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.

1

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.

stared at me deeply. His eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with dark

happened to you?” I frowned.

chuckled, gesturing to the bruise on his face. “Oh,

There was an unhinged appearance about him,

spray behind my back. I stepped back the moment he stepped

I swallowed, uncomfortably at the way he was

Almost, obsessively.

seen an angel in his

hands. His knuckles were red and bruised, the skin split and bloody as if he’d

had apparently

said, calmly. “You should apologize to Corinna. You ruined

“Corinna?”

like he

fiancee. My

“I don’t care about Corinna

his eyes, taking a step forward and

leave,” I said, firmly, pushing against the wall to move sideways. Before I could turn to the door, however, Ashton slammed his hand against the wall, mere centimeters from

spray in my hand tightly

whispered, looking like a broken man as he pleaded. “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 properly this

his chest, burying his hands into my hair, but I only stiffened. I

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

second as he loomed over me, a snarl twisting his handsome features until he resembled more of

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

the pepper spray before squeezing my wrist tightly. I screamed

“No!”

but Ashton was stronger and faster as he grabbed my other wrist and slammed me against the window, rattling the glass

“Help!”

was wrong! What more do you want from me?” Ashton snarled

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

the floor. It stung painfully and specks of red fell onto the floor, but I had no time

worry about that.

a hand through his

broken nose. I scrambled

No!” I threw my fists as fast as I could, blood pouring down my face as Ashton flipped me onto my back, pinning me down.

holding them above my head in one hand as he leaned down until we were nose to nose.

he snarled. “Only

cursed, letting my hands go. I struggled to wiggle out from under his weight, my nails

him