Chapter 79
ASHLEY
Finally, it feels good to get it out of my system. I was already sick of lugging Ashton’s secret around. It’s so infuriating to watch him act so entitled around the same woman he rejected months ago. He has no right to disrespect my position as Demi’s husband.
I don’t care if he regrets his action seeing as Demi somehow fell hard for him. He probably never envisioned that love would blossom between them but that is not my problem. They can’t be together. Demi’s mine now and six months is a decent amount of time to win her over completely and possibly elongate our contract.
Ashton remains speechless after my outburst. I meet his cool eyes and note the war brewing behind them.
"You’re going to stay within your lane and out of my business." I tell him, stabbing a finger in his direction. "How I choose to win my wife over should be the least of your concern. If you try to interfere in any way or sway Demi’s mind, I’ll involve father."
The slight twitch of his eyebrows can only be because he’s afraid of what father would do to force Demi to do what I want and not because Ashton is scared of him.
"You don’t love her, do you? All of this is just to spite me."
"You think you love her? You’re the reason she got stuck with me, remember? You just feel bad right now because the woman you rejected ended up warming her way into your heart and you in hers. Let me guess, you two must think I am in the way of your epic love story." I scoff at him. "This is no love story and if you don’t accept the reality that she isn’t yours, it’s going to be an epic tragedy. Don’t test me, Ashton. I’m not afraid to go as low as possible to keep you away from her just to stroke my ego."
Ashton chuckles at me. "Damn Ash, I didn’t realize how much you were intimidated by me. This is refreshing." The smile withers from his face. "You’re right. I didn’t expect to have any feelings for any woman, least of all the woman I married while drunk. But you’re dead wrong too. I was in no frame of mind to welcome a bride into my miserable life the morning after but you and I know that I was neither speechless nor unperturbed when mother offered her to you on a platter, right Ashley?"
I swallow a lump in my throat as he approaches me with fire in his eyes.
"I am not the only one in need of a reality check here. Demi wasn’t tossed into your lap because I couldn’t be bothered to have her; no one gave me a chance to keep her. YOU were the one who sat there speechless and unperturbed when mother made you the offer. Despite my protests, you went along with her idea like you couldn’t have turned her down. What was the kicker for you? The fact that she alluded that Demi might have zero body count? Is that why you broke character and settled for a woman you wouldn’t deign to look at on a normal day?"