Secret Billionaire’s Contract Bride: Marrying My Enemy’s Lover

Chapter 7

I poked uncomfortably at the fish dinner on my plate, not even hungry anymore as I sat down at dinner.

I didn’t realize that when Damon meant dinner, he meant with the Steyns. I wished his grandparents were here. They’d always been kind to me.

But instead, we were joined by the three most boring old, balding political men I’ve ever met, Damon’s father, and of course, Ashton and Corinna.

Even the normally cool-headed Damon was irritated. I tried my best to keep a stoic expression on my face. They didn’t deserve to see my emotions.

“Absolutely ridiculous, this new tax reform needs to be halted in its tracks,” one of the men with a patchy beard said firmly.

“I

agree. The tax exemptions have always kept good companies like ours out of the hot water but they want to steal our money? Raise taxes on the middle class for goodness sake! They don’t need money, anyway,” another who was clearly wearing a wig said.

“I completely agree, sirs,” Corinna giggled to the men’s delight. They preened under her gaze. “Good men like you definitely deserve more recognition for your contributions.” She smiled at them all, making them feel important.

I tried not to roll my eyes and looked at Damon instead. He wore the same displeased expression as he had when he arrived.

“Oh-ho!” the man with the patchy beard grinned, “You’ve got such a delightful daughter-in-law on your hands, Dalton. I wish I could steal her away from your son.”

“I’m afraid she belongs all to me, sirs,” Ashton said charmingly, wrapping an arm around Corinna. Dalton, however, sipped his wine without saying a word.

I sent the men fawning over Corinna a nasty look which went ignored, but Damon’s smile was harder to ignore.

“Tax exemptions are meant for good, hardworking people who keep the economy stable, not hoarders with a government permit,” Damon smiled, though his eyes didn’t. I was shocked to hear him speak up; normally, he was so withdrawn from conflict.

“I beg your pardon?” the man with a curly mustache said with a frown.

“Then beg.” Damon chuckled.

Damon raised his glass to his father’s political friends gracefully, and I almost wanted to applaud him if I didn’t remember that he belonged to a family of ‘hoarders with a government permit

“Damon!” Dalton scolded sharply. He turned to them with an apologetic look. “I apologize for the rudeness of my son.”

“My brother is simply not as… educated on these matters.” Ashton smiled at the men, sending a mocking look to Damon. Damon’s smile of disdain in response knocked the preening from Ashton’s

face.

against every battle of wits we’d ever had, was insulting me. Damon was smarter

may be a jerk, but at least he’d learned to dress without the maid’s assistance, I wanted to shout. Instead,

her eyes unsettling. It felt like she was looking at a particularly juicy piece of

Chapter 7

under the table, wanting to smack her upside the head, but Damon didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he was hardly paying any attention to anyone.

said as he placed more of the vegetables onto my plate. I glared at the roasted bell peppers and then

knew I

peppers.

didn’t glance at anyone else, simply ignoring them coldly like he couldn’t be bothered. I playfully nudged his arm with my elbow and responded, “No,

Damon, Corinna sent me an ugly glare. I met it cooly and smiled. She would never have his attention, and I reveled in that knowledge.

in the future?” the bald man

whiplash. She gripped Ashton’s arm. looking up at him like a

trying for

that I’d taken a sip of my water at the same time. I choked as

patted my back, looking just as

Corinna looked concerned on the surface but I could see the delight in her eyes as she pretended to be sympathetic, “I know it must be shocking, but you don’t need to

shards of glass. I got myself under control, trying

sudden,” I laughed awkwardly.

be? Let alone Grandma despised surrogacy deep heart in her

to have a little one of our own.” Corinna giggled, as Ashton wrapped his arm around

He was able to fake that well, I thought. The joy was plain on his face.

and raising his glass of wine, “To Corinna and Ashton on

glasses, happily enjoying their

I sent a side glance to Damon who gazed back at

What were we

were going to take

home was silent, awkwardly so. The only sound was the tires crawling across the pavement and wind flying by us as we drove.

going to do. If they had a baby before we did, they’d gain control over an inheritance they didn’t deserve. They’d squander it so quickly and

Chapter 7

hell she’d make a good mother. Not only would it ruin her career, and at least momentarily, her figure, but she also couldn’t

return.

one of our baby cousins came to visit,

massive fit.

a mother?

mention Ashton.

I needed the bringing a child into

money, but