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

Chapter 38

“How could you do this!”

Dalton Steyn slammed his hands on his desk, rattling the pens as the contents spilled onto the wood and over the floor. He glowered at the son standing across from him.

I grabbed the bottle of whiskey still sitting out on the coffee table with the two other unfinished drinks. As I poured myself another drink, I listened to another round of shouting between father and son.

“For that last time, Father!” Ashton snapped, pacing back and forth in front of the expensive wooden desk, “The club had a strict no-reporter policy! Those reporters were trespassing!”

Translation: I didn’t know I would be caught. Nothing is ever my fault.

I snorted, downing my third glass of whiskey for the night.

“Regardless of the reporters or not, you have shamed this family!” Dalton yelled as he slammed his hand on a copy of this morning’s gossip tabloid. The pictures of Ashton and his mistress were everywhere, on the front page of practically every magazine.

I scrolled through my phone, every social media app had blown up with this piece of news. I had to admit I did enjoy how the Internet was raking him over the coals for this.

The meme they’d made was particularly hilarious..

Even more so because Ashton deserved every bit of hate he was receiving right now,

“The picture was taken out of context!” Ashton tried to explain. his face turning red from the hour-long shouting match I had to be here to witness. I knew he was seething at my presence, and it made me that much happier to know I was making him uncomfortable.

“You think you can weasel out of this with flimsy excuses?” our father growled, glaring at his son the way he would an enemy.

“This is everywhere! You’ve dragged our family name through the mud. Now, they’re questioning me. I can’t keep cleaning up your messes as I did before! Everyone has seen this! Now, the wedding has even been postponed!”

“I get it! I’ll talk to Corinna, and we’ll set another date,” Ashton crossed his arms, begrudgingly. “She’ll get over it! Trust me, she doesn’t even really care. Her only concern is how it’s making her look.”

“You think this is just about that mistress’s child?” Dalton said, darkly. “This goes so much further than that! The Hildebrands are trying to have your entire engagement nullified, and your grandfather is pestering me to agree!”

My head snapped up in interest at this piece of news. Ashton paled, staggering back on his feet.

“Grandfather is?” he murmured to himself as he collapsed onto the couch opposite of me. He grabbed his whiskey glass and downed it in one gulp.

grandfather a handful of times. He’d retired long before I had been accepted into the family. Unlike Dalton, whose personality was like a

postcards from every vacation he and

be going to this extreme, it was more serious than

to pacify him, but it is up to you to convince him that this.” Dalton

hands clenched by his side.

apologize,” he bit out.

both amused and impressed. I had to wonder how much it hurt him to have to take responsibility for once. Normally, he’d argue for another two hours that it had to be

wasn’t a complete

fourth drink, pretty pleased with the way this had gone until my father opened

is coming up,” Father said coldly, as he smoothed back his hair. “It’s time for you to shape up, or

I set my untouched drink back onto the

Fath-” Ashton automatically replied, but

was supposed to be getting married today. Perhaps he should shape up

at our father with wide eyes, and Father narrowed his gaze upon

time ago. I thought I had stopped expecting

still something left

the election over being a good father

my father sneered, his voice full of contempt.

permission from our father, Ashton leaped on his chance to insult me. He got to his feet, glaring at

no drive and

money can protect you forever? I can cut you off at

louder and louder until I could

party boy!”

with

are the shame of this

had suffered under Father’s thumb for so many years just to keep me in

a part of this family.

I even expected them to act like respectable humans. They were never going

my feet, not even bothering to say goodbye. I didn’t say

times before from them.

wouldn’t dare to hit me. They both knew

Damon? Get back here!” my father screamed, but I knew he wouldn’t