I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis novel Chapter 189

Chapter 189 Dinner, Maybe

I’d assumed it was business.

He’d been away from the company for almost a week, after all.

Work must have been piling up.

Turned out he’d been at a hotel.

With Rowan Hale.

I’d noticed it back in Riverbend, the way she hovered around him.

It hadn’t clicked at the time, but now it did.

While I sat there replaying every second of that short meeting with her, Daniel waved a hand in front of my face.

“Can I have my phone back? You look like you want to crush it to pulp.”

I blinked. “Sorry. Has this photo made the rounds yet?”

“Nah. Just a few fans found it. They’re saying the guy might be her boyfriend, and they’re trying not to spread it. Rowan’s still low–key here. Most people don’t even know she’s in the country.”

“Boyfriend,” I muttered. “Can you send it to me? I won’t post it anywhere.”

Daniel nodded. “Sure. Sending it now.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I didn’t check it.

I couldn’t focus on anything.

I didn’t even remember what I was meant to be working on.

Around five,

the bell above the door jingled and vaine swept in with a cake box.

“I messaged you three times. You’re ignoring me now?” she called, “Whatever. I brought it myself. Don’t tell me you’re backing out of your candlelit dinner with Ashton.”

I dragged myself down the stairs to meet her.

I took the cake from Yvaine’s hands and mumbled, “Sorry, I was swamped. Didn’t check my phone.”

That was a lie.

I wasn’t busy.

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Chapter 189 Dinner Mayber

+15 BONUS

I just couldn’t think straight after seeing that photo of Ashton with Rowan Hale.

Yvaine grinned. “It’s dark out. Stop working already. I’m off the clock. I’ve got a date.”

“Then go,” I told her. “Don’t let me delay your love life. Watch out for weird cab drivers.”

She waved and left.

A few minutes later, Priya and Daniel packed up too.

“Night, boss,” Priya called from the stairs.

“Don’t forget to sleep.” Daniel added when he saw my face, “You okay? You look… kinda depressed.”

“Not depressed.” I forced a smile. “Just tired.”

“Well, like I said, don’t forget to sleep. Good night.”

“Night.”

I waved them off and headed upstairs to clear the clutter on my desk.

Once everything was packed away, I sat down, unlocked my phone, and opened the photo again.

I’d looked at it maybe fifty times already.

Ashton wasn’t looking at her, but she was looking at him.

I stared at the screen, chewing the inside of my cheek.

They definitely knew each other. Ashton told me that himself.

But he’d said Rowan was an acquaintance.

Was that true?

What if…

What if Rowan was the so–called great love he never got over?

Then what the hell was he doing with me?

But no, that wasn’t him.

Ashton didn’t do double–dealing.

If he wanted someone else, he’d tell me.

He’d say it straight to my face.

2-4

Chapter 189 Dinner, Maybe

Or more likely, he’d sit me down and explain why our contract was now null and void.

I opened our chat. Typed out a whole paragraph. Deleted it.

Then I wrote something short: [Come home for dinner tonight.]

He replied immediately: [I’ll be home early.]

+15 BONUS

When I walked into the house, Carmen had everything out on the counter, washed, chopped, arranged like a demo kitchen.

“Mrs. Laurent,” she said, tying her apron and beaming at me, “everything’s prepped. Just tell me what you feel like making, and I’ll assist.”

“Thanks.”

I walked over and stared at the ingredients.

The carrots were cut into uniform coins, the chicken sliced perfectly, even the garlic was minced so fine it looked powdered.

I left this morning ready to tell him everything.

Now I wasn’t sure I even wanted him to eat what cooked.

Carmen hovered near the counter. “Want me to just handle it?”

I straightened up. “No. I said I’d cook, so I will. Just… stay close. My skills are average at best.”

“You got it.”

I rinsed my hands under the tap and dried them on a dish towel.

I’d had hours to get a grip. Enough time to stop spiraling over one grainy photo.

It was dark. The angle was weird. Could’ve been anyone.

The place didn’t even look like a hotel unless you squinted and already wanted to be pissed off.

People always gossiped about celebrities.

Rowan was a celebrity.

He’d be home soon. I’d ask him directly.

If it was nothing, we’d eat.

If it wasn’t… well, I’d deal with it then.

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