Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Ivy’s POV

I saw the emotions flicker across his face. A flash of anger, disappointment, and then sadness. The sadness lingered in those honey–brown eyes, eyes that had only ever looked at me with happiness swirling in their depths. They looked awfully sad now, and then he went numb. A blank stare settled on his face, as if all the emotions that crossed his features had happened in my head. Like it was only a figment of my imagination. That was the last look I saw before he walked out of my apartment.

I rushed after him. “Asher! Asher! It’s not what you think, I promise!” Tears welled up in my eyes. “Hear me out, please!”

But he was gone. He disappeared around the corner. I should have rushed after him, but something stopped me. I didn’t know what it was, but I already regretted it. The tears I had held back trickled down my cheeks. I didn’t even know exactly why I was crying, but I couldn’t shake off how sad he looked when he stared at me.

I walked back into the apartment, and Max was still there. He was sitting on the couch with a wolfish grin on his face.

The pain I felt metamorphosed into anger, my eyes narrowing at him. “Get out!” I spat.

He looked taken aback by my reaction, but didn’t move. “Hey, hey, slow down, babe. That’s on him, not me. I didn’t ask for him to walk in on us.”

His words hit me like a slap. It was the exact same situation we were in just months ago. He couldn’t see how wrong he was, that he had hurt me. Instead, he blamed me for walking in on him, like it was somehow my fault for finding him tangled in the sheets with my best friend, rather than his fault for sleeping with her.

“And besides, it’s tit for tat. You know I never called you that day, right? I couldn’t possibly have texted you if I was, you know…”

I was dumbfounded, too tongue–tied to speak. I was wondering how I had managed to be in a relationship with Max in the first place? How had we lasted this long? Was he always this obnoxious? How didn’t I see it earlier?

“It had to be him. I know it. He set us up,” Max continued. “He wanted us to break up.”

“Get out of my apartment. Now!” I barked.

This time, my words seemed to have the desired effect. He jumped to his feet. “Ivy, baby, hear me out…”

My eyes glowered with unbridled anger.

“You know I’m never going to quit, right? I won’t stop until I win you back,” he vowed as he walked toward the door.

I didn’t respond. I just wanted him out of my house for good. As soon as he stepped out, I slammed the door shut and dropped to the floor, my head resting against it. All the emotions I had suppressed came rushing in. The feelings I had battled from finally confronting Max, seeing him for the person he truly was, and the sadness in Asher’s beautiful eyes. I burst into tears, tremors coursing through my body. I wrapped my arms around my legs and buried my head between my

knees.

The tears were both painful and freeing at the same time. It was hard to explain. When I had quieted down, I pulled out my phone and sent several texts to Asher. I knew he was driving and didn’t want to distract him, but I couldn’t help myself. I began pacing up and down as I waited for a response, unable to stay calm. The look in his eyes stayed with me. It was pain, raw pain, the same kind I recognized from when I walked in on Max and Taylor. Could it be? Was he truly as hurt as I had been? It couldn’t be. He didn’t love me like I had loved Max, but there was no denying the look in his eyes. It was pain. Raw pain. I heaved a deep sigh, desperate to make things right.

1/2

8:30 pm D DXX.

Chapter 29

I heard the door open. I woke with a start and got out of bed. I didn’t know how long I had been asleep. I had come back to wait at Asher’s house and had somehow fallen asleep on his bed. I dabbed at my eyes and peered at him from the door. He looked like a complete mess.

His dark hair was tousled, like he had run his fingers repeatedly through it. His eyes were sad and full, and he reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, and he was missing his belt. As I got closer, I saw lipstick stains on his neck and the collar of his shirt. I blinked back the tears. “Asher…” my voice broke.

He rubbed his eyes. “You’re here, I didn’t expect to see you….” he said in a flat tone.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. I cupped my mouth, taking a moment to steady my breathing. “I know what you saw, but it

wasn’t what-”

“It’s fine,” he interrupted, leaning against the doorway for support.

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