Chapter 344 Delusional
I recognised Rosie Crawford’s characteristically shrill voice.
‘How could you have people throw her into the lake!? She almost drowned! She’s in hospital now, still coughing up water! She can’t stop shaking! I—’
‘If she can be cruel enough to do those things to Mirabelle, why shouldn’t I return the favour?’ Ashton’s tone was ice-cold and unapologetic. ‘You can tell her this: she’s welcome to keep pushing her luck. Whatever she does to Mirabelle, she’ll get it back tenfold.’
He hung up.
I looked at him. ‘You had Genevieve thrown into the lake?’
He nodded.
I was stunned. ‘Why?’
He said simply, ‘An eye for an eye.’
I was lost for words. ‘But... I thought you didn’t want to punish her...’
‘I didn’t want to punish her because I didn’t believe she was the one who pushed you.’
I frowned. ‘Then why...?’
‘But she’s hurt you in other ways. She’s tried to drive a wedge between us. I’ve come to realise that sometimes the truth isn’t what’s most important.’
He looked straight at me. ‘I need you to believe that I would do anything for you. I would never take anyone’s side against you. Not Genevieve’s, not anyone’s.’
I was too moved to speak. Eventually, I found my voice. ‘You really don’t think she did it?’
Ashton shook his head. ‘I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but Genevieve was on the phone with me at the exact moment you were pushed.’
I thought about it. ‘Then who?’
Could it have been Frank, like Rhys had suggested?
‘My men are still looking into it,’ Ashton said. ‘Without any CCTV near the lake, it’s taking time to find witnesses who might’ve seen something.’
He took my hand. ‘But I need you to believe that I won’t let anyone get away with hurting you.’
‘I believe you,’ I said.
A huge, heavy weight seemed to lift from my chest. I suddenly felt so much lighter.
I grabbed the front of his robe and pulled him towards me, kissing him firmly on the lips.
When I pulled back, Ashton wouldn’t let me go. He yanked me back against him and deepened the kiss.
His kiss was demanding, possessive, as if he wanted to absorb me completely.
He’d always had a hard time keeping his hands off me, and today was no exception. Slowly, reason gave way to raw desire as he began moving his hands over my body. The sensation was both familiar and a little amusing.
It seemed he’d been holding back for quite some time. A single kiss was all it took to make him painfully hard.
Amused, I gently squeezed his already straining erection. Ashton let out a low groan.
‘I have to go to work,’ I murmured.
‘Call in,’ he said, his voice rough.
‘I’m the boss. I can’t just take a day off whenever I like. The studio still needs to run.’
‘Sell it. I’ll take care of you.’
‘I prefer to earn my own living.’
‘One day won’t matter.’ Before I could say another word, he leaned down again. ‘It’s been too long. Don’t tell me you don’t want this.’
Truth was, well, I did.
Neither of us got any work done that day.
Or the next.
It was Thursday when I finally got back to work.
Barely twenty minutes in, my phone rang.
I was puzzled to see it was Genevieve calling. What could she possibly want to say to me?
I answered. ‘What?’
‘Mirabelle, darling... do you have any idea where Ashton was last night? Do you know what he and I got up to?’ Her voice was dripping with smug satisfaction.
‘Have you completely lost your mind? Ashton was at home with me last night. In my bed.’
She let out a harsh laugh. ‘Oh, stop lying to yourself! He was with me at a hotel last night. There’s no way he was home with you. You’re just fooling yourself.’
‘I think you’ll find you’re the one who’s delusional.’
‘Oh really? Do you know what he said to me?’
‘Oh?’ I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease. What was she on about now?
‘He asked me if I would be willing to have his child.’ She practically purred the words, her tone dripping with what sounded like genuine happiness and excitement.
My brows drew together tightly. ‘What the hell are you talking about? Genevieve, have you completely lost your mind? Is your desperation to have Ashton’s baby making you hallucinate? My husband would never ask you that. You really... you need to get some professional help.’
I was almost laughing at the sheer absurdity of it.
How could she even come up with something so ridiculous?
‘I think you need to see a psychiatrist,’ I continued. ‘Find out what’s actually wrong with your head, instead of just filling it with delusions. Anyway, I’m busy. Don’t call me again.’
‘Oh, scared now? I don’t know what Ash has told you, but... you really shouldn’t kid yourself. Just you wait, once I give birth to his child, he’ll divorce you for sure. You’ll see.’
‘I don’t believe you.’
‘It doesn’t matter what you believe. You won’t have a choice once it happens. He’s probably just too embarrassed to ask for a divorce himself, so he’s getting me to have his baby first. Once the child is born, he’ll definitely leave you.’
‘Did Ashton actually say that to you himself?’
‘Well, not in so many words, but that was clearly what he meant! I’m not stupid, I can read between the lines. Why else would he want me to have his baby? Besides, you’re so useless. You’ve been married to him for ages and you still haven’t given him a child. There must be something wrong with you. You should get yourself checked out, see if you can even have kids. If you can’t, you should stop holding Ashton back. He needs an heir. Who else is going to inherit his empire?’ She was really on a roll now.
My frown deepened. What was this rubbish?
I was now convinced something was seriously wrong with Genevieve’s mind. How else could she conjure up these ideas? Unless... had Ashton actually said something to her?