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

Chapter 42

*

The clock ticked endlessly, and I regretted not getting a digital one.

Her eyes had been so bright when she saw it in the pile of old junk my father had given to me as ‘Heirlooms. Even if it was broken, she saw the spark it still held.

So I fixed it and put it on the wall.

And she smiled.

But now, it felt like a curse.

I stared up at the ceiling, exhaustion in every inch of my weary body as I listened to the ticking of that clock. Every second felt like days, and every hour felt like years.

I’d been so drunk, and I felt every bit of it as I woke up. I deserved to feel awful. And I had all day.

Her eyes swam with tears as she declared she was leaving. I always hated her tears. They were too raw, too honest, and heartbreaking.

Every tick of the clock was the sound of her slamming the door behind her, the rattling of the walls, and the sound of her footsteps racing down the hall and further away from me.

Now, that was all I could hear. Our fight was on repeat throughout the night as my mind refused to drift away into the sleep I desperately needed.

No, I had to relive the sound of her breaking heart over and over, my cold and cruel voice replaying in my head as I pushed her away.

The sound of silence she left behind and that damn stupid clock. It was all becoming too much, too loud.

I’m a f*cking idiot. I threw my arm over my face.

Why didn’t I chase after her? Why didn’t I beg her to stay and apologize until my voice was hoarse?

Why did I have to ruin every good thing I had for myself? Why did I always have to get in my own way?

The sound of knocking on the bedroom door brought me out of my self-pity party, and I glanced at it, seeing the shadow move under the door.

her footsteps loud. and heavy as she set down a plate. “You

warning, she was gone. The smell of food traveled under the

phone, hitting the call button one last time. It rang and rang

the voice messenge started again, but I hung up.

already and not a single call back. I was beyond looking desperate; this was verging on stalking.

had to stop.

away my phone as I covered my face with my hands, the exhaustion

know how to fix it. But just as I had settled myself into another long night of feeling sorry for myself, my phone

into my chest for the first time

her voice. Anything to keep the ends of my sanity

replied, confused. “It’s

“Oh.”

the bed, the depression crushing me into the sheets as I bit

asked with

able to

“I messed up.”

the last bits of my pride. Adelaide was

was entirely my

bridal shower or not. Because

as fast as it normally

‘duh’ sort of tone. “Kathy’s her manager, remember? That

I bit out. “I have

“But at least make sure Adelaide

perked up

a friend’s phone. Apparently, she forgot to charge it last night. It’s been off all day.” Lacey rambled but then paused. “Didn’t you know that? You two aren’t divorcing, are you? Cause if

still ticking away on the wall. Her giggles as we hung it up together rang in

lasted this long. It was unsafe for her to be out this late.

wounded pride fractured like glass as I jumped to my feet. Before my mistakes and fragile insecurities. Adelaide’s safety

always come first.

to neaten my exhausted appearance. I looked like a right mess,

bed with her, feeling her safe and warm. in my arms. One night without

Addie.” I murmured to myself as