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

Chapter 44

“I’m sorry.”

My continued whispered apologies meant nothing to the dark purple splotches blooming across her bare back but I said them anyway.

I brushed her hair away from her shaking shoulders, kneeling on the floor of the bathroom as the soapy bathwater spilled over the edge of the tub and onto my pants. I didn’t care one bit. I only saw how much she was still trembling.

Her whole body shook like a leaf in a windstorm even as we were miles away from where I’d left him, unconscious and bleeding on the floor of her old apartment.

“I don’t want to go back.” was the only thing she had whispered to me when we got home. Her voice was hoarse from the tears she had run out of hours ago.

“Okay.” I agreed, easily. I never would’ve let her anyway. “I’ll hire someone to get your stuff out, move everything over here. Okay, baby?”

She nodded, silent as a mouse, and didn’t speak another word.

I dipped my hand into the warm water, washing her back. The bruises against her pale skin were a reminder of the violence he had used against her. Her wrists were the same color, and I carefully parted her hair, avoiding the massive lump on the

back of her head.

The pinkish water was warm, but it wouldn’t be for much longer.

I was lucky Mrs. Rivas was a retired nurse. She’d been shocked to be called out of bed this late at night, but there wasn’t any choice.

She assured me that Addie was okay, just a mild concussion. Her nose wasn’t broken, but I was still careful not to splash any water around her face.

She’d insisted on me staying with her for her bath, and despite my reservations, I could never deny her anything she wanted. On some level, it felt good to be needed by her but not like this.

Never like this.

The scene of what had happened lingered in my mind, an ever-reminder of how late I almost was. If I hadn’t gotten there in time…

I wanted to kill him.

I wanted to pound my fists into his face until he didn’t have a face left. Until there was nothing left of him but dust.

He deserved the worst, and I was going to do whatever I had to do to make sure he got it.

I nearly did. Until I heard her soft sobs through my bloody fists, my pounding fury, and my reckless hatred for my brother. Never before had I wanted someone dead but Ashton…..

I wouldn’t have lost a wink of sleep over him.

But Addie came first. She always came first.

I poured the strawberry-scented shampoo into my hands, rubbing it into her hair in soft circles. She leaned her head back, allowing me better access to her hair. I was gentle, especially around the large lump.

“Okay, dip your head for me,” I told her gently, as soft as I could be. She scooted forward in the tub, laying back until her hair was under the water. As I rinsed it out, I glanced at her face.

and if it wasn’t for the violently blue bruise around her nose, I could almost assume it had never happened. Her arms were wrapped

hellhole.

raised her head out of the tub. “Better get out before

nodded obediently, letting me help her out of the tub, dry her off, and get her into the fuzzy bathrobe Mrs. Rivas had

still, she didn’t say a

as I helped her dress in pajamas, not as I begged her to eat a few bites of Mrs. Rivas’s dinner, not

her hand tightly, holding her close to me. The smell of the

Addie,” I confessed, staring up at the stars above us. “If I had

was tucked into my shoulder. There was no answer, but I could feel the tightening of her hand in

when we first met?” I asked,

audible. “You threw ice cream in

memory. “Only after you punched me in the stomach, Addie.”

stole the black

being sucker punched,” I smiled, glancing down at her. Even tucked to my side and buried in my shoulder. I could see the small

talking about, though.” I said, my heart thumping as I gazed back up at the sky. I could see the constellations easily this far away from the city, tracing them

lips as she

see the little girl with bright eyes who’d stolen

letting the memory come to me.

were in school together,” I whispered to her. “My father had

don’t remember that,” she said,

me after my mom died. I’ll never forget what you did

do?” she mumbled, curious.

me a magic spell.”

“Magic?”

a disbelieving glance, “There’s no such

taught me a real spell,” I

it,” she challenged, that fiery glint shining

agreed easily. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I wanted to.

her nose. I pressed my forehead against hers, closing my eyes as I wished with all

pain, go

my eyes, smiling brightly

stared at me in shock. She brushed her hand across my cheek, a look of awe on her

whispered. “In the gardens? I thought it was a

you since that day.” I confessed, bearing my heart open for her. “More and more every day. You were the light that gave me a reason to keep moving forward. I’m sorry for being an *sshole to you when we

her lips as she gazed at me with shiny eyes. More beautiful than the

kiss to her palm and

so long for me,”

We didn’t need them. There were no doubts

years of being in love with her one-sidedly, I finally

we broke apart,

she shuddered before saying, “Ashton? This whole thing has gone

sighed. I knew she

priority.” I told her firmly. “But I will speak to my father in the morning to see what