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.

of times. He’d retired long before I had been accepted into the family. Unlike Dalton, whose

every vacation he and my

be going to this extreme,

it is up to you to convince him that this.” Dalton grabbed the magazine, shaking it in the air

head, his hands clenched by his side. His

apologize,”

to have to take responsibility for once. Normally, he’d argue

a complete “sshole after

pretty pleased with the way this had gone

“It’s time for you to shape up, or the only thing

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

replied, but I

father, “He should shape up because his wedding was supposed to be today. He was supposed to be getting married today. Perhaps he should shape up because he’s going to be a father soon. Is the election more important

our father with wide eyes, and Father narrowed his

and brother a long time ago. I thought I had stopped

still something left to be disappointed

the election over being a good father and husband? How was I

contempt. Crossing his

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

nobody with no drive and

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

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

stupid party boy!”

child with no future!”

the shame of this

and their money. My mother had suffered under Father’s thumb for so many

wanted to be a part

either it seemed. They’d both made that clear enough. I didn’t know why I even expected them to act like respectable humans. They were never going to be good people.

say a

before from

strong enough that they wouldn’t dare to hit me. They both knew they’d lose

going. Damon? Get back here!” my father