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

stared at me deeply. His eyes

you?”

he chuckled, gesturing to the bruise on his face. “Oh, this? Just a little wake-up call.”

unhinged appearance about him, like something in his mind had finally cracked.

asked, calmly, palming the pepper spray behind my back. I stepped back the moment he

window and I swallowed, uncomfortably at the way he

Almost, obsessively.

had seen

glancing at his hands. His knuckles were red and bruised, the skin split and bloody as if

had

should apologize to

“Corinna?”

blinking stupidly like he didn’t understand what I

fiancee. My

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

taking a step forward and smiling,

the wall to move sideways. Before I could turn to the

gripped the pepper spray

whispered, looking like a broken man as he pleaded. “I made a mistake choosing Corinna over you. I

me into his chest, burying his hands into my hair, but I only stiffened. I felt disgusted, having his

his confession. “We’ve been over for a long time. Now please

second as he loomed over me, a snarl twisting his handsome

the pepper spray, but Ashton caught my wrist before it

been nice, Adelaide,” he said, darkly, glaring at the pepper spray before squeezing my wrist tightly. I screamed as my bones pressed together painfully,

“No!”

he grabbed my other wrist and

“Help!”

more do you want from

him. I swung

painfully and specks of red

worry about that.

growled, running a hand through his messy hair.

from my broken nose. I scrambled forward, but Ashton was faster as he climbed

as I could, blood pouring down

head in one hand as he leaned down

he snarled.

dazed by the impact as he cursed, letting my hands go. I struggled to wiggle out from under his weight, my nails scratching on the carpet as I

him