt hollow, even painful.
I turned away to stare out the window.
‘What did Genevieve say to you today?’ Ashton asked.
‘What do you think?’ I replied flatly. ‘She told to leave you. To divorce you.’
‘Damn her,’ he said, his voice cold. ‘And what did you say?’
‘I said I wouldn’t do it in a million years.’
‘Good.’
‘Why would I? Just to make things easier for her? I told her as long as I live and breathe, she’ll never beco Mrs Laurent.’
Ashton’s voice turned dangerously low. ‘So you’re only staying out of spite?’
‘What, do YOU want a divorce? Honestly, Ashton, if you’d just—’
‘No. I will never ask for one. And don’t you dare think about it either.’ His words were final.
When we got ho, I went straight for a shower, then got into bed.
Ashton slid under the covers after his own shower, and I imdiately turned my back to him.
He reached out and pulled firmly against his chest.
‘I’m tired,’ I said.
‘That’s alright. You sleep. I’ll take care of things,’ he murmured, his low voice rough near my ear.
A mont later, his lips found mine.
I stiffened, my whole body going tense as I stared wide-eyed at his handso, frustrating face.
I could feel his body responding, and his warm hands were already beginning to roam restlessly over .
Damn it.
I was furious.
What did he think he was doing?
Did he feel guilty? Was this his way of making it up to ?
I pushed hard against his chest. ‘It’s late. We should sleep.’
‘It’s still early,’ he countered, his eyes dark with wanting.
‘I’m tired.’ I turned away again.
Ashton let out a slow breath. ‘Then get so rest.’
He held closer and said softly near my ear, ‘But rember—we’re husband and wife. It’s ti we started a family.’
‘I’m not ready for a child,’ I said, my voice distant and cool.
He paused. ‘Alright. We can wait. It’s your call.’
Once more, he drew against him.
I didn’t respond, just closed my eyes and lay still.
Neither of us ntioned what Genevieve had done.
The next morning, we ate breakfast in silence.
The air between us was stiff and heavy, so much so that even Carn and Geoffrey could tell sothing was wrong.
When I got to the studio, I couldn’t focus. My mind kept drifting, and my chest felt tight.
I didn’t know what was wrong with , why I felt so restless and distracted.
Was it because of Ashton?
Is this what love does? Always leaving you uneasy, always afraid of losing sothing you’re not even sure you have.
My phone rang.
I thought it might be Ashton, but it was Rhys.
‘Him again?’ I really didn’t want to answer, especially after the bad news his last call had brought.
But I wasn’t an ostrich. I couldn’t just bury my head in the sand.
I sighed and picked up. ‘What?’
‘Mirabelle. I assu you’ve had ti to think about Ashton and Genevieve,’ Rhys began, straight to the point.
‘So? What’s it to you?’
‘Have lunch with . There’s sothing else you need to hear.’ Of course. He was just the ssenger, again.
‘Whatever it is, tell now.’ I had no intention of seeing him.
‘Oh, I think you’ll want to hear this in person.’
He sounded smug, like he already knew I’d give in.
Damn him. As my ex-fiancé, Rhys still knew too well. He knew I couldn’t just pretend so things weren’t happening.
By noon, we were once again sitting in the restaurant across the street.
When ordering, Rhys chose all my favourite dishes.
I looked at him coolly. ‘You can talk now.’
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