Chapter 339 Blind or Delusional
Cassian gave a cold, humourless laugh. ‘It seems we’ve spoiled you. Let you do as you pleased for too long. What you did was underhanded, and I’m not the only one who’s disappointed. Your brother would be ashamed of you. Apologise. And don’t let something like this happen again. We looked out for you for Timothee’s sake, but that doesn’t give you the right to hurt people.’
Genevieve clenched her jaw. She’d rather look anywhere else than at me.
I turned to the host. ‘Mr Howard, now that we know who really stole the ruby, shouldn’t you call the police? Theft of such a valuable gem must carry quite a sentence. I wonder how many years she’ll get.’
‘Apologise,’ Ashton said again, his gaze fixed on Genevieve. ‘This is the last time I’ll ask.’
Genevieve pressed her lips together and finally muttered, barely audible, ‘Sorry.’
‘What was that? I’m standing right here and I didn’t catch a word. Did any of you hear her?’ Naomi wasn’t about to let her off that easily. ‘Mirabelle, did you hear what she said?’
‘No, I didn’t.’
Ashton shot Genevieve a warning look. Something in his eyes must have frightened her, because she quickly tried again, louder this time: ‘Mirabelle, I’m sorry.’
‘Satisfied?’ she then snapped, still glaring.
I gave a thin smile. ‘Even so, I won’t forgive you.’
‘You—!’ Realising she’d been made to humiliate herself for nothing, Genevieve looked utterly furious.
‘I’ve apologised. That should be enough,’ she shouted at Ashton, turning to leave.
But as she tried to go, Mr Howard’s bodyguards moved to block her path.
‘You can’t leave just yet, Miss,’ one of them said.
‘Why not?’ she spat back.
‘Because you stole a billion-dollar ruby,’ the assistant replied coldly. ‘I don’t care who your family is. You committed theft, and we will be involving the police.’
‘Ashton!’ Genevieve called out to him one last time, hoping he might still intervene.
He didn’t move. ‘You made your choice. Now face the consequences.’
‘But I did what you asked—I apologised!’ Her voice rose. ‘You’re really going to let them call the police? You’re just going to stand there?’
I watched Ashton closely.
‘If I keep protecting you, I’m only making things worse. You need to learn.’
‘You could help me if you wanted to! If you tell Mr Howard not to call the police, he’d listen to you. He’d do it as a favour. Why won’t you help me?’ Her voice was thick with hurt and confusion.
‘Because I won’t,’ Ashton said bluntly.
‘Why? You always used to protect me. Why not now?’
‘Because this time you tried to frame my wife.’
‘Hear that? Maybe don’t mess with married men next time,’ Naomi cut in.
Genevieve was too furious to speak.
‘So none of you are going to help me? You’ll just stand there while they take me away?’ Panic crept into her voice as she saw the police entering the room.
Ashton stayed silent.
‘Cassian,’ she tried again, turning her last hope to him.
Ashton shot Cassian a warning glance.
‘If Ashton says no, there’s nothing I can do,’ Cassian said with a shrug.
After Harry explained the situation to the officers, Genevieve was led away.
‘My apologies for the interruption, everyone. Please, enjoy the rest of the evening,’ Mr Howard announced smoothly.
‘Come on, let’s go sit down.’ Naomi linked her arm with mine. ‘I need to tell you something.’
Rhys approached. ‘Mirabelle, let me introduce you to some friends.’
‘She’s not available,’ Ashton said coldly.
‘She’s my date for the evening,’ Rhys shot back.
‘I need to talk to Naomi.’ I looked at Rhys, my meaning clear.
‘Of course. Take your time. I’ll find you later. But first, let me bring you something to eat.’
‘That’s alright, I’m not hungry.’
But Rhys ignored my refusal. ‘You should still eat something. I’ll be right back.’
Before I could say another word, he was already heading toward the buffet.
I glanced at Ashton.
He stood rigid and cold, his displeasure obvious.
I turned to Naomi. ‘Let’s get you off your feet. You must be tired, standing all this time while you’re pregnant.’
‘I am, I really am. Come on, let’s go over there,’ Naomi said, quickly picking up on the tense atmosphere between Ashton and me. ‘Ryan, we’ll catch up with you in a bit.’
I practically dragged Naomi away with me, eager to escape.
Once we’d found a quiet spot to sit, Rhys reappeared with a plate of food, even handing me cutlery.
I shook my head. ‘Thank you, but I’m not hungry.’
Rhys sat down anyway.
‘You can leave now. Don’t make this awkward,’ Naomi said coldly. ‘I don’t care who you are, what you were to Mirabelle, or what you think you’re doing. But you need to understand—she’s married to Ashton. They’re happy. So please—’
Rhys cut her off. ‘Happy? Is that what you call it? That’s not what I’ve seen.’
‘Then you must be blind. Or delusional.’
‘Rhys, I love Ashton. I’m not leaving him,’ I said firmly.
‘He doesn’t care about you,’ Rhys insisted, his brow furrowed. ‘Being with him will only hurt you. He’ll never make you happy.’
‘That’s my choice to make. I think I’ve made myself clear.’
‘Mirabelle, I just... I care about you. You deserve better than this. You deserve to be happy.’
‘If you really want what’s best for me, then leave me alone.’ Had he always been this persistent? I didn’t remember him being so unable to take no for an answer.
‘Mirabelle, I know you’re still angry about the past, but I’ve changed. Really—’ he began, but Naomi cut him off, her voice thick with disdain.
‘Are you seriously not listening? It’s over. She’s married. She’s moved on. Now please, just go. If Ashton comes back and finds you here, there’s going to be a scene.’
‘You think I’m afraid of him?’ Rhys’s voice simmered with anger.