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

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

to you?” I frowned.

on his face. “Oh, this? Just

wasn’t right here. He stared at me, unblinking. There was an unhinged appearance about

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

I swallowed, uncomfortably at the way he was looking at me.

Almost, obsessively.

had seen an angel in

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

had

say,” I said, calmly. “You should apologize to Corinna. You ruined

“Corinna?”

like he didn’t

fiancee. My

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

step forward and smiling,

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

heart pounded, and I gripped the pepper spray in my

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

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

sharply, unyielding to his confession. “We’ve been over for a long time. Now please leave, and we can forget this happened.”

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

on the pepper spray, but Ashton caught my

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

“No!”

tried to pull away, but Ashton was stronger and faster as he grabbed my other wrist and slammed me against the window, rattling the

“Help!”

I was wrong! What more do you

screamed, trying to tear myself away from him. I swung my

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

worry about that.

running a hand through his messy hair.

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

could, blood pouring down my face as Ashton flipped me onto my back,

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

mine, Adelaide,” he snarled.

dazed by the impact as he cursed, letting my hands

him