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.

vacation he and

him to be going to this extreme, it was more

up to you to convince him that this.” Dalton grabbed the magazine, shaking it in the air with a snarl on his face, “was taken out of context.”

his hands clenched by his side. His

I apologize,” he bit out.

much it hurt him to have to take

wasn’t a complete

drink, pretty pleased with the way this had

as he smoothed back his hair. “It’s time for you

rising as I set my untouched drink back onto the

replied, but I cut

at my father, “He should shape up because his wedding was supposed to be today. He was supposed to be

father with wide eyes, and Father

ago. I thought I had stopped expecting anything but

something left

over being a good father

of contempt. Crossing his arms, he continued, “You’re worse than he is!”

me. He got to his feet, glaring at me as his mouth

no drive and no prospects

forever? I can cut you off at any

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

party

illegitimate child with no future!”

the shame

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

never wanted to be a part of

it seemed. They’d both made that clear enough. I didn’t know why I even expected them to act like respectable humans. They

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

times before

to hit me. They both knew they’d lose in a battle of fists

going. Damon? Get back here!” my father