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

he looked terrible.

at me deeply. His eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with dark shadows, and he was

happened to you?” I

to the bruise on his face. “Oh,

There was an unhinged appearance about him, like something in his mind had

I asked, calmly, palming the pepper spray behind my back. I stepped back the moment he stepped forward, but my apartment was not very

and I swallowed, uncomfortably

Almost, obsessively.

had seen an angel in

were red and bruised, the skin split and bloody as

he had

apologize to Corinna. You ruined her

“Corinna?”

me, blinking stupidly like he didn’t understand what I was

My sister?”

“I don’t care about Corinna or that whore. The mistake

a step forward and smiling, “Was losing

move sideways. Before I could turn to the door, however, Ashton

gripped the pepper spray in my hand tightly as Ashton

over you. I understand now how much I hurt you, so

I only stiffened. I felt disgusted,

to his confession. “We’ve been over for a long time. Now please leave, and

his handsome features until he resembled more of a demon than a man. “I’m

my hand upward, pressing down on the pepper spray, but Ashton caught my wrist before it

tightly. I screamed as my bones pressed together painfully, forcing me to drop the spray to the ground.

“No!”

he grabbed my other

“Help!”

wrong! What more do you want from

swung my

stung painfully and specks of red fell onto the floor, but

worry about that.

look what you made me do!” Ashton growled, running a

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

No!” I threw my fists as fast as I could, blood pouring down my

caught my wrists, holding them above my head in one hand as he leaned

mine, Adelaide,” he snarled. “Only

impact as he cursed, letting my hands go.

him