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

Chapter 43

I yawned, feeling like taking a shower and crashing for the night. I was just in front of my door when I halted in my tracks.

The apartment number on the wall was the same as I remembered, but the door was not.

It creaked on its rusty hinges, hanging ajar with the bolted lock dangling against the wood.

Oh, f*ck no.

My heart thudded in my ears, adrenaline filling my veins as it woke me from any exhaustion I had been feeling. I was wide awake now.

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I reached for my phone, my fingers ready to dial the police, but I cursed as I pulled out the black screen. All my neighbors were asleep if they were even here, and the only security we had was James, the blind old man.

I debated for a moment on turning around and pretending as if I had never seen the door, sleeping in my car for the night until I could call someone to investigate in the morning.

That would have been the smart move.

But I never claimed to be smart.

I reached for the pepper spray I kept in my purse at all times, pushing the nozzle open as I readied it in my hand like a soldier with his weapon. I crept softly across the ugly carpet, making no noise as I peeked into my apartment.

It was dark, with no lights on except for the flickering fluorescent bulbs in the hallway. My shadow fell across the floor, obscuring any visage of light.

I kept the door open, in case I needed to run back out, as I crept inside. The light switch was on the other side of the wall.

I swallowed, fear building in my chest. I’d always hated scary movies, and now I felt like I was in one.

I raised the

in hand as I reached the corner wall. Slowly, I moved out from behind the wall, facing the pepper spray my living room with my heart racing out of my chest.

A dark figure stood in the middle of the room.

“Freeze!” I yelled, my hands shaking.

“Adelaide,” the intruder called, and I flinched, recognizing the voice.

“Ashton?” I lowered the spray, frowning as he chuckled, flicking on the nearby lamp.

I squinted at the sudden light, blinking away the white spots until I saw the intruder fully. It really was Ashton

looked

bruise spread across his cheek as he stared at me deeply. His eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with dark shadows, and he was missing

happened to you?”

bruise on his face. “Oh, this? Just a little wake-up call.”

here. He stared at me, unblinking. There was an unhinged appearance about him, like

doing here?” I asked, calmly, palming the pepper spray behind my back. I stepped back the moment he stepped forward, but my apartment was

uncomfortably at the way he was looking at

Almost, obsessively.

who had seen an angel in

his hands. His knuckles were red and bruised, the skin

he had apparently lost.

should apologize to Corinna. You ruined

“Corinna?”

like he didn’t

My

no, no, no,” Ashton shook his head. “I don’t care about Corinna or that whore. The mistake I made…”

taking a step forward and smiling, “Was losing

could turn to the door, however, Ashton slammed his

spray in my hand tightly as

“I made a mistake choosing Corinna over you. I understand now how much I hurt you, so just come back to me. I’ll treasure you

stiffened. I felt disgusted, having his touch on me, and I pulled away

snapped, sharply, unyielding to his confession. “We’ve been over for a long

me, a snarl twisting his handsome

pressing down on the pepper spray, but Ashton caught my wrist before it could hit him.

he said, darkly, glaring at the pepper spray before squeezing my wrist tightly. I screamed as my

“No!”

and faster as he grabbed my other wrist and slammed me against the window, rattling the

“Help!”

do you

screamed, trying to tear myself away from him. I swung my legs forward to kick him, but he swung back, throwing

carpet, knocking my nose on the floor. It stung painfully and specks of red fell onto the floor, but I had no

worry about that.

growled, running a hand through his messy hair. “You should’ve behaved,

distorted as the blood fell from my broken nose. I scrambled forward, but Ashton was faster as he climbed onto

as fast as I could, blood pouring down my

hand as he leaned down until we

Adelaide,” he

letting my hands go. I struggled to wiggle out from under his weight, my nails scratching on the carpet as I tried to crawl

him