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.

I glanced through the front page of the newspaper. “Though, I wish they had chosen a more flattering angle. I look like a mess.”

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

my

Damon and I had been painted in quite a positive light.

nearly spit out my coffee all over the paper.

a suit and

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

mention that?” Damon smirked. “There’s a special surprise

but my curiosity won out as I flipped to the fourth

UCLA?” I

“Surprise,” he chuckled.

pulled back after a

named Adelaide

named it after me?”

a bit of hesitance on his face which then turned to panic as fat tears rolled down

I sobbed, burying my

long as I’m yours,

my head, sighing as he held me tightly as I

mine,” I clutched his shirt,

don’t have to do this. You don’t owe

smiled, clutching the large white box in my

over at my loving husband. “But

hand across my cheek. “You’re too kind for

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

for all of the guests to enter. Damon rounded the car and grabbed my waist, pressing a short kiss

back as we turned to the Hildebrand Mansion. It used to scare me as a little girl, but

anymore.

was just a

we stepped inside, it was abnormally quiet despite the supposed happy celebration. It was to

stocks over the

of, as we entered the massive gardens in the backyard, I quickly

had been laid between sets of wooden benches, the

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

least. I had been shocked when I’d received the new date

reputations, the two had to take responsibility. They’d made their bed, and now they

my grandmother sitting quietly on one of the benches. I

who, by the

shirts. Damon kissed

grandfather sent him finger guns as he approached, and I could see

my grandma, taking the seat beside her as

smiled

and sad but still happy to see

was still shocked and disappointed

asked, lightly, brushing invisible fuzz off

she’s ever going to be ready for this, but it

I didn’t tell you earlier,” I said, softly. “I wanted to but …

smiled at me. “I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. Too many times you

Grandma.” I leaned my head on her shoulder, shutting my eyes as I enjoyed the

Bittersweet

Grandma started, and I knew that tone in her voice. I smiled fondly, rolling my eyes as

“Grandma….” I warned.

you in your mother’s dress outside of press photos!” Grandma huffed, crossing her arms.

no getting past her with

spotted the groom walking up to the pedestal. His face was a mess. Despite the amount of makeup caked on. I could still see how crooked his nose was and how black and blue

my Grandma’s hand.

dear.” Grandma frowned. “I know what that boy did to you

for him,” I turned to her, avoiding anything to do with

the sexual assault charges, much to Damon’s ire. He promised that Ashton

from me, that was all I cared about. I’d been angry enough for a lifetime. Now, I

give the inheritance to Corinna?” I asked

think you

I grinned. “Is

me,