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.

sent postcards from every vacation he and my grandmother

this extreme, it was more serious

this.” Dalton grabbed the magazine, shaking it in the air with a

head, his hands clenched by his

I apologize,” he bit

much it hurt him to have to take responsibility for once. Normally, he’d argue for another two

wasn’t a complete “sshole

way this had gone until my father opened

hair. “It’s time for you

rising as I set my untouched drink back onto the coffee table, turning to Dad

automatically replied,

He was supposed to be getting married today. Perhaps he should shape up because he’s going to be a father soon.

eyes, and

ago. I thought I had stopped expecting anything but scorn

still something left to be

place the election over being a good father and husband?

lecture me, boy,” my father sneered, his voice full of contempt. Crossing his arms, he continued, “You’re worse than he is!”

Ashton leaped on his chance to insult me. He got

Just a nobody with no drive and no prospects to your name!”

family’s money can protect you forever? I can cut you off

sighed as their voices continued to get louder and louder until I could barely hear myself

party

child with no

shame of

only ever cared about their reputation, their jobs, and their money. My mother had suffered under Father’s thumb for so many years just to keep me in this family, but her efforts were a

a part

I even expected

feet, not even bothering to say goodbye. I didn’t say a single word as the two kept screaming

times before

wouldn’t dare to hit me. They both

here!” my father screamed, but I knew he wouldn’t bother chasing me