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

Chapter 46

Corinna paled as the crowd roared to life, every eye on him as the letter he’d shown me of their sur

gacy was revealed.

“Corinna and Ashton intended to use a surrogate to win our families’ inheritance. Unfortunately for them both, it did not turn out the way they wanted.”

Damon nodded to Peter, and a spotlight searched through the crowd before finally landing on a single woman hidden in the

back.

It was a brown-haired woman, one easily passable in the crowd, but everyone knew who she was.

The surrogate.

Nervously, she stood up from her spot, glancing at Damon’s cold look and sighing

“I was contacted by Miss Hildebrand and Mr. Steyn to become their surrogate, it is true,” she declared before everyone. “But Mr. Steyn came onto me, and I couldn’t say no. I became pregnant before the surrogacy, and he told me to stay quiet and pass it off as Miss Hildebrand’s.”

If I thought it was loud before, it was nothing compared to the sea of whispers after the confession we’d all just heard.

“But Ashton,” the woman cried among the noise, “He told me he’s planning on running away with me tonight! So we can raise the baby together!”

Damon smirked, fully satisfied now as the press surrounded the woman in full, questions pouring out of them and cameras flashing. The poor woman looked overwhelmed but also pleased to have all the attention on herself.

Damon glanced down at Corinna’s shell-shocked form, still on her knees and looking like the world had fallen to pieces around her.

“Game over, Corinna,” Damon said coldly and then stepped off the stage.

Relief poured through me as Damon made his way through the crowd, ignoring everyone who attempted to stop him.

He reached out for me, and I fell willingly into his arms, sheer relief overcoming me.

It was over. It was really over.

A finger pulled up my chin and I met Damon’s eyes, so full of happiness and love and that same relief I was feeling.

“Adelaide Hildebrand,” he declared in the middle of the crowd. “I have loved you for more than twenty years. You are the only woman I have ever loved and the only one I ever will.”

He cupped my cheeks in his hands and tears rolled down my face.

“Not because of status or money or fame,” he whispered to me. “But for you. The crazy, kind, stubborn, beautiful woman standing before me. My amazing wife.”

“You’re such a sap!” I hiccupped.

“But I’m your sap.” he grinned.

“All mine,” I whispered just before our lips met. Right before they touched, however, a scream burst out.

“NO!” Corinna screeched from the stage, tears pouring down her face as she stared at us in despair. “Damon loves me! He’s mine! He’s just tricking everyone!”

But no matter how loud her scream, the crowd had turned tides. Guests exchanged glances, but no one stepped up to take

her side like before.

“I have never loved you,” Damon said, his words like a final nail as she stared at us with wide eyes.

I sighed, glancing up at her in pity. Father looked away from her as if he didn’t know her, and her friends had fled long ago.

She was truly left alone.

She had earned this. I had given her every chance to turn a new leaf, and she had refused. She had chosen this for herself, and she must reap what she sowed.

“Where were we?” Damon turned back to me with a smirk, and I giggled.

“Right about here,” I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into me as our lips collided in a symphony only we knew how to play.

He tasted like fireworks just before daybreak, like summer days spent lying next to the one you love, like the first snow of winter, like the rainbow that shined after a thunderstorm, and every I love you whispered between lovers.

tasted like home.

sipping my freshly brewed coffee as I glanced through the front

my waist as I sat in his lap. He kissed my neck, breathing in my

rolled my

Luckily. Damon and I had been painted in quite a positive light. I couldn’t say the same for Ashion and Corinna though.

out my coffee all over the

and looking like a million bucks, he was posing in front of a beautiful

the top?” I read aloud in disbelief. “You didn’t tell me you released an article about your life.”

Damon smirked. “There’s a special surprise on

won out as I flipped to the fourth page. On it was an

new auditorium for UCLA?” I gasped

“Surprise,” he chuckled.

back

named Adelaide Hall.”

it after me?” I

face which then turned

burying my face into

as

kissed the top of my head, sighing as he held me tightly as I cried from sheer joy.

clutched his shirt, feeling truly happy. “Forever.”

don’t have to do this. You don’t owe them

smiled, clutching the large white box

glancing over at my loving husband. “But

brushing a hand across my cheek.

the car door, dodging his hands with a laugh as I climbed out with the box held

mansion loomed overhead, the doors wide open for all of the guests to enter. Damon rounded the car and grabbed my waist, pressing a

as we turned to the Hildebrand Mansion. It used to scare me

anymore.

just a

happy celebration. It was to be expected after the

Hildebrands had taken a huge hit to their stocks over the last week. My father was sure to be happy about

as we entered the massive gardens in the

of white flower petals had been laid between sets of wooden benches, the aisles decorated

under a flower arch was the podium where the groom and bride would be married. The affair was much smaller than 1 ever expected, with only close family and friends. It was quiet and simple in a way that I didn’t associate with Corinna or Ashton in the

I’d received the new date for the wedding. After talking with my father, it was clear that

had to take responsibility. They’d made their bed, and now they must sleep

on one of

grandfather who, by the way, is still wearing a Hawaiian

Damon kissed my cheek and reluctantly let go of me as he headed toward where

guns as he approached, and I could see Damon

beside her as I set down

stranger,” I smiled

me, her eyes old and sad but still happy to see

she was still shocked and disappointed by

ready?” I asked, lightly, brushing invisible fuzz off my

to be ready

I said,

yourself. Too many times you let her just

shoulder, shutting my eyes as I enjoyed the moment for

Bittersweet

the question is,” Grandma started, and I knew that tone in her voice. I smiled fondly, rolling my eyes as she glanced at me slyly. “When are you going to

“Grandma….” I warned.

see you in your mother’s dress outside of press photos!” Grandma

getting past her with

His face was a mess. Despite the amount of makeup caked on. I could still see how

gripped my Grandma’s

dear.” Grandma frowned. “I know what that

I’m not here for him,” I turned to her, avoiding anything to

with Ashton. His father had buried the sexual assault charges, much to Damon’s

long as he was far away from me, that was all I cared about. I’d been angry enough for a lifetime. Now, I just wanted to be happy.

give the inheritance to

us. “Sometimes I think you have too much of your mother in you, Adelaide. You’re

too.” I grinned. “Is

threw her arm around me, pulling me close. “I’ll give Corinna the