I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis novel Chapter 102

102 Publicity. The Wading Band

Chapter 102 Publicity, the Wrong Kind

Ashton walked down the hallway.

Loose black button–down, matching trousers, sleeves pushed up to the elbow.

Nothing flashy, but you couldn’t miss him.

He had a beige cashmere wrap tossed over one arm, which he draped over my shoulders.

Then he took my hands and rubbed them between his palms. His hgers were warm.

‘You’re freezing. Why didn’t you wear something warmer?‘

‘I’m fine.‘ I pulled the wrap closer and gave him a quick smile. Just wanted to get some air.‘

‘Doctor ordered bed rest. Come on.‘

‘Alright.‘ I took his offered arm.

‘Hey!‘ Rhys, who’d been ignored until now, finally piped up.

Ashton spared him a glance.

Rhys backed up half a step, instinctively.

+15 BONUS

Ashton said, flat: ‘If I hear you running your mouth about me or my wife again, you won’t just be spending three days in holding.

Rhys tried to put up a brave front. ‘I didn’t say anything.‘

‘Was it or wasn’t it you who called me “fake” a moment ago?‘ Ashton jogged his memory. ‘Actions have consequences. So do words. You’ve already got a police record. Do you want to add to it?

Rhys flinched. His shoulders jerked.

He was probably thinking about what happened the last time he crossed swords with Ashton.

‘Did you hear me?‘ Ashton asked.

Rhys didn’t want to answer. I could see it in the way his eyelids twitched and his jaw tightened.

But Ashton stared straight at him, and so far, I’d yet to meet someone who could hold out under that stare of his for longer than a minute–self included.

Rhys gave in.

‘Got it,‘ he muttered.

‘Good.‘ Ashton turned. ‘Come on. Let’s go.‘

I beamed at him. ‘Okay.‘

My phone pinged with a sharp ding. I checked the notification, glanced up, grinned at Rhys.

‘Well, would you look at that. Something nice for once.‘

Rhys frowned. ‘What?‘

I held up my phone. ‘Just got a message from my lawyer. Court’s accepted the case. You’ll be getting your summons soon. Might want to check your mailbox.‘

‘What summons? What lawyer?‘

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Chapter 102 Publicity the wrong kind

‘You’ll know soon enough.‘

Rhys looked like he wanted to stop me to ask for more, but one lod at Ashton and he backed off.

Behind us, I heard Catherine asking Rhys, ‘Rhys, darling, I’m so happy! So when’s the wedding?‘

What wedding?”

‘You said you were gonna marry me.‘

When the fuck did I say that?‘

‘Just now. In the hallway. You said…‘

The lift door closed.

+15 BONUS

‘Bored?‘ Ashton asked.

seeking Rhys out. ‘Can I be discharged?’

‘Sort of. I came out for some air and ran into them

in

the hallway, explained. Didn’t want him thinking I was deliberately

‘Doctor recommends staying a couple more days, for observation.

‘I feel fine.‘

It’s just in case.‘ His tone was soft, but there was an edge of irrefutability to it.

I shrugged. ‘Fine. Could you ask Geoffrey to bring me my tablet? The one with the MatrixGold icon on the screen.‘

‘Sure.‘

That seemed to sum up all available topics of conversation.

Silence lasted till I was back in bed, resuming my role of the invalid.

Ashton asked, ‘Catherine’s pregnant?‘

‘You heard?‘ I was amazed. ‘You must have the hearing of a bat if you caught that from two floors up.‘

His lips twitched. ‘I glimpsed the pregnancy report in her hand. She wasn’t exactly trying to hide it.‘

I grinned. ‘Yeah, she is.‘

‘Rhys doesn’t look too thrilled.‘

‘He’s not.‘ I added, ‘But they are getting married. At least, that’s what Rhys said. Even wanted to invite me to the wedding.‘

‘And you said…‘

‘No, of course. I don’t want to waste money on the gift, nor the time, which could be more productively spent elsewhere, like watching paint dry.‘

Ashton looked thoughtful.

‘What?‘ I asked.

‘Nothing.‘

I squinted at him, sceptical.

I couldn’t claim to understand the man inside out based on our month–long acquaintanceship, but I’d become familiar with a certain glint in his eyes that warned of a scheme afoot.

And I wasn’t wrong.

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Chapter 102 Publicity. The wrong Kind

That evening, Yvaine came to visit.

She brought flowers, snacks, and a Trenta–sized serving of gossip

‘Rhys made it to the financial news.‘

+15 BONUS

“What? How’d that happen?‘ I’d always thought if Rhys ever appeared in the news, it’d be the society pages–or, fingers crossed, the police ‘wanted‘ list.

Yvaine tapped on her tablet and spun the screen towards me.

The headline grabbed my attention:

[Granger Development Group heir knocks up socialite, still no wedding in sight]

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who ran into Rhys and Catherine at the hospital.

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