Reborn Heiress: Escaping My Contract Marriage with the Cold CEO Chapter 24: Have One Last Drink

VANESSA BELMONT

"Aw, c’mon," said Carver. "You’ll check out of the hospital in the morning, right? So, who cares if I claim the husband title tonight."

"I care."

Carter stood up, leaned down, and then tapped my nose. "Little fool. That’s your problem." He handed another lollipop. "For later. I’ll pick you up in the morning."

"No, you won’t. I can go ho by myself."

"See you in the a.m." Carver said, as if I hadn’t spoken. His lips pulled into his patented heart-stopping wicked grin. Then he waved good-bye and left.

My phone’s screen lit up with a text. I didn’t recognize the phone number.

Unknown Number:Do you know where your fiance is?

***|***|***|***|***

NATHAN JANG

Fiona sat beside on the sofa, her lips curved in a smile that promised things I didn’t want. Not from her.

I shouldn’t be here.

My gut twisted. Vanessa would be furious—hell, she should be furious—but Fiona’s frantic call had left no choice. "Nathan, please, he had a knife. I’m so scared!"

The wrongness of the situation burrowed into my skin. What was I doing?

"I’m sure Vanessa’s fine. I know you left her in the hospital to take care of ," Fiona murmured, her fingers tracing the rim of her whiskey glass. "But I only have you." She leaned in, her grip tightening on my forearm like a vise. The neckline of her dress dipped, revealing too much cleavage, but my gaze stay locked on her face. "Nathan, stay with tonight."

Dream on. I wrenched my arm free. "I’ll arrange security. They’ll watch the apartnt."

"Bodyguards? Really, Nathan?"

"I’m getting married. It’s not appropriate for a married man and single woman to be alone."

"I’m your assistant!" she snapped, surging to her feet. "What’s wrong with being in your assistant’s apartnt?"

The apartnt I paid for. The car I leased. The life I bankrolled. Guilt was a blade in my ribs. Her father’s cris had ruined her—stolen her na, her future—and I’d stepped in because I rembered 16-year-old Fiona. She was sweet and kind and pretty. This Fiona was different.

And not in a good way.

"It’s a contract marriage. It’s not real," said Fiona. "You don’t have to be loyal to that woman. She doesn’t deserve you!"

Vanessa’s face flashed in my mind—the way her eyes lit up when I walked into a room, the quiet desperation in her touch. She loved . Really loved . And what did I do? I ran to Fiona every ti it got too real.

"I think you should return to France," I said.

"What?" Fiona stared at . "For her? You’re choosing her over ? I don’t believe it."

I looked into Fiona’s eyes and saw her anger reflected there. I realized that Vanessa had been right. Every ti I took care of Fiona, I signaled that she was important. More important than my fiance.

You really are an asshole, Nathan Jang.

"I’m leaving first. I’ll make arrangents for you. I think you’re better off in France. It’s not like you’ll be welco in the circle again."

Her lips thinned. "You’re abandoning ?"

"Don’t. It’s not like that. But you’re not more important than Vanessa. You can’t be. You’re my friend. She’s my wife."

"Not yet," said Fiona. "Do you really have to marry her?"

"Yes." And I realized that I wanted to marry Vanessa. I wanted to have a real relationship. Vanessa had been right. I couldn’t have two won in my life.

I had to choose.

So I would choose Vanessa.

"You don’t have to go into the company tomorrow. I’ll make arrangents for you to return to France. I’ll give you so money, enough to live well with your mom."

"I don’t want to leave," she said, tears filling her eyes. "Please, Nathan."

"If you stay, it’ll be without my financial support."

"You’re cruel." Tears fell. She wiped her cheeks, and sighed. "O-okay. I’ll go." Fiona nudged my untouched drink toward . "Have one last drink with ."

I snatched the glass and downed half in a single swallow. Fire burned down my throat—but beneath it, sothing wrong. Bitter. Chemical.

"What did you—?"

Fiona smiled, and I saw the calculation in her gaze. Too late, I realized I’d been duped.

The room lurched. My vision blurred at the edges, darkness creeping in. I staggered to my feet, and dropped the glass. It hit the tiles and shattered.

My legs gave out. I crashed to my knees, the world spinning.

Fiona crouched in front of , tilting my chin up with one manicured nail. "Shhh. It’ll be over soon."

I fumbled for my phone, but she plucked it from my pocket with a laugh. "Looking for this?"

"Fiona—" My tongue was lead, words slurring. "Don’t... do this..."

She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear. "Too late, husband."

***|***|***|***|***

VANESSA BELMONT

Do you know where your fiance is?

A picture appeared under the text: Nathan lay next to Fiona. His eyes were closed, his shirt open, and Fiona had her freaking hand on his chest, her smile cat-like in the photo she’d obviously taken.

Betrayal coiled around my heart and squeezed until my chest ached. My fingers trembled as I stared at the intimate photo of my white moonlight with his white moonlight.

My throat tightened.

Why did I care? I repeated it like a mantra, but the words were hollow. This wasn’t just a contract. Not to . Not anymore.

The phone screen blurred as my vision swam. I blinked hard, refusing to let the tears fall. Anger was easier. Anger didn’t make feel like a fool.

I sent the photo to Nathan without a word. Let him explain. Let him lie. Let him do sothing other than leave drowning in this silence.

But the minutes stretched into an hour, and the weight of his non-response crushed .

Had he seen it? Was he even going to acknowledge it?

Or worse—was he still with her right now, laughing about how easily I fell for their act?